Black, White, & Birthday Wishes

Enjoy summer’s last blast!

NCAA ~ College Football ~ LSU Tigers

If you missed our post, “College Football & GameDay” click here.

College Football and GameDay

**Bark!  Woof!  We interrupt your normal blog to bring you a P.S.A. (Puppy Service Announcement).

Bentley: “Welcome to Barking from the Bayou NETWoof.  I’m your News Hound Bentley Clinton and I’m here with my co-barker Pierre the Inwestiegator.  This emergency Puppy Service Announcement is to prepare our fellow dogs, puppies, cat, and kitties for this upcoming weekend.”

Grab Some Happy

“Reach out and grab some happy today.”

How to Celebrate National Dog Day

"Are you serious with this whole waking up thing?"

Me: “Good morning boys!  It’s time to wake up for a special day.”

Bentley: “MOM!!  I am still in a deep Basset sleep.  Is it my birthday?  Are there presents?  Can I sleep another eighteen minutes?”

Pierre: “Welcome morning!  Hello sunshine!  S’up new day?  Hey Bentley!  Good morning Gramma!  Did I hear something about it being a special day?  Is it my birthday?  Are there presents?  I love greeting a new dawn.”

Bentley: “MOM!  Please make Pierre Peppy Toes stop.  His joy is making me tired.”

Me: “You silly boys.  It’s not your birthdays, but you may get a few extra goodies today.  I can’t believe that y’all don’t know what we are celebrating.”

Sometimes a Boy

Sunflowers, Cotton Fields, and the Cairo Plantation

"Don't freak out Pierre, but I think we may be in Oz."

Back in June, we visited a stunning sunflower field on the outskirts of Shreveport.  It is in the small community of Dixie, Louisiana.  The entire area surrounding the sunflowers belongs to the Cairo Plantation.  That’s right, it’s the south, and we have a lot of plantations.  Most of them are antebellum homes reminiscent of Gone with the Wind.  This one isn’t that style, but it is a very lovely home nestled amongst giant oak, weeping willow, and southern pecan trees.

Photographs and Memories

   Are you familiar with Shutterfly?  It is a company that specializes in helping you create memories through photography.  My son and daughter-in-law gave me a lovely book filled with photographs from their wedding that she designed on Shutterfly.  It was beautifully printed and bound.  I wanted to order one for every occasion I’ve EVER experienced.  That seemed rather daunting, so I procrastinated.

   We recently made a purchase at Best Buy and qualified for a free Shutterfly book.  Well, you just can’t beat free, so I decided to make a book about my favorite subject, Bentley.  It was fun to design, very user friendly, and is excellent quality. I will always treasure my "Bentley Brag Book." When it arrived, I couldn’t wait to show it to all of my friends.  Unfortunately, y’all live all over the world.  Fortunately, I am able to share it with you here.  I hope that you enjoy it.

                                            

         

How NOT to Impress Your Dog

“All I’m sayin’ is it’s a mighty flimsy stick.”

“Frankly, I’m not impressed.”

Bad Poetry Day

One of our friends, Oz the Terrier, is celebrating Bad Poetry Day with a contest & Blog Hop.  Oz writes original limericks; read the one for Bentley HERE!  Instead of collaborating on a single work, the boys each penned their own bad poem.

Bentley’s Poem

My name is Bentley; I am a Hound;

My breed is a Basset; I usually keep my nose to the ground.

This is Pierre; they call him a Westie;

I like to wrestle him; he is my bestie.

That is my mom; she is a Writer,

I may grump when she wakes me; but I’d never bite her.

Pierre’s Poem

Ode to the squirrel that runs in the tree,

I hear you barking down at me.

From limb to limb, you leap with glee,

Fall you stupid squirrel.

Platypus and Fox

Bentley::  “Friends, I am here today to tell you about a mischievous murder that happened right inside my home.  Some of you may remember back in March when we received a Skinneeez Platypus in our PetBox.  It was one of the best toys ever.  Patty, as I affectionately called her, was my favorite toy.  I speak of her in past tense due to an unbarkable crime.  I hate to make it sound like Pierre is to blame, but it is all his fault."

Pierre: “You can’t prove that I had anything to do Miss Patty’s sudden demise.  In my opinion, she has been looking pretty frail for the past few weeks.  I’m surprised that she lasted this long.  The poor platypus never had an ounce of stuffing in her.  I think she just withered away.  It’s so sad.”

Bentley: “You've been trying to kill Patty Platy since she moved in with us.  She was a great toy; I’m going to miss her.  Bless her heart."

Sketchy Friends

Friday was Best Friends Day.  This week is officially Friendship Week.  That is a lot of friendliness to go around.  This is Bentley & Pierre’s salute to friendship.

Real friends stay beside you on both bright and dark days.

Best Friends Day

Bentley: “There is some confusion as to the actual date of Best Friends Day.  Many friends celebrate on June 8, while others celebrate today, August 15.  How do you feel about that, Pierre?”

Pierre: “I think every day should be best friends’ day.  I love ya, man.”

Bentley: “Right back at ya.”

            

School Supply Dangers ~ Blogville Safety Week

Bentley: “Hey Pierre, it’s time to write our post for Blogville’s Safety Week extravaganza!  We’d like to thank Mayor Madi and Police Commish Sarge for allowing us to visit Blogville Elementary for our lesson.  Police Chief Sidebite drove us here in his official car with the lights flashing!  That sure beats riding the school bus.  Mom even packed us a lunch.”

Pierre: “This is a great classroom.  I’m going to sit up front, so I can be the teacher’s pet.  We are learning about School Supply Safety today.  It looks pretty interesting so far.  What kind of safety concerns can we find in a classroom?  I mean other than bullies, slamming our paws in lockers, falling out of my chair, and algebra?”

Bentley: “Why is algebra a safety concern?”

Pierre: “I heard Gramma say that Algebra kicked her butt.  I am steering clear of that ruffian.

"I already feel smarter!"

  Just look for me in the reading circle during recess.”

Bentley: “Ummm, okie dokie.  Maybe we can examine a couple of the kid’s lunch boxes and backpacks for safety hazards.  There is the Lost and Found box.  Go rummage around and find something we can use.  We are going to talk about the dangerous things that pets can get into this time of year.  School kids are very sometimes messy.  It’s amazing what trouble a dog can find in their stuff besides uneaten homework.”

When He Speaks

Do Your Dogs Mark Their Territory?

Bentley: “Psssst…Pierre!  My mom is concentrating on writing.  It is the perfect time to interrupt her.  She pretty much just mumbles yes or nods to everything.”

Pierre: “Okay.  She usually says yes anyway, but here goes.  Do I look cute and innocent?”  *shakes head to fluff facial hair and jumps up on the couch.  Hey Gramma, what ‘cha doing?  I love you.”

Me: “Hey Pierre.  I love you too.  Gramma’s really busy, so I can’t scratch your belly right now.  Just sit here next to me.””

Bentley: Mom, I can take him outside to play.  You’ll be able to focus better without us bothering you.  Can we go out in the back yard and mark our territory?  All the other dogs do it.”

Me: “Yeah, sure, whatever.  Just let me finish this chapter and then y’all can come back in or just knock on the door.  Go ahead, have fun.”

*As time passed and the boys didn’t return to the door, I went out to investigate.  Maybe I should have gotten a little more information from them.

“What’s wrong?  You said that we could mark our territory!”

National Lazy~Spoil Your Dog Day

Bentley: “It’s National Lazy Day!  That means we get to kick back and get our mellow on all day.”

Pierre: “Now tell me again how this is different from our other days?”

Bentley: “Well, it’s just THIS is official and everything.  Check your calendar.”

Pierre: “Hey, check it out…it’s National Spoil Your Dog Day, too!  Coincidence?”

Bentley: “Not a chance!  We hope y’all have a relaxing National Lazy Day!”

Pierre: “And be sure to spoil your dog.”

Bentley: “This may be the best holiday combination ever!”

Me: “A great way to spoil your dog and cat is to win the Pet Parade’s AWESOME giveaway.  It’s our way of saying thanks for helping us reach our one-year anniversary.  Enter the Rafflecopter below.  Be sure to visit my co-hosts, Rascal & Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Jan’s Funny Farm, and Love is being owned by a Husky.  Good luck!

 1 Beautiful Chalcedony Pearl & Silver Necklace on 16" Chain 
 from Jan's Funny Farm

1 Bright Blue Beaded Dog Charm Bracelet from

Pawz 'N Clawz Jewelry

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are joining Birthday Girl Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola for Black and White Sunday.  Be sure to visit them and these other B & W blogs.

All I Need To Be Happy

We are joining paws with our friend, Sugar the Golden Retriever to wish her the very happiest of birthdays!  Our Golden friend is turning 13 years old tomorrow, but she is partying today!  She is hosting a 13^th Barkday SMILE Pawty Blog Hop.  Stop by and wish her a happy birthday.

Hot Cars Are Not Cool

            If your email box is anything like mine, you are approached to sign petitions almost every single day.  I am very particular of the causes that I support.  I received one the other day that moved me to sign and to share with you here today.  Marianna Morris from PetPlan USA Pet Insurance sent me a letter asking me to help spread the word on a major problem.

            Leaving your pet in a hot car is not cool.  Each year, without fail, innocent pets die in cars due to heat stroke.  If you are lucky enough to live where you are getting temperatures in the low 70’s, the temperature in your car can rise to 106˚ in as little as thirty minutes.  That is about the time it takes to run into the store to pick up a few items or a restaurant for a quick bite.  If you live in a warmer climate, the heat in your car becomes a deathtrap in even less time.

Barking from Where?

Have you ever wondered where we are when we say that we’re 
Barking from the Bayou?

We are in Louisiana!

Westie vs. Vacuum Cleaner

   When Pierre first came to live with us, he was terrified of the vacuum cleaner.  He would run around and bark at it, but never get very close.  My daughter used to put him in his crate whenever she vacuumed, because he would get so upset.  Pierre doesn’t shed very much, but Bentley is a major league shedder.  For that reason, we vacuum almost every other day.  I decided that Pierre was just going to have to get used to it.  I told him that I have never sucked up a dog before and that he was safe.  Over time, he has gotten a little braver.  The last few weeks though, he has decided it was his job to take down the sucking monster.  He would inch closer to it and try to bite it, and then race away.  I think it is hilarious!  The other day, I was using the hose and brush attachment to vacuum the bathroom.  He thought this was his prime opportunity to kill the machine.  I was startled when he leaped out of nowhere to attack.  Luckily, I had my phone in my pocket and was able to video his attempt.  Watch the few seconds of video below.  Notice that he de-brushes the vacuum vermin!

Play Hard ~ Rest Hard

Basset Hound rules to remember.

Play Hard…

Rest Hard.

Juggling Hound

Pierre: “I dunno Bentley.  It seems kind of dangerous if you ask me.”

Bentley: “I didn’t ask you.  Trust me, I have watched Daddy do this a gazillion times.  I know what I’m doing.”

Pierre: “Gramma is going to freak out if she catches you.  Shouldn’t you be wearing protective armor or at least a football helmet?  I think this is a big ouch waiting to happen.”

Bentley: “You have major trust issues.  Do NOT tell my mom.  Maybe you can video me and I’ll become a YouTube sensation!  Then, I can be a guest on Jimmy Kimmel or even get my own entertainment gig.”

Pierre: “Yeah, that’s probably gonna happen.  I hear the circus is always looking for talent.  Can you do it while walking on a tightrope a thousand feet in the air?  Now, that’d be cool!”

Bentley: I’m sure that I could if I tried.  Let me just practice a few times, then we can string up some rope between those two trees.  Move out of the way and watch this!”

Pierre: “Okay, just be careful and wait until I’m at a safe distance.”

Bentley: “YES!!  I’m a juggling Basset Hound!  Get my agent on the phone.”

*Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a 3 lb, box of Petbrosia dog or cat food.  

Click here.

Dog Toys and Treats

   The boys had an awesome week of dog toys and treats.  We received an upcycled tug toy from Talia’sToys and then a surprise box of delicious treats from our friends at Merrick Pet Care.  It was happiness overload!  They have been anxious to tell everyone about their new treasures.

"I'd better hide this tug toy or Pierre will snatch it from me!"

Bentley: “It was like Christmas around our house this week!  First, the mailman brought us a package.  Of course, we gave him a barking because it is expected, but we were wagging our tails.  I asked Dad to go fetch our special delivery.”

Pierre: “It was special too!  Gramma opened the envelope and pulled out a new tug toy.  I love to play tug o’ war!  There was no way that I could control my excited jumping.”

Bentley: “Mom was showing us the new toy, but I had a sneaky suspicion there was something else in the envelope.  That’s when I saw the little bag of cookies!  WHAT?!  Talia sent us a tug toy AND cookies!  Double score.  My plan was to let Pierre run off with the toy and then the cookies would be all mine!  *snicker