Sunday Sun

We know many of you are still snowbound, without power, feeling cabin fever -- so we thought it might be encouraging to see a bit of sunlit green and remember that Spring is just around the corner -- somebody's corner, not sure just whose though.

Here in South Florida, it's still chilly (for us), but since the sky was a bright blue and the sun shining yesterday afternoon, Mom agreed it was time for a little photoshoot. So we all went out on the patio, with a bit of red wine ... Now don't get any wrong ideas. We're not really lap dogs. We're terriers. But those chairs are too high for us to reach, so the folks took pity on us and lifted us to where the action was. Honest. Not lap dogs. Terriers.From our kinda' comfy lap perches though, we had a good view of the fox tail palm that Dogdad planted in honor of Jakey back in 2003. It took a hit from Wilma in 2005 -- but it has recovered and continues its skyward march. On the other side of the patio, some of the greenery and plants have survived the unusual cold of a few weeks ago...

But, sadly, one of Mom's favorite plants -- a ginger with bright red flowes -- that she's had since before Dogdad and us --decided enough was enough.And the mussenda -- the plant with beautiful white flowers -- seems to have given up too.

Ah, but then we heard noises and had to get down from our heights to do one of the things we do best: PROTECT THE PERIMETER!

When we were reassured that all was safe, we told the folks we were ready to go back inside.

The afternoon sun still reached us -- Jakey on his favorite bench and me, as always, on my sacred mission TO PROTECT THE FAMILY!

Lest some of you are wondering about my situation as canina non grata, and my quest for employment elsewhere -- I have received several very interesting offers: Scotland. Boston. An estate with a beautiful pink barn. Mayemphis. Mexico, Switzerland, England.

When Mom read all the replies and learned how many others get awakened regularly in the wee hours of the morning -- she and Dogdad had a long conversation about how fortunate they were that, however piercing/ear-shattering my bark, I had awakened them only once or twice before dawn in five years* -- and that perhaps they should rethink the situation. In the past week, things seem to have quieted down -- and only once did I feel the need to sit on the dressing room/bathroom floor for an hour -- listening. Listening for sounds that apparently only I can hear.

But please, dear friends, keep those job offers open -- you never know!!

Wirey love from Jake and me!

Just Harry

* Full disclosure forces me to admit that I awaken them after dawn quite regularly when the neighbor's little white dog whom I seem to detest goes for her morning stroll. But that's another story.

We have eaglets too!!!!!

As quoted in our Sun Sentinel

"Pembroke Pines - Wings extended to their full span, the bald eagle swept toward its nest. A fuzzy gray head popped up above the rim. It was lunch time.The eagle settled into its home of sticks and grass, tore at some sort of prey with its yellow beak — oblivious to the cars and trucks rushing by on Pines Boulevard — and began gently feeding bits of food to its chicks.The celebrated bald eagles of Pembroke Pines, the first nesting pair in Broward County since the 1970s, have returned, and in the past four weeks they have produced three eaglets.

A committee of conservationists and government officials is working to make sure the eagles are protected."

Since most of our posts about other species have been warnings about aliens such as Burmese pythons or hungry biting iguanas (or same iguanas frozen and falling from trees) -- we are so tickled this morning to report that the nesting pair above returned to their home in a nearby city and have produced and are feeding three thriving eaglets.

Jake and Just Harry

Farewell to our dear Scottish lad

Having shared a wee dram or two with Hamish, and walked together in our kilts, it is with great sadness that we say farewell to such a wise little pal. He left his loving mom, Gail, suddenly this morning and we join with all his friends in sending her our condolences and love. Jake

Night Watchdog

JOB WANTED

Experienced wire fox terrier with extraordinary senses of smell and hearing searching for employment as night watchdog for understanding family that does not mind being awakened in the middle of the night with piercing barks to alert them of imminent danger.

References provided on request.

Just Harry

Terrier trouble...

Dear friends of all species:

A few weeks ago, when Dogdad was away in Cali for nigh ah, and Jake and Mom and I went upstairs to bed, I did something I had never done before: I ran straight into the shower, looked up at the ceiling, put my paws on the wall, and barked and barked and barked.

Since that was brand-new behavior for me, Mom was perplexed -- resulting in several telephone calls back and forth between Flori-duh and Cali for nigh ah.

Not knowing what else to do, Mom eventually lured me out and closed the French door between the bedroom and the dressing room/bathroom and, although I stopped barking after awhile, I sat by the closed door for almost an hour, and finally fell asleep right there.

That was it for a few weeks until Dogdad was away over night in Puerto Rico and I repeated the frantic behavior.

Just as Mom was about to conclude that my unusual excitement was related to missing Dogdad -- and thinking that perhaps he was hiding in the ceiling or on the roof -- he came home and I started all over again. This time, it was at 3am that I decided to check out the bathroom with several loud barks -- enough to awaken the 'rents and disturb the peace and tranquility of our neighborhood. Not a good thing.

At first, they thought perhaps a critter had fallen through an exhaust vent on the roof -- but we have found no signs of any such critter.

Was it Lacie, who at one point said she was coming for a visit? Was it a frozen iguana falling from his perch? Did Santa finally make it to our neighborhood? We haven't a clue.

All I know is that at the moment I am canina non grata -- and fear for my future...

(Let it be known that while all this has been going on, Brother Jake, who usually supports me in my every barking adventure, has been comfortably ensconced in the rocking chair that he prefers, with nary a bark or a brk or a bk.)

All explanations and "get-out-of-jail" cards are welcome.

Just Harry

For Wally!

We loved you, pal!! No day was ever complete without checking in to see what the one and only corgador (and your amazing ma ape) had to say. Lest we forget, your Barking for Barack was better than anything the talking heads could put together. And we saw the world with new insights because of your perspectives. We'll miss you, we'll truly miss you. You and your big, loving heart! Jake and Just Harry

20 Years later...

Mom stole this photo from Max's beautiful bloggie today to celebrate a man likened to the "US's Washington and Lincoln rolled into one." Today is the twentieth anniversary of his release from years of prison. His release was one of those rare moments that permeates the world with feelings of unity and brotherhood. And those are the moments we need to cherish when the forces of division and ugliness are all about us. When mom was reading Max's bloggie, she too waxed philosophical, suggesting that, unlike many of today's politicians and those who influence them who appeal to people's baser instincts, we dogs bring out our humans' best instincts and make them better people for loving us.

But Maxie said it better. His word is UBUNTU. Check out his blog: http://theadventuresofmaxdog.blogspot.com/2010/02/ubuntu-in-doggie-bloggie-land.html

Wirey love,

Jake and Just Harry