Dogs And Cats And Pens... Oh My!

[inkstainedruth]

Hope you like it. It's the first Agatha Christie I ever read, a series of stories with a connected over-story: Hercule Poirot wants to retire and decides to take twelve final cases, that have in common a relation to each of the 12 Labors of his mythological namesake. I found a copy at a book sale fundraiser at my local library (hardbound books were a quarter apiece, paperbacks a dime) and picked it up just on the basis of the title.

I try my hand at writing fiction every now and again, but I would never attempt to do a mystery: plotting them is too complicated, and details such as types of poisons too much work. Besides -- Dame Agatha probably came up with the idea first, and way, way better....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Tom Kellie]

Hope you like it. It's the first Agatha Christie I ever read, a series of stories with a connected over-story: Hercule Poirot wants to retire and decides to take twelve final cases, that have in common a relation to each of the 12 Labors of his mythological namesake. I found a copy at a book sale fundraiser at my local library (hardbound books were a quarter apiece, paperbacks a dime) and picked it up just on the basis of the title.

I try my hand at writing fiction every now and again, but I would never attempt to do a mystery: plotting them is too complicated, and details such as types of poisons too much work. Besides -- Dame Agatha probably came up with the idea first, and way, way better....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

~ inkstainedtruth:

 

I'm grateful to have the book, as references to Pekingese dogs are few and far between.

One of the more charming is in the lyrics of Cole Porter's “Let's Do It”.

“...even Pekingeses at Ritz do it,

Let's do it, let's fall in love.”

Falling in love with Yubi hasn't been a gradual process. He utterly charmed me from his first tentative step into my apartment.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Soggy Puppy

[inkstainedruth]

Oh, did somebody just have a *bath*? Is somebody now slightly unhappy about just having had a bath? (Yubi looks a little, well, PUT OUT over the current state of affairs.... )

Reminds me of the story my choir director told a number of years ago -- at the time she and her husband had three cats. And every now and again she bathed them..., and the reaction of the cats went something like this:

The first one, Loki, was like, "Hey, I thought I was a GOOD cat! :o"

The second one, Troll (which we wound up taking because he terrorized the other two), would be going, "Oh, I must have been a BAD cat.... :(" [We tended to not bathe cats, but Troll was a Peke-faced Persian and got horrible mats in his fur and we had to have him shaved in the summer -- after which he discovered that harassing our two girls was Really Not A Good Idea™ because he didn't have his usual padding... And they didn't like having an annoying little brother.... Unfortunately, trying to clip him was an exercise in frustration because he would fight, and the pills the vet gave us to give him didn't work fast enough to knock him out, and because Persians have respiratory problems they didn't want us to give him more than half a pill, which just made him stumble around the house like a drunken sailor on shore leave; we ended up having to take him to the vet for them to actually give him anesthesia as if he was having surgery, just to shave him down for the summer.]

The third one, Grendel (who would be fighting her the entire time): "I'm going to KILL you....! :angry:"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Tom Kellie]

~ inkstainedruth:

 

Yubi's attitude is something along the lines of resigned acceptance.

He gets that in the long run baths are for his good.

What he doesn't get is why he feels so gloppy, soppy wet afterwards.

He's sweet-tempered, so he meekly goes along with the shampooing and multiple rinses.

After a vigorous toweling, he retreats to a hideaway to meditate on life's mysteries.

Tom K.

[empliau]

My dog hates baths but stands (or sits) meekly for them, but during the combing that follows she keeps licking my hands. I think she feels that if she's placatory enough, we'll stop. Also she gets treats at intervals, so perhaps she's hinting "treat time".

[Tom Kellie]

My dog hates baths but stands (or sits) meekly for them, but during the combing that follows she keeps licking my hands. I think she feels that if she's placatory enough, we'll stop. Also she gets treats at intervals, so perhaps she's hinting "treat time".

 

~ empliau:

 

Your dog sounds much like Yubi.

He's a dedicated hand kisser.

In almost any context Yubi opts for kisses on fingertips.

That may because he's fed directly from my hands, cupped as a bowl.

I'm glad that your dog accepts bathing as “one of those things” in a dog's life.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Giving the Eye

[Tom Kellie]

Hope you like it. It's the first Agatha Christie I ever read, a series of stories with a connected over-story: Hercule Poirot wants to retire and decides to take twelve final cases, that have in common a relation to each of the 12 Labors of his mythological namesake.

 

~ inkstainedruth:

 

I read it and did like it.

The descriptions of affluent dowagers coddling their Pekes brought a smile to my face.

Effervescent writing that's refreshing to read.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Puppy Sofa

[CS388]

Ah, what a delightful picture.

 

Yubi has found his rightful place.

 

There's more to life than pens.

 

Best wishes to you both.

[Tom Kellie]

Ah, what a delightful picture.

 

Yubi has found his rightful place.

 

There's more to life than pens.

 

Best wishes to you both.

 

~ CS388:

 

Thank you so much.

There's indeed more to life than pens.

They sketch or record what matters most.

Yubi brightens every day in my household.

To express my appreciation for your comment, I'll post an image made at around 7 am this morning.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Yubi at 7 am

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

[empliau]

Anticipation and satisfaction. Yubi is a delight.

[Tom Kellie]

Anticipation and satisfaction. Yubi is a delight.

 

~ empliau:

 

Yubi and I thank you!

Before knowing Yubi, I'd never realized that dogs could retain a sweet, puppyish, gentle disposition at 7 months old.

He's a warm-hearted charmer, who loves to play with his toys, watch me read and write, and nap.

Together we share a low-key, non-ambitious, cheerful life.

Tom K.

[fpwriter]

 

Before knowing Yubi, I'd never realized that dogs could retain a sweet, puppyish, gentle disposition at 7 months old.

I feel they never grow out of the puppyish behaviour completely. Cypher is still quite like a puppy, a large 100lb puppy

Dodo, has slowed down a bit due to his age but open a tub of ice cream or a pack of treats and the puppy in him jumps right out too.

[Tom Kellie]

I feel they never grow out of the puppyish behaviour completely. Cypher is still quite like a puppy, a large 100lb puppy

Dodo, has slowed down a bit due to his age but open a tub of ice cream or a pack of treats and the puppy in him jumps right out too.

 

~ KshitijShetty:

 

Cypher is definitely larger than Yubi!

Yubi weighs a bit less than 4 kg, which is average for a 7 month old Pekingese.

He's puppyish all of the time, with affectionate little kisses, stretching, tail-wagging, and nudging with his head.

As it happens, he has a smiling face which turns on whenever he chases me through the apartment.

I'm glad that your dogs haven't lost their puppy sweetness.

Thank you for such a nice comment.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Sunshine Puppy