Showing posts with label Corgis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corgis. Show all posts

12 July 2015

Celebration...


When you are absent for many years from home, you tend to forget certain events but the story behind this remembrance is well enconsced in my memory as a moment of pride for the nation I call mine.

A little background history:

For centuries the lowlands known as Flanders were under the rule of other nations. Known for their cloth industry worked mainly with English wool, Flemish weavers produced high-quality textiles, their largest centres located in Ghent and at Ypres.

Until the 13th century Flemish merchants conducted their trade outside of what is known as Belgium today, later on developing a lucrative market for their cloths in the Flanders, and thus the seaport of Brugge became a centre of world commerce.

Ever rebelling against outside rulers, the Flemings of Brugge massacred the town’s French garrison (an event known as the Matins of Brugge) in 1302, and King Philip sent his powerful French army into Flanders to take revenge. The Flemings, however, inflicted a disastrous defeat on this army on 11 July, 1302. The spurs taken from the fallen French knights formed the trophy that gave the battle its name: The Battle Of The Spurs.

This victory saved Flanders from French occupation, and France formally recognized Flemish independence in 1305.


Source Google (HERE)

And for those who know MAC the Corgi, it is said one or more of his ancestors probably traveled to Britain with those weavers and were then bred as herders...now to be known as Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Until the next time,



25 June 2015

Such Darlings Could Never Do Anything So Naughty...


Hi Folks,

MAC here, wishing you a lovely day!

Mum says I am at times naughty: Hey, I thought that little peep squeak in the ball (make that plurial, I go through a lot of balls!) was to be removed IMMEDIATELY! Chiche!

She trusts me though enough to keep the house safe whilst she is away; I keep an eye on Dad whilst he is a bachelor and tending his garden (when he is not flying his simulator)...I sunbathe, he works...

Maira, being a cat (and a girl!) just roams around the house and gives us 'those' looks...


We get along just fine, no worries. Just take a look at nap time here (I won't share a photo of Dad snoring in his chair though...He might say no treats after that little jest!)


See how relaxed we are?


How could you ever describe us as being naughty? Whom? Us? NEVER! We are just angels in furry coats!

There are of course some amongst us, canine and feline friends around the world, whom one could perhaps describe as being just a tad naughty...


(Photo source HERE)

Those sweet looks might fool you though so read the whole story at DOWN BY THE SEA.

No matter, we are loved and we know it well!


Mum is writing about us from faraway (under the curious scrutiny from another friend) but we keep always in touch.

Until the next time,


16 March 2015

Guess Who Is The Birthday Boy?

No idea? Righteo, I'll give you a hint...

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Here we go: I am the one on the left Folks (personally I loathe trousers 
albeit Mum says I could use a kilt...)

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Ahem! Well I just feel so good...

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There I go...

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Alright, I know I just had a bath...I'll be good, promise...next time...maybe...

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Mum says I look too serious in this photo.

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Hey thank you little mouse! 
But seriously Folks, I am 9 years old today!!

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me (MAC),
Happy Birthday to me...




31 July 2014

A Painful Encounter...

Sometime in the wee morning as I returned home from walking Mac...Some nasty yellow jacket attacked!
With Mac's allergies (we almost lost him once) I am only too happy to say I found myself the only target.
Perhaps it was the car's vibrations as my son started our SUV to go to town which threatened them but in the end it matters little. That sting was not pleasant!

You might well ask where did it came from...Well, for weeks now we have known of a nest located under the porch, well buried in the ground betwixt two pylons and we have yet to figure out how to reach it. It seems the only way will be to remove part of the porch...Sigh...

We love the wildlife and feed one and all but this is one of God's creatures I wish to be gone as soon as possible.



At least our favourite pup is fine albeit my scream and stomping might well have take a toll on his nerves!
Never mind the fact I was so loud ex-RAF flyboy jumped out of bed faster than I have seen him doing in quite awhile...Still springy for 75!

A bit of research led me to find out it is always best to treat a yellowjacket nest at night (45 minutes after sunset or later) when most of the workers are back in the nest. "Just know that if you treat during the day many of the workers, perhaps as many as 60 or 80 percent, may be out of the nest during your treatment. On occasion, workers and brood in a treated nest will survive and the nest will reactivate in a couple of days..."


Big sigh...


The only way out of the house is through the porch...I wonder how long Mac can wait before he has to go out again...


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Pleaaaase Mum! Not too long I hope...



05 July 2014

Far From The Mad Mad World...

I'll admit we like a quiet life be it on the island or in the mountains. It came as a surprise therefore when we read the following in our island newsletter:

"Hello? This is a private island! We received a request from a Combat Controller at ---- AFB that they be allowed to conduct an exercise which could have included clandestine troops landing on the island and meeting up with a second group, during the night. We declined. 

Also we received a request from a geocacher that his group be allowed to plant a geocache on Herron Island, even though they are not members…..we declined. 

Last year it was a group of kayakers who wanted to make a rest stop at North Beach. We declined."

It seems that our private island is getting perhaps a bit crowded...Maybe it is a sign to make up our mind and definitively move to the cabin...(wilderness only, 1/4 mile away from the National forest and 2 1/4 miles away from the best fishing lake in the state).



Here in our garden we take refuge when the island gets (much too) busy...


One of the highest points of the island, this refuge is open to one and all...


Including Corgis intended to play Frisbee...


"One photo if you absolutely must! Then PLEAAAASE throw the Frisbee!"


The whole family came to say hello this morning...


Peace and quiet...They hide away from noises placing their trust in us...



28 May 2014

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BYE, BYE MOUNTAINS! SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

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AAAAAAHHHH, HOME SWEET HOME!

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AH, OH! MY BACK!
(Pardon the relaxed pose: I need the rest after 9 hours of driving!)




19 May 2014

Monday Morning...


Hello everyone!
Mac the Island Corgi here to wish you a splendid week!




16 March 2014

Today Is Very Special...

Drum roll please!

Today happens to be a very special day: MAC (that's me Folks!) is 8 years old! 
Yep, I was born on 16 March 2006! 


Mum says I look very good for an 8 year old Corgi (she says I am good looking, debonair and all together lovable!) 

She also says I am a walking catastrophe: in the last 12 months I suffered acute pancreatic - my white cell count went above 6000 - and I also lost a battle with a Hobo spider...and I just had a relapse due to another insect bite, maybe a flea? What are cousins for, right?! 
Phew! Life isn't easy for someone with short stubby legs like mine.


I did not want a lot of fuss for my party but as you can tell, Maira is not the kind of gal to get very excited about anything!


I was told to be good whilst Mum prepared my goodies (gifts)!


Biscuits and a new Frisbee! Canine Heaven!
I can't wait to play in the yard (if it ever stops raining that is, I hate rain!)




05 January 2014

Letter to Dogs...

If you checked my sidebar or read posts about 'The Shadow' you know a Corgi rules this house!
I'll credit my daughter for introducing a love for Corgis in this family along with Tasha Tudor's books (you had to know there were books somewhere in this story!)

I am a dog lover first of all (albeit we also have a Cat - who rules EVERYONE of course!) and will spend a considerable amount of time checking favourite blogs who feature their four legged friends. Granny always said to trust a human by the way they treat their pets!

Despite his serious look 'Mac' the Corgi is as mischievous as any of his breed and provides us with daily chuckles with his antics. A ball, Frisbee and treats keeps him happy. His capacity for understanding what we discuss - even when we spell the words - is still a puzzle to us! Nothing gets by him!


The following 'Letter to Dogs' was sent to us by a dear friend, another dog lover of course and is probably known by some of you but here it is none the less just because...well, where would we be without our furry friends?!

Aimed mostly at those of us who have more than one dog (but applicable to any combination of pets, trust me!)

Dear Dogs:

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two dogs in the way!

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain YOUR food. The other dishes are mine and contain MY food. Please note placing a paw print in the middle of MY plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming YOUR food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run!

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am truly sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort!
Look at videos of dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible.
I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but doggy sarcasm!

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees!

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, to try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered.
In addition I have been using bathrooms for years and canine assistance is not mandatory!

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dogs butt. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you.

Then we get to the rules for non-pet owners who visit and...like to complain about our pets:


  1. The dog lives here. You don't!
  2. If you don't want dog hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
  3. I like my dog a lot better than I like most people.
  4. To you she's (he's) a dog. To me she's (he's) an adopted daughter (son) who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and does not speak clearly.
  5. Dogs are better than kids are. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive you car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the pups.


Just so you know: the same applies to cats, except they ignore you until you are asleep.




17 November 2013

Island Corgi...


It's beginning to feel like Winter is on its way...Br...
Chilly nights, gusty winds, cloudy sky and rain...
Hey, normal weather for the Pacific NW coast, right?!


In between (rain) drops my human took me to the beach...
No life ring, it's just that I am still recovering, hence the 'no scratch' (inflatable) collar...
Nasty spider! I no longer look like Scarface Mum says, but I have a long way to go! 

Doc happy with my progress though...Says I have been really good during this ordeal...
(Got two biscuits out of her for that!)

Psst...Mum found another of those spiders...
No more Mrs. Nice! Whack! Down the loo it went...


Ah, those heavenly smells! Can't get enough of these!
Never mind I just ran around (and around) like a lunatic...
(see my leash all twisted!)
I love the sand (and digging!). 
We do not have a lot of snow here (my all time favourite!) 
but it is a bit like it, don't you think so?
Ja, well at least for us dogs!


Stormy weather as I said! 
Ferry docked on island side and will resume service at 1500 hours, ending with the 1900 hours! 
Curfew time Mum calls it, Dad says they just pull the bridge over the moat! 
(not sure why since we have NO bridge?)
No late outings on the mainland for us Folks!
Mum says the only time of the year she misses it is at Christmas time...
She loves the twinkling lights on homes!

Nap time Folks! 
See you...
Me (MAC)



28 October 2013

Erma Bombeck Had It Right!


Life is just a bowl of cherries...or so I thought! I even imagined I was the only one 'in the pits' but not so!
Erma Bombeck had it right: If Life is supposed to be a bowl of cherries, why am I in the pits?

I think all of us are  familiar with the saying but have we read this down to earth and very witty author's writing? Not in my case so I will have to remedy this asap!  It definitively applies here, trust me without my boring you with all the details!

Since we have already lost the power twice whilst I wrote this post I am rushing to publish it as fast as I can!

Autumn has showned its face on our island with much marine fog, stormy weather and dreary skies!
To those of you who have shared the wonderful colours of Fall elsewhere, thank you! Indian summers are so beautiful!
A pod of whales swam nearby, seagulls are following what must be a rather large school of herrings and seals are seen bopping along the shore.

An idyllic life if it weren't for a series of mishaps one after the other starting with our Corgi being bitten by a rather nasty spider on 4th October! 
One emergency evacuation (in a skiff since we were in dry dock!) to an animal hospital followed by around the clock care, followed by another visit to our regular Vet for what appears to be the result of scratching (it's a dog people!), more shaving (we now nicknamed him Scarface) another round of antibiotics, antibacterial spray and finally the ignominy of wearing a (cone of infamy) collar...


Thanks to a kindred spirit (Meet Bailey Bear and his human HERE), Mac did not have to wear one of those stiff plastic collar (we are talking Corgis here Folks, short on legs!) and is now sporting (day and night) the latest apparatus for keeping oneself from scratching (at least for dogs!).

Below a recap if you missed it the first time:

 http://liveanddreamalittledream.blogspot.com/2013/09/dog-owners-bewareitsy-bitsy-spider.html

And here is Mac (so depressed we called the Vet today...Going back on 4 November!)



I believe God never gives to anyone more than he or she can handle but I also believe He is more of an optimist than I am! 
Right now, I am going to hide in a book, grab a chocolate (or two) and try to forget our woes!
Meet you here tomorrow with the first of a series of great reviews, including a GIVEAWAY Mums and Grandmother's won't want to miss!