Dark

Me in the ShadowsI started this collage a few months ago, but today with winter upon us full force, I decided this would be an appropriate time to share it. It is not yet finished. For now, its working title is "Dark."

Laughing Poodle

Hitting the road early tomorrow to visit some friends for Christmas in Massachusetts, so not much time for blogging. I wanted to leave you all with this image of a Laughing Poodle I saw last weekend at the Christmas Revels. The poodle complete with ribbons in her hair made quite the scene. The friends I was was with wondered if dogs were really allowed in the building. I told them if they were dressed appropriately, why not?! This poodle was dressed to the nines! The Revels were magical, but so was this girl and I have to admit the smile on her face brought the biggest one to my own that evening. Smiling Poodle with red ribbons

Writing Prompt: Today

cat in window  

Today…

If the world ends today this is what I hope…

You will be busy with your Christmas shopping, card writing, cookie baking

You will be nodding to someone in the street as you go to mail a package

You will be smiling at your neighbor in line at the local country store

You will be heading off to pick a loved one up at the airport, your daughter at daycare, your husband at work

You will be setting down your knitting, chatting over tea, eating a sandwich, grading that last final.

 

If the world ends today I hope you are out walking your dog, singing a carol,

Taking in the sunshine, sloshing through the snow, shaking your head at the latest headline,

waiting for the school bus, eating a chocolate chip cookie, crossing something off your list.

 

If the world ends today I hope you are at the hairdresser, the office, or putting on a pair of socks.

In other words, I hope the moment goes unnoticed, just another tick of the clock.

 

I hope if the world ends today you will be too busy living to notice.

 

Writing Prompt: What do you want to be doing at world's end?

My Two-Cents

Baby in Purple Hat My niece, Ellie, who will be one next month, visited this past weekend. She is learning to speak and we marvel at every word that comes out of her mouth. “Dog,” she says, “woof, woof,” when she sees my pugs and then she pants like a puppy. Each word counts and when she doesn’t quite get one right or when she plays mimicking us, we listen, encourage, laugh. We enjoy the effort, because words count.

I am a writer; it’s how I make my living. Words are my business, but lately I am tired of them. They are everywhere – spewed, spit out, wielded. We use them to criticize, to judge, to intimidate. We use them to argue positions and to counterattack. Words become angry, loud, they lose nuance. We draw our line in the sand and forget to listen. We forget what my niece is now learning – words represent something, they possess meaning.

Thoughts, emotions, people are behind the words, most well intentioned, most with tender hearts, but they have lost themselves inside the words. Rhetoric replaces conversation and we attempt to be clever rather than convincing. We use words to advocate gun control and to fight against it. We brandish words in the name of God and volley them back to condemn those preaching them. We are not careful with our words. They have lost their specificity. We blather about the media, the liberal press, Republicans, Democrats, Christians, atheists, the Internet, television. We argue against It and Them, patting ourselves on the back for the aptly expressed barb. We forget why we were speaking in the first place.

I am tired of words. As a child in gym class I would freeze when balls came flying at me. They were too fast, too hard. I do the same now. What good do my words do if no one hears them, if my voice only adds to the fray? Even the well intentioned, those who try to listen, find fault, over-analyzing, turning meaning in and out. When we were children words came easily – we saw a dog and we called it by name. We attempted to find the word that fit. We looked closely at those around us to see if they understood and we felt pride when they did.

In this day when words are a commodity, expressed too freely, we would do well to remember the lessons of children, both those lost and those among us. We would be wise to think before we speak and remember that every word uttered from every mouth, no matter how different it may sound, represents a person whose heart beats like our own. Rather than barking at the wind, we might try listening, really listening to each other. It’s the only way our words will ever count.

Frosty

Snowman Drawing and Black and Fawn Pug Red Bucket No, we haven't built a snowman yet, this year, we just haven't had enough snow. But it has become a Christmas dream. In the meantime, I am building one on paper (or technically on the i-pad) adding to my repertoire of Christmas sketches. Enjoy!

Writing Prompt: Running Toward Christmas

Drawing Pugs Christmas The pugs and I have been busy getting ready for Christmas and now as we begin checking things off our to-do list we are starting to enjoy the magic of the season. The pugs were out frolicking in the snow today and I have started wondering what to get them for Christmas. When my pug Buffy was alive, Christmas shopping was easy. She wanted her "pupperonis" or "puppy snacks" and she knew exactly how to open her presents to get them. Alfie hasn't quite figured out the knack of unwrapping and I'm not sure I want her to -- it might mean none of the packages under the tree would be safe. This is my first Christmas with Waffles, so I'm not sure what her skills are in the opening presents department, but I know that she will be thrilled with any new toy she receives. Waffles has made toys an occupation. She must have them with her at all times, so she carries them with her from room to room and even outside. Her bed has piles of toys nearby. Alfie likes toys, especially when it comes to stealing them from Waffles, but she loves food, so food it will be for her. We still have our Christmas cards sent out and some shopping to do and with deadlines and gifts still to make I don't expect anything to slow down here anytime soon, but we are moving toward Christmas, running toward it even, with joy, ready to seize all the magic we can and unwrap any gifts the season might bring.

*** Another brushes painting loosely based on a photograph I took and posted on the blog last week.

Writing Prompt: Write and share a holiday memory.

What Other People See...

Schipperkke and Chihuahua Why is it that we always think our dogs or kids are the most misbehaved, our homes the messiest? This morning I visited my friend’s house to help take Christmas pictures of her dog. As her schipperke and Chihuahua/dachshund mix ran about the house, my friend kept telling me how her schipperke would need to calm down before I could snap a picture. She saw a wild beast I saw a little clown. When she brought out treats he even sat on his hindquarters and begged. When I brought Waffles to a dinner party, my friends said they saw no sign of the Tasmanian Devil I had spoken about. They probably wouldn’t think she resembled Gollum much either. Often, I have walked in to a friend’s house and had them apologize for the mess when I saw nothing but a lived-in home. People in stores and restaurants often apologize to me for their kids peering over the booth or darting around the corners, all the while I am engaged in a game of peek-a-boo with them. We worry too much when all around us the things we worry about are not signs of our inadequacy, but testaments to a full life. So, rejoice in the whirling and the spinning, the darting and the clutter. Most people probably aren’t noticing it and to some, it may even bring a gentle smile or a happy laugh.

Pugdom's 2012 Christmas Letter

Every year I write a Christmas letter for my friend Joan recapping the big events that happened at her home called Pugdom each year. The letter goes out to friends and those who have received one of Joan's pugs. We consider them family.

Joan and Vader
Joan and Vader

Joan and Vader

Snow has yet to stick to the ground, but Christmas is in the air. Lights twinkle as I drive through town and the warm glow of Christmas trees shine from almost every window. At Pugdom life continues as usual – pugs come and go, are born and die. This year was no exception.

2012 saw the arrival of many new faces. Our friend Jane attempted to adopt another pug from Green Mountain Pug Rescue and instead of one, she got two: Fanny May and Sadie. Fannie is a funny little girl, probably younger than they estimated and Sadie, well Sadie was an old lady who had belonged to an old lady. She died not long after coming into Jane’s life, but she lived out her last days as loved as she had always been by her previous owner.

Sadie and Jane
Sadie and Jane

Jane and Sadie

 This summer Lumpi and Griffles gave birth to six black puppies. One died at birth and our little Batman put up a grand fight, but passed away at seven weeks. He was precious and precocious – the first of his litter to walk, but he failed to grow and although he won our hearts, he lost the fight. I will remember him as if he had lived to be an old man. His siblings thrived and three found new homes. The fourth, Gryffindor will remain at Pugdom. He is handsome and a tease – he kisses everyone, but Joan to my delight and her dismay. His paws are huge, he looks like his daddy and he is full of joy. His sister, Margot, went to live with our friend Bonnie in New Jersey, who used to own Joan’s pug Katrinka (a.k.a. Scarlett). Margot is now known as Sassy Margot.  Bonnie’s friend, Bob, adopted Arlo Kensington and renamed him Bunja, for African royalty. On the day he left, Joan cried. Our goofy little boy, Waltham’s Little Trump, went to live with our friends the Damitzes and well, was renamed Goofy. He now lives with his aunt Truffels and two other Pugdom relatives, Chunky Monkey and his mom, Jerry.

Batman
Batman

Batman

Narnia, one of our original “Forest Creatures” returned to Pugdom when her owner, Nancy, had to give her up to care for a family member. Narnia came with her antique collar and her new name “Sweet Pea.” We were also told by Nancy that she sometimes called her “Little Pig” and the other night Joan confessed she understands why. This sweet old pug sure loves her food! She fits right in, however, and loves to play with the other “bedroom” dogs that have the luxury of sleeping in Joan’s room.

Narnia
Narnia

Narnia as a Puppy Many, Many Years Ago

Our friend Yvonne at The Collection added a third pug to her crew when she adopted Josie from Champlain Valley Canine Rescue.  I got a new addition to my home as well. Waffles, Griffles and Truffels’ sister, has taken up residence. I have wanted to take her home since the day she was born but with two other pugs it always seemed impossible. When Vaderman passed away in June, it seemed the logical choice to scoop her up and take her home to be Alfie’s constant playmate. Yes, Waltham’s Zag Vaderman died. He lived to be 13.5 years old and had a wonderful life, eating his favorite McDonald’s fish fillets right up to the end. He was cremated with his “Humpie Doggie,” the stuffed dog that had been his girlfriend and constant companion since he was a pup. I miss my little man everyday.

Joan and Peaches
Joan and Peaches

Joan and Peaches when she first arrived

Peaches
Peaches

Peaches in Later Years

Unfortunately, Vader was not the only one to say goodbye this year. Peaches, the Grand Dame of Pugdom passed in June. She had been a rescue pug from an Indian reservation, but she lived like a queen until the day she died. Chessie, Jane’s cat, who in our active imaginations ran a legal practice and schooled the pugs, died today at the age of 17.5. Today, I also received a call from our friend, Harvey, owner of Dr. Poohbah Gump (a.k.a. Peter O’ Toole) telling me that he had to put Poohbah down on Saturday. We also learned that our good friend, Tom Rose, another pug breeder who often helped Joan assess her pugs had passed away. Tom, was all gruff on the outside, but had the sweetest heart.

Poohbah and Harvey
Poohbah and Harvey

Dr. Poohbah Gump (a.k.a. Peter O' Toole) with Harvey Blackmer

We had the typical fun this year – attended Green Mountain Pug Rescue’s social, this year in Killington, Vt. and the Chestertown Pug Parade in NY. Alfie participated in a number of dog shows in Tunbridge, Keene and Saratoga and did us proud. She keeps getting better and better. Joan and I spent a wonderful stolen day by the ocean in Maine at the end of summer where the puppies played in the sand.

Puppy at Beach
Puppy at Beach

In Maine

Me Showing Alfie
Me Showing Alfie

Showing Alfie

Waffles in Kimono
Waffles in Kimono

Waffles in Costume at Chestertown, NY

Joan is still trying to move into the new house, but she keeps getting closer. It’s hard to move a lifetime of stuff and a whole herd of pugs. I joined a writers’ group this year and am sharing many stories of life at Pugdom and the greater Pug World.  You can read about it all at my web site (www.pugsandpics.com).

We’d love to hear from all of you. The snow may not yet be on the ground, but Christmas is in the air and just as we’ve offered you a peek inside the windows of our lives, we’d love a peek into yours. We want to know how all those pugs that left Pugdom’s doors are faring and we love pics as well. So pick up the phone and give Joan a call or email me at kimbi@pugsandpics.com. The warmest glow for us comes not from the Christmas lights, but from the wagging tails and the tender hearts of the pugs that we have known. Have the happiest of holidays and another wonderful New Year!

Waffles 1 tree
Waffles 1 tree

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!