Spring Hunting Continues

Yesterday, I am ashamed to say that the Chipmunk got away. It was a merry chase but I can not climb an oak tree and he can, so he escaped.

We saw the chipmunk run into the gutter, Belle-chan and I. Dragging The Woman, we quickly moved in, attempting to disassemble this contraption in order to get our choice rodent. When the chipmunk bolted out, The Woman dropped our leashes, claiming that she was not going to be dragged under the car like the last chase.

He hid under a garbage can. Oh, this is easy, These things are on wheels and move. Funny that as we moved the can, the chipmunk moved with it, but Belle-chan was able to get a paw underneath and out he darted toward me.

It was my chase and quickly that little squeaky rodent moved up the oak tree with me snapping after him. This was most distressing as of all the trees, it is the only one that I can not even attempt to climb as there are no lower branches for access.

I needed a ladder.

Having a hunting partner has added a whole new dynamic to the chase of our quarry. Belle-chan knows the rules of pursuit and with her agility background, is able to squeeze or maneuver herself in strange ways in order to get what she wants. She is The Seeker. I am the Chaser. I wait for it to appear and pursue.

But yesterday, this one got away.

There is always the next time.



I Am Shiba. I Love Hunting In The Springtime.

It's Raining Shrews!

This morning, when we went outside for our morning constitutional, it was raining.

I am unimpressed with the rain, but in this particular storm, a shrew suddenly plopped down right in front of Belle-chan and me as we were wandering, looking for that precious spot that so deserved our attention.

What a glorious moment it was for the two of us! God has finally answered all Shiba's prayers.




I Am Shiba. I Am Waiting For the Squirrels and Chipmunks to Start Dropping From The Sky.

What Is She Thinking?

I Am Shiba. It Is No Coincidence That Man's Best Friend Cannot Talk.

The Birth of the Sunflowers

The other day, The Woman had to play with dirt. It was rainy miserable weather, and she needed to feel the soft soil in her hands. She planted herbs, lavender, pumpkins, sunflowers and her cannus bulbs all in assorted pots now scattered around the house.

The greenery is starting to bloom.

This is becoming particularly evident on our walks as Belle-chan loves to grab a mouthful of grass as we walk past and through our neighbor's lawns.

But in our house, the sunflowers have already sprouted, and started to gain height. The Cannus plant has started to sprout from the bulbs. The herbs are making their appearances although The Woman admits that she does not remember which one she planted where.

She is already starting to plan the plants she desires for the backyard. She is considering strawberries if she can figure out how to keep the squirrels away (MeMeMeMe! I volunteer!)

The next four days are predicted to be sunny and warm. There is much excitement in the house as a result.



I Am Shiba. The Season of Seasonal Affect Disorder is Over.

Sometimes Life Is Hard

I Am Shiba. Belle-chan Is A Master In The Art of Comfort.

Sorry Officer, It Was A Case of Mistaken Identity

So Belle-chan and I were out crusin' the neighborhood. We were smelling the smells and leaving our mark- there are several new dogs in the neighborhood that obvious need to be taught that this is our 'hood and that they need to respect our authority when it comes to who does what where and when.

At one point on the walk, there was this large wall that is a required mark spot so both Belle-chan and I move over, only to be surprised by a small furry thing rushing out from behind the wall.

Instinct sets in and the chase is initiating. Belle immediately does the hunting howl and I am right behind her. Upon close approach, however, there is a small problem.

It is not a squirrel.
It is not a chipmunk.
It is not a shrew.

It is a very small Yorkshire Terrier on a very long flexilead who was not close to her person at all (who happened to be chatting with some other people almost 30 feet away).

It appears that we on our short leashes scared the poor small furry creature to cry back to her person and hide in between her legs. The Woman immediately brought us in close and moved us away from the wall (wait, I hadn't had time to sniff it yet!) but the Yorkshire's owner was rather upset with our "aggressive" behavior toward her little dog and proceeded to ask The Woman if we were vicious.

I swear that we both thought that it was a rodent.

The third person laughed and said, no, these dogs have been here for years, walking this path for years, and have never once acted aggressively (not entirely true, but I will take my compliments where I can) but the Yorkshire person said that we were out of control and needed to know our manners.

I know my manners. I get to pee on that wall. The Yorkshire needs to realize that staying close to your person is important in a hood as dangerous as ours. If it is not us, there are three pit bulls that are often hungry and would consider a small dog on a flexilead to be a nice snack between meals.

The Woman just ignored the Yorkshire person. She says that Flexileads are the devil.



I Am Shiba. If Belle-chan Had Been One Second Faster, This Story Would Be Very Different.

Shiba: Yes or No?

His name is listed as "Loki."


I An Shiba.

OMG, It's Sunny!

And because it is sunny, we get to walk in the woods again once more. And we are back to traveling in the car again. And we get to go exploring. And the terraces will be out soon.

And OMGBBQFTW!



I Am Shiba. Can You Tell That I Am Excited?

The Japanese Imperial Family

Complete with Shiba.


I Am Shiba. We Are Royalty In and Of Ourselves.

Yesterday

Some one asked if I was a Jindo puppy.

I give them 10 points for knowing about unusual breeds.
I give them -10 points for not recognizing an aging old male canine.



I Am Shiba. It All Equals Out In The End.