Surreal Start – ND #25

Waiting patiently – Photo: L. Weikel

Surreal Start

What a soggy, surreal start to 2022. The layers of fog undulating in the fields surrounding our home only added to the other-worldly, time-standing-still quality of the day. And while I know temperatures are expected to plunge to more seasonal digits within the next day or so, it was a little disconcerting to barely need anything more than a heavy sweatshirt to take a walk. The main upside to this balmy respite was the chance to spend more time outside playing with the puppies.

I’m not going to talk of resolutions or even aspirations. Not today. Maybe in a few. Maybe next year. We’ll see.

Instead, as we put a bow on the top of this holiday season, I sense the need to bring some puppy love to the party. It feels like it’s been a while since I shared any photos of Pacha and Brutus with you, and I have to tell you – they’re growing exponentially. If I don’t show you some soon, you may not even recognize them!

Personalities

The personalities of these two siblings couldn’t be more different. Brutus is laid back and would probably do anything to please me. He’s sweet and sensitive and doesn’t like to get his feet wet. He’s learned a variety of commands and performs them quite well.

Pacha on the other hand is relentless yet distractible. Resembling a black and white torpedo, she zooms across the lawn with such speed and abandon that when she attempts to change direction and circle around, she’s been known to skid out a couple feet on her back or side. She pops right back up, not at all the worse for wear but for some muddy skid marks on her coat.

And while she definitely loves us and doesn’t want to make us angry, she paradoxically only follows our commands if she either randomly feels like it or she sees a benefit to herself to ‘listen.’ I’ve heard her literally bark a ‘no,’ when told to sit when she doesn’t feel like it. It borders on the creepy.

Circus Performer

But the funniest part about her personality is how I swear she could be a circus performer. If I had the inclination, I bet I could teach her to ‘dance’ on her hind legs to entertain us all. My confidence level is high because I’ve seen her do it already. The trick is to get her to do it when I ask her to – not unlike the issue I have with every other command we’ve taught her.

I did manage to get a couple of shots of her dancing for a toy today, which I’m sharing with you here. Brutus sort of sat there watching in awe as she went through her gyrations.

But I throw down the gauntlet. I dare you to avoid having the Big Top’s theme song (yut dut duddy dut da-dut dut daaah det….) run through your head when you see Pacha on her hind legs.

Trouble is, I hate circuses. Ha!

(T+25)