tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66939368427184018392024-03-04T22:35:44.654-08:00Claude the Blue Lacyflora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-39387245370454112682012-12-27T17:50:00.000-08:002012-12-27T17:50:08.111-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rest in Peace<span style="font-size: x-large;">, </span>Sweet Claude</span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanksgiving,</span> 1997-Dec<span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span> 27, 2012 </span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />We had to have Claude euthanized this morning; our hearts are broken. We already miss Claudie <i>so much. </i>Our ever-present little friend just <i>isn't here....</i>and is <i>sorely </i>missed. The house just isn't right without him. Nothing's right without him. Obviously this acute stage of grief will ease in time, but right now, it's <i>excruciating</i>. We're so used to him being <i>around</i>....it hurt so badly to come home to <i>nobody </i>waiting
for us. But we knew that he couldn't possibly have lived much longer
anyway, and that he hadn't really seemed to enjoy life much for awhile. <br />
<br />Then he got really weak last week, wouldn't eat and we saw him fading on us. We were <i>finally </i>able
to get him to a vet today after they'd come back from Christmas break, and we found out that he had a perforated ulcer from
the arthritis medicine he'd been on for years. By
today <i>most </i>of his blood volume had poured into his abdomen. The vet assured us it wasn't our fault <i>at all</i>;
lots of old arthritic dogs bleed out or have other fatal complications
from long term use of the meds that allowed them to function for years. It was nice of her to say so but we still feel terribly guilty. <br />
<br />Anyway, sweet Claude was a perfect patient as always, calm and quiet throughout. Putting him down wasn't really a <i>hard </i>decision
to make, just an <i>excruciatingly </i>painful one, but there really was no
choice. His situation was hopeless and he was suffering, bless his dear
heart, stoically, but suffering. When we realized he would have died
within a day or two, possibly even in the car
on the way home from the vet clinic in the cold, we arranged for a peaceful
passing at the vet's office instead, with us right there petting him.
The vet and her assistant were <i>wonderful</i>, and cried with us even though they only met Claude <i>today</i>. I told them before we left that I <i>knew </i>we'd be bringing some future dog to them for care, whenever the time comes. After all, we are <b>dog people</b>; dog <i>rescue </i>people actually, and I'm <i>sure </i>there will be another dog with us before too long. Certainly not a replacement for Claude, and not right now, but <i>eventually </i>we'll adopt another dog. We'll see who needs us. <br />
<br />I don't want to dwell on his last illness or death,
so now you know all about that part and it's done. When we <i>do </i>talk
about Claude, it won't be about his last days, which were sad, but a
celebration of his awesome toothy smile and his happy, helicopter tail.<br />
<br />
Rest in Peace, my best friend. I'll never stop loving you. You were the best dog in the world and I was lucky to know you for so long:) <br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> </span></span></b>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-9927266043781803152012-03-24T19:58:00.002-07:002012-03-24T20:21:48.604-07:00Blue Lacy in Blue BonnetsWhen he's outside,<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> <span style="color: cyan;">Claude</span></span> doesn't usually stop moving around long enough for me to get a decent picture of him. The only way to get him to hold still for a second out in the fresh air is to get him <i>lying down</i>....but he had too many things to explore today to lie down in the <span style="color: cyan;">bluebonnets</span> for us, especially while the rest of his "pack" stood around him. Consequently, I haven't managed to get any great shots of Claude in the <span style="color: #3d85c6;">blue bonnets</span> yet....but I'm still trying.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwosa8PT6WQd_SQEz9IFa2qmqQvw3kV5jQq6dx30yUCpz0Ql5k6YBpkLinvS_hdYaRk-OQHRSIJftJgo0JF_B-g1Gm9tgHBsnKwLikKfvSL1VAs4AR9eX1qFPS28-5JcAQZLUs9nJhX8/s1600/St+Patrick%27s+Day+2012+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwosa8PT6WQd_SQEz9IFa2qmqQvw3kV5jQq6dx30yUCpz0Ql5k6YBpkLinvS_hdYaRk-OQHRSIJftJgo0JF_B-g1Gm9tgHBsnKwLikKfvSL1VAs4AR9eX1qFPS28-5JcAQZLUs9nJhX8/s320/St+Patrick%27s+Day+2012+%282%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here's what I <i>do</i> have so far for March, 2012, all taken at the edge of our tiny backyard orchard in Driftwood, Texas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9n8EKW6qY49MWOnv2Rob2iw4k37hR130PhVISd9UymcDeBNumoYpRspm0LXe2oQnge7hhYsUyDQdU7Niw0_ElSny2E4H5yWNtj0IGP0LVzxlM9XT3OGpHkmLJTnFbVC-8mxPxagp_bM/s1600/Saturday,+March+24+2012+-+Blue+Lacy+in+Blue+Bonnets+%283%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9n8EKW6qY49MWOnv2Rob2iw4k37hR130PhVISd9UymcDeBNumoYpRspm0LXe2oQnge7hhYsUyDQdU7Niw0_ElSny2E4H5yWNtj0IGP0LVzxlM9XT3OGpHkmLJTnFbVC-8mxPxagp_bM/s400/Saturday,+March+24+2012+-+Blue+Lacy+in+Blue+Bonnets+%283%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Claude the Blue Lacy</span> , age 14 and a half, sniffing the Spring air.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMayfQVrWA-yIxf2bB7SNiFN3K-8ZkLuLT45c326qJBVgJPCnuUH0NDWoMZuOET5vBRi1ZEN4J9Af0-hjjcRGqxBHSc_K_MOeyinZBJICX8K8900gU-E9hyVTCin5v4TpxTcBRayL0PI/s1600/Saturday,+March+24+2012+-+Blue+Lacy+in+Blue+Bonnets+%284%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMayfQVrWA-yIxf2bB7SNiFN3K-8ZkLuLT45c326qJBVgJPCnuUH0NDWoMZuOET5vBRi1ZEN4J9Af0-hjjcRGqxBHSc_K_MOeyinZBJICX8K8900gU-E9hyVTCin5v4TpxTcBRayL0PI/s400/Saturday,+March+24+2012+-+Blue+Lacy+in+Blue+Bonnets+%284%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="color: cyan;">Claude</span> </span>always investigating who's been around lately.....</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Claude's</span> doing great, <i>particularly </i>for his age, in terms of both physical and mental health. At 14+years old, he <i>still </i>runs all over the house twice a day after meals, burning off excess energy. And he still bares his teeth to grin up at people when he first meets or sees them. He's consistently sweet, often funny, and <i>always </i>thoroughly beloved- a happy camper who enjoys life and loves <i>everybody</i>. We hope to have him around for <i>years </i>more. </div>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-5339456396907210912011-09-09T12:04:00.000-07:002011-09-09T12:04:19.992-07:00Claude in Rainbows<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHoaSpVaHqAG7G1nlMtgcftk5o4kDjjd1e2X929Qr1Jj-ZstZZkgtsL4a3FJm4kqEmX8pAvTrKYq8nx912xUrNDN-bWUnsNRjZo8pr9GzWa36G1HRmBu_KzK-G00N79C6OxZ39WgacQg/s1600/Claude+with+rainbows+09+09+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHoaSpVaHqAG7G1nlMtgcftk5o4kDjjd1e2X929Qr1Jj-ZstZZkgtsL4a3FJm4kqEmX8pAvTrKYq8nx912xUrNDN-bWUnsNRjZo8pr9GzWa36G1HRmBu_KzK-G00N79C6OxZ39WgacQg/s400/Claude+with+rainbows+09+09+2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claude is perfectly cool with a rainbow on his foot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-72493783377502627982011-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:002011-05-18T22:54:19.630-07:00Update: Spring 2011FYI, Claude's doing <i>great</i>, especially for a <span style="color: magenta;">13</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">½-y</span><span style="color: magenta;">ear-old</span> dog! He <i>still </i>acts like a puppy after mealtime, when a postprandial surge of blood sugar gives him so much energy he can't contain himself, tearing around doing laps around the house at warp speed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvm1e6Q1eLu2Kw8K99WSLCtmEqP3XdR01LJjOgzJwSVrD0oG-XSsK-3n3ZrdKeH___bnfJrjoGx9Xk8hj-v66OnhklzLQTKsSIS6Wp7hi9bZHeIsVWb0Lkfif0tzKvzypGKGZXDfff_E/s1600/Channeling+a+Lacy%2527s+Energy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvm1e6Q1eLu2Kw8K99WSLCtmEqP3XdR01LJjOgzJwSVrD0oG-XSsK-3n3ZrdKeH___bnfJrjoGx9Xk8hj-v66OnhklzLQTKsSIS6Wp7hi9bZHeIsVWb0Lkfif0tzKvzypGKGZXDfff_E/s1600/Channeling+a+Lacy%2527s+Energy+2.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Blue Lacy's considerable ENERGY needs <i>channeling</i>...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A couple of months ago, Claude was doing his usual after-dinner run-around-the house, tossing his dog toys in the air and just generally having a <i>blast</i>, when he returned from the other side of the course limping <i>badly</i>. I don't know what happened, but he'd obviously hurt himself somehow, probably his right front leg/shoulder. He seemed better after a couple of days, so we tried to go for "walkies", but within a block, he was limping dramatically again, so we called it a day; no walkies.<br />
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After about a week of no walkies had passed (and he was <i>still </i>limping), I took him to his vet to make sure nothing was broken, although I really didn't think anything was, and sure enough, the vet didn't either. After a thorough exam, she said that Claude had probably sprained his shoulder, and that he should just rest; <i>no running around!</i><br />
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Well, in my experience, you can't keep a Lacy from channeling that boundless Lacy energy, even when they're old. (Hey, if there was a way to hook Claude up to a generator, we could probably go off the grid!) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVrhUqv7GIsKEF02syq6HAuuRcbxFzOTfC7LZfYMgZTaVd552R2e4uhi2gu3HR2Txopv2l20IRa0jiBHcXH3YXibawnunkTfE8WuoHDUEDYIZRhdVtCAqIWIWtGu4D4vmEb4RFRFnwYk/s1600/Channeling+a+Lacy%2527s+Energy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVrhUqv7GIsKEF02syq6HAuuRcbxFzOTfC7LZfYMgZTaVd552R2e4uhi2gu3HR2Txopv2l20IRa0jiBHcXH3YXibawnunkTfE8WuoHDUEDYIZRhdVtCAqIWIWtGu4D4vmEb4RFRFnwYk/s1600/Channeling+a+Lacy%2527s+Energy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll <i>never </i>wear out a Blue Lacy on <i>foot</i>...but keep trying!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So keeping him from running around was a <i>huge </i>challenge, and <i>impossible </i>whenever he spotted another animal trespassing in "his" back yard, but after a couple of setbacks (a <i>cat </i>in yard, <i>squirrels </i>in yard, etc) his injury eventually healed up and he was, and is, just fine again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdm22wMwCw8KG4zOM3mb1czHj9l8GIZOD1SjVrB4Yo23o-Oc7txrCHEtNhtyZ6aYQ3V5kzw4M9Ta-yLQOYr2P1b1YXcGCeI9FW6Wa2dZjbKuiQAd5bnlP7yLR0w8wW8iklEiUzgKEQCuY/s1600/Trying+to+Wear+out+a+Blue+Lacy+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdm22wMwCw8KG4zOM3mb1czHj9l8GIZOD1SjVrB4Yo23o-Oc7txrCHEtNhtyZ6aYQ3V5kzw4M9Ta-yLQOYr2P1b1YXcGCeI9FW6Wa2dZjbKuiQAd5bnlP7yLR0w8wW8iklEiUzgKEQCuY/s320/Trying+to+Wear+out+a+Blue+Lacy+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even a Lacy puppy can be an <i>inexhaustible </i>running partner.....</td></tr>
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Like a typical Blue Lacy, Claude's always ready and willing to <i>work</i>, but we don't really <i>have </i>any traditional Lacy work to offer anymore. We live in the city now, and no longer have any livestock for him to herd.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ac9YP7JTWMItVBgd284VRPve5pgej3bd8M7hYd3SyT7mto8zO79Awemexkzwy0GqmjjDJWyB_CSKieuv2Mb2MyNWEaLUYhup5ueqBIq3w6AfCyLb3DLlCBwznAqoe07Zmi6b5MBgsKw/s1600/Picture+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ac9YP7JTWMItVBgd284VRPve5pgej3bd8M7hYd3SyT7mto8zO79Awemexkzwy0GqmjjDJWyB_CSKieuv2Mb2MyNWEaLUYhup5ueqBIq3w6AfCyLb3DLlCBwznAqoe07Zmi6b5MBgsKw/s320/Picture+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claude, about 10 yrs ago, living in the country outside Austin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And here in <i>central </i>Austin, there are no feral hogs to chase, thank goodness (so far!), so he's a Lacy without a real mission. Trying to help him channel that energy constructively reminds me of the time I rode a <i>very </i>recently retired race horse.....that's a HUGE amount of energy, and no simple way to channel it.<br />
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Fetching things (Frisbee's, dog toys, whatever) is all the "work" we've been able to come up with, and he definitely enjoys it. He's <i>pretty </i>good as a retriever, but sometimes takes whatever we've thrown to him and prances around triumphantly shaking whatever it is for awhile first before he'll bring it back. He's a funny guy. <br />
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Old dogs, like old people, tend to have health issues, and Claude's no exception, but fortunately he's never had any <i>serious </i>issues, and <i>does </i>have a great vet, as well as a comfortable, very loving home, so he's a happy camper. In terms of medicine, he takes a daily anti-inflammatory (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carprofen">Rimadyl</a>) and a thyroid supplement, and that's all; he's <i>not </i>diabetic, thank goodness. He had some surgery to remove a benign growth from his back, and recovered and regrew his shaved coat very quickly. <br />
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Claude's a regular goodwill ambassador in the neighborhood especially with the kids; they all love him and come out to pet him and give him treats. And he loves <i>everybody</i>, human or animal. He also likes to go for rides in the car, and always prefers to keep his "pack" together; every night he waits for our roommate to get home from work, and then comes straight to me to "tell" me that he's home, and keeps whining until I go <i>greet </i>roomie with a hug, so Claude can see that we're all together.<br />
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What he <i>doesn</i>'t like is being left behind, but he deals with it. He's such a good dog. An <i>awesome </i>dog, really. I'm so proud of him, and love him so much......everybody should have a "Claude" in their life!flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-68787295317131359372010-11-04T18:04:00.000-07:002011-05-04T08:50:54.189-07:00Claude's Post-Halloween Portrait<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kEzgJRcFKNtuy932V72fc8MllisV_D5IoTKGzaoBNNUy9Kxn5GXzm-TQo2UB9iRQIoWYdtm3JmDoqW62lMiLAbcK2aRwWRp6Iwf3862u-HhFz3zjYDdwrNLvykE8vb1DR0jL7vWF7uE/s1600/Claude+in+his+pumpkin+suit+11+04+2010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535865277478534882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kEzgJRcFKNtuy932V72fc8MllisV_D5IoTKGzaoBNNUy9Kxn5GXzm-TQo2UB9iRQIoWYdtm3JmDoqW62lMiLAbcK2aRwWRp6Iwf3862u-HhFz3zjYDdwrNLvykE8vb1DR0jL7vWF7uE/s400/Claude+in+his+pumpkin+suit+11+04+2010.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #999999;">Claude</span> models his <span style="color: #ff6600;">pumpkin costume</span> as he rests after a long workout with a favorite <span style="color: #33ff33;"><span style="color: #ff6666;">F</span>r<span style="color: #ff6666;">i</span>s<span style="color: #ff99ff;">b</span>e<span style="color: #ff6666;">e</span></span>. (That <span style="color: #999999;">gray </span>blur right behind him is a sign of excitement and happiness:)</span>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-31621455605551090792010-08-13T20:46:00.000-07:002010-08-21T11:58:20.065-07:00Update: August, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRwf9WpvhS60SiDVMeikB8v_Ya4qUpipXEjpu0OOG0Jl6EbM8jbi_jajjO6e0v71Vs9gZ1QPJ9sdt9cnw9PZRgrZtgoU3PvneKQX_d3bNf4m1SV8fk4giPAKBHEjtyogLHb5hA2DWTJo/s1600/attentive+Claude++08-21-2010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRwf9WpvhS60SiDVMeikB8v_Ya4qUpipXEjpu0OOG0Jl6EbM8jbi_jajjO6e0v71Vs9gZ1QPJ9sdt9cnw9PZRgrZtgoU3PvneKQX_d3bNf4m1SV8fk4giPAKBHEjtyogLHb5hA2DWTJo/s400/attentive+Claude++08-21-2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507904397865523298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >With any luck at all, Claude will turn 13 around Thanksgiving, and he still plays and runs around like a puppy. He has amassed a respectable </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >collection of well-chewed Frisbees.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk8VG-zZX0N9gWOvr97FM1JTIfb31vmETkpOpN000NjicBmaTlvPi6AeEvgODKdXUcDOGu6K6RGK9aaVQ47Z9GmuoaqRoGJnoo29y3vRELciWcrO76W5QlsNW_ikW09XZWV2x8a69_Gc/s1600/Playing+with+the+frisbee+08-21-2010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk8VG-zZX0N9gWOvr97FM1JTIfb31vmETkpOpN000NjicBmaTlvPi6AeEvgODKdXUcDOGu6K6RGK9aaVQ47Z9GmuoaqRoGJnoo29y3vRELciWcrO76W5QlsNW_ikW09XZWV2x8a69_Gc/s400/Playing+with+the+frisbee+08-21-2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507904404457290354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Claude's always been a cool dog, but used to be kind of a handful. <a href="http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htm"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Texas Blue Lacy's</span> </a>are a <span style="font-style: italic;">seriously </span>energetic breed, bred to work hard all day, every day in the Texas heat, and their energy <span style="font-style: italic;">will </span>find an outlet one way or the other. But since we started watching </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.cesarsway.com/">"The Dog Whisperer"</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >, we've learned a lot about how dogs think; this has helped <span style="font-style: italic;">immeasurably</span>. Claude's become a darn near <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect </span>dog- a consistently "calm, submissive pack member", happier than ever and a total joy to be with.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >I'm sorry to morph into what may seem like a commercial, but I <span style="font-style: italic;">highly </span>recommend that ALL dog owners (or anyone considering getting a dog) watch <a href="http://www.cesarsway.com/">"The Dog Whisperer"</a> on the National Geographic channel. If you don't have cable, there are also DVD's and books by Cesar Milan (whose DNA will probably reveal that he is part canine- he TOTALLY gets dogs...</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >).<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Claude's not much for doing tricks</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >, but we couldn't be prouder of his behavior.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >He'll sit and lie down on command, and will pick up and bring anything you ask for if he can get it loose and lift it. He has a large vocabulary and learns quickly. But he's a working breed and wants his paws on the ground and ready for action, so he absolutely refuses to offer his paw to "shake". Luckily he's not running for office!<br /></span>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-31954078048072991232009-06-24T08:24:00.001-07:002012-03-24T19:27:18.016-07:00A Thown-Away Puppy Rescued<div id="ms__id78"><div id="ms__id73"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgM67SPyxEz_Z8zbdicEMaFpjmnNFk-01gL73N_2z3zD5ElCBAXuydEQQoi-mVNR887x_qc7BKfwQrwhg-OWsz3yCik9AT2V5yS5M4O2K2MCVD_8ycLxGBAKON52wtD6_iOKvsh7xhPo/s1600-h/I+am+Not+a+pit+bull+or+a+weimeranar.JPG"></a></div><div id="ms__id72"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On Wednesday morning, January 1st, 1998, my son Joel was at his friend Shane's house, recovering from New Year's Eve festivities the night before. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As he stood drinking coffee and looking out the kitchen window, he noticed a car stopping briefly across the street at <a href="http://www.austinparks.org/apfweb/park.php?parkId=306">Patterson Park</a> here in <span style="color: #3333ff;">Austin</span>, <span style="color: red;">Texas</span>; a door on the far side opened and closed quickly, and the car sped off. </span></b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ljbdRb9TdrYPEpewufejypCgh3a89TMW0tqZ6Uwt_dXGHKE_qNw2QZeTCB81s4hMFFERM9LxeJGlzYTKGhvQUT9SaDbOrWZp1xcdHBdSYYN8cQH3G6P5fSIru9oygHRshn4zDmgZKRQ/s1600-h/puppy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350216777491259890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ljbdRb9TdrYPEpewufejypCgh3a89TMW0tqZ6Uwt_dXGHKE_qNw2QZeTCB81s4hMFFERM9LxeJGlzYTKGhvQUT9SaDbOrWZp1xcdHBdSYYN8cQH3G6P5fSIru9oygHRshn4zDmgZKRQ/s400/puppy.jpg" style="height: 115px; width: 107px;" /></a> </span></b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Left behind was a small gray puppy.</span></b></span> </div><div id="ms__id69"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Joel ran over and picked up the oblivious, happy little pup so it wouldn't get splattered by traffic on nearby Airport Boulevard. After trying but failing to find <i>anyone</i> in the area who'd claim or take him, he took the puppy home. His roommates were reasonably cool with it (since he was the only one who ever cleaned anything <i>anyway!),</i> but pets <i>were</i> a violation of the lease...</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div id="ms__id22"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When I eventually met the new addition, I suggested the name <span style="color: #999999;">"Cloud"</span> (because of the <span style="color: #999999;">grey color</span>), but it was decided that "Claude" fit him better because he was always climbing up on people and they sometimes got "clawed" in the process..</span></b></span></div><div id="ms__id23"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><br />
It was soon clear that this was one <i>very</i> happy, very, <i>very</i> <i>active</i> puppy. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Claude" w</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">as taken to a vet the next day for a general checkup, and the vet diagnosed this cast-off puppy as healthy but suffering from a couple of tiny spots of mange, for which he was treated. The vet also guessed that Claude was only about 5 weeks-old and a <i>Weimaraner</i> (wrong). </span></b></span></div><div id="ms__id79"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqvLk8qr9XZrWQAjjnFwzbiRn_Mrbcsv4f5KNzaDxlA_EQThRSJhcCaZ5r_ifU6BoJJE3Q0yVFcXxhyphenhyphenHBk45WX63guo0bIuQIfXa9IJ0_dIyzZAYQBegBYl7pc7r3rd2tbrBjvElu-4c/s1600-h/I+am+Not+a+pit+bull+or+a+weimeranar.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350572783092092530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqvLk8qr9XZrWQAjjnFwzbiRn_Mrbcsv4f5KNzaDxlA_EQThRSJhcCaZ5r_ifU6BoJJE3Q0yVFcXxhyphenhyphenHBk45WX63guo0bIuQIfXa9IJ0_dIyzZAYQBegBYl7pc7r3rd2tbrBjvElu-4c/s400/I+am+Not+a+pit+bull+or+a+weimeranar.JPG" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></span></div><div id="ms__id80"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #6633ff; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">Claude the Lacy in the wildflowers </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"><i>(Not</i> a Weimeranar!)</span><br />
</span></div><div id="ms__id23"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: 130%;"><b>Five weeks</b><b> old...bless his little heart; he really should have been with his Mama and litter mates for a few more weeks. But I guess getting away from people mean enough to <i>dump</i> him was probably worth it. Since he was abandoned on New Year's Day, I'm guessing he was an unwanted <span style="color: red;">C<span style="color: #33cc00;">h</span>r<span style="color: #33cc00;">i</span>s<span style="color: #33cc00;">t</span>m<span style="color: #33cc00;">a</span>s</span> present...</b></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: 130%;"><b>Claude se</b><b>ttled in to newspaper-covered floors and was taken for multiple <i>long</i> walks and runs every day, and was quickly pronounced <i>totally</i> inexhaustible by his exhausted human roommates. Even following a speeding <i>bicycle</i> for miles, Claude <i>never</i> got tired; nobody knew then that his energy came from the fact that he was <i>a specialized breed</i> meant to work hard herding cattle and tracking wild hogs, <i>not</i> hanging around the house... </b></span></div><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">All was going pretty well (except for the fact that he was too young to be housebroken), until he broke a housemate's expensive glass bong. As a puppy, he'd chewed up or peed on a lot of things, but with that last transgression, Claude was banished and came to live with me, my brother Phil, and my two other dogs out in the country near Driftwood. I had 10 acres on a hill, with 5 horses, some rabbits, some country cats, and a big vegetable garden. </span></b><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One day while I was at work at the Wildflower Center in Austin, the meter reader from Pedernales Electric came by to read the meter. He spotted Claude in the dog run and remarked to brother Phil, "That's a nice little Blue Lacy you got there."</span></b></span></div><div id="ms__id93"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Uh, <i>what</i>? What the heck is a "Blue Lacy?" Phil asked.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The meter reader explained that a Blue Lacy is a <i>great</i> all-around ranch dog, and that they say a Lacy can do the work of <i>5 cowboys.</i></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Wow...who knew?</span></b></span></div><div align="left" id="ms__id89"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Unfortunately Phil <i>HATED</i> poor Claude anyway for absolutely no reason and yelled at him <i>constantly, </i>an <i>especially</i> bad thing since you're <i><span style="color: #999999;">never supposed to yell at a Lacy! </span></i>Unfortunately, the helpful meter-reader never mentioned that detail; a Lacy will work his <i>heart out</i> for you, but he really can't handle being <i>yelled at</i>. Yelling at <i>any</i> dog is counter-productive, cruel, and a sign of a frustrated owner who's <i>losing it</i>, but it's <i>especially</i> hard on dogs of the Lacy breed. But Phil was a <i>hopeless</i> slacker anyway as well as a total <i>idiot</i> about dogs, and was finally banished himself. </span></b><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(Phil, if you're out there reading this; <i>you suck</i>!)</span></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaqK-rWrpNnX0JJXPGT2MWmtseqbMJ4TF7Gv6V2h27MZvbqo7O_nmGp4dMcJv9XZECkuMiFwtkbLeOvh5lcAeJeF2augmlzlSduXE0RsJqL4Pg6HeOpNoCHokH3M2XQ9BNNrtr995WKI/s1600-h/Picture+008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350210650079719874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaqK-rWrpNnX0JJXPGT2MWmtseqbMJ4TF7Gv6V2h27MZvbqo7O_nmGp4dMcJv9XZECkuMiFwtkbLeOvh5lcAeJeF2augmlzlSduXE0RsJqL4Pg6HeOpNoCHokH3M2XQ9BNNrtr995WKI/s400/Picture+008.jpg" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></span></div><div id="ms__id90"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Claude lived with me out at Driftwood for about 6 years, until I became disabled and we moved to Austin in July of 2004. He's <i>still</i> with me as of June 2009; he'll be 12 around Thanksgiving, 2009.</span></b> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInnaRYpo7v6SUHxyuyVO1maZr0I120Bw5XDEXSDpCp4WsMsKmAUL7qZB0oM7JMIo_SHK9AaK6HkSoi8ru27S6KSlJefePxytDsf4DCBAo8nmuTzRMeaGP8f1dbfYx69V1BH6e3KG0siU/s1600-h/Cathey+%26+Claude+homeward.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350207222862431634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInnaRYpo7v6SUHxyuyVO1maZr0I120Bw5XDEXSDpCp4WsMsKmAUL7qZB0oM7JMIo_SHK9AaK6HkSoi8ru27S6KSlJefePxytDsf4DCBAo8nmuTzRMeaGP8f1dbfYx69V1BH6e3KG0siU/s400/Cathey+%26+Claude+homeward.jpg" style="height: 266px; width: 400px;" /></a></span></b></span></div><div id="ms__id18"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Every morning we go for "walkies" before it gets hot. Claude's a local goodwill ambassador for <a href="http://www.nationalkennelclub.com/Breed-Standards/blue-lacy.htm">Blue Lacy's</a>.</span></b></span></div></div>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-91644646463218863902009-06-22T09:44:00.000-07:002010-10-19T09:05:10.897-07:00Texas on a Lacy<div id="ms__id9"><div id="ms__id22"><div id="ms__id23"><div id="ms__id26"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0xnrnp-nNw1FYYQaayBS_bHKOP3R5fVUx4r96i5c5UnuZYiBuRNCLq5xvrRbKV3mwqwhRcsj2_e4ODcmSOoo75cu-doEmmpPj_ylf32xokPoAv5_gKh1SIuLaBb_0xeGTHLHBGgEKxo/s1600-h/Claudes+chest+closeup.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350916339277614018" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0xnrnp-nNw1FYYQaayBS_bHKOP3R5fVUx4r96i5c5UnuZYiBuRNCLq5xvrRbKV3mwqwhRcsj2_e4ODcmSOoo75cu-doEmmpPj_ylf32xokPoAv5_gKh1SIuLaBb_0xeGTHLHBGgEKxo/s400/Claudes+chest+closeup.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><div id="ms__id25"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Blue Lacys</span> usually have a little <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">white</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">patch</span> on their chests (and on at least some toes); Claude is a perfect example of this. <em>I think</em> his chest pattern looks a lot like a white map of <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">T<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">e</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">x</span>a</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">s</span>. (Or is it just me?)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CRFVqTTgWaBs3PgPqCGrx2YmPZlZwPz85Ym2Y8TqhHsPEcQPZoK9UpUjc3rBvozY6oJGeOFk3YqUmz1MCOcZRcrIqeEJssMQy31CoAr7JGRga3f49vAfSL-NQ6MBfbSmMrsVV2V4m6w/s1600-h/Claudes+chest+closeup+with+Texas.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350920761810610098" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CRFVqTTgWaBs3PgPqCGrx2YmPZlZwPz85Ym2Y8TqhHsPEcQPZoK9UpUjc3rBvozY6oJGeOFk3YqUmz1MCOcZRcrIqeEJssMQy31CoAr7JGRga3f49vAfSL-NQ6MBfbSmMrsVV2V4m6w/s400/Claudes+chest+closeup+with+Texas.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div></div></div></div>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693936842718401839.post-33516090097336728252009-06-22T09:32:00.001-07:002010-10-19T09:06:00.355-07:00Pictures of Claude and his friends<div id="ms__id49"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XXi-EddeYz0k7lZRH20xHxLry1jboBsvxSkiRWcCk3oSVqSfLUDquWrm5gwY6J3BHupOmrzCdZCU825gIEmSTF1OhEBDucjJFdoFlzRkov_cpGXbH85wLonvoe0qexORbjE10FemqSA/s1600-h/HERE+YOU+GO.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370937192656693442" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XXi-EddeYz0k7lZRH20xHxLry1jboBsvxSkiRWcCk3oSVqSfLUDquWrm5gwY6J3BHupOmrzCdZCU825gIEmSTF1OhEBDucjJFdoFlzRkov_cpGXbH85wLonvoe0qexORbjE10FemqSA/s400/HERE+YOU+GO.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id50"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">above</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Luckenbach" the Black Lab, Claude's pal, emerges from the tank with a stick; Claude </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(below)</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">wouldn't go in</span></span></div><div id="ms__id58"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfeAMgmaLGdu16ND33d_bKUlvtDCGLpsWiH1bzb0kKCVRp8gOul3PvB-j6CL27T0I51GD5xCKbYZt-g85glI_snnnPiOW-IwG89qn3lSsVHI3SJk8A4lBucAdLmoZZpgb4VGzINbVEXE/s1600-h/CLAUDES+TOO+SCARED+TO+GET+IN.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370938159231053858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfeAMgmaLGdu16ND33d_bKUlvtDCGLpsWiH1bzb0kKCVRp8gOul3PvB-j6CL27T0I51GD5xCKbYZt-g85glI_snnnPiOW-IwG89qn3lSsVHI3SJk8A4lBucAdLmoZZpgb4VGzINbVEXE/s400/CLAUDES+TOO+SCARED+TO+GET+IN.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div id="ms__id59"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >No <em>way</em> I'm getting in there!</span></div><div id="ms__id53"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jvU-TwhIcZEAEAMkQVzFot70RgpNf_hnVzHOEBEcL7G9qhfqRZ85rHGVFveofRDLR58oCrjsgu2hLvEapQdGEOimE4ugEygRGl52fEpO5C0HE-atxUlJP06xeFrzrm-ttHHnbWADkQo/s1600-h/IM+NOT+GETTIN+IN+THERE.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370936568089875202" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jvU-TwhIcZEAEAMkQVzFot70RgpNf_hnVzHOEBEcL7G9qhfqRZ85rHGVFveofRDLR58oCrjsgu2hLvEapQdGEOimE4ugEygRGl52fEpO5C0HE-atxUlJP06xeFrzrm-ttHHnbWADkQo/s400/IM+NOT+GETTIN+IN+THERE.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div id="ms__id55"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNR5bSmjixmn4dqOM_640VFff-tiXF-V4pzKF4azi2fiRZOqNrHHqdR-K7noGYor-jLeOqlUW7syRTVMS0cUaVWdAt6Kl0JvvjW4RJV3OvXd-LZoBoA6d3_ObA2TdIF330gQxvZ6fyEo/s1600-h/Piedmont+08+17+09++Claude+and+Ripley+get+petted.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370936554397845602" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNR5bSmjixmn4dqOM_640VFff-tiXF-V4pzKF4azi2fiRZOqNrHHqdR-K7noGYor-jLeOqlUW7syRTVMS0cUaVWdAt6Kl0JvvjW4RJV3OvXd-LZoBoA6d3_ObA2TdIF330gQxvZ6fyEo/s400/Piedmont+08+17+09++Claude+and+Ripley+get+petted.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id47"><div id="ms__id85"><div id="ms__id86"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjPzZus4yUkOxyCDOvnMLBG8RwHyJ5dmnK4o1OWbzTYPelpp6eAzdEOo1vZZEoC-Xvs-K87og9n2AmVjea_YWfAFnhzJ0m6W4QUcl_GvzquOoTNQG2eGUimVEHFqWRT1f3IwevBzoPys/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+10+09+%281%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356966057293040818" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjPzZus4yUkOxyCDOvnMLBG8RwHyJ5dmnK4o1OWbzTYPelpp6eAzdEOo1vZZEoC-Xvs-K87og9n2AmVjea_YWfAFnhzJ0m6W4QUcl_GvzquOoTNQG2eGUimVEHFqWRT1f3IwevBzoPys/s400/Piedmont+07+10+09+%281%29.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id84"><div id="ms__id36"><div id="ms__id38"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">above,</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Claude performing a routine investigation...</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT6NG5wU2hQtLtN1Z-KQ-5b9KLJW5yaLpxwWwLU9SYQn6cJvIOQfxDJAv9i66hYND2LNbcJszqyY6kSrDzimhbiY8eOyoiSsvv0XeRWVlikI2FdtpvCRrBY7iGa6k09UPxDCdod0veak/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+09+09+%282%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356619637589278130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT6NG5wU2hQtLtN1Z-KQ-5b9KLJW5yaLpxwWwLU9SYQn6cJvIOQfxDJAv9i66hYND2LNbcJszqyY6kSrDzimhbiY8eOyoiSsvv0XeRWVlikI2FdtpvCRrBY7iGa6k09UPxDCdod0veak/s400/Piedmont+07+09+09+%282%29.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div id="ms__id39"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Claude </span>(foreground) does the <em>getting-to-know-you </em></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >dance with new pal "<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">H<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">a</span>rper</span>"</span></div><div id="ms__id42"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkwtxWPRzyZ7wWCRjnRgWVSiUTFK806BHVdA31tr7XKFm_PIsRpOle8h8WyYk9QapgoTFNgOACkopLtmBWNsTkIWI4EZ5_faNPYKa3HahWKBanTvJBKpqppzHHTWSlmCK0WsNxmOf9hQ/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2811%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355126022333473010" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkwtxWPRzyZ7wWCRjnRgWVSiUTFK806BHVdA31tr7XKFm_PIsRpOle8h8WyYk9QapgoTFNgOACkopLtmBWNsTkIWI4EZ5_faNPYKa3HahWKBanTvJBKpqppzHHTWSlmCK0WsNxmOf9hQ/s400/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2811%29.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id233"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Yo! Dudes, can <em>I</em> play?</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIAmVlnSX0-NopbSIA16QZQ8DRSz85Kacp4mRP0upg_XZqQcUgLt-h8t6yl2ngkUrjFenGqWEHT6JR4fiwOvWchE7Br2JaJJBiFjmkO6y8xgvNmuR02qKm1qhvYlqiTqf4XVYNx4ObEs/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2810%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355125492736208466" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIAmVlnSX0-NopbSIA16QZQ8DRSz85Kacp4mRP0upg_XZqQcUgLt-h8t6yl2ngkUrjFenGqWEHT6JR4fiwOvWchE7Br2JaJJBiFjmkO6y8xgvNmuR02qKm1qhvYlqiTqf4XVYNx4ObEs/s400/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2810%29.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Whoa!</em> You <em>ARE</em> just <em>playing</em>, right?</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkszmDBs8z6v2TSaSnnDPqa65pBqhi_uqoM7RpN7VL5jqfaXd9wlE8TBlAVv1P6O1pyAe0VlhPq5bwsv0RQ1RVCoR1DsxkWpKzJK6zL7l-8YUui6x_w_Z0JyLsSYQmesbtyTRoNjlUTw/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2812%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355125505337936498" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkszmDBs8z6v2TSaSnnDPqa65pBqhi_uqoM7RpN7VL5jqfaXd9wlE8TBlAVv1P6O1pyAe0VlhPq5bwsv0RQ1RVCoR1DsxkWpKzJK6zL7l-8YUui6x_w_Z0JyLsSYQmesbtyTRoNjlUTw/s400/Piedmont+07+05+09+%2812%29.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div id="ms__id29"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Whew! Just playing:)</span></span></div><div id="ms__id228"><div id="ms__id229"><div id="ms__id225"><div id="ms__id226"><div id="ms__id227"><div id="ms__id92"><div id="ms__id83"><div id="ms__id84"><div id="ms__id85"><div id="ms__id86"><div id="ms__id87"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tl72orIgvlsfOQtuWNbFnwe9voN5sWMI_DBVEkb3WK9w1O5bnJznEbRONs2YS1I7AhSrZXlTkjAkq0IdJN070bgvQQBYY3p0g9-zJGVixwqnKbYiSvInG-mu5G8FM0nEiYTEJ6gDoos/s1600-h/Piedmont+06+13+09+Claude+and+Davis+%281%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354740655127621666" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tl72orIgvlsfOQtuWNbFnwe9voN5sWMI_DBVEkb3WK9w1O5bnJznEbRONs2YS1I7AhSrZXlTkjAkq0IdJN070bgvQQBYY3p0g9-zJGVixwqnKbYiSvInG-mu5G8FM0nEiYTEJ6gDoos/s400/Piedmont+06+13+09+Claude+and+Davis+%281%29.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" > </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above,)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:130%;" >Claude</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> interrupts "walkies" to visit </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Davis"</span></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0Egialzir6PL5lIYJJSZbtM21muGMxVQIYutdfwL0iLv53PcC7ac011wcC1tA1S79LerGRwjBljAxTg47Zc0LspOdpE_FrVWCaUrZR86lu4Ow6AOOIhyphenhyphenYhrl4KjZIOQmOIbTmBSsFyQ/s1600-h/Piedmont+07+01+09+Daisy+%283%29.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354741444474860882" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0Egialzir6PL5lIYJJSZbtM21muGMxVQIYutdfwL0iLv53PcC7ac011wcC1tA1S79LerGRwjBljAxTg47Zc0LspOdpE_FrVWCaUrZR86lu4Ow6AOOIhyphenhyphenYhrl4KjZIOQmOIbTmBSsFyQ/s400/Piedmont+07+01+09+Daisy+%283%29.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div id="ms__id84"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">(above & below)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Two</em> nice dogs named </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);font-size:130%;" >"Daisy"</span></strong></span><br /><div id="ms__id85"><div id="ms__id86"><div id="ms__id87"><div id="ms__id84"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93EVsh4uecqsXUnBkWchw0A4zy2QvOa9OiD3gREQXjCotHbbDetIKxvOet6qIlyUN5Sn74bYC4J22LhmXADEI3hOBO70AjLqNQ1Xslx97fOxuojNIIw6i4Par1eD1L5LSee4hqL8HkGM/s1600-h/Piedmont+06+06+09+Daisy.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354740647060312338" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93EVsh4uecqsXUnBkWchw0A4zy2QvOa9OiD3gREQXjCotHbbDetIKxvOet6qIlyUN5Sn74bYC4J22LhmXADEI3hOBO70AjLqNQ1Xslx97fOxuojNIIw6i4Par1eD1L5LSee4hqL8HkGM/s400/Piedmont+06+06+09+Daisy.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div id="ms__id32"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPABTEsEgwPwubZ6TET9Ze3NkTkzS7KqweDPg9BeT4Nm2dIwXObhr1p6GFoY68HTwtTd6ko21FUpBkl8tO5GHocAJaYKWV_593C0qxpPQlyCGi5P49wnSxlRoMLtqoH7KWim7XkxOkPhQ/s1600-h/Holiday+Claude%27+s+buddy.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354740641668155874" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPABTEsEgwPwubZ6TET9Ze3NkTkzS7KqweDPg9BeT4Nm2dIwXObhr1p6GFoY68HTwtTd6ko21FUpBkl8tO5GHocAJaYKWV_593C0qxpPQlyCGi5P49wnSxlRoMLtqoH7KWim7XkxOkPhQ/s400/Holiday+Claude%27+s+buddy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Holiday" ambles over to greet </span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:130%;" >Claude</span></strong></span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_QDYsZKsTtMJWRqn-vamlI1RSBVZkwPtdye__B8D_Oz9k3TF_xue621Sk2l3lHdJ_brXcDuVnMgz9DnE8bTeU4Dej3iqLUzvFurvH0hEb2IyNhdoUMROYRcTaIivpUWVI0UJa2xK34/s1600-h/Friends+in+the+Hood+joey.JPG"><img style="width: 137px; height: 271px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354740639434156402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_QDYsZKsTtMJWRqn-vamlI1RSBVZkwPtdye__B8D_Oz9k3TF_xue621Sk2l3lHdJ_brXcDuVnMgz9DnE8bTeU4Dej3iqLUzvFurvH0hEb2IyNhdoUMROYRcTaIivpUWVI0UJa2xK34/s400/Friends+in+the+Hood+joey.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >(above)<span style="font-size:130%;"> ever-loyal "</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >Joey</span><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span></span><br /><div id="ms__id43"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSyV0NN59rS4AKuImiAxkr6TLnwx52MHsjid4A_mk0WWYd7cleIOJYxWl63_hJlA4bONmzrznf5ZiPrSeKL-RVfJQApISlAZjIiHzMan7yLCNq9m92_fbxnPdbllMxORJ-RTJprdiVtk/s1600-h/Claude+%26+Pal+faceoff.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 266px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354740634206197058" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSyV0NN59rS4AKuImiAxkr6TLnwx52MHsjid4A_mk0WWYd7cleIOJYxWl63_hJlA4bONmzrznf5ZiPrSeKL-RVfJQApISlAZjIiHzMan7yLCNq9m92_fbxnPdbllMxORJ-RTJprdiVtk/s400/Claude+%26+Pal+faceoff.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div id="ms__id86"><div id="ms__id95"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Claude meets a </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >little friend</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> at the <em><a href="http://peaceofcrestview.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-that-thing-in-park.html">Thing in the Park</a></em></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="ms__id26"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbzTy9exT4EhMRjqOH3HDH1TtDAa2e9EK1YADV96VscCCidXkhEQehbh086mM8MzgoNsyE1H1C5w_19KpF88DJ-KmdtUIxDL7VoJxNeB6m4dp4jHQDNKQIQVdkMaR8Mnc7WA9hgu7SVM/s1600-h/Claude+at+the+edge+of+the+Ice+Cream+Social+Crowd.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350547373327025138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbzTy9exT4EhMRjqOH3HDH1TtDAa2e9EK1YADV96VscCCidXkhEQehbh086mM8MzgoNsyE1H1C5w_19KpF88DJ-KmdtUIxDL7VoJxNeB6m4dp4jHQDNKQIQVdkMaR8Mnc7WA9hgu7SVM/s400/Claude+at+the+edge+of+the+Ice+Cream+Social+Crowd.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div id="ms__id44"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span> </span><em>Claude</em></span> at the left edge of the crowd </span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >at </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >the</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >annual neighborhood <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Ice Cream Social</span>, enjoying </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >affection </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >from a kind stranger.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrz0CCdL3aqZyXP3Y2u4ry6J-_aL4cxAPjFnSBkDUmU9N71iEOTMi4K_GByhIrKBqaOWwtZAbcPiHltzLO_XcH_Ns59P5XGFM0dHrBmnEkPuvnjm2NJU0bxA8hnftks9q3G2Rx26T_CI/s1600-h/Claude.JPG"><img style="width: 366px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350192663710812306" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrz0CCdL3aqZyXP3Y2u4ry6J-_aL4cxAPjFnSBkDUmU9N71iEOTMi4K_GByhIrKBqaOWwtZAbcPiHltzLO_XcH_Ns59P5XGFM0dHrBmnEkPuvnjm2NJU0bxA8hnftks9q3G2Rx26T_CI/s400/Claude.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Investigating what lies beneath...</span></strong></span> </div><div id="ms__id149"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7pCZaGHdGXNgThXEulfYaGneSoIcuCsCBKYJEjsdjdYEn9GuRNjxYcpAR8eoRYq5IOo4ndJK0yqkXIs7faqCLruzuZYViMw8Nw_QG2ncrQOUKr_aMW1xBsKm1MMarztm6u9VnTKrTvw/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350192657512082082" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7pCZaGHdGXNgThXEulfYaGneSoIcuCsCBKYJEjsdjdYEn9GuRNjxYcpAR8eoRYq5IOo4ndJK0yqkXIs7faqCLruzuZYViMw8Nw_QG2ncrQOUKr_aMW1xBsKm1MMarztm6u9VnTKrTvw/s400/Picture+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:130%;" >Claude </span><span style="font-size:130%;">in the </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" >wildflowers</span><br /></span><div id="ms__id152"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k3hQA1VcOqnpxBe3fMpTskSHj3Q_WzyDXBhguSBx1t3tWAqDzDFtSeK57B8fdMGFm-m7pTjIdr2aToZtbQjFYfjhyPB4FddWlK8dyCzny6hlt4m8qk4Yv4MBPqfAwrK4Cr33a5Qs3IE/s1600-h/Intrepid_Claude.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 266px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350192644616575298" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k3hQA1VcOqnpxBe3fMpTskSHj3Q_WzyDXBhguSBx1t3tWAqDzDFtSeK57B8fdMGFm-m7pTjIdr2aToZtbQjFYfjhyPB4FddWlK8dyCzny6hlt4m8qk4Yv4MBPqfAwrK4Cr33a5Qs3IE/s400/Intrepid_Claude.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Intrepid Claude</span></strong></span></div><div id="ms__id153"><div id="ms__id223"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5jmPo157DtjQaDs-PJes5aq7pshhLx2zjOl-8B1-WvfKIympqkukEFH5UcURjOUzYbIDapmxosjYu3RF3PpGPS7SM8KGT2lU4zQ2f9B0mPmnUcu9yXRT4sMeIdITay0SEhp56sJJw0c/s1600-h/Claude+and+Cathey+March+26th+2009.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350192643236404514" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5jmPo157DtjQaDs-PJes5aq7pshhLx2zjOl-8B1-WvfKIympqkukEFH5UcURjOUzYbIDapmxosjYu3RF3PpGPS7SM8KGT2lU4zQ2f9B0mPmnUcu9yXRT4sMeIdITay0SEhp56sJJw0c/s400/Claude+and+Cathey+March+26th+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(above)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Claude </span>with his <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">H<span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">u</span>m<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">a</span>n</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div id="ms__id98"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span></div><div id="ms__id60"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">“A well-trained dog will make no attempt to share your lunch; he will just make you feel so guilty that you cannot enjoy it.”</span> -Helen Thomson</span> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>flora68http://www.blogger.com/profile/13705100671573522307noreply@blogger.com0