Charlie nails it...sorta

Charlie doesn't like to pose much. I could tell Morris to sit and he would sit and stare at me with an intensity that only Jack Russell's could muster up.

Morris his last Christmas pose:

Charlie...

Nah mom...just nah...

and the next year.... nope, won't look at you....

Finally this year I just winged it.

I'm sure Charlie could care less. No stupid sweater, no garlands, just a ribbon this year. It was a grab and shoot and I think I will keep it.

Such a look of ultimate unconcern on his face.

I may try another one with him. But truthfully? He is happiest while hiking or holding down the couch with his Dad-human.

Charlie Charlie ... The Chicken

I thought I'd go visit my MIL in the nursing home early Sunday. I gave Charlie a bath and took him along.

I brought puzzle books and a card. I tucked Charlie under my arm as I made my way down the hallways. I was stopped my nearly everyone. Housekeeping, nurses, staff, and residents who wanted to see the 'puppy'. Charlie wagged his tail and loved all the petting.

We finally made it to MIL's room and Charlie greeted her with happy wags as she reached down to pet him. He eventually made it to her lap and laid down.

As MIL complained about the terrible beds, the boredom, and how 'nothing' was happening, her hands kept stroking Charlie's coat.
I've also learned with Alzheimer's that you just go with the flow. She told me repeats of the past few events and I listened. No matter that we'd had this conversation before. Her time line and my time line of events are different and that is okay, we still had a very nice visit.
She told me she was going home the next time she saw a doctor. She wanted to go home and sit in her chair and not be bothered and she wanted very strong pain pills.
I reminded her that he kidneys were so frail that they couldn't handle strong pain pills. She made a face and then I decided I should keep my mouth shut and let the pros handle it.

All the time, she just unconsciously pet Charlie and soon Charlie's eyes were droopy. The only time he looked concerned is when he could hear someone coming down the hallway.

When the visit was over I let Charlie walk down the hall on his leash. He is so low to the ground and has such a funny gate. However, he walked as if he owned the place.
Some housekeeping gals asked if the could pet him. Charlie walked up and sat by their feet while they rubbed his ears and talked to him. His tail swished and he sat still.
At the nurse's station, the gals came out and had to see Charlie. Then the residents in wheelchairs saw him and the crowd began to merge in on us. Charlie walked from one resident to another and sat at their feet if they put their hand down or spoke to him.

One lady insisted he was a Chicken. Well why not? Let Charlie be a Chicken. Ever person smiled. Frail shaking hands gently touched Charlie and Charlie just sat quietly.

How old is he? Asked a nurse.
Just over a year.

Please bring him back again.

We got through the group of residents and started down the hall. Charlie peered into each room to see if there was someone in it. I was told that Charlie could visit if they asked him in.
Funny that he'd pause for a bit at each resident's door and watch them, then move slowly on to the next.

Last stop was outside the lunchroom. More workers came out and all wanted to say hi. Charlie sat and seemed to relish the attention. He didn't wiggle, he didn't whine, he didn't bark. He just was like Charlie Zen.

I've concluded that Charlie has an old soul and really can tell things about people. When he meets most folks he is bubbly and excited but calms down quickly.

He seemed to know that all these folks wanted was to touch him and he seemed content and quiet.
On the ride home, he curled up in his car seat and slept.

Charlie, Chuckie, Charlie, Chicken, Puppy, Doggy, ... whatever name he goes by...he is really something special.

Someone said that Morris must have brought him into our lives.
I wonder....

Walk the Dogs

These two really do have fun together. Dixie is the velcro dog which I find pretty funny. She generally will run a small distance to smell good smells and then she is instantly back to check me by touching my hands or knee with her large nose.

Charlie finds her to be a great playmate. And eventually she will give in to his puppyish behavior and wrestle with him.

Charlie takes the tumble, but rolls and gets right back up.

And Sweet Dixie doesn't seem to mind at all.

We headed down to the middle of the creek. I thought that I didn't dress warm enough as I was chilled. So I figured a fast hike would warm me up.

I wanted to grab a few quick shots of the creek. With the skies so dull I could quickly set up a long exposure quickly.

I was looking for ice fingers which I was able to find fairly quickly. These past few days we have broken records for cold temperatures and it shows in the creek.

There was a challenge though in having a little dog who wanted to sit on the very same rock I had my tripod on and a very big DOG that thought any time I squatted down ... she should SIT in my lap.

Here Dixie comes on the lope, leaving Charlie to a good smell. I steadied my camera and stood up just as Dixie poked that huge nose into my face. Oh for the love of a hound.

I set up another shot and fended off the dogs, then put everything away except the pocket camera.

Charlie was unfazed by the ice on his coat. He kept chasing Dixie and they kept playing. I checked to make sure he was warm enough. No...no shivering at all. He wiggled and ran after his Big Gal Pal.

I'd have to take another day this week between appointments and errands to take a solo walk to the creek to find more ice formations.

I sure do love winter and hunting for these little unique formations.

I may have to get out early tomorrow morning to hunt some more up we've had a small record cold spell and it looks like it may break tomorrow afternoon.

Come Saturday I won't be able to take the dogs for a walk for a few days.

It is opening weekend for the 9 day Deer Gun Season.
I am conflicted over these 9 days. Probably because on the one side of my property is many acres of land that is 'invaded' by weekend warriors who dress in orange and look for the BIG Monster Buck. They sometimes lose their sensibilities.
After opening weekend, the landowner disappears and the squatting brother will let anyone hunt who brings him beer.

I am always grateful on the last day when the sun sets and gun season is over.

The dogs and I can walk freely about without being mistaken for deer.

Meanwhile in Charlie Land...

Walkie? What is Walkie? Where did she come up with that?
Then she called me Chucky and Charles.
Oh sigh.

I suppose since she thinks I am cute because I am so little she can get away with things like that.

Well dang it. I am cute. Just look at that face!

Or even my butt view.

I am ever so adorable.
And I am learning to use that to my advantage.

I give her those big ol' eyes when I want something. I don't hop around, I don't whine or cry, or bark. I just look.

And she melts.

If she picks up car keys I go stand by the door. I like the car seat thing, I like to go with her. Most of the time I can't. I'm okay with that.

Other days when she puts her boots on I just look up at her and then go stand by the door. When she gets out that cord, I know I've won!

I can even grunt once in a while to get her attention. I did that the other day when she said she was going to the creek.
By the time we got to the water, she took my cord off so it wouldn't get caught on anything while we hiked.

She can jump those huge areas of water. I spend my time going around or finding rocks to use to get through the creek. The ice cold water on my tummy is bothersome but when it is really hot, I don't mind.

We got to one part of the creek that she always likes to stop at. I like it too. When hiking with her or with a group I know that I can take the deer trail up the bank and into the woods.

So SHE started setting her camera thingy up and told me "YOU better stick around Charlie and don't wander!"
What did I really hear?

"Hey Charlie, I'll be busy so why don't you follow all of those neat smells? I'm sure you'd rather do that than stay with me!"

She bent over to do her thing and I crept up the hill. Oh the smells were delicious and I could hear those pesky chipmunks in the distance. Perhaps I could catch a deer, or squirrel, or something else! Maybe there would be deer poo to roll in or even nibble on.

Pretty quick I heard her calling my name and she was not a happy human. In fact she started even using some words I'd never heard of before. She even screeched out my name and used Charles and some other forms and it sounded like she was having some sort of breakdown fit type of thing.
I got worried and left those delicious deer droppings and turned to run down the trail to her.

Phew. She was okay and not frothing at the mouth. She had that angry look on her face though so I just stopped and gave her my big eyes. She reached down and whisked me up and hugged me even though I was wet and muddy.
She put the little cord on me and said something about NOT letting me loose again on this hike.

So much for smelly things in the woods.

She explained to me how she was doing an experiment with multiple shots exposures and then combining them to do something. I had no idea what she was talking about.
I didn't want her to screech again so I decided to pretend I was interested.

See?
I even walked under her tiny tripod stick thingy while she was doing camera stuff. I just laid down right there and stayed.

She seemed a bit uptight about that, but she said she still got some cool shots.

And after she was done, we picked stuff up and headed home.

The way home was rather boring, she kept the line on me and kept a sharp eye out too. I didn't think I could get away with anything.
That is, not until she had to use both hands to open the gate and I shot through to chase a little bird on the ground.
I almost got it too.

I sat in her lap later in the evening while she told the old fella about our adventures. She said something about Morris never chased anything and he should have and how I wanted to chase everything even though I was so little.

Interesting. What does she mean by so little? I think I am just fine like I am thank you very much.

Yeah.
And if she says Walkies again? I'll go. Why not?
It is good to get her out and about for fresh air, she seems happier after I walk her.

Signed~~
Charlie