July 13, 2009

Dora finished her book

April 22, 2009

Dog Hair

Note to myself for next time: Dora's loosing her wintercoat for about three week (two badly, third managable). This has been her last week.

April 14, 2009

Dirty girl

Dora has a habit of rolling in boar-dung. She likes to have this heavy perfume, it makes her feel powerfull and dominant.
Unfortunately we don't share her preference, on the contrary, it makes us feel sick.
So frequently she needs a shower after having been on a walk.
And she doesn't like this a bit.

February 22, 2009

Dog mornings

This morning I realised the neighbours must think strange thoughts about me.
This is a village after all. Everybody knows John's not around.
So what's up with the screams from our bedroom in the early morning?
I shout "NO!" and "Piss off!" and "Enough!" with the bedroom window wide open...
Well
Sometimes I forget to close the bedroom door and Dora-Dog enters secretely during the night and climbs on the bed (she's found the one and only spot that doesn't skreek when moving) and when I wake up, I violently chase her out.
Not a good thing for my reputation ...

September 01, 2008

Handig, zo'n hond!

August 13, 2008

Dog food making

If we could have some left-overs for the dog, please mr. butcher
- If we had a big dog?
yes, she's a big dog
- et voici, la bouffe pour le chien
... glup ...!

May 31, 2008

Dora and her bone

Dora seemed to have set a record in eating a huge bone in less than an hour. We couldn't believe it but the four of us (Lex, Lal, John and me) looked for it all over the terrace. She couldn't have hidden it because we'd closed the gate to the cour so if it wasn't on the terrace, it had to be in her tummy.
But the next day I made a discovery ...

April 21, 2008

No more heat and dust for now

We figured that after 4,000 pictures of dust and rocks and the tops of builders' heads in the courtyard, you might appreciate a change of scenerey. So JT and Dora walked up the mountain to a ruin called Le Camouflage which is not quite ready to move into.

March 29, 2008

Great walk with the dog

She makes me laugh.

March 22, 2008

Bowl trauma

She's not touching it. When I try to make her, she runs off, hides under the table in John's office, tries to make herself real small behind his legs, hoping I won't find her there, and in the unfortunate event of me finding her after all, hoping that John will protect her. I try sweet talk and firm talk but she's not having any of it.
Then John takes the bowl back outside where it belongs and she happily munches away.
This is not promising for the weeks to come when the terrace (where normally the feeding takes place) is being done up.

March 13, 2008

Bloody parasite discovered

Yesterday I felt a little lump in Doras fur. On closer inspection I thought it was a grain of corn attached to some hair. When I pulled it it wouldn;t come loose so I decided to give her a shower in the morning.
When this morning I told Wayne about it he had a look a pointed out that wasn't a grain of corn, it was a tick! EEKS!
This afternoon we will go to the vet and have the bloody thing removed.
nederlands, over teken
english, about ticks

January 05, 2008

Sleepy

Whenever John or I fall asleep on the sofa Dora wants to be part of that. With only her hind legs on the floor she drapes herself all on top-and-over the human body causing the human body to have very strange dreams.

January 02, 2008

The first sin of the year

Bad dog.
Bad John.
Dora is not supposed to be on the sofa!

December 28, 2007

Two more

Two more walk-picts came in from Madelon. (she sent five but the Boy-humps-Dora picture got censured by John)

December 27, 2007

Sweeping the cob webs away

In Dutch it's called "uitbuiken" and in English the after-christmas-walk is often referred to as "getting rid of the cob webs in your head". Whatever the expression, we had a propper walk on a sunny after-christmas day. Five adults and four dogs strolled along for 2.5 hours in the mountains. The biggest part went uphill which was a bit of a surprise but very good for developing the muscles. Miranda and Madelon were not impressed by any steep bits, Wyndham is generally in good shape, John always just keeps on going in a steady pace - not fast but forever. I wasn't very impressed with my own fitness level. Mentally yet another resolution got added to my newyears-list...
At the end of our mountain walk we treated ourselves to a delicious cup of rum-spiked hot chocolate!

December 17, 2007

More soft porn especially for Robert

December 12, 2007

We hebben wel een heel speciaal kerstkindje ...

Een verrassing toen ik zag wat ik per ongeluk gemaakt had: Dora's nest is plotseling een kerststalletje geworden! Nou ja, ze maakt het geluid van een kameel en gedraagt zich als een ezel, zit dus wel goed zo.

November 29, 2007

Dora and John, John and Dora

When John gets ready for his siësta, so does Dora ...

November 09, 2007

Lloyd en Dora

Peuter en hond zijn dikke vrienden.
Op een wrede manier; ze houden vooral van elkaar als ze elkaar ergens voor kunnen gebruiken.

November 03, 2007

Cleaning, cooking and learning

In the morning when I am cooking for the evening, I hear a funny noise coming from the court yard. Turns out that John discovered our new leaf blower and has a go. Within an hour we have a decent looking courtyard again.
After lunch we prepare for the first Dog Class. Our friend Miranda had already been a couple of times with Boy and recommended it to us. She is so right, it's a great thing to do. Dora wasn't bad at it, just a bit distracted by the presence of her lover, Boy.
We've decided to go again next saturday, naturally for Dora, but also for us. The half an hour drive there is just stunning.

October 28, 2007

Fall garden

It's been heavenly the last week. Dominique has helped me in the garden and I've discovered she is a bit of a pyromaniac, which is welcome this time of year where alle the weeds need to be burned. El Gouche, the neighbour, is happy with the company and frequents us with cups of very sweet tea.
Dora runs around like a crazy horse and then suddenly keels over and falls asleep in the sun.

October 05, 2007

Dora and Debra

Dora needs to greet everbody extensively every morning but Debra is clearly her most greetable friend. She can hardly wait for Debra to get out of bed. Debra in return is not a fan of our big dribling dog. Especially not in the morning, and - oddly - ESPECIALLY NOT when the Dog wants to stuff the disgusting, chewed up and dribbled on piece of rope into her face.
Dog-Dora clearly interprets Debra's insults as having failed to be loveable and is therefore determined to MAKE Debra love her... no matter what it takes. Dora will sit in front of Debra's bedroom door every morning, quietly preparing for giving her best LOVE-ME-performance ever.

September 23, 2007

But she did do it!

I failed to take the right picture at the right time but John managed to let Dora swim, finally. We knew she liked water but the whole summer we tried to get her to swim in the deep, and she wouldn't. And yesterday John jumped into the river and another dog was doing the same thing and suddenly within minutes Dora was the four-legged female version of Johnny Weismuller. We're so proud!

September 17, 2007

Grrr

and I just cleaned the windows ...

August 27, 2007

Mia spoken, only 3

There is a new word that really gets Dora going.
It's "IjsKlokjes", cause she'll be looking for a deeply loved icecube. Thanks to Mia, Dora knows the name ...

And when Mia was introduced to my friend she asked "Hoe heet die man?"
And the reply was:"Jan-Jaap, or J J"

"or jo jo": my niece finished

July 20, 2007

Grint, tuin en hond

Floor kwam binnen en een dagje later kwam John ook thuis. Alles weer in evenwicht: twee teven en twee heren.
Het is snikheet, richting 40 graden. Floor en ik (met hond) zijn de afgelopen dagen voor 7.00 uur al naar onze moestuin gewandeld om aan schadebeperking te doen: flink wieden en wateren en hopen dat de bijna verstikte plantjes het toch weer gaan doen. Het ziet er steeds beter uit dus ik heb goede hoop.

July 14, 2007

Hopefully just in time

It has been two weeks since I last was in my garden and in those two weeks there has been enormous activity. I hardly recognize my own little allotment and I definitely can't find many of the plants that were just budding the last time I was here. I've worked from 8.00 this moring untill 17.00 and there is hardly any visible difference. Sigh. Back aches and my feet are burned (the rest I carefully had covered with sunscreen), and I'm starving. Bloody weeds.
Dora however didn't mind the weeds. Au contraire, Dora loves weeds, and baths in the little stream and in the big river, and weedy baths too. She was so knackered that she forgot to ask for her dinner, she's loudly snoring away. Guess I'll feed her when she wakes up.
What a great day.

July 13, 2007

Bitten, pissed on and screamed at

This morning I got bitten, pissed on, screamed at and even had blood on my t-shirt but I had the time of my life. Yesterday at the vet (Dora's stitches were removed) I got an invitation to meet Dora's brand new 11 half brothers and sisters. They were 1 month and ten days old and looking delicious, ears AND tail in tact too! I immediately saw one I wanted, needed even! She was greyish, big paws, calm and most of all didn't whine when given the painfull injection. Up until then she was the only one who just calmly took it, holding her breath for a second and almost invisibly shrinking her neck into her shoulders, but no sound at all. Brave girl!
But. She was a girl and if there is going to be a second dog, I'd like it to be a boy.
One but last there was this young lad with the same behaviour as the grey girl. He was rather big and had the same coat as Dora but then just a tiny white patch on his chest, more of a stroke than a patch. Both of them were the only ones of the lot that took the injection like a man. Both loved to be stroked and the boy especially seemed to be a big marshmellow, just like Dora but bolder.
And last but not least there was this funky small grey boy, bossy, forcefull, loud and investigative, the opposite of the two above. The vet said it wasn't a dog for us; too powerful, more of a working dog. But somehow I can't get him out of my head. He is previsionally called "Chucky" by the way (for those of you who've seen the film, it might give an idea).
And now I can't make up my mind.
The only thing I seem to have decided is that the need for another puppy is urgent...
They become available at the beginning of August, just when Kate and her friends arrive. Could be good timing, they can clean up the shit!

Dora's parents

Look, she really looks exactly like her dad! (poor dad had his ears chopped off which makes him look real vicious)

July 02, 2007

No more babies

Last week thursday Dora was sterilized. She was in bad shape when she returned home, wobbly on her legs, refusing to eat, looking terribly sad with dropped eyelids, and showing her heart-shape-shaven belly to remind us of her ordeal.
After two days she felt much better already, playing rough, causing her wound to open again etc. I had to dress her up in her masters T-shirt to stop her nibbling the stitches.
And of course, I also had to bake especially delicious dog-treats to spoil her a bit. She loves them!

June 14, 2007

A Walk and a drive ...

I drove to Pont de L'Herault, all by myself (with some useless help of Dora in the back), to meet Miranda and her dog called Boy for a walk. After days of heat the drizzle was welcome and turned the landscape into something straight from "The Lord Of The Ring" or something. We walked for about 6 km but most of it went straight up so I did sweat and pant and complain, but it was terrific.

June 08, 2007

Dogwalk harvest

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June 06, 2007

Dakjeshond

Dora houdt erg van relaxen met een dakje boven d'r hoofd. Of relaxen met mensenvlees in de buurt.
Ze weet het nog niet maar ze wordt echt te groot.
Arm ding.

So?

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You are a three star cook? Well ...
That don't impress me much
And even if it were true
Who's going to stop me from protecting that delish chicken from unwanted attention ...

June 05, 2007

For John: Dora's new "friend"

The fierce neighborhood tom cat has been teasing Dora for two days now.
He sits comfortably on top of the wall: licking its paws, jawning and staring into the distance; driving Dora nuts.
(click on the play-arrow to see it as slidesow)

May 13, 2007

Adembenemend

Maar amper foto's gemaakt op de ochtendwandeling met twee honden en vriendin Peggy. Eenmaal thuis schiet ik plaatjes van een wild bloemetje hier en een zaadje daar, bij gebrek aan beter. Maar zalig was het: wilde orchideën, narcissen, gladiolen, de gekste geraniumsoorten en zelfs zonnedauw hebben we gezien. Al dat moois verpakt in een geweldig landschap dat ook nog lekker rook.
zucht.

May 05, 2007

Bad dog

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Innocently sunbathing while eating my tiny baby-seed-plants on the terrace...

Killer-dog

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March 03, 2007

We went to the Vet

After more than a week of keeping track of Dora's huge cut in her paw - treating it with betadine and another herbal healing potion that "stinks" of lavender (according to Dora) - today I asked Peggy to take us to the vet. Dora didn't eat yesterday, she's been having trouble eating ever since John left (which coincided with her being on heat), and what's more she's been even more needy than before. Every ten minutes she needs a cuddle, she doesn't want to play, just cuddle. She sleeps a lot too.
So I thought: 't all might be because of her PMS (pre/post-menstrual syndrome) that I relate to. But yesterday I suddenly felt real worried.
With good reason. the vet tested her blood and the blood wasn't okay, he suspects poison! At the same time he agrees that some dogs just have heavy PMS. So she's been given and injection that should perk up her apetite and energy. If not I have t see him again next wednesday.
As far as her paw concerns, no infection and I seem to have done everything he would have advised me already. It's healing, she has no feaver, and he reassured me that that'll be okay as long as she's not running around rockey areas for the time being.
Nevertheless she might have been poisoned by something.

BTW: Peggy, thank you so much for being there and help me understand all the details the french vet expressed.

February 26, 2007

Noisy

We knew she was lazy.
We knew she liked to sunbathe.
We knew she was noisy (although she never actually barks).
However, we didn't know she could combine the three....

February 24, 2007

Tyrone

A possible dog-wedding is in the making. I met Tyrone in front of SuperU today and after I told him about Dora he dropped by to meet her. They really got along but it seems we have to wait at least a year before Dora can have babies.
Dora clearly is disappointed. Then again when I told her about that song " let's wait a while", she seemed a bit more understanding.

February 20, 2007

Damp Days

Not everybody hates dampness. The doggesse seems to like any kind of moisturising. But then again, at the moment Dora likes anything that keeps her occupied. Because of her ladylike-situation, I can't have her run freely, and she gets very frustrated.
She even steals and destrois the dustpan ... not to mention my handbag, shoppingbag, an old diary, my Clarks shoes, a bread basket, plastic plantpots etc.

October 22, 2006

For John who is in Bath

For John who is in Bath

October 13, 2006

For John who is in China

October 08, 2006

Animal weekend in Oktober

October 06, 2006

Dora of Perception

Dora lived with her brothers and sisters In St. Bauzille, 7 km from Ganges. We wanted a Cane Corso but the only ones we could find -at short distance- were in Lyon. Until this week when John saw a van filled with dogs parked in front of the vet. We talked to the vet and she was very positive about the young girl that had her first nest but was stuck with five pups because she planned the "marriage" badly; the pups were ready to leave the nest just at the beginning of the Summer Holidays so she had a difficult time to get rid of them.
We saw Dora (who was previously called Bione which we didn't like) immediately because she was the biggest, bigger even then the male (at 6 months she weighs 35 kg). So I discarded her thinking it would be a bit much. But Dora kept coming back to us, hanging off my new shirt and playfully biting John's bum. She was also the leader of the pack eventhough she's a girl. We liked that more and more. And when we saw how soppy she was, sweet as candy, balanced and secure we gave in. Eventhough we never meant to have a horse in the house we just fell for her. And now we removed furniture and the house stinks of Dog.
And I dig my nose in the stench.
We've been laughing like children the whole afternoon, Dora bumping into herself in the mirror, Dora being scared of Henk, Dora trying to nest on the sofa, Dora learning how to walk the stairs, Isn't she a miracle, she doesn't pull when walking her, look at her, she's happy with other dogs, Did you see, the pierced junky with the pitbull was shitting himself, etc.
We have to face the horrible truth: we've become dog-bores.

Live stock acquisition-week

It started with Lena, Anna's daughter, visiting and giving me all Anna's plants. We have a green terrace and a green living room wich makes it feel homely.
Then Henk happened. Sickly but cute and in need of attention. So homely.
And today at 11.45h we're going to look at some 6 month old puppies/toddlers. John saw a small van parked in front of the vet with five super-cute black thingies in it. As he approached they were curious but didn't bark at him which convinced him they loved him.
So he took the phone number and yesterday evening, after serious adoption talks between husband and wife, I called the woman and made an appointment to have a look.
We'll (maybe) have only one though, not five!
Watch this blog!

October 05, 2006

132,50: Notre Cher Chat ...

The outcome of our vet-visit is a sick cat with high fever, a virus and/or an infection. A number of injections were given and Henk shitted on the table whilst showing an unknown agression. It could have been worse since the vet initially feared cat-leucemia but a test showed he is fine on that department.
We were planning to buy a dog today but given the amount Henk has already cost us (vet but also food, baskets, litter tray etc) we feel we have to think a bit longer about a big fat lady dog... (When seeing the bill John seemed as upset as Henk)
Anyway, Henk will be on medication for the coming week and we hope he'll pull through.
According to the vet he's between 1,5 and 2 years old and has had a very active sexlife. He has big balls -- but they won't remain there after he gets better...

October 03, 2006

No more cat-pictures, Please!

Henk is okay. We haven't gone to the vet yet but will hopefully tomorrow.
He is very skinny, an anorexicat really. But he eats like a real man, makes a noise, puts his head against our legs and goes to sleep again. He still doesn't play or purr; he's too exhausted we think.
So far it'is disappointingly easy having him around.
Anyway, John and I agreed not to put milions of cat-pictures on this blog so don't bank on more cattishness soon

October 02, 2006

Henk happens

We went to say hello to Peggy's leg that was without cast since six weeks. We said hello and Peggys' reply was "Wanna cat?".
A stray had been visiting and chasing away their cats. The stray turned out to be the only cat I would have wanted- ever. Henk (the name simply seemed right) is beautiful, snow-white belly, grey topcoat, very sweet and ... very hungry. We took him home with the needed accessories borrowed from Peggy. Tomorrow we'll take him to the vet to find out how old he is, to de-flea him, give him injections and to have his balls cut off.
More later.