Nope not me... no I wasn't staring at you!
*Gratuitous Puppy Video
December 20 - Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom.
Showing posts with label Gratuitous Puppy Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gratuitous Puppy Video. Show all posts
Friday, December 20, 2013
GPV* - But Not the HFH This Time
Anyone who has ever owned a daschie will know that look.
Nope not me... no I wasn't staring at you!
*Gratuitous Puppy Video
December 20 - Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom.
Nope not me... no I wasn't staring at you!
*Gratuitous Puppy Video
December 20 - Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Songs of My People
As I mentioned last week our Nora believes that the Songs of Her People should be shared with the world. And songs she has - songs for all occasions! Songs of greeting - joyful and wary; songs of loneliness; songs of need; songs of captivity; and songs of battle. A full repertoire of cries and calls from the canine heart. And share she does - often only in parlour performance with her intimate circle but on occasion the wider world has indeed heard her song!
Here's one that suggests neglect and inattention on the part of someone she cares about - as long as he feeds her - deeply. Sort of a "blues" tune. And you will notice that the song has the required effect. The inattentive object of her affection responded and gave comfort and a commodious lap to nap on.
15 January - 1919 – Boston Molasses Disaster: A large molasses tank in Boston, Massachusetts, bursts and a wave of molasses rushes through the streets, killing 21 people and injuring 150 others.
Here's one that suggests neglect and inattention on the part of someone she cares about - as long as he feeds her - deeply. Sort of a "blues" tune. And you will notice that the song has the required effect. The inattentive object of her affection responded and gave comfort and a commodious lap to nap on.
15 January - 1919 – Boston Molasses Disaster: A large molasses tank in Boston, Massachusetts, bursts and a wave of molasses rushes through the streets, killing 21 people and injuring 150 others.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Little Tricks of Nature
Last fall a plea went out from the Humane Society - I believe it was - for people to "foster" litters of squirrels that had been born late in the season. Apparently the early arrival of warm weather had encourage an unprecedented level of the sort of activity that guarantees an increase in the rodent population of our mighty metropolis. Though they aren't mentioned in Cole Porter's famous song apparently squirrels do do it - and last year they did it with a vengeance. And if proof were needed simply stepping out the back entrance to our building is all that's needed - and stepping out of the building with Nora guarantees that the presence of chattering, scampering black or gray rodents will be well noted - by half the neighborhood.
Offered with apologies to Quentin Tarantino.
Our Nora comes from a long line of hunters - as oft mentioned her mother, the lovely Lucy, is a champion boar hunter in Italy. And Nora has inherited all her mother's hunting instincts and the truly frightening hound howl that echoes many mornings across the Canal. Failing the presence of any great number of boars in the area our girl has decided that the pursuit of Sciurus carolinensis is a fair enough substitute. Many of our neighbours are in full support of her decision and would be more than thrilled should she succeed in "decreasing the surplice population".
However there is one gentleman who has made it his mission to show up every night at 1800 with bags of nuts which he distributes around the neighbourhood. Now whatever you say about squirrels - and believe me the people around here have much to say about squirrels, none of it printable in what is after all a family blog - they are bright little creatures. They know this gentleman will show up every evening and at 1800 precisely they appear lurking around the edges of the landscape like creatures in a Stephan King novel. Why spend all that time foraging when you know the nutty Good Humour man will be making his appointed rounds like clockwork.
And if further proof is needed of the intelligence of these ubiquitous pests this little scene caught my eye on Friday afternoon as I was walking home through Confederation Park.
Why do I honestly believe if the earth is flattened in one of those cataclysmic accidents beloved of Hollywood and young video game players that the only thing left will be ants, dandelions and... squirrels?
03 June - 1889 – The transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway is completed.
Offered with apologies to Quentin Tarantino.
Our Nora comes from a long line of hunters - as oft mentioned her mother, the lovely Lucy, is a champion boar hunter in Italy. And Nora has inherited all her mother's hunting instincts and the truly frightening hound howl that echoes many mornings across the Canal. Failing the presence of any great number of boars in the area our girl has decided that the pursuit of Sciurus carolinensis is a fair enough substitute. Many of our neighbours are in full support of her decision and would be more than thrilled should she succeed in "decreasing the surplice population".
However there is one gentleman who has made it his mission to show up every night at 1800 with bags of nuts which he distributes around the neighbourhood. Now whatever you say about squirrels - and believe me the people around here have much to say about squirrels, none of it printable in what is after all a family blog - they are bright little creatures. They know this gentleman will show up every evening and at 1800 precisely they appear lurking around the edges of the landscape like creatures in a Stephan King novel. Why spend all that time foraging when you know the nutty Good Humour man will be making his appointed rounds like clockwork.
And if further proof is needed of the intelligence of these ubiquitous pests this little scene caught my eye on Friday afternoon as I was walking home through Confederation Park.
Why do I honestly believe if the earth is flattened in one of those cataclysmic accidents beloved of Hollywood and young video game players that the only thing left will be ants, dandelions and... squirrels?
03 June - 1889 – The transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway is completed.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
HFH Discover Winter's Wonderland
The HFH discovered the joys of the winter wonderland that will be their home for, if memory serves, at least the next six months.
And if truth be told they probably handled it better than I did.
27 novembre/November - San Primitivo
And if truth be told they probably handled it better than I did.
27 novembre/November - San Primitivo
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Long Overdue HFH Videos
Its been a long while since the Hounds from Hell have made a video appearance here - not because they have not been the subject of cinematic projects on my part but because I've been lazy. Well okay I do have an excuse I have been in moving mode for 11 weeks now and frankly its wearing me down.
I though I'd post two little clips - one is BC - Before Canada and the other AI - After Italy.
The journey from there to here was a relatively good one - a little bit of excitement at Fumicino as Nicky tried to attack anyone that came near his cage - they weren't going to take him away from his homeland without a fight. Nora was a little more placid but complained in her own inimitable way. And for anyone who wasn't aware they flew in the cargo hold of the aircraft: a. - They are too big to fit under the seat and b. I don't believe in animals (or children) in the cabin of an aircraft. And no we didn't give them any tranquilizers - 33 years experience in the airlines taught me the dangers of that, so we simply put a used bit of worn intimate apparel from each of us in each kennel. That way there was a familiar smell. Believe it or not it is the best way to calm an animal in that situation.
They were fine upon arrival and despite some whining made the car trip up to Ottawa with their Uncle Pervy without a problem. Our dear Betty Jean - to whom be all honour and glory - took them in and they had a wonderful time at Summer Camp Culley. Even Nicky's attempt to claim - in true canine fashion - her sofa as his own, or at least a lower corner of it, didn't seem to phase her -she remained calm, cool and... well Betty Jean, then and through the whole 3 weeks she had them.
As for the new apartment - well much is still in boxes so free reign is not possible and the geography of their current area keeps changing as boxes are moved around, wine is stored and pictures hung. But there is always the daily walks along the Canal - three a day, sometimes four - with new smells and squirrels! Oh yes there are squirrels and as you may recall Nora's lineage is firmly in the hunting hound world - her mother is a champion boar hunter - so on the odd morning the neighbours have been treated to a full hunting hound howl. And at 0630 it tends to echo very distinctly across the water.
The future holds some obedience lessons to see if we can get them both socialized a bit better with other dogs and maybe turn Nora's hunting frenzy to a more practical bent. And then, of course, there will be their first walk in the snow to look forward to - now there's a thought to give me nightmares for a few weeks!
30 agosto/August - San Fiacre
I though I'd post two little clips - one is BC - Before Canada and the other AI - After Italy.
The journey from there to here was a relatively good one - a little bit of excitement at Fumicino as Nicky tried to attack anyone that came near his cage - they weren't going to take him away from his homeland without a fight. Nora was a little more placid but complained in her own inimitable way. And for anyone who wasn't aware they flew in the cargo hold of the aircraft: a. - They are too big to fit under the seat and b. I don't believe in animals (or children) in the cabin of an aircraft. And no we didn't give them any tranquilizers - 33 years experience in the airlines taught me the dangers of that, so we simply put a used bit of worn intimate apparel from each of us in each kennel. That way there was a familiar smell. Believe it or not it is the best way to calm an animal in that situation.
They were fine upon arrival and despite some whining made the car trip up to Ottawa with their Uncle Pervy without a problem. Our dear Betty Jean - to whom be all honour and glory - took them in and they had a wonderful time at Summer Camp Culley. Even Nicky's attempt to claim - in true canine fashion - her sofa as his own, or at least a lower corner of it, didn't seem to phase her -she remained calm, cool and... well Betty Jean, then and through the whole 3 weeks she had them.
As for the new apartment - well much is still in boxes so free reign is not possible and the geography of their current area keeps changing as boxes are moved around, wine is stored and pictures hung. But there is always the daily walks along the Canal - three a day, sometimes four - with new smells and squirrels! Oh yes there are squirrels and as you may recall Nora's lineage is firmly in the hunting hound world - her mother is a champion boar hunter - so on the odd morning the neighbours have been treated to a full hunting hound howl. And at 0630 it tends to echo very distinctly across the water.
The future holds some obedience lessons to see if we can get them both socialized a bit better with other dogs and maybe turn Nora's hunting frenzy to a more practical bent. And then, of course, there will be their first walk in the snow to look forward to - now there's a thought to give me nightmares for a few weeks!
30 agosto/August - San Fiacre
Sunday, January 02, 2011
The First HRH Video of 2011
The fighting around our house can get out of hand sometimes - no I don't meant Laurent and I, we don't fight we discuss - loudly! - I mean of course the Hounds from Hell. Here are Nick and Nora having one of their little daily spats after a game of Hide and Seek.
Just a word of warning there is one portion of this video where Nicky asserts his Italian masculinity and Nora registers her complete indifference much to his chagrin. He hasn't quite grasped the fact that she is totally uninterested and frankly, in true Italian fashion, doesn't understand why.
PS: In response to Uncle Pervy - no that first shot was not posed - stop and think for a minute about me trying to get them to sit still???? Wouldn't happen. She was actually sitting on top of him and he was quite oblivious to it all.
PPS: YDG - that is Nora doing the barking and growling - she's the hunter in the family. Her baying when she see a cat would scare the hell out of anything she was tracking.
02 gennaio - San Gregorio Nazianzeno
Just a word of warning there is one portion of this video where Nicky asserts his Italian masculinity and Nora registers her complete indifference much to his chagrin. He hasn't quite grasped the fact that she is totally uninterested and frankly, in true Italian fashion, doesn't understand why.
PS: In response to Uncle Pervy - no that first shot was not posed - stop and think for a minute about me trying to get them to sit still???? Wouldn't happen. She was actually sitting on top of him and he was quite oblivious to it all.
PPS: YDG - that is Nora doing the barking and growling - she's the hunter in the family. Her baying when she see a cat would scare the hell out of anything she was tracking.
02 gennaio - San Gregorio Nazianzeno
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Gratuitous HFH Video
Its been a long time - too long according to their Uncle Pervy - since I posted a video of the Hounds From Hell. Despite repeated threats I have not sold them to the gypsies and they are making life as interesting as always.
Being dachshunds they are equipped with hunting instincts and more particularly burrowing instincts One of our previous daschies (my darling Bundnie) use to wrap herself in her blanket so tightly that on occasion I would have to liberate her from her cocoon.
The Hounds from Hell have taken to getting under the sofa covering in the den and playing a game of daschie hide and seek.
The other evening I was waking our Nora, whose mother you may recall is a champion wild boar hunter here in Italy. Our route took us by the residence of the Saudi Ambassador on Via Regina Margherita which is guarded by a trio of soldiers. One of the young, and I must add cute, soldiers saw us come and started to laugh and said to me: She's hunting for boar! I was a bit startled and asked him what he meant and how he knew she was a boar hunter. It turns out his father hunts boar in Tuscany with a pack of daschies and Nora was doing all the right moves. Right now she's pretty vicious when she spots a cat, I'm just not sure how she'd be when confronted with a 90 kilo (200 lbs) piece of wild porker???
15 decembre - Santa Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa
Being dachshunds they are equipped with hunting instincts and more particularly burrowing instincts One of our previous daschies (my darling Bundnie) use to wrap herself in her blanket so tightly that on occasion I would have to liberate her from her cocoon.
The Hounds from Hell have taken to getting under the sofa covering in the den and playing a game of daschie hide and seek.
The other evening I was waking our Nora, whose mother you may recall is a champion wild boar hunter here in Italy. Our route took us by the residence of the Saudi Ambassador on Via Regina Margherita which is guarded by a trio of soldiers. One of the young, and I must add cute, soldiers saw us come and started to laugh and said to me: She's hunting for boar! I was a bit startled and asked him what he meant and how he knew she was a boar hunter. It turns out his father hunts boar in Tuscany with a pack of daschies and Nora was doing all the right moves. Right now she's pretty vicious when she spots a cat, I'm just not sure how she'd be when confronted with a 90 kilo (200 lbs) piece of wild porker???
15 decembre - Santa Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
GPV Revival
Its been a while since I posted a GPV and its not that I haven't taken pictures of Nicky and Nora - its just that the Hounds from Hell have been keeping me busy. They are quite the handful and I love them but there are days ... just like people!!!!!
Here's a short video and I didn't even have time to adjust the lights but I did want to capture it.
22 settembre - San Maurizio, Candido, Essuperio, Vittore e compagni
Here's a short video and I didn't even have time to adjust the lights but I did want to capture it.
22 settembre - San Maurizio, Candido, Essuperio, Vittore e compagni
Friday, July 10, 2009
GPV for the Week
I will let the video explain itself.
And yes Marco that is me doing the narration!
10 lulgio - San Silvano
And yes Marco that is me doing the narration!
10 lulgio - San Silvano
Monday, June 29, 2009
Nicky News
Just so his Uncle Pervy and everyone who sent messages won't worry, Nicky is doing much much better. It looks like he may have eaten something at the kennel that he shouldn't have or maybe even on one of our walks - because if you want proof that dogs are scavengers all you have to do is walk Nicky. He has developed a love of pebbles amongst other things. Of course at that stage of puppydom if you can't play with it you must be able to eat it!
Anyway he is on the mend - his tummy is settling, his energy he never lost and he is still fighting with Nora for sovereignty over the doggie bed.
29 giugno - Santi Pietro e Paolo
Anyway he is on the mend - his tummy is settling, his energy he never lost and he is still fighting with Nora for sovereignty over the doggie bed.
29 giugno - Santi Pietro e Paolo
Thursday, June 04, 2009
This Week's GPV
Just because we are sitting in Trieste and the kids are 642 kms away in Capena doesn't mean I'm not going to post a *Gratuitous Puppy Video this week. Here's Nicky and Nora! They got the run of the house, in the futile hope they would get all that pent up energy out before the car trip.
04 giugno - San Francesco Caracciolo
04 giugno - San Francesco Caracciolo
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Weekly GPV*
The pups are growing on apace and still a handful - why do I think I will be saying that for the next few years?
*Gratuitous Puppies Video
21 maggio - San Cristóbal Magallanes Jara
*Gratuitous Puppies Video
21 maggio - San Cristóbal Magallanes Jara
Saturday, May 16, 2009
And Yet Another Gratuitous Puppy Video
Laurent and I have started a bit of a Thin Man marathon - I finally received the entire Thin Man collection from Amazon.UK. Given the amount of alcohol that Nick and Nora Charles consume I'm not sure its the sort of thing the kids should be watching?
16 maggio - Sant'Onorato
16 maggio - Sant'Onorato
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Gratuitious Puppy Video III
Well it ain't C. B DeMille but.....
02 maggio - Sant'Atanasio di Alessandria
02 maggio - Sant'Atanasio di Alessandria
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gratuitious Puppy Video II
Okay I'm being a silly new puppy owner but... hey my blog my choice!
27 aprile - Nostra Signora di Montserrat
27 aprile - Nostra Signora di Montserrat
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, December 13, 2007
GPV* - Not To Be Confused With GPP**
Realized I hadn't posted a Gratuitous Puppy Video* (not be be confused with a Gratuitous Puppy Picture**) in a while. So here we have our Reese being bathed last Sunday.
His skin condition has returned with a vengeance so for the past few days we've been walking over to the Vets - well I've been walking, he's been carried. Tuesday I met a charming older couple who were in with their dog. The lady - faded blonde but with a elegance that was unforced and a wonderful smile when she talked about her dog - had found her wandering on the street two years ago. The dog was going to be operated on that afternoon for a tumor that they hoped was benign. We talked about our pets and them being what she called "a loving responsibility," which I thought was a great phrase. I checked with Dr. Benvenuti yesterday and it was benign - I would have loved to see the smile on her face when he told her that.
13 decembre - Santa Lucia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)