Did I or Didn't I?

Before I ask the question, "Did I or didn't I?" I want to tell you about this cool bed I found. TJam got some liners for some hanging baskets (don't hold your breath, she always gets as far as liners and even plants, but falls down when it comes to putting the two together).

It would seem that 12" is just the right diameter for a cosy cat bed.

I said, "This space is TAKEN. Move along please. There are no hanging baskets to make here."

TJam has been busy making Easter nests for Bamgee, Bready and Unliz. You have to imagine that the Easter hen laid flat eggs in her nest. Tjam didn't get to the shop in time to get small vegan eggs. I'm sure no one will notice.

TJam saved herself a nest to have with her cup of tea before she sets off. When she came into the kitchen, this is what she saw:

I quickly headed in the direction of the door and TJam didn't actually see me touch the cake, I just had my head near it.

There was dribble on the chocolate button, which was lying next to the nest, but since the nest is shiny anyway, TJam doesn't know if I licked the nest or not. Now she has to decide whether to take the chance and eat it anyway, or whether to play it safe and throw it away.

What would you do?

Easter Dip

I almost took my feet off the floor. I am the little black dot in the water.
- by Beanz, from the blue lagoon

Poplars and Memory Lane

Spring is in the air.

Whenever TJam sees poplars (or whatever you call those tall straight trees) she thinks about the allotment she used to go to with her mum when she was small. Her mum used to dig, and TJam used to write. Well, she used to make squiggles on the page in a long line and then look for shapes that looked like letters (mostly, if they were going to look like anything, they would look like an "m"). There was a man there that had a Westhighand Terrier . The allotment shop smelled like fertiliser.

Anyhu, all of that was YEARS before we were born, in the days when dog poo turned white and you could still get Green Shield Stamps.

Here we are, posing by the poplars.

Our Weekend

We had a very busy weekend the other weekend.

We went to visit Tjam's parents.

We went for a walk and I had to wait for TJam to take a photo of this boring tree with ivy on...

...before I posed for my Super Hero shot.

Then I balanced FlipTop on my nose.

Poor Chips was wiped out with all the activity and had to take refuge in the flower bed for a rest.

Then there was just time to watch TJam's dad sort out his pond. By this time I was too tired to help.

In fact it was all I could do to find a patch of shade to recuperate from my busy time.

Spring

Spring must be in the air. Happy spring everyone!

Amateur

I had to roll in the white line markings on the football field so TJam took my pic.

Then she tried to snap our friend Eddie. Eddie is not a poser of professional standards yet...

...but he is getting there. He's only a pup yet.

- by Chips on the move ...

Do Not Bother

- by Chips

Do not bother stealing a block of frozen spinach that has fallen on the floor.

It is a big disappointment.

Times I Am Glad I Am Not a Mouse

Loyalty Is Cat

Carls has been living amongst dogs long enough for our best traits to wear off on her. Look what we return home to after our walks. I might start calling her Greyfriers Carlsberg.
- by Chips

Compare the Meerkat

- by Beanz

When I was a pup, and before I managed to get my ears into the ten past eight position as so:

.... I sometimes looked like this:

As you know, my parentage and heritage are not exactly known, although there is collie in there somewhere. But the advert below indicates that there may actually be a completely different and previously unconsidered bloodline. Don't you think that guy could be a relative?

Early Shower

I had to take an early shower on my walk this weekend. My poorly leg is back. I gaze sadly at what is so near yet so far. Meanwhile Chips disappears off over the horizon.

Thomas Edison

As Thomas Edison said, "I haven't failed, I have discovered a thousand ways not to make a lightbulb" so TJam said, "I haven't failed, it was a good idea and now I have discovered a way not to cook a jacket potato."

TJam will not be getting any more ideas from Harry Hill's TV burp. You may be able to poach a salmon in the dishwasher, but cook a jacket potato, you cannot.

(Do you notice that salmons have been mentioned twice in the last week? What is going on?)

Modern Art

I call this creation, "Satisfied paw prints on white"
- by Chips Sewell

Early morning run

Forgive me for looking a bit tired here. I have just run across this field and back. Why? In a word, deer. Hello lead walking and practising my recall. It was worth it though. I am WIRED.

- by Beanz, the roving blogger

Salmon

Do I look like an impressive bear catching salmon? I model myself on david Attenborough's Natural World. Now I just need to work on my roar. And my tree climbing.
ROAR!
Did i trick you?

- by Beanz, the roving blogger

Flamingo

I am also mobile now. Here is my poor flamingo on its last legs. He has no stuffing but he's still good for a tug of war. Here's to mobile blogging and talking the hind legs off donkeys. Field reporter Chips over and out.

- by Chips, on location

Am I mobile?

TJam has been workin all morning (and neglecting us) to get us blogging from her mobile. If you are reading this, then a miracle breakthrough has occurred.



---- 
Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

Pass the Mouthwash

This is the mouth
Attached to the dog
That nimbly hopped onto the worktop
(like a mountain goat)
And sniffed out the bowl
That contained 6 cloves of crushed garlic in olive oil
That is now empty

This is the mouth
Attached to the dog
That will not be attacked by vampire
For a long long time.

Can you smell it from there?!

I dare you to come close to the screen!

This is the mouth
That is sporting a rather impressive set of whiskers
(Now I come to look more closely)
Even if I do say so myself.

Spot the Dog

by Chips.

Can you spot me?


(yup, that's my nose sticking out on the right hand side)

Who Says Crates are Cruel?

We love our crate. Today, Beanz was in it and I wanted to get in it and she wouldn't get out, so I got in with her. It was a bit of a squeeze but I managed it.

Valerian Teabags

- by Carlsberg

Today, Bamgee brought me a present. When she said, "Valerian Teabag wrapper" you could forgive me for not being all that excited.

Until I smelt it, that is.

Then I was very excited.



Now I am sleeping off my trip in a hazy eyed stupour.

cool man.

Peace out

Carls
x

Snow

By Chips

Well, it's been a roller-coaster of a week regarding snow. The weatherpeople getting our hopes up and us drooping our ears and dropping our tails in disappointment most days. While London got snowed in and ground to a half, it was work as usual round here. Boo hoo.

On Monday, we did get a little covering. Beanz thought the pond was frozen over. She soon found out that it wasn't. This is the exact moment she realised that she was up to her chin in icy water and reversed out at the speed of light. Doesn't she know? You should NEVER walk on a frozen (or not frozen) pond. If only the camera hadn't been slow you would have seen her at the actual point of realisation. Never mind. This is almost as good. If you enlarge you can see the hole she just came out of.


Tuesday was no snow.

Wednesday was no snow.

Thursday, when we looked out of the window, things had started to look up...

(yes, our world actually is neon blue)

That morning, Beanz had a little lay in the snow and I dug up a stick.

And on Friday, the flakes were so big, Beanz and I looked like dalmations in negative (except longer haired and floppier and not as good at following carriages).


It didn't stick, so there was no snowman. So, all in all, our snow experience has been minimal but still quite fun.

In other news, Bamgee has been in hospital and out again. She is poorly enough to need medicine but not too poorly to play with us. We are especially not allowed to jump up as she has got a drip in her arm but she can sort it out at home now. She is practically a trained nurse! We are very proud of her. Plus we are glad she is there to remind TJam to give us an extra chew.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

- by Beanz

Gung Hay Fat Choy everyone. That is happy new year if you are Chinese. Today the humans abandoned me and Chips and went to the Chinese New Year celebrations in a nearby city.

There were loads of stalls and you could buy special drums to make loads of noise to keep bad spirits away. If they's have taken me with them, I could have made loads of noise to keep bad spirits away. But no, we were not invited on account of the fire crackers. And the fact that TJam wanted to have a relaxing time, and not two hyped up hounds learning about cultural issues, especially cultural things that fall on the floor, like noodles, rice and pad thai curry (or something, so we are told). Here are Bready and Bamgee buying some stuff.
Then they went to the parade. There was a dragon. I could have protected everyone from the dragon. Lucky for the dragon I wasn't there.

The humans were a little surprised that there were no Chinese people driving the dragon. Plus the cox was saying, "move it, move it" to the dragon drivers. The humans' Chinese friend said they say the same thing in Chinese, just that it sounds more romantic and festive when it it not done with a northern accent.

The humans were also stopped in the street and told they could "make a wish" on the Buddha. Now, I'm just a dog, not a theologist, but I thought prayer and meditation were associated with Buddhism. I didn't realise that all this time we could have just been making a couple of wishes. Let's see if Buddha comes good with all those bones I'm going to ask for...

anyway, next the humans went to the art gallery. Actually they just needed to use the facilities, but it turned out there were loads of interactive Chinese things there. And then Bamgee said, "Aren't those Silky's bags?" (Silky is her spy name) and it turned out that TJam's friend Silky has some bags for sale in the gallery! How cool is that?! Don't they look good.

Finally, the humans saw fit to come home and take me and Chips for a walk. There was a sugar dusting of snow while we were out and when we got in the car, look how cold it was:

Snow is forcast for tomorrow so we hope TJam can't get to work and has to stay home with us and sit in front of the fire, stroking us. We can always make a wish.

Smokes and Mirrors

- by Beanz

TJam has been reading the first blog she ever followed. They have been having a really tough time. If we are going to have something good out of the black cloud, then it is lots of cuddles. We do what Kerrio tells us. When Kerrio says cuddle, we cuddle. When Kerrio says lay in front of the fire together, we get straight down on the floor.

When Kerrio says forget the ironing and hoovering... we're waaaaaayy ahead of her!

This one's for you, Meg, QB, Cleo and Boots, and for you Tealeaf and Kerrio and Brian. A big blogging cuddle for us all to share.

Plus hopefully it will detract from the fact that I accidentally nibbled the corner off a parcel waiting to be posted. (Don't worry, no chocolate was involved, only a small webcam).

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INTERESTED? EMAIL CARLSBERG AT JUMPTHEDOG.COM

Absent Mindedness

- by Chips

Thank goodness for human absent mindedness and distractability and for a dog's innate ability to seize the moment.

I'm not sure at which point between making a cheese toasty and walking to the fridge to put the marg and cheese away, TJam got distracted. Then she went out. If you look in my bed, you will see some very clean evidence.
Yum.

Cup of Tea

Dear TJam

When you are making a cup of tea, be sure to put the tea and milk in the SAME cup you will be drinking from, and not in two separate cups (one of which was waiting to be put away) like you did this morning. What were you thinking?

love from Beanz

PS Unnlizz- (that's your spy name), if you are reading this, doesn't the reindeer cup look good? :))

Cat Tree

- by Carlsberg

What happens when a dog waits until the humans go out and then tries to climb up a cat tree to eat a cat's breakfast?

My food, my tree. Paws OFF. Do NOT try it again.

(and put my crinkly paper back in the box where it came from)

(and wash my bowl once you've licked it with your smooth doggy tongue)

Co-operation

- by Beanz

When they thought I wasn't looking, there was a moment of interspecies co-operation in front of the fire. Almost brings a tear to your eye.

Weetabix

- by Beanz

Other whole weat cereals are available. We don't have any complaints about this type though. TJam left it out on the counter while she went to work and we ate the whole lot. The floor has been lovely and crunchy and we can revisit the crime scene. There should be no problem with our bowels for a couple of days.

We do recommned that plenty of fresh drinking water is available.

Plenty.

Fog

- by Chips

It has been so foggy here that when we went for a walk, I got fog on my ears and eyebrows and I looked about 100 years old. What is going on?

PS I'm still gonna look cute when I'm old, aren't I?

Nostalgia

- by Chips

Today we are going to allow TJam a moment of unashamed sentimentality and nostalgia, and she can tell one fond story about the original Jump The Dog.

2009's story goes:


"Jump was no stranger to public transport, as we didn't have a car for the first year of her life. In fact, she never really settled into private transport and could yelp non-stop for a 4 hour journey. (So annoying that one time I lost my temper after a solid 90 minute session and screamed at her to shut up while doing 40mph on a dual carriage way and the people in the outside lane all turned their heads to see where the noise was coming from. Of course I am not proud of this now, but at the time I didn't know any better.)

Anyway, today I am fondly going to remember that we were going across town from the train station to the bus stop, and as we crossed the busiest tram stop in town, Jump got down and did the world's most gigantic poo right there on the platform. In front of the 50 people waiting for the tram. I had plastic bags, and I scooped that poop as fast as I could, but it didn't stop the dirty looks."

Thank you for that story TJam. I hope you realise that it makes me and Beanz look like saints. Oh, apart from that time I had an accident in training class ...

Happy New Year!

The bloggy slate of 2008 is cleared as we look ahead to 2009...

I am pretty sure TJam has been watching too much TV over the holidays. Today she looked out of the window as she closed the curtains and said, "That's a good picture!"

Happy New Year everyone!

Index of 2008

In January Chips was poorly, Carlsberg was allowed out onto the porch and there was flooding.

In February, TJam ran "What is it Wednesday", Carlsberg got her cat tree and we celebrated 6 years of our 2nd life with TJam.

In March, TJam and FlipTop wint to Crufts, Beanz got a bespoke collar and TJam got some novelty wellies. Chips fell in the canal and got back out again. We went to visit TJam's family and it was TJam's cousin's 40th.

April saw Fliptop turn 21. Beanz got lost and found and then chewed up a kitchen roll. Chips won a new bed in a caption competition.

In May we went camping in Wales during the gales and we went to the beach. We got rejected by You've Been Framed and Chips & Beanz got accepted as PAT dogs.

June was quiet and a little bird at school had chicks in the hanging baskets. July was also quiet. Carlsberg got the run of the garden and Chips survived another batch of chocolate when Mum came to stay.

In August, everyone apart from Carlsberg went on holiday (not camping this year) and TJam met up with Towny Farm and her family. There was a continuing problem with rain in September.

Sadly, regular contributer, Dizzy died in October. Chips and Beanz got in trouble with stealing a ham shank (and MORE chocolate. I know, I wouldn't believe it either) and TJam had some diabolicle knacker sausages. It snowed and the dogs shook mud all over the washing.

In November, Carlsberg caught her first mouse in ages. Chocolate featured. Chips weed on TJam's work bag and sat on the washing. In December, there was another mouse, the humans went skating and then it was Christmas.

Merry Christmas

HO HO HO

Merry Christmas from all of us.

If you've kept up this far, for all these years, you should be really proud of yourselves!

(or see a doctor)

Have a fun filled, live for the moment kind of day, and eat as much turkish delight as you can manage (we know we will)

love from TJam, Chips, Beanz and Carlsberg

xxx