It is morning. Ruby is lying low while I get my coffee going. I can almost hear her thinking, “See? I’m being good.”
Emma takes her cue from the older dog and lies low too. They both know there’s a good chance they’ll get a treat before breakfast, just so I won’t feel so guilty about eating mine before going to feed them.
The tiny Melmac dishes have been part of our household since they belonged to our cats 40 years ago. They are the dogs’ snack dishes now.
I usually crumble half a slice of bread into each dish, add a bit of whatever tasty morsel might be around – a sprinkle of parmesan, a tiny dash of half and half, whatever is handy – and add some warm water. I walk over to the hallway with Emma and Ruby right behind me. Without being told, they each sit in their usual spots, Emma to the right, Ruby to the left. I place the dishes on the floor and as always, Emma looks up at me while Ruby stares at her dish. When I say, “Okay,” they lap up the goodies.
Afterwards, like the good girls they are, they bring me the dishes to put in the sink.
Here is Ruby with her brown dish.
And here is Emma with her cream dish. (Her pictures are often blurry because she is always in motion.)
Then, partially satisfied, they lie at my feet until I’ve had my coffee and toast, knowing that afterwards we’ll go downstairs and they’ll have a real “dog’s breakfast.”
“Manners matter,” Ruby says.
Emma says, “I’m cute.”
“That’s not enough,” the old dog warns.
“And you should follow suit.
Just lie down flat, and roll your eyes
To watch what’s going on.
Pretty soon we’ll get our snack
And breakfast won’t be long.
Sit there patiently and wait.
Never whine or jump.
If you do, we’ll miss our snack
So sit down on your rump.
When the mistress says, ‘Okay!’
We can begin to eat.
You’d better not start in too soon,
She doesn’t like a cheat.
“Oh yeah, but Ruby,” Emma says,
“You always watch your food.
I watch, adoringly, her face,
And capture her good mood.”
August 4, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Reblogged this on Blog Pad 2017.
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August 4, 2017 at 7:19 pm
Sweet! Our dogs do capture our hearts, don’t they? 😊
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August 4, 2017 at 7:20 pm
These two certainly have.
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August 4, 2017 at 7:27 pm
I love this, you are blessed with such wonderful family!
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August 4, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Yes, I am, John. Thanks. 😉
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August 4, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Your dogs are beautiful, and your poem’s a treat, too. I smiled all the way through!
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August 4, 2017 at 9:01 pm
That makes me happy. TY!
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August 4, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Beautiful poem beautiful dogs, beautiful attitude 🙂
Life is Good !
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August 4, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Yes, it sure is, Hans. Thanks,
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August 4, 2017 at 8:51 pm
They are beauties and you do know your dogs!
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August 4, 2017 at 9:02 pm
They’re real characters. Sometimes I forget that they’re dogs.
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August 4, 2017 at 9:54 pm
the right owner, the right animal, and a magic bond happens.
its not every time. but sometimes. You, have a beautiful connection with these two. 🙂
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August 4, 2017 at 9:46 pm
Your girls are adorable! So obedient and skilled, too! Thanks for sharing them. Your poem is lovely. 🙂 Have a good day, Anneli. It’s almost 10 p.m. here. Getting ready to go read before bed. 🙂
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August 5, 2017 at 5:32 am
Thanks, Patsy. Reading is a good way to drift off into dreamland.
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August 6, 2017 at 9:07 am
It sure is, Anneli. I HAVE to read before I can go to sleep.
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August 4, 2017 at 9:53 pm
pure … Happiness!
you have such Well Trained dogs. I’m impressed.
i know it takes Time, effort, patience, love, lots of practice…….. lol
loved this post Anneli! 5 STARS
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August 5, 2017 at 5:34 am
Aw, thanks, Debi. I do love my dogs. They pretty much call the shots around here, and I try to do as I’m told.
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August 5, 2017 at 3:00 am
Such cute little ladies 🙂 Just got to love them to bits!
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August 5, 2017 at 5:35 am
So nice to see you here, Raili. Glad you like my ladies. They’re very special to me.
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August 5, 2017 at 7:49 am
I’m struggling to get around to do all the reading of late – I don’t know if I’m being inefficient or what !
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August 5, 2017 at 9:45 am
I know it is so hard to manage when we get too many blogs to follow. That’s why I appreciate you being there!
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August 5, 2017 at 6:56 pm
I try and keep my follows to a more or less manageable level, but it’s always tricky deciding which ones. Between those and visiting new followers, it can be a very time consuming thing! But you’re a keeper even if my visits are sometimes few and far between 🙂
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August 5, 2017 at 4:31 am
So sweet!
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August 5, 2017 at 5:35 am
Thanks, Jill. They’ve got my number and know which buttons to push.
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August 5, 2017 at 9:46 am
They really are, Jill. I wish you could meet them.
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August 5, 2017 at 4:48 am
Beautiful dogs. they certainly look behaved.
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August 5, 2017 at 5:36 am
They’re pretty well behaved most of the time. They sure keep me entertained.Thanks, Arlene.
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August 5, 2017 at 8:20 am
What a wonderfu post, Anneli! I’m smiling all over. Thanks for sharing. You certainly have two well-behaved dogs. Ours never were that way. But we still loved them. Btw, we had a “Ruby” once, years and years agon, in Karnes County still. Unfortunately she was a roamer and, at the age of just thre, run over on the highway in front of our place there. The intersting fact: from that day on, her twin, Buster, who had always roamed with her all over the county, never ran out onto the highway again! He raomed the pastures behind our house, and he went up to the side of the road, but always stayed on the grassy verge and never ran across.
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August 28, 2017 at 8:34 am
We had that happen years ago when our dog used to sneak away always right after (NEVER before) she got fed. One day she got out on the road and that was it for her.
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August 5, 2017 at 9:05 am
Very lovely post – I love your dogs to pieces (as I do the owners of them). And the poem fits perfect.
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August 5, 2017 at 9:47 am
Wish you didn’t live so far away!!!
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August 5, 2017 at 11:52 am
Me too!
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August 5, 2017 at 9:39 am
Your dogs are so sweet. I saw this all in action, just a few weeks ago. Such good pups. ❤ ❤
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August 5, 2017 at 9:48 am
They’re so biddable – and good company.
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August 5, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Sweet dogs. Perfect poem.
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August 5, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Thanks, Belinda. I had fun doing this one.
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August 5, 2017 at 8:27 pm
Aww, they work like a team with Ruby setting a refined example. 💖 Emma watches and senses your moods, huh? 👏 ❤
Taking their bowls to you is quite a sweet trick, Anneli. Good dogs!
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August 6, 2017 at 7:34 am
They are sweet dogs. Very biddable.
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August 6, 2017 at 7:36 am
They have sweet faces and so nice to have you share them with us, Anneli.
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August 6, 2017 at 5:50 am
so loved this Anneli!
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August 6, 2017 at 7:33 am
Very happy to hear that, David. Thank you.
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August 7, 2017 at 7:01 am
Oh dear, I got a good giggle out of them holding those plates. LOL They’re so adorable. Dogs are such a gift from heaven.
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August 7, 2017 at 7:04 am
The good ones are, for sure. We’ve had the odd dog (years ago) that was a bit of a nuisance, but for the most part, they’re a wonderful part of the family.
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August 7, 2017 at 7:25 am
I’ve had only two dogs, plus I fostered two dogs and found them forever homes. They were wonderful, too. Difficult to give up. Piezon used to pick up things and give them to me. Max can’t seem to grasp that concept. But, Max is smart in so many other ways. My heart soars for these four-legged lovables.
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August 7, 2017 at 7:52 am
I’m lucky enough to know the feeling.
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August 7, 2017 at 7:54 am
That’s so cute that they bring their bowls to you! Ha, ha. They look like happy dogs. Cute poem, too. 🙂
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August 7, 2017 at 11:33 am
Thank you, D. I wish I could teach them to wash the dishes too. I bet they would love to play in the water with the dishes. I’d have to put little white aprons on them. Maybe the kind with frilly straps like the French maids have.
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August 10, 2017 at 8:10 am
You are a wonderful doggie mother to Ruby and Emma, and they love you in return. You also trained them well, so that they’re happy. And well-snacked! Love this post and your poem. xo
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August 10, 2017 at 8:18 am
Thank you, Pam. Glad you liked the post. When you’re feeling like you want to get a dog, just don’t forget how they tie you down. You start to love them and then it’s hard to put them in a kennel or leave them behind, and you find yourself missing out on travel. I wouldn’t want to be without Ruby and Emma, but ….
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August 11, 2017 at 3:26 am
I know… I know. But they add SO MUCH to your life! ❤
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August 11, 2017 at 7:18 am
Yes, they sure do.
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August 28, 2017 at 5:13 am
They look like happy dogs. The good ones are, for sure.
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August 28, 2017 at 8:37 am
Yes, they are very happy dogs! They have a good life.
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