No Time to Blog!

Hey you guys, wassup? I'm just chillin' on the berm, chewin' on a stick. (Or at least I was the day this picture was taken!) How do you like my Tedd Pettibon sculpture? Yes, I know a bit about art -- can't help soaking that up around here!

I wanna try and write a blog every two weeks, because I know everyone is dying to read more about me and my fascinating canine life. But man, it's hard to find the time -- I have so much else goin' on! And coordinating my schedule with C's so she can do the typing is really a beyatch! So...this won't be my most worthy post ever but I did want to share a few pics and also a short video.



I like this picture of me that M took from upstairs in the barn. Just call me "Stretch!"




A lotta people say Zara and I don't look like we're related. As I explained last time, we probably had different dads. But I think there's a definite family resemblance, don't you?

So here's a little video of us outside the garden gate. (You might want to make sure your sound is turned OFF so you don't hear C sounding demented.) C didn't want us to come in just then -- something about "releasing butterflies." (You can read about it on her blog if you're curious. www.balancepose.blogspot.com I couldn't care less about a butterfly but Zara does like to jump in the air and catch them.) I got news for C -- I can get in the gate whether it's open or closed, but Zara doesn't know how so I just hung out with her.

So if you like my blog, why doncha break down and become a follower? You need a Google account -- no biggie! All you need is an e mail address and you can easily create an account. I KNOW you have an e mail address -- I have one, and I'm a dog!

Until next time, love ya, woof woof! Stretch (aka Sparky)

Introducing...Zara!

Hellooooooo everyone!!! I know I've been AWOL from my blog for two months, but there's been a lot going on around here! My big news is that my sister came to live with us! When I say my sister, I mean my REAL sister, as in littermate, and I'm not speaking metaphorically! (Come to think of it, I almost never speak metaphorically.)

So ta-da! Here she is! She's an attractive little beyatch, doncha think? I mean not super good-looking like me, but still kind of a pretty girl! We don't look that much alike because, although we had the same mom (a kind of a Heinz 57 sorta German Shepherdy mix), we probably had different dads. You didn't know that could happen in the canine world? C'mon -- grow up! Happens all the time! My dad was a Border Collie; hers was probably a Rottweiler.

So here we were at about four weeks. That's me on the right with my eyes closed, lookin' cool, and Zara in the middle, with our three brothers. This is the picture that M and C saw (thanks Sita!) that made them want me. I was the first one to be adopted -- that's called pick of the litter! The girls at the vet office named the other puppies with names starting with "Z", and one by one they all were eventually adopted.

We don't know a lot about Zara's life before we were reunited, but the people that adopted her had nine other dogs, and she didn't get much in the way of attention or treats -- didn't even know how to "sit" when she got here! They got her to be a "companion" for their chocolate lab, and then they all moved to a town north of Dallas, and she and the lab were outside dogs. When she and the lab got picked up on a "walkabout" and taken to the shelter, the owners were called and they said "Um, we'll come get the lab." So there she was, abandonned, homeless, terrified, and about to be euthanized! (That means murdered in cold blood.)

A nice lady at the shelter called Twyla's Friends, and they called Sita, who originally rescued us in the park when we were one day old. She drove all the way to Lewisville, TX to pick up Zara, and took her back to Dr. Pat's, where we lived when we were puppies. C went to Dr. Pat's to meet Zara, and when she found out that she was my sister, she brought her home. I didn't really remember that she was my sister at first, but something about her just smelled right!

When she first got here, I thought she was just visiting. I've had other friends come over, like the lovely Ocho. But she spent the night, and then another. She ate breakfast and dinner with me, and got treats, and pretty soon she got a matching bed. Then I figured out that she was gonna get to stay! It's only fair -- we have two cats, and there are two humans, and I needed a canine pal!

We have lots in common and like to do some of the same stuff. We like to take walks and don't mind the leash at all!

We also both love the pond! I'm more of a swimmer; she likes to chase frogs at the edge of the pond best.

And sometimes we chase each other around the pond! She's a little more serious than me -- I always want to play and I gotta bark at her and poke her with my nose to get her going sometimes! Of course she's not as fast as me! I'm chasing her here but I like it best when she chases me!

We both love to roll on our backs on the grass, 'specially in the garden!

And we like to play and fight! She's pretty tough and a worthy opponent!

She doesn't hesitate to use her teeth! In fact last week I had to go to Dr. Pat's for a lacerated ear. M and C weren't pleased, but it's all good with me!

Still, I'm not an idiot -- she's not totally trustworthy! She can be all sweet and cute and then try and rip my flesh! If we both get a bone, pretty soon somehow she has two and I have none! Spoiled only child meets streetwise beyatch!

M and C learned their lesson about trusting her -- here's the couch cushion she chewed up! Other things she does that I would NEVER do: jumps on the furniture; steals food off the counter; barks at the neighbors. Then there was that time that she showed me how to get out through the hole in the fence! Pretty much fun but M and C put up a new fence and now we can't find a way out!

All things considered I'm really glad she's here and we're havin' a blast! Stay tuned for the new adventures of Sparky and Zara! But hey -- don't get the wrong idea! It's still MY blog!!!

Woof woof!

Sparky Spin

Hey everyone, Happy New Year! Long-time-no-hear-from-me, right? Today one of my fans (Hi Pat!) asked C if my paw was broken -- bwahahaha! Get it? Cause I hadn't written a post lately? Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but I ain't much of a typist! I provide the content, not the manual labor!

So here's me and my friend LJ! He's such a cool guy, and a great flyball dog! But, more about him at a later date!


When you last saw me I was all proud of the new Santa that Charlene gave me for Christmas!

Here's how he looks now! I still love him!

I've been through lotsa squeakies! Before Santa I had several Squeaky Squirrels, a Squeaky Raccoon, and a Squeaky Fox, and then I got this new Squeaky Rabbit. Nothin' like a new squeaky!

My favorite game with a squeaky or anything else is tug-a-war. I'm ready anytime I can talk someone into grabbin' the other end!

It's kinda hard on the squeaky though...

Now my latest is Squeaky Skunk. He's a cool dude -- black and white are my favorite colors!

I had to sit and stay before I got him. Not sure why, but no problema!

I wouldn't wantcha to think that I'm a high-maintenance dog with expensive tastes! Sure, I love my squeakies, but some of the best toys are free! You mighta heard about the cold weather we had, and I sure do love ice from out of a birdbath!

And, in case you didn't know, one of the best toys is an empty plastic water bottle. There's a lot you can do with one of those! You can fetch it, or play keep-away with it, or settle down and chew on it.

I borrow one from the barn any chance I get! You oughta try one!

Just make sure no one tries to take it away from you!

Another free thing I have to play with is my tail. Watch this!

See ya soon! Woof woof!

My Christmas Vacation

So, some of you are probably wondering where the H-E-double-hockey-sticks I've been lately! What if I tolja that I just needed a little time to myself, to kinda recharge and refresh? Are ya buyin' it? No? Well...let's just say I don't have TOTAL control over when this blog gets written!

I hope you and yours had a great holiday -- I know I did! My first Christmas present was this Santa from Charlene! Wasn't that nice? I love my Santa!

It didn't take me long to rip Santa's face off, and his insides out! My kinda fun! You probably wouldn't recognize Santa if you saw him now...he's just a red and white flat torso.

Here's a good picture of me -- NOT -- opening a present on Christmas morning. Could we brush up on our picture-taking skills, pul-ease!

Hey, if you thought the last one was blurry, how do you like this one? It's a portrait of me painted by an Italian Futurist! Uhhh, sorry...a joke for the art crowd.

I had to endure a few indignities over the holiday, like for example the photo shoot that produced this Christmas card. Maybe you already saw it. A hat and lights...where do the humans get their wacky ideas?

I also had to endure quite a few inappropriate displays of affection, such as here, where I am apparently being mauled by some sort of deranged Christmas elf!

Bwahahaha, just kiddin', that's Jamie. She's my little sweetie! One of the most exciting things about this vacation was all the company that came to visit!

Like this guy, who is C's brother. Not only is he a total pro on the piano, he's a very spirited tug-of-war player as well!

I mean no offense to any of our human company when I say that this picture shows the very most exciting visitor we had over Christmas, or possibly ever -- Ocho!

Ocho came to visit with her human, Lori, on their way from Missouri to Houston. Turns out she reads my blog and wanted to meet me! Isn't she a total babe!?! She's everything that is good in a beyatch -- perky, pretty, and black and white!

We had SO much fun together! Although I'll have to admit...I'm not sure that she was THAT into me. She seemed more interested in fetching a ball than playing with me. But -- doesn't matter! I still had a total blast!

We spent lotsa time running and playing.

She's a girl after my own heart and loves to swim!

We ran and played all over the place, including the garden.

Uh oh -- I'm not sure that Ocho knows all the rules around here, but she didn't get into any trouble.

We played fetch with a ball for hours. "Where's the ball?" you're wondering. Hey -- if you took a picture AFTER the ball was thrown all you'd see is a streak of black and white!

So we ran around; played ball; went swimming. Ran around; played ball; went swimming. You know -- the perfect afternoon!

We had a little inside quiet time too in C's studio.

I even let Ocho chew on my bone! Now ya know I really dug her!

I sure hated to see all the fun end when she had to leave! Come back again, Ocho!

I still think about her sometimes...wonder if she ever thinks about me? Long distance relationships are a bitch, er ah, beyatch. Wish I had a car!

Happy 2011 everyone, especially Ocho, and woof woof!