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Larkspur, the violets (and Weasel)

Our violets are on their way out.  I so wish they bloomed all summer long.  Larkspur and I spent some time yesterday afternoon picking them and taking photos.  She and I are two peas in a pod.  Of all of my children, she is the most like me.  We are a dangerous team at a plant sale, and we are the biggest animal lovers in the family.  We even love the bad ones, and I’m specifically talking about Weasel, because if ever there was a very bad little doggie, ’twas he.  He’s adorable in many ways (in my opinion and in Larkspur’s, though the rest of the family mostly just tolerates him), and while he is housebroken now, he has some behavioral issues.  We were right to think that it was a little nuts to bring him home.  Perhaps most forgivable (because obviously he can’t help it) is his tendency to roll over and projectile tinkle when he feels threatened in any way.  It doesn’t take much, and I have to say it’s truly a special talent.  I’ve never known a dog like him.  He almost got me in the face the other day and all I was doing was trying to pull a piece of tape off his back paw while using my singsong voice.  Scared the poor thing to death.  And for the millionth time I thought to myself, “Thank goodness we don’t have any carpet!”  Anyway, this wasn’t meant to be a post about Weasel, but it feels good to get his “bad dog” status out there.  I’ve encouraged my family to just do their best to keep loving him, that it’s good practice.  We all have to love difficult people, why not practice on a neurotic little wiener dog?

p.s. Here are a few of Larkspur’s photos:

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Filed Under: nature, pets · · 37 Comments

Ginny

I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here...}

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Comments

  1. Audrey says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    Wow, that last photo is heavenly. Nice one, Larkspur!!!! I also have a big heart for ALL the animals and I just lost my 15 year old furry puppy love who was the naughtiest of all. Man I miss her mischievous ways.

    Reply
  2. jamie says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Sometimes the naughty ones are the cutest. I think he’s adorable. 🙂

    Reply
  3. stephinie says

    April 26, 2015 at 9:55 pm

    ha! he’s adorable. he must have some sort of hound in him because his eyes look like our (much bigger) girl. as if he put eyeliner on them! my favorite puppy/dog book is by caesar. it’s called “how to raise the perfect dog.” it helped us with some neurotic (ahem) behavior with our girl. she’s still crazy mind you, but a bit more well behaved … though probably nowhere near caesar’s idea of a perfect dog 😉

    Reply
  4. leslie says

    April 26, 2015 at 8:35 am

    We have a small dog with a pee problem, too. Have you heard of belly bands? We now have them on him when he’s in the house and while I don’t think it has actually made much of a change in his behavior it has made a huge change in my couch! And curtains…and laundry hampers…and, well you get the idea 🙂 Good luck with your tiny Weasel – he’s a cutie even if he has some (ahem) less than desirable habits!

    Reply
  5. heathermama says

    April 26, 2015 at 1:20 am

    wow, she has a great eye. love that last photo of you and the dog. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Linda says

    April 25, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Oh these photos are so lovely. Yes our recently rescued Jack Russell has more bad qualities than good ones but that face! It just melts my heart. And he can’t help being so naughty. I like to think of him like a little boy who has a very bad case of ADHD. When he snuggles up with me in bed at night he is just the sweetest thing! He is very loving and loyal. So yes just love Weasel in spite of his issues and maybe one day they will just melt away. the photo of you loving on him is precious. We certainly look forward to seeing more of Larkspurs photos. She’s a natural.

    Reply
  7. Tania says

    April 25, 2015 at 10:31 am

    I love the wisdom you weave into your amusing anecdotes. We have a ‘bad’ lovely dog who suffers fear aggression. Your post reminded me to keep loving her even when it gets frustrating – she needs and deserves it. Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing yours too Larkspur. Love, love, love the last one. As an aside, but in the same vein as being weed on, our baby managed to wee in my husband’s mouth this week while on the changing mat. I think you got off lightly just being caught in the face Ginny!

    Reply
  8. ws wanderings says

    April 25, 2015 at 9:11 am

    So very beautiful.

    Things here will green and violet up soon. Soon.

    Reply
  9. Rachel Wolf says

    April 25, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Larkspur, your photos are just lovely!

    Reply
  10. jen says

    April 25, 2015 at 1:13 am

    Lark has a good eye for composition.

    Reply
  11. Helena says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    Love that last photo of you with Weasel and the flowers. All animals have their quirks–as things go, projectile peeing isn’t the worst thing in the world. Our dog eats anything–mostly he leaves the furniture and drywall alone now, but when we first got him, oy. And we kept him and love him because he is sweet and amazing with our kids. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Judith says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    Lovely photos once again! Thank you both! I have a story about violets passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me (and then to my children too). Here it is in case Larkspur would like to try it: If you pull all of the petals from the violet, you will be left with a king wearing a crown, sitting on his throne, and soaking his feet!

    Reply
  13. Traci says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    Oh your words crack me up, But Your Photos are something else. Really some of them are just wonderful. Well, they are all nice, but some are just beautiful. Photography is one of my daughters hobbies, maybe I will follow in her footsteps someday. How wonderful it is to have a child with such like mindedness. (And one with very different ways of looking at things, I have one of each:)

    Reply
  14. TarynKaeWilson @ WoolyMossRoots says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Those violets are so so beautiful.

    And I’m so glad Weasel didn’t “get you” with his special talent the other day! Who knew you were going to be able to count “not getting peed in the face” as one of your blessings for the day? 🙂

    Reply
  15. Emily says

    April 24, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    “We all have to love difficult people, why not practice on a neurotic little wiener dog?” haha, you totally got me laughing with that. Sorry about the peeing and all, though.

    Reply
  16. Renee says

    April 24, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Beautiful photos Ginny. Its raining here so they have brightened up my day 🙂 Have a lovely weekend.

    Reply
  17. Sandra says

    April 24, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    No dog stories to share. I just wanted to say how I love that Larkspur is taking after her momma and pursuing photography; her photos are wonderful. I hope she wants to write like you too. I can’t really say which I enjoy more on your blog, Ginny, the photos or the writing. BTW, though they don’t know it now, your other kids will be very happy some day that Larkspur was there to get more photos of you. Blessings to you all.

    Reply
  18. Monique says

    April 24, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    haha, I enjoyed reading about Weasel! You have to live by the quote that says” those that are hardest to love need it the most”. I find it very helpful to remember that quote sometimes, with people and animals. Our oldest dog likes to leave worse presents than pee when he’s scared…just consider yourself lucky!
    Tell Larkspur her pictures are wonderful. I especially like the one of the bouquet in your hands!

    Reply
  19. Renee Anne says

    April 24, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    Oh puppy. We have a……well, he’s just a dumb dog. He’s so good with the kids (seriously, Stormageddon will grab his ears, face, fur, whatever and just pull and he takes it and gives him a kiss when he finally lets go – I don’t let him do it often, though)…….but even at 4 years old, he still does predominantly “puppy” things. Yesterday, he stole Little Man’s hot dog right out of his hand. He also chases frogs in the yard. And barks and squirrels. But if there’s a bird a foot away, he just looks at it. Silly dog.

    We don’t have violets around here. But, we’re getting some more flowering on our lemon tree again. I think it’s confused. And I keep finding snakes in our yard. We’ve been in this house over two years and I didn’t see a snake until two weeks ago…and I’ve seen four more since then.

    Reply
  20. bitsofthepast says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Oh Weasel. You are so right that the poor animal needs lots of love, and I am glad he can get it from you and Larkspur. Great photos from both of you!

    Reply
  21. Jennifer says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:40 am

    Love, love, love the photo she took of you and Weasel. “Projectile tinkle” is going to have me laughing and cringing (in sympathy) all day long. 🙂

    Reply
  22. Jenny says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:21 am

    Her pictures are lovely. She is her mother’s daughter.

    Reply
  23. VBVB says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:52 am

    Beautiful photos! Oh, Weasel!
    This line made me laugh out loud at work: “We all have to love difficult people, why not practice on a neurotic little wiener dog?”

    I have two neurotic Boston Terriers.. and boy, they’re a test of patience, that’s for sure! Keep on loving that little guy 🙂

    Reply
  24. mamasmercantile says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Such beauty captured in both yours and Larkspurs photos, stunning.

    Reply
  25. Emily D. says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:39 am

    The violets are just coming up now–I live, coincidentally, in Violet Township, which is the “Violet Capital of Ohio” (or so we say). So there are violets everywhere, all spring and summer.

    Reply
  26. Bee says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:28 am

    These photos are probably some of my favorites that you’ve posted. I don’t know, there’s just something quiet and peaceful about them that I really like :). Larkspur’s pics are great, too! Love the one of you and “bad dog” Weasel!

    Reply
  27. Lynda Kling says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:08 am

    My friend adopted a dog that peed on the floor if someone came to the door or even spoke to it…be patient. It no longer does it. Came from a bad situation. Ask your vet for ideas….

    Reply
  28. Sandra says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Gorgeous on so many levels!

    Reply
  29. Elizabeth says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:51 am

    funny… well wood floors are good for many things! Lovely pictures! Flowers are such a wonderful gift from God! Blessed day to you!

    Reply
  30. tamara says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Oh my goodness, I can just imagine the pee spouts! We are still waiting for all of the snow to melt here in Atlantic Canada. It’s been a winter deep in snow! But here and there little sprouts are emerging and that’s promising. Cannot wait to see the violets and forget-me-nots in our yard, among others!

    Love the pics and Larkspur did a fabulous job as well!

    Reply
  31. danielle says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Ha! The pictures are beautiful but oh the dog 🙂 Dogs are hilarious.

    Reply
  32. barbara arenburg says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Oh yay, Ginny! You posted your violets! I will show our own Violet the pics, but I think she is also a subscriber so she may have got to them before me. They’re just lovely!

    Reply
  33. Andrea says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:29 am

    Larkspur is a wonderful photographer! She has your knack for finding the perfect way to capture the beauty in nature!

    Reply
  34. Grace says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Wow, sweet dog. He looks so adorable, must be hard to get annoyed with him… Larkspurs photo’s a lovely, violets are such beautiful flowers.

    Reply
  35. karen says

    April 24, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Poor Weasel. Have you tried treats?? We bought high end dog food kibble to use as treats for Frodo. He only performs with positive reinforcement, he hates to be combed and groomed so the bribery is high. Maybe asking Weasel to sit and then treat him and train him how to behave for a petting, maybe eating will replace the peeing.
    I use kibble because my dog is 13 pounds and a tiny little thing. You could use cut up hot dogs–yum yum yum.

    Anyways, the photos are lovely and how nice to have a buddy while out and about.

    Reply
  36. J.S. Oxford— The House of Muses says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:57 am

    Beautiful photos both! I love that you are taking photos of her exploring photography. 🙂 An interesting loop. I think spring is starting to return here after that snow we just got. I’m a little nervous to go outside and see if any of the flowers survive, but perhaps nature is hardier than I think. 🙂

    Reply
  37. Jeph says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Weasel sounds like our Daisy, a beagle/terrier(?) mix who, when she thinks she’s in trouble or just gets excited with visitors, will dip her back end down and pee. Unfortunately, she’s prone to getting underfoot, or excited when my partner gets home, so I know to try to get her outside before he shows up – try to empty that bladder as much as possible before there’s any chance for excitement. And I know what you mean about the sing-song voice – we do the same with her. We’ve also found it’s best to immediately turn away and sort of ignore her if she looks like she’s in pee-mode – whether she thinks she’s in trouble, OR excited. Let her chill just a few minutes, get it all under control, and it’s much better. It used to be we’d focus on her and try to encourage her everything is ok…that just made matters worse. If ignored, she’s less likely to let loose. 😉

    Beautiful pics, btw!

    Reply

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Hello! My name is Ginny. I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here…}

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