For Day Fourteen of World Watercolor Month, and our optional prompt of “Faithful,” a dog was the first thing that popped to my mind. I’ve had several dogs in my lifetime and they are truly one’s best friend. Though most of my previous dogs would stick by my side physically, my current dog Phineas is a faithful companion of a different breed. He’s a basenji breed to be exact and they share those peculiar cat-like qualities of noble indifference. Sometimes on the weekends when I get to stay in bed just a little bit longer, Phineas will climb over to my side and burrow under the covers. He did this when he was very young and so Philippe and I talk for him and say, “I’m just gonna puppy right now. Don’t make a big thing out of it.” It’s adorable and one of the few times Phineas can be super cuddly. He’s much older now and I know that there’s not a lot of time left, so I enjoy every little moment that we share together.
This was a speedy sketch today as my time sort of disappeared before I knew what happened. I was working on some projects and somewhere between lunch and “get this done before dinner,” I lost all track of things. Dinner time is where Phineas really shines. He actually does put his foot on our shoes, to let us know that he’s there. While sweet in theory, it’s followed by loud sniffs of displeasure if we don’t immediately look down to acknowledge him. Reaching down to pet him usually causes him to lift his head and sort of smile and then suddenly jerk away. He thinks we’re just trying to trick and distract him from his very serious mission of trying to get more food. He’ll even jump up with both paws to peer onto the kitchen counter where Philippe and I sit for dinner to see what’s happening there. It’s truly annoying, but for some reason he still manages to be charming.
This weekend, Philippe and I talked about having a family popcorn night to watch a movie on our new giant television. It’s just the three of us and Phineas gets a few unsalted and unbuttered kernels that we set aside for him. As ever, the dog eats just a bit healthier than we do. We don’t actually have a movie picked out yet, but are hoping something appears that will be worthy of such an event. Of course, even if it’s not animated it still needs to be under two hours, preferably 90 minutes, to fit with our short attention spans. Philippe and I did see the movie Titanic again in Paris a few years ago and managed to get through the whole thing, but I think we were just waiting for Céline Dion to sing. I’m just happy to enjoy these little moments of time that I spend with just my little family. Even if my dog can lack social skills when food is involved, it’s still really special. There’s not a lot in life that one can count on, but I take great comfort in knowing that the three of us are always together.
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Aaaw so cute Charlie 🙂
Thanks so much, Zoie! 😃💕
Sweet, Charlie! There’s nothing quite as faithful as a dog.
Charlie did you ever try popcorn without salt, and with a healthy margarine (we have Becel in Canada and I am sure you have an alternate: canola and sunflower oils and Omegas and 6). It is sooo gooood I eat a whole bowl by myself — only once every couple weeks though. Oh I simmer it with garlic first.
Oh wow!! That sounds delicious! We have it with just a bit of oil and a splash of salt most times. But others… there’s some butter involved! hehe 😉
So sweet, Charlie. I grew up with so many pets. I had dogs, cats, goldfish, and my dad had chickens and a super mean rooster, but my Gordo….. He was just special for some reason. He was actually a gift for my mother from her brother, but she left for Mexico the very next morning after getting him. I asked her, “What am I supposed to do with this puppy?” She shrugged and said she’d worry about that when she got back. We didn’t have puppy food or a bed or anything. I gave him a bath and sat down on our big, comfy chair to watch the Winter Olympics. He kept jumping up, trying to climb up because he was shivering from the bath. I wrapped him in a hand towel and he snuggled into the crook of my arm. I dozed off, only to wake up and find him staring at me. His eyes were talking to me, communicating, “Mama!” He was mine and I was his. I named him Monster because he was TRAVIESO! Mischievous as heck. Like psycho mischievous. But he was mine. My little boy. He was the third person in the house like your little boy.
haha haha Monster always used his eyes to communicate. He would look at me and then his water bowl and then me again to let me know that he was out of water. Or was hungry. But when I didn’t pay attention, he would run and jump like trying to dunk a basketball, and hit me on the booty. 😂😂😂😂
BYE, BYE, BIRDIE! Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! Gigi! Charlie, have you ever seen “Stalag 7”?? It might be 17. It’s an old black and white with William Holden. It’s a really good movie. Enjoy!
Thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 Awww… I adore that story! Yes… he was saying.. Mama wake up! We have things to DO! And being a bit travieso can be fun in life as well. lol 😉 And I was actually on stage years ago in all of those shows except for Gigi. Never did that one! I’ll have to check out the William Holden movie!
We had to be so stern with our mastiffs at dinner time. They only had to stand there to put their heads on the table and they were droolers! They always got a bite of whatever we had, but they were not allowed close while we were eating.
Hehe… yeah, Phineas is on the floor and we’re at the counter…. he hates it, but it works beautifully. He doesn’t drool, but if he could reach the counter, I’m rather sure he would start! 😉
That’s really cute, Charlie.
Thanks so much, Gary!😃💕
I liked that you painted the doggie at your feet. And the red sneakers are eye-catching!
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 I love sketching red sneakers, but have yet to own a pair in that color. I should get some! hehe
You should!