Disco Digs (in which Digger gets his groove on!)

21 Janurary 2014

I took my husband to the train station today.  He’s off to London to make his daily crust and couldn’t possibly have walked the 20 minutes or so from our house to catch the train.  It’s too foggy/damp/yukky/dark, etc, etc.  Besides, he had to bring me my morning coffee at 6:45 am so I would be able to function enough to drive him to the station.

 

It was still dark when we left the house and, because of this, Digger donned his disco collar.  I call it a disco collar because it’s neon yellow with bright red flashing lights all around it.  It enables me to see him in the dark, since Digger’s the colour of the mud that is currently engulfing the nation!  My husband was appalled and asked why Digger was being subjected to such humiliation! ‘His new disco collar is cool and besides, everyone has his/her disco phase!’ said I, with great conviction.

 

So Digger, with his immensely coveted (amongst dogs, anyway) disco collar, ventured out into the wilds of Rothamsted Park (http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/) with his mates Jimmy and Dougy (who sports a rather fetching blue disco collar) and went on his daily explore, confident in the fact that the Alpha could spot him wherever he was (or at least call him and he’d raise his head above the grass to show his collar).

I wonder, sometimes, what my ‘disco collar’ looks like to my Alpha.  What is it that He sees in me that singles me out from the crowd, that He can spot when I’ve got my nose buried deep into whatever project I happened to be sniffing around, that when He calls and I raise my head, he can see that collar and thus know where I am? Most assuredly my collar is ‘talent’.  I bet my dramatic talents, quick wit and charm, not to mention my razor-sharp intellect really are the things that single me out in a crowd, to my Maker (she says, tongue in cheek).   Surely the collar of this drama queen sparkles loud and proud, right?  Loud enough for Him to notice, I bet.  No, I think the disco collar around my neck is ‘daughter’. All because He loves me and longs to see me even in the darkest of nights, even when I go astray. Phew!  Even when I’m exhausted and can’t do another thing, He still is able to pick me out of a crowd.

 

Digger has a disco collar for this very reason – to spot him in the dark, in the mud, in the woods, on his journey, to make sure he’s close, safe and in my sight. All because I adore that disco king, I do!

 

This is a photo of the much loved new corgi named Clyde, who is the latest family member in the Lancaster household.  My sister-in-law, Dena, just got him and I know that he will be so very happy in that house.  Please send in more of your dog photos!!!!!!

Plus there are always dogs....

18 January 2014

 

My friend, Patti, posted, on her Facebook page, the following picture:

 

(http://www.giftofniceness.com/)

 

There have been a lot of bad days around here lately.  Take the weather, for instance.  Linda, Susanne and I are fed up with walking through the mud and the incessant rain.  If we’re told this summer that there will be a hose pipe ban due to drought conditions, I believe that the whole of the United Kingdom will take up in arms. Mind you, Digger, Dougy, Jimmy and Jasmine are loving it.  Running across the fields of Rothampstead Manor, through the puddles (small lakes??) and trekking through the woods is akin to going to Disneyland for children.  They are in their element.  Dogs have a way of making the most/best of each day and every situation, whatever the weather, whoever the human. Also, we three ladies are forever complaining about the darkness of the hour (usually a 7:00 am kick off for the dog walk) in the winter.  I’m surprised we are not all crippled with seasonal affective disorder, a truly wicked disorder to have.   Also, it is truly miraculous, after all these years of walking dogs together, that we still like each other.  Think about it. We do not see each other at our best.  We wake up early (in the pitch black, most of the year), trek out in our wellies, scarves, gloves and hats (most of the year), pick up dog poo off the football pitches and hose down and dry filthy muddy hounds day in and day out. Moreover, we do all this with very little caffeine in our systems.  Why am I still friends with these ladies?  ‘Cause they are good folk.  Kind people. As Susanne would say 'Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid.' We share each other’s joy, sorrow, pain, complaints, victories, defeats, struggles and strides. Despite all the bad days I’ve had and all the mean people that have hurt me, when I walk with these kind ladies, my day doesn’t seem so bad after all.  The Lord has provided me with such amazing friends, wouldn’t you say?

 

Thank you, Pattie, my dear kind friend, for reminding me that there are good days and kind folks and faithful companions. 

 

I would like to thank my niece, Ruth, for sending in a photo of her babies, Frank and Finely and their friend, Lily.  What a trio!!! 

 

 



 

 

What’s a girl to say but :( ?

9 January 2014

What’s a girl to say but L?

Last week Digger hijacked my computer, wrote the blog, then proceeded to write an ode to my daughter.  I’m back and you’ll be glad to know that this week there’ll be no ode or mention of the words ‘sweet’ and ‘fart’ in the same sentence**.

This week’s edition of the Digger Dogologues is dedicated to Digger’s friend, Max, a beautiful bouvier des flandres who passed away last weekend. He was the much-loved pet, a loyal, faithful and true companion my dear friend, Roger, and will be greatly missed.

For those of you who own a dog (or a pet who can actually interact with you), you’ll know what it’s like to love an animal (almost?) like a member of the family. No more need be said.  My friends Melanie, Christy and Linda, as well as my sister, Mindy would all understand this feeling of loss.  But for you who are pet-less, then know that it can be very traumatic to lose a beloved pet. 

Max was a beast of a dog.  Their name in French means “cow herder of Flanders” and they were originally used for general farm work and the males can weigh upwards to 120 pounds (or 54 kilograms). Now they are used for guard dogs or police dogs or PETS!  Rumor has it that the sound that Chewbacca made in the Star Wars movie is the same sound that a bouvier makes when he’s making sounds, but I can’t verify this.  Even Ronald Reagan owed a bouvier named Lucky (I found that fact on Wikipedia, so I can’t verify this either. Sorry. Let me know if you know whether that’s true or not.)

Max and Digger met when they were puppies.  Max was born in August and Digger in October and when they would get together and play, Digger, being the much-smaller of the two, would climb all over Max as he lay on the floor.  They were lovely companions and liked each other very much.  As they both grew up, they didn’t see so much of each other. Max would walk at different times than Digger and their owners (whilst still good friends after all these years) couldn’t be bother to arrange play dates for their dogs!  Such is life!

No one approached Roger’s home without first encountering Max.  He was a guard dog, not by training but by nature, and he protected the home and family he loved.  Some might say his bark was worse than his bite (although I never heard that he had bitten a soul) but a stranger approaching the house would only see this big, black, hairy dog barking in bass tones.  He did his job and did it well.  No strangers ever messed with Max! 

As Max grew older, he became grumpier (as often happens in dogs and humans) and was a solitary dog (bar his interaction with Pepe, the new dog in the family, and others he met on his walks).  But, let me tell you this. Max adored his owner, Roger, and Roger adored his Max and together they made a great team. Max, being an uncommon breed in this part of England, always attracted attention when he went out for a walk.  People would often approach Roger and strike up a conversation with him about his dog. As I’ve said before, a dog is a great ice-breaker, especially in England, and can be the catalyst for some deep, life-long friends.  What a legacy, eh?  Roger doted on Max and Max did not leave his side.  Max was a faithful companion to the end.

So here’s to Max.  Fierce protector, faithful companion, much-loved member of the family. 

** http://thediggerdogologues.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/ode-to-my-girlie-or-my-happy-in-happy.html

Ode to My Girlie (or: my 'happy' in Happy New Year)

1 January 2014

Good morning, everyone.  This is Digger writing to you for the very first Digger Dogologue of 2014.  My Alpha (aka Dana) is still in bed (how is it that she’s still asleep at 9:30 am!! Outrageous!!). She must be sleeping off last night’s madness in London.  So, here I am, a loyal, faithful and true companion, taking up the slack and getting this dogologue out to you in a timely manner.

My Alpha and I apologize that you have not heard from us in ages.  I’ve been busy taking naps, chasing pigeons off the roof of our garage, chewing bones, eating, pooing, sleeping, getting ‘loved on’ and hanging with my mates on the Nickey Line and in Rothampstead Park.  My Alpha has monopolized her time by playing the clown for Acting Up! (www.actingup.uk.com), travelling back and forth from England to New York, visiting with her amazing friend, Rocio (to whom many thanks are due for taking good care of me while My Alpha went off to NYC), preparing for Christmas and cooking and eating loads!  You’d think she’d use her time more wisely so as to make the dogologue a priority. (wink wink!)  Never mind!  It’s Digger to the rescue!!!!!  Just call me Wonder Dog!

So, for the New Year posting, I decided NOT to list all my resolutions for 2014 because I have my priorities in line and my goal is to fulfil my priorities.  You know the priorities, right??  Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, eat sensibly (my IBD is under control), go for long walks with my Alpha and make sure I spend plenty of time with her and pay attention to what she has planned for us and of course, just be me!  I’m good at being me and I make lots of people smile by just being me.  So, since these priorities have always been there, I don’t have to go through the routine of making resolutions. “But what will you write about, Digger?”, you ask???

I’d like to write an ode to a very special girlie in my life and she’s known me for many years and I love her lots (and besides, I sleep in her room anytime she’s home and that makes me feel very safe and cosy!).  She taught me how to sit, lie down, shake paws, and wait patiently till she called my name.  People think I’m a very clever dog because I can do all these tricks, but if it hadn’t been for her tutelage, no one would know what I’m capable of.   Her name is Georgia and this month her very first book of poetry is being published.  Her blog is: http://www.georgialynneallen.com/.  Check it out and buy her book.  I can’t read but I hear it’s good! 

I cannot hold a candle to her poetry writing; she’s been practicing a long time and is naturally gifted in writing.  She comes from a long line of poets – both her great grandmother and grandmother were poets – and has written loads of stuff. So, the following is called “An Ode to My Girlie” and I hope you all have a wonderful happy new year!!

 Ode to My Girlie

A long time ago, in a faraway town

You chose me from the pack and you said, all around,

“This is my doggy, the one we’re taking home,

The one who’ll be with me wherever I roam.”

For the joy set before you, you exclaimed with great glee,

“I’m no longer just I but rather a we.”

Together we played, laughed, cuddled and slept.

Then off you went to study. I missed you, but kept

Looking for you upstairs and down.

You then returned home. I’m happy as a clown.

You’re the sweetest girlie a dog could ever know.

And I’ll stay by your side wherever you go.

You are my ‘happy’ in this Happy New Year

For when I am with you, there is nothing to fear.

So, remember, my Georgia, that from the bottom of my heart

I think you are sweet and so are your farts.

  

p.s.  Dana is back next week to raise the tone of the blog. Also, be sure to send in more photos of your dogs.  They will be posted.