Twas the day of Christmas
And all through the Casa
Waft the smell of tamales
With homemade salsa.

In the Nativity
Baby Jesus is laying.
Mary, Joseph, and Wise Men,
With shepherds are praying.

A tree in the corner
Its lights blinking bright
While an angel with star
Look down with delight

Santa must have come
Taking such care,
The family in dreamland,
Scarce knew he was there.

Boxes and wrappings
Are scattered about.
Of the success of Christmas
There is no doubt.

Enjoy the day
Savor the season,
Tell the ones you hold dear
Love is the reason.

The Photographer, the Artist
And Puppy Dog too,
Wish a Merry Christmas
To each and every one of you.

Love,
Buddy


PS
Kisses to Aunt Marsha

Ho Ho Ho...

should be sHOp sHOp sHOp.

Tis the season for shopping for most people, but then the artist and the photographer aren't "most people".

I have a theory about shopping as opposed to buying.

Shopping is what women do. Women are the gatherers, so they wonder through shopping malls and department stores, oohing and aahing over whatever catches their eye. They are discerning about what items they will take home to the family cave. They must touch, smell, hold up, try on before a decision is made. Much of the time cost has little to do with a purchase. If it is the right color or shape, it is a "must have".

Men, on the other hand, are hunters. They have studied their prey. They know its habits and where it hangs out. Men know where they will be hunting before dawn breaks. Men walk into one store, determine in a glance which direction to move, spy the desired item on the shelf. Men don't need to try anything on, they rely on instinct not sizes. They are much less discerning than women. If it is close, it will do.

(I have a theory about television and remote controls that is similar to this hunter/gatherer; man/woman; shopping/buying stuff)

Now we come to my humans. Neither fit the typical scenario. They artist doesn't like to shop, at all, ever. And while the photographer doesn't really like to shop in the traditional sense, he does like to eBay, and spends a lot of time looking (very similar to shopping if you ask me) on eBay or the internet in general and is always delighted when he is able to snipe his prey.

Which leads me to my next shopping point. Do you realize how many different ways there are to shop/buy? You can go the traditional route at a brick and mortar store. You can shop from a catalog that came by traditional mail. You can shop on the internet in a variety of ways; Google something, go to a business website, view a business catalog on-line, eBay or a multitude of like-minded sites.

OR you can shop/buy in the comfort of your easy chair while watching television. All you need is a telephone and a credit card. Just link back into all those channels you blocked when you first set up the TV. There are all sorts of shopping channels out there just waiting for the shopper/buyer.

Not only do they offer you the "best deal ever" on things "you absolutely must have", but they often have a celebrity guest who created it right there and you might be the lucky person who calls in and gets to talk with them live on the air! Oh, and let us not forget flex or value pay, which is something akin to lay-away only you don't have to wait to get your stuff. What could be more fun than that?

Will this lead to the blurring of the shopping/buying lines? I don't think so.

A man will see three seconds of a shopping channel, his eyes will glaze over, his brain will dis-engage, and of he has the zapper, will immediately change channels in search of more interesting prey.

Love,
Buddy

Let's Talk Turkey

So let me be the first to tell you that if your turkey is still frozen, your dinner is gonna be a little late. If you planned it that way so you could go out to eat, then you are a genius!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,
Buddy

Meet Buddy's buddy Buddy

Buddy and Buddy

If you think that is confusing, you should be around when the humans need something and starts calling one of us.

This is my friend Buddy. He has a human (Henry) that works close to the studio and Buddy brings Henry to work and then hangs out in the studio all day.

It is cool to have a friend to go smelling with and it is much easier to walk my humans with another dog along to keep track of them.

Don't tell him, but I hid my bone (hi Aunt Marsha) so Buddy can't get it. He is a friend but there are somethings I won't share with anybody.

Love,
Buddy

Take a look!

Just to add on to the last post....
go to this site: click on Special Exhibits from the left column, THEN click on Journal Quilt Project II at the TOP of the next page, (sorry I tried to do a direct link and it didn't work) and then you can finally take a look at the artist's quilt and some of the others that were in the exhibit.
Remarkable stuff!

Not to worry...if you want to see the quilts in person, and couldn't make it to Houston, perhaps you could attend the show in Chicago or Long Beach.

International Quilt Festival
Chicago
April 17-19, 2009
Rosemont, Illinois
Donald E. Stephens Center

International Quilt Festival
Long Beach
July 24-26, 2009
Long Beach, California
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

Love,
Buddy

The Big Show!

The 2008 International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas is happening even as I write. AND the artist has a quilt juried into the Journal II: Elements exhibit.

The theme of this exhibit had to relate to any one or all of the elements; Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. In this little quilt (17" x 22") the artist chose to depict all four elements with figures, each holding a pot, sitting under a stylized rainbow. She used Pigma pens, watercolor paints, fabric paints, and gel pens to add detail to the fabric.

If you make it to "the Big Show" be sure to visit this exhibit, it is the seventh and last year for the Journal Exhibit to be included in the International Quilt Festival and my artist is one of a handful to have had quilts in all of them.

Love,
Buddy

Baby Its Cold Outside

I am just a dog with a coat that stays on all year long, but even I know that it is too cold to be October. When the temperatures are dropping, the house is cold, and everyone is freezing, something must be done post haste!

The artist gave me a lesson in home improvement skills.

First, make note of where the cold air is coming from. In this instance the front door seems to be the culprit and temperatures are dropping. Quick, think of something to block the cold air from coming in around the door!

I know. An old, non-working electric blanket that is currently on the bed upstairs. Climb the stairs, unmake the bed, find the blanket. Oh yes, the tools are upstairs too. Pick up electric drill and screw driver to take downstairs with the blanket. Good thinking.

Second, what to hang the blanket on? Hmmm. There is a cafe curtain rod in the bathroom waiting to be used on the bathroom window. That will do as a temporary fix. Go to the bathroom, find the curtain rod, return to front door.

Open package, throw out directions, find brackets and screws. Look for something sturdy to stand on. Move chair to door, climb on chair with brackets in hand. Oh, a pilot hole needs to be made for the screws.

Climb down from chair, look for drill bits, go back upstairs and find drill bits in tool bag. Go downstairs, climb on chair with drill bits, drill, brackets, and screws. Hold screws in mouth, brackets in bra and drill in hand. Eye-ball location for bracket. Take one bracket out of bra, hold up to location and mark spot with end of drill bit. Put bracket back in bra.

Drill hole. Only the drill doesn't want to work. Oh, it isn't plugged in. Climb down from chair, plug in drill, climb back up on chair. Drill hole. Take bracket out of bra and hold in place. Take screw out of mouth and place in hole. No screwdriver. Put screw back in mouth, bracket back in bra and climb down from chair. Get screwdriver, climb up on chair, take bracket out of bra, take screw out of mouth, hold in place, begin screwing with screwdriver, drop screw.

Put bracket in bra, climb off chair, get on hands and knees to find screw. Climb back on chair, take bracket out of bra, take screw out of mouth, screw in place with screw driver.

Climb down from chair, move chair to other side of door, climb back up on chair, eye-ball location for second bracket, take bracket out of bra, take drill.....no drill, it is on the floor. Put bracket back in bra, climb off chair, get drill, climb back on chair, take bracket out of bra, mark holes with end of drill bit, put bracket back in bra, drill hole. No? The cord won't reach. Put bracket back in bra, climb off chair, move drill plug to closer outlet, climb back on chair.

Take bracket out of bra, drop bracket on the floor. Climb off the f****** chair, get the d*** bracket, climb back up on the f****** chair and put the d*** bracket in place. Take screw out of mouth, screw on............ d***, the f****** screwdriver is on the floor by the outlet. Put the screw BACK in mouth, put bracket BACK in bra, c-l-i-m-b down from the chair, get the stupid screwdriver, c-l-i-m-b back up on the stupid chair, that the stupid bracket out of the stupid bra, take the stupid screw out of mouth, screw the stupid screw into the stupid hole so the stupid bracket is in place!

CLIMB down from the chair, thread the old non-working electric blanket onto the curtain rod, CLIMB BACK UP ON THE CHAIR, and hang the d*** thing, climb down from the chair and admire.........

Oh d***!! The curtain rod, meant for something very light weight, is sagging and will not hold the weight of the old non-working electric blanket. SIGH!

CLIMB the stairs, rootle through tool box, find some paneling nails and the hammer, go back down stairs, climb back up on the chair, POUND three nails in along the top of the door frame, support sagging curtain rod on the nails, climb down from chair, admire handiwork. Gee, I wonder why I am sweating?

Love,
Buddy

Peek-a-Bee

Do you see me?

Peek-Boo

I see you

Resistance is Futile

I watch movies and I see where the technology of some writer's imagination becomes real life products of today.

The Borg is among us. Everywhere I look, bodies are being taken over. It started simply enough with home computers. Then laptops that could be carried from place to place. Or maybe it started with radios, televisions, watches.... I don't know.

However it started, it will end with the "Collective". Ears are sprouting telecommunication devices, hands are seemingly implanted with tiny computers that pretend to be phones but are ever so much more.

The addiction is connection. And lest you think you will never come under the rule of the machine, think of how you are accessing this blog..... hmmmmm?

You will be assimilated.... resistance is futile.

Love,
Buddy

The Olympics

What is not to absolutely love about the Olympics! They had everything from women in tights to super-human drama in the swimming pool. I was riveted to the television the whole week. The opening ceremonies were unbelievably elegant and artistic, and some of the stories about the athletes were heart-warming and tail wagging.

I have to admit I didn't comprehend everything. For instance, in a lot of events they kept talking about heats. Now where I come from "heat" must have a whole different meaning (hubba hubba baby) so I was a little lost at times.

I am not sure I understand why the Women's Beach Volleyball uniforms are the size of a nickel and the Men's Beach Volleyball uniforms aren't. Unless of course you aren't there to really watch the volleyball, in which case, I understand perfectly.

I have decided to start training for the next Olympics. There must be at least one event I could excel in. I am narrowing it down to two events, the "High Jump" and "Fence Climb". The High Jump training will begin with the very next person who walks in the door.

Too bad barking isn't an Olympic sport. I would be certain to bring home the gold for that.

Love,
Buddy

PS I have to give a shout out to the Lopez family who competed in TaeKwonDo, bringing home a Silver and two Bronze medals.

I was the Cat's Meow

Gosh, has it really been a month since I last posted?!!

The artist and the photographer have been incredibly busy and it has taken all my time supervising the activities. Humans! It is worse than herding cats!

However, last week I did take a little personal time. On Friday Barack Obama visited Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton. Well, it just so happens that Stivers is a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from the studio. While I am not politically inclined, I am not one to pass up a chance to see someone who is running for president.

So, I hitched up the humans and we sauntered down the street to see what we could see.

As we walked around the school, I saw several of Dayton's finest on duty and at strategic points there were men/women in suits talking into their shirt sleeves. Once or twice we walked past a person who could have been security, or maybe just a bum sitting on the sidewalk who was waiting for the chance to see someone famous.

There was even another dog there. I was just a little miffed when he barely raised an eyebrow as he and his human walked passed. The artist said he was working and couldn't stop to play.
Ha-rump-fffffff. I don't care if he was a bomb sniffing dog-whatever-I'll bet my nose is every bit as good as his (if not better).

Anyway, we walked to the front of the school and I parked the humans on a bench in the shade and proceeded to hold court. It had almost a carnival atmosphere with people hawking Obama buttons and T-shirts, and several clipboard toting people who wanted petitions signed. I was more than willing to put paw to paper but they wouldn't let me. Everyone that came by wanted to talk to me and find out who I was. One fellow even took my picture.

As we waited the police began to scurry around and one of those suited guys came by and told everyone to stay out of the street because the cars would be coming by (I think he even threatened to shoot anyone that ran into the street but I could be mistaken because my ears do flap from time to time).

Then came the flashing lights with a caravan of SUV's and buses. The SUV's went one direction and the buses went another. Everyone chased the buses to the side of the building while the SUV's disappeared behind the building to the delivery entrance where I am sure they deposited their cargo because the buses were empty.

So it was a good thing I went. Otherwise it would have been a waste of time for all those poor people who wanted to see someone famous.

Love,
Buddy

More stuff to waste time on the computer...

Do you not spend enough time on the computer?
Check out StumbleUpon. http://www.stumbleupon.com/

HehHehHeh

Love,
Buddy

The Dog that lives on the roof

What sound does a dog that lives on a roof make?

"Roof! Roof!"

I would like you all to meet my friend Roof Dog.
He comes out to see me every morning when I walk
the photographer.

He used to bark at me but now he comes out and wags
his tail. Once he even peed off the edge of the building
just for me!

I don't want you to think that he spends all his time on
the roof. I have seen him up close and personal when he
has been out on a walk. We got to do that thing that dogs do
and smelled each other (you know where).

He is my friend and I really look up to him.

Love,
Buddy

Belling the Dog

When I first came to live with the photographer, he bought me a brand new collar. He also bought a tag with my name on it, added it to the collar and told me I looked very handsome.

He took me to the vet, who looked me over, gave me some shots, and after pronouncing me a good dog, gave me a tag to add to my new collar. The photographer told me it was to show what a healthy dog I was.

Then a tag came in the mail from the city to prove I had been registered. He added it to my collar and told me it showed what a responsible dog I was.

After I went exploring several times (all on my own) the photographer bought me a tag with contact information on it. He added it to all the other tags and told me now I could find my way home no matter where I traveled.

Last week at the studio, the door was open so the electricians could come in and out to do their work. I wasn't really interested in what was happening in the hallway as long as my humans stayed in the room. I take my job seriously and am determined to make sure my humans are well behaved.

At first, they were both occupied with a project. The artist was busy working away when the photographer decided to wander out into the hallway.

Being the good dog that I am, I wanted to check on him to make sure he wasn't causing trouble.
Every time I started toward the door, the artist would get an attack of insecurity and call me back. I sat at her feet and let her pet me until she was calmed, then I would try again to check on the photographer.

Several times I tried to make it to the door. Each time I would take a few steps and she would get upset and need me to take care of her. I knew she was fine and I really needed to see what the photographer was up to.

I sat for a few minutes, then very quietly crept away. I made it all the way to the door before the artist realized I was gone.

That was when it hit me. I didn't have all those tags to look handsome, to prove I had shots, was registered, or so I could find my way home. They gave me all those tags to wear so I would make noise!

Oh those sneaky humans. Now that I know what they are up to, I have learned to walk in such a way that my tags don't jingle.

All I have to do now is figure out how to get some sort of jingles on the humans, they will be so much easier to keep track of.

Love,
Buddy

What do you get....

What do you get when you have an artist walking two dogs; Spencer on one side and Buddy (thats me!) on the other, and a cat runs in front of them?

Abstract Artist!

Love,
Buddy

I am not spoiled!

... but life is really good.

Love,
Buddy

Happy Mother's Day

Are you at a loss of what to get your mother for Mother's Day?

Do make her breakfast in bed.
Don't leave the kitchen in a mess for her to clean.

Do offer to take the kids to the park so she can have a nap.
Don't come home and ask "what's for dinner?"

Do mow the lawn.
Don't give her a lawnmower (or a vacuum cleaner).

A mom with a newborn is still happy she had kids. She will be delighted with any little thing especially if it has crayon scribbles and grape jelly on it.

A mom with toddlers/elementary school age kids will be happy with a couple of hours of alone time.**

A mom with teenagers is beginning to question the wisdom of having children. She'll settle for a meal where everyone is civil to each other.

After the kids have all left home, mom will be back to being happy she had kids, and she'll be delighted with any little thing, even if it has crayon scribbles and grape jelly on it.


**Taking care of your own children is called being a parent. Taking care of someone else's children is called babysitting.

Love,
Buddy

Sharing

There are some things that I just shouldn't be expected to share!

All last week I had a guest, Spencer. (I was dog-sitting)

Now Spencer is a perfectly lovely dog, a bit spirited at times, but as well behaved as can be expected of a teenager. I didn't mind sharing my home, my bedroom, my food, my studio, my walks, or even my humans (though I wasn't terribly happy about the latter).

I do however, draw the line at sharing my Marsha Bone. My Aunt Marsha gave me that bone for Christmas. I have been saving it, savoring it with not so much as a toothmark on it. Every morning I use it to play chase with the humans. There is no way I am going to let Spencer lay a paw on it.

At first I tried carrying it around but it was difficult, not to mention rude, to talk with a bone in my mouth.

I tried chewing it. That only worked for a little bit. It turns out that when you chew a Marsha Bone it gets soft and I chewed the end off. Then I had two pieces to worry about. Darn!

I had the artist hide the biggest end on the cabinet under the stairs and I hid the little end in a pile of boxes, then went to defend the big end. I stood on the stairs and did my best impression of a police-dog.

Finally the artist took both pieces and put them so high that not even I could smell them and I no longer had to worry about Spencer getting them. Whew!

Sharing is over-rated. (unless I had the opportunity to share fleas)

Love,
Buddy

Curb your dogs (and your kids)

I bark.

I do, it is a form of communication just like wagging a tail or sniffing a butt. If someone comes to my door I bark to let them know that I am inside and am summoning the humans. If we are walking and we happen across a human roaming free, I will bark to let them know that I expect them to stop and pet me. It is the courteous thing to do.

However, I dislike dogs that stand there and bark and bark and bark. They dominate the conversation and don't let others get a growl in edgewise. It is so impolite.

Likewise, I dislike human puppies that can't behave themselves in public especially at an eating store. Oh I know that they have to be let out so they can *learn*, but part of that learning is proper training.

If you are in an eating store and your pups are misbehaving, take them home. The waiter won't mind, and I am fairly certain the other patrons won't mind. In fact they will probably applaud you on your way out.

Love,
Buddy

Did you ever notice?

When we are out and about, we see all sorts of people. Big, small, short, tall, lean, not-so-lean, every color, shape and size.

There are two things I just don't get.

One is the boys walking around, hunched over, holding onto the waistbands of their pants, which happen to be hanging around their knees.

The other is old men, hunched over, with their waistbands up around their armpits.

So, after wondering, thinking, and pondering I think I have come up with at least part of the answer.

Why the boys walk around with their waistbands around their knees, I cannot explain.

However, I think what happens is this; as the boy ages, his pants little by little, centimeter by centimeter, like a molasses in winter, creep up to it's natural position (around the *WAIST*...it is called a WAISTband for a reason!!).

When the boy becomes an adult, he begins to look rather normal, and the pants are pretty much where they belong. Then as he progresses into old age, the pants continue their upward movement. So by the time he becomes an old man, the waistband has arrived at his armpits.

The solution is to train your pants from the beginning so they know their proper place.
You'll thank me when you are old.

Love,
Buddy

Have you ever?

Have you ever wondered what was inside a fire extinguisher?
Well the one in the trunk of the artist's car is...or should I say was... full of a lot of yellow powder.

There it was sitting in a laundry basket along side the other emergency supplies, (you know, a squished-up roll of paper towels, a quart of oil, a package of dried out baby wipes, an MRE, a flashlight with dead batteries, 11 plastic grocery bags, jumper cables, and a baseball) when the unexpected happened.

Did you know that if a fire extinguisher is sitting in just the right position, and somehow the safety latch was not in the correct place, and the car came to sudden stop at a traffic light causing the laundry basket to slide into the back of the rear seats, that it just might go off?

And did you know it makes a loud hissing noise?

And did you know that it puts out a great deal of a fine buttery yellow powder that covers everything?

And did you know that it takes $5.00 worth of quarters at the car-wash vacuum to get it all cleaned up?

I am glad I wasn't in the back of the car or they would be calling me......



wait for it..............





"Old Yeller"

Love,

Buddy

Blog-o-Sphere Award!

One of the wonderful things about the World Wide Web 

is the ability to make internet friends.

Carolyn from The Barber Bunch Blog has given me an 

Cyber Award.  Oh Bow  Wow what fun!  I am honored, 

you have colored my world.  Thanks!

Love,

Buddy

Quilts and Grandmothers

"Once Upon a Time All the World Was Bright and Beautiful"

If you ask anybody over the age of 40 about their grandmother, they will probably have a story about a quilt. It may be a warm memory of snuggling under a quilt on a cold winter's night or sitting under the frame watching the needle dance in and out.

There is no better feeling than being wrapped up in quilted love waiting on a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.

Many years ago, the artist's grandmother had Alzheimer's. When Ami Simms put out a Call for Entries, the artist had to make a quilt (because that is what she does).

"Once Upon A Time..." is her entry, which got accepted into a special exhibit that has been touring the country since August 2006. Read their story at Quilter's Save Our Stories, and if it comes anywhere close to where you live, you should make plans to go see it. Oh, there is a book and a CD you can order if you can't wait on the exhibit.

The artist doesn't make the same kind of quilts as her grandmother did. Her quilts are generally too small to warm the body, but hopefully on a good day, they will warm the soul.

Love,
Buddy

In the Beginning

I got a note from Treasure Barn and she has the most poignant story about her dogs (Saturday, February 24, 2007; A Sad Start with a Happy Ending) on her blog. I was reminded of my own beginnings.

I don't much remember where I was before the shelter. I do remember that they were very nice to me and there were a lot of other dogs waiting to find humans to take care of.

My first human was Kind Lady. She took me home but we didn't stay together very long. I must have done an ok job with her because she moved to a place that didn't need dogs and I had to find another human to take care of.

Then I went home with Pretty Lady. What a handful that turned out to be. Pretty Lady had a husband, a baby, and another dog! It didn't take me long to whip that place into shape and soon they didn't need me any more either.

Pretty Lady's father, Kind Gentle Man (aka the photographer) looked like he really needed a special dog to take care of him, so I volunteered for the job. Boy, little did I know what a handful he would be. I was about a year old when I got there and I have been here about a year. It has taken a lot of patience but I think I am about to get him trained.

In the morning I lick his face to get him out of bed. I accompany him to breakfast to make sure he eats properly. We go to work every day where I supervise everything he does. I take him for at least one walk, sometimes two if he is feeling energetic.

Potty training went fairly well, it was all a matter of recognizing his signals of when he needed to go out. We tried crate training but I have found that Kind Gentle Man responded much better to couch training instead. It doesn't take much coaxing to get him on the couch if I turn the TV on.

There was no need for socialization for this human. He will talk to anyone at anytime about anything. Some humans are just that way I guess. At least I don't have to worry about him biting anyone.

I do believe he is going to turn out to be a well behaved human, I think I will keep this one!

Love,
Buddy

On Taking Care of the Humans

*********************************************************************************
I have one coat. Just one. I wear it all the time. Occasionally my coat gets cleaned when I visit the spa, and I do get groomed by one of the humans from time to time, but I am generally satisfied with a roll in the grass and a good shake after my morning pee.

My humans on the other hand have very different needs when it comes to coats.

Not the photographer so much as the artist.

The photographer has one coat for Brrrrrzzzzy days and another for just plain cold days.

The artist, on the other hand, has a coat for Brrrrrzzzzy days, a coat for just plain cold days, a coat for mild days, a coat for rainy days, a coat for days when the air conditioner is on, a coat just in case the weather changes from mild to cold, a short coat, and a long coat. She even has a couple of old coats that she keeps to do chores in so her other coats won't get dirty. (Not to mention all the sweaters, jackets and flannel shirts!)

One of the things about having humans is knowing their basic needs and how to care for them.

Feeding and walking - no problem. Knowing which coat the artist is going to need is a whole different matter. It is a good thing humans have us dogs to take care of them.

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com
**********************************************************************************
Selected Dog Quote of the Day

Mrs. Campbell once attempted to smuggle her pet Pekingese through customs by tucking him inside the upper part of her cape. "Everything was going splendidly," she later remarked, "until my bosom barked."

Beatrice Stella Campbell

Just Rafting Down the Blog of Life

Why did no one warn me?

Why did no one tell me that once you start looking at other blogs that it can become an addictive and time consuming past-time?

Since I began blogging, I have discovered a regular Blog-o-Sphere out there.

It all began innocently enough. All I did was click on that "Next Blog" button at the top of the page and I was instantly transported into someone else's world.

Then I discovered some blogs listed other blogs they found interesting. So of course I *had* to go exploring, that's what dogs do.

It takes some digging, and occasionally uncovering something stinky, but most of the Blog-o-Sphere is full of tasty morsels that may tickle the funny bone, provoke introspective thought, entertain, inspire, or provide a recipe for tonight's dinner.

Visit The Barber Bunch to get a taste for yourself but I am warning you, this can be an addictive activity and you may look up and it will be way past your bedtime. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Signs of Spring

1) Good Humor Truck (spotted on Third Street going 4o mph with obnoxious music blaring).
2) Canadian Geese pairing up.
3) Barbecue grills appearing on back porches.

Tomorrow's forecast:
http://www.daytondailynews.com

DAYTON — Steady rains and snow are expected to return to the area Thursday, March 27, but are not expected to create any serious problems.

There's an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday and rain showers are likely with highs in the lower 40s.

Thursday night, with a low near 30, there is more rain expected along with snow. Accumulation is expected to be less than an inch with a 100 percent chance of precipitation.

Snow! Did you see that? Snow is in the forecast! And I thought Spring was here. Oh, I forgot, this is Ohio. Snow *is* a sign of Spring.

Love,
Buddy

PS The artist is very not happy at the prospect of snow and the photographer is jumping for joy. Of course, he is hoping for another snow storm so he can play with his snow blower.

Peep Show

Not THAT kind of peep show you silly thing!

Oh how fun! Everyone loves Peeps, even if just to put out on the porch and see how may years it takes to dissolve. Visit this site to find out interesting Peep facts.

http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

The PEEPSicles look good.

Happy Easter everyone.

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Happy Spring!

All Dressed Up

Don't I look dapper? I hope everyone had a happy St. Patrick's Day.

I heard a rumor that St. Patrick's Day had been canceled. (horrors!)

Technically, it really was. As I understand it, Catholics don't

celebrate a "Saint's Day" during holy week. Easter occurs early

this year and happens to fall during the same week as St. Patrick's

and St. Joseph's. So neither are being celebrated as religious holidays this year.

I am so glad I started celebrating early! Don't I look like I'm ready to do an Irish jig?

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Joke stolen from another blog:

http://tanlucypez.blogspot.com/

Flynn staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking buddy, Paddy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife, Mary.

He tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful.

Managing not to yell, Flynn sprung up, pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He managed to quietly find a full box of Band-Aids and began putting a Band-Aid as best he could on each place he saw blood.

He then hid the now almost empty Band-Aid box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed.

In the morning, Flynn woke up with searing pain in both his head and butt and Mary staring at him from across the room.

She said, "You were drunk again last night weren't you?"

Flynn said, "Why you say such a mean thing?"

"Well," Mary said, "it could be the open front door, it could be the broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but mostly.....it's all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall mirror." That Flynn.

Six Feet of Snow

The weatherman says Dayton got thirteen and a squosh (ronniespeak for anything under an inch) inches of snow but it may as well be six feet with all the wonderful snow drifts I found.

I am thirteen inches tall at the shoulder but my chest is only five inches off the ground so navigating was an adventure.

I love the snow! Love running in it, love sniffing all the smells, love bouncing from one drift to the next. I even got to chase a cat up into an abandoned car.

I can even pee fairly well, as I can hike like a gymnast and get my back leg up high enough that my hoohaw doesn't get frozen off.

What I don't like is having my tookas frost bit when I have to do my business.

I am so glad the humans are toilet trained.

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Daylight Savings Time !!??

What? Huh! Whatd'y'mean it is time to get up?
My stomach always knows what time it is and this morning it was telling me that I needed another hour of sleep.

What?

Daylight Savings Time?

What I want to know is where are you keeping it and what are you saving it for?

Man! I sure could have used some of that daylight in the past couple of months, especially two days ago when it snowed for 36 hours.

Oh! The time changes and EVERYBODY has to get up an hour early. This is done in order to save energy?

Humph! It certainly isn't making me more energetic to lose an hour's sleep.

I have an idea...let the companies that could save energy change their working hours and leave the rest of us alone.

I think I need a nap.

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

She picked a great week to start riding the bus!

Give me a warm car any day, but the artist has decided in order to save gas, she will ride the bus to work. She lives close to the bus route and only has to change buses once to get here so it seemed like a good idea in theory.

So, on the first day, armed with schedules and timetables she marched out to the to the bus stop. It was suppose to be cold and rainy so she wore a coat and carried a rainbrella (umbrella to those who don't know ronniespeak). The first leg of the journey to downtown Dayton was uneventful. However, she missed the transfer for two reasons.

One, she had to go into the terminal and buy a 31 day pass and that took time BUT THEN she exited the wrong side of the building and stood on the wrong corner for 10 minutes before she realized that the bus she wanted on would be traveling a different direction. Another bus missed. Oh well, it is a learning experience right? She was only an hour late to work.

BUT THEN she had to make back home again. Back down to the bus stop and wait. She was early to make sure she didn't miss the bus but it was raining. Not only was it raining but the wind was blowing making the rainbrella virtually useless. By the time the bus arrived, she was slightly damp.

Standing room only. No big deal, it is a short trip to the transfer. BUT THEN a nice young lady offered to wipe off the artist's glasses and started a conversation. The bus announced "Third-and-Main" (the place to change buses!). Pulled the cord, bus pulled over and artist got off only to find that she was at Third and Wayne, not Third and Main. So now she had to beat feet down the street to the correct corner. And of course, she missed the transfer.

By this time the rain was beginning to come down a little harder and she was more than slightly damp. Now she had to stand on the corner and wait for the next bus on her route. She had a bus schedule in her pocket but it was so wet that it disintegrated when she pulled it out. Should she risk leaving the corner to get a new (dry) schedule or just gut it out?

Oh what the heck, just gut it out. 50 minutes later, soaked through to the underwear, and wondering why she ever thought this would be worth a couple of bucks in gas, the artist was on her way home.

I am happy to report that the rest of the week she made all her buses and transfers. BUT THEN, today will bring its own new challenges because there is a huge snowstorm brewing outside.

Me, I think I will just stay here and sleep.

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Snow Steps

While I do love the snow, the ice wasn't so nice.

However, last night we got a more snow, a very fine powdery snow that didn't stick. It was just enough to make everything pretty again. I discovered an interesting phenomenon on the sidewalk this morning. Footprints of a different kind. I just don't know which one to sniff first.

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

SSSSSNOW!

Oh boy, oh boy, I love snow!

I had to take my humans for a walk this afternoon and

the snow is so wonderfully deep that I almost had to leap

through it. There were some delicious smells deep in the

drifts, I know at least one rabbit is hiding in there.

I would have had a much better time but I had my humans in

tow and there are places they just won't go. They are such wimps!

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Down to business

I don't always lie around doing nothing, sometimes I actually work.

Take today for instance, I had to make important business decisions.

My humans *think* they need a new supply of paper and ink to make pretty pictures.

Goodness knows what they did with the ink I bought last month. They probably buried it somewhere and then forgot where it is hidden. Humans!

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

Brrrrr! Baby its cold outside

I can't remember a colder winter. Of course I am not quite two so I don't have all that many winters to remember. Today I am just taking it easy hanging out in my warm and cozy studio.

The humans seem to be happily working away on some photo project. I will never understand their fascination with F stops and hot lights. Oh well, they are just humans and easily amused.

Love,

Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com

All moved in and ready to go

Finally! I can't believe how much stuff the photographer has. This is a pretty big space and already he has managed to fill it up with all his equipment. I mean how many printers does one man need? My poor artist has her stuff confined to one little square of space while I am forced to scatter my belongings where ever I can find room.

It is just as well I am happy with a box, a blanket and a bone!

Love,
Buddy

parkbenchstudio.com