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Month: November 2011

52 Reasons

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If you happen to use Pinterest you may have noticed a sweet little project floating around the boards. It’s called “52 Reasons I Love You” and is intended as a special gift for a significant other. The concept is that you create a book out of an ordinary deck of playing cards.

On each card you write one thing that you love about that person. It is a beautiful, simple and meaningful gift that symbolizes just how incredible the ordinary can be. It also makes you stop and really think about your loved one and why you care for them so much. Just for fun, I decided to dedicate one to Rory…

1. Your paws smell like freshly popped unbuttered popcorn
2. You cock your head to listen whenever spoken to.
3. Your idea of the perfect evening is cuddling up on the couch.
4. You always bark to warn me of danger – even at shadows on the wall.
5. Your tail always wags.
6. You do little happy dance whenever one of your people comes to the door.
7. You let me take your picture over and over again.
8. You run around like a maniac whenever you’re super excited (aka you go ‘cracker dog’)
9. You wave at me whenever you really want something — “Puh-lease!!!”
10. Bathtime is no big deal in your books.
11. If I have to get up early, you get up early without protest.
12. If I want to sleep in, you’re cool with that too.
13. You are always thrilled to see me, even if I’ve only been gone for two seconds.
14. Travelling in the car is one of your favourite things.
15. You are very understanding when a foster comes to stay in our home.
16. You sit pretty just because you can.
17. Whenever you get scared you come running to find me.
18. Whenever I get scared you let me hold you close.
19. You never get tired of watching silly chick-flicks with me (aka, you’re the perfect date)
20. You make cooking fun by hanging out in the kitchen and helping clean up the floor.
21. You give kisses like they are going out of style.
22. You find the best of every season: chasing leaves in the fall, playing with snow in the winter, rolling in mud in the spring and swimming in lakes in the summer.
23. You routinely stuff your nose in my purse searching for a treat.
24. You go bonkers for bubble wrap and tissue paper.
25. You love to help open the mail.
26. You make every guest feel like the most important person in the world.
27. You are always eager to learn new things.
28. You get a little grumpy when I take your collar off – fine by me as your collar keeps you safe.
29. You won’t eat your supper if the whole family is home but in different rooms — “Families should eat together guys.”
30. You are an absolute dream with kids and make the perfect pint-sized playmate.
31. You love to challenge the vacuum cleaner to a playful duel every time it comes out.
32. You pretend not to be mischievous even though you really are.
33. When you don’t want to go to your bed you will crawl underneath mine and stay there until I fall asleep… and then jump up (cheeky monkey!)
34. Your idea of bliss is rolling around in fresh grass clippings.
35. You sleep on your back like a person.
36. You like to talk by ‘gruffing’ and snorting.
37. You love being picked up, but you love walking/running around just as much.
38. You are such a happy-go-lucky morning person.
39. You like to drape yourself around a person’s shoulders like a cat.
40. You are good at finding your people and playing hide and seek.
41. When a baby comes to visit you will gently and sneakily try to steal their toys when the coast is clear… but always give them back.
42. You follow your people all over the house and like to try and herd them all into the same room.
43. You never give up hope that one day you will catch a squirrel.
44. You think socks are the best toy ever!
45. No matter what happens, you can turn anything into a game.
46. You adore spending as much time as possible outside.
47. You smile. All the time.
48. You know the sound of your people’s vehicle and get really excited to hear it rumble up the driveway.
49. You are determined. Oh so determined. It must be the poodle in you.
50. You love peanut butter as much as I do.
51. You always jump into the water to ‘save’ me, even though I tell you I’m ok and am just swimming.
52. You are bursting with love.
This is a really great exercise that can be adapted to suit any number of situations: 52 reasons you love somebody, 52 things you always want to cherish, 52 things you want to accomplish in a year (one per week), 52 things you want to teach your children, 52 things you’ve learned about life…. what would your 52 list be about?

November’s FREE Pawsh Poster

Pets never fail to help us through difficult times. Sometimes they are the only ones who can ease our pain, because they understand better than anybody that words cannot always be mustered and that a hug and a kiss often mean more.

Whether it is a bad day at work, a heart-crushing loss, a major disappointment or the presence of worry temporarily obscuring sunshine from your life, chances are your pet will be there to guide you back to happy times.  Be sure to grab this month’s free Pawsh poster here.  What has your pet helped you through?

Cats of the World

Ever wonder how pets in other cultures live? What is ‘the dog’s life’ in say Paris, France or Rome, Italy? Do they enjoy the same sort of things as their North American cousins or are those doggy tastes more refined?

This lovable print by Gemma Correll called “Cats of the World” brings this whole train of thought into a visual reality — from a feline perspective, of course. Each whimsically whiskered puss is accompanied by the word ‘meow’ in its respective language and some boast tiny accessories in honour of their cultural heritage.

Wouldn’t this print be just darling for the cat lovers’ wall? Be sure to check out Gemma’s website for all sorts of additional cat cuteness — oh, and some pug stuff too!

Street Paws

There is something about a dog’s paws. Don’t ask me what it is exactly, because I hardly know myself. All I can tell you is that they never fail to capture my attention. Whenever Rory is curled up snoozing I can’t help but snuggle up to her and sniff her warm woolly paws. Yes, yes, it sounds crazy, but don’t judge. Her paws smell like freshly popped popcorn minus the butter — I swear! It’s almost like that wonderful puppy smell that so many a pet owner knows, lives on in a dog’s paws for their entire life. 

This morning I’d like to share a captivating little photo series called ‘Paws’ by Ottawa based Tina Picard Photography that celebrates the canine foot. The gorgeous series is devoted to the pitter-patter of paws that sound when out and about on the streets. What I love most about these photos is that they evoke an element of real newness from the pet world and beg the question, “Where are those furry paws headed?”