#I've been having a lot of fun playing toys with a Very small section of the gorillaz fandom

[tobi-smp]

if you project on a character who Theoretically has terrible things happen to them, but they exist in a media that doesn't fully explore it (whether it's a comedy or aimed at a younger audience, or whatever) odds are you'll find other people exploring the character as deeply as you'd like but for the most part the fandom will just be normal

but if you project on a character whose trauma is thoroughly and thoughtfully explored in their source material you'll step two feet out of your comfort zone and Instantly see someone say thee most out of pocket, dehumanizing, ableist thing you've ever seen someone say. and you can't really do anything about it because it's just far removed from reality Enough that they probably didn't think about the real world implications

[prettyb0ycvnt]

24, 40, 42 :>

eeek hii >_< okay!!!

24 - what is your perviest confession?

i do admit there have been times where i've touched myself while engaged in completely casual conversation with someone... it's very hard! im not good at typing one handed!!! in a similar vein but more focused on tumblr,, if ur reading this and we've interacted in a sexual manner at any point or i've read any of ur hornyposts i definitely have jacked off to the thought of you and that's the truth >_<

40 - describe how you usually masturbate

it's a little boring i fear >_< !? hmm ok so i don't really tend to get that wet initially even if i'm really turned on by something,, my body goes through allll the works Except getting this stupid pussy wet LOL sooo i do have to kinda bring that on myself which i usually do by clitoral stimulation !! whether that be flicking it or rubbing it with my finger... grinding onto my pillow helps quite a lot too and my chest is also really sensitive lawd i remember this one time i was playing with my nipples for funsies and then all of a sudden it was like a tsunami within my body i was like Huh. Okay then! once i'm properly lubricated that's when the real action starts,,, i don't own any toys or anything so literally all i have to work with is my fingers!?? but they do the job ^_^ you know the motions with fingering. two middle fingers! come-hither motion! i have pretty small hands and thus pretty small fingers so it does make it a liiitle difficult to reach right in there but i find that if i thrust my hips in the same rhythm as my fingers it's like . oughh... i tend to start slow!!! i like building that heat within me before increasing the pace. then i either slow down or withdraw completely because uhhh i like torturing myself yayyy! pretty sure if i didn't have a clit i'd die probably GODDD i love playing with it sm its so fun hellooo ! usually at the same time as i'm fingering myself but other times i stop completely and just focus on that . aiden nsfw lore update he's a Squirter & clitoral stimulation really triggers that so naturally i do it every chance i can . it takes quite a while for me to like actually have a proper orgasm but!!! it happens eventually,, and it's always fun :3 also why the fuxk is this so long HELPPP OK to the next question we go

42 - describe your most recent sex dream

OH MY GOSH ok so im pretty sure i had one like last week but i can't remember it LOL sooo we'll go to the one from like. months and months ago that i haven't been able to get out of my head. it had a whole fucking plot line so im pretty sure i was a worker at this like research facility buuut oooh omg high stakes!! something went wrong. and now we've all gotta escape the facility or we fucking die. and genuinely it was so scary i was tweaking so bad in the dream HELPPP like it felt so urgent and we were kinda trapped so it felt real claustrophobic and horrible Until... until it took a wild fucking turn. so i had to go and find one of my co-workers (someone I've seen irl like genuinely i think it was some random person who i saw on the street one time) who had his own little section within the facility because it was Where he Lived basically,,, and the moment i got to his base to inform him about the High Stakes Escape Plan i realised he had just got out of the shower and was very naked ! and suddenly the plan was very much forgotten . it's a little blurry but i do remember dream me being pinned against the wall and his hands sliding between my legs,, and of course i know what that feels like so my body in real life felt so tingly and weird it was so vivid oh my god!!! it's a little blurry after that for a while buuut,,, dream me and random guy did end up fucking on the floor. and also against the wall...and on his desk... and the thing is i don't know what it feels like to . you know. have a dick inside me because im a loser virgin!!!! but my stomach felt sooo tight and so hot and it was like. guh,,, there's only one line of dialogue i remember and it's "want me to fill you up, huh? want to be bred?" AND LIKE HDHDHJFJDJG sorry I got dizzy just thinking about it . . so i did >_< or rather dream me did !!!! and i also don't know what it's like to have a load shot in me so it didn't feel like anything but im just saying i would like to!!!! very much !!! god i can't even remember where the dream went from there but needless to say the whole escaping the facility plotline was very much forgotten in favour of dick . a welcome diversion ! and then i Woke Up Different. i don't know what it is with me and wet dreams set in weird ass places bc like 3 years ago i had a wet dream where i was in a prison,, and i was assigned the Prison Fucktoy basically and all the guys in there lined up for a chance of me sucking their dick??? sucked a lot of dream dicks. i also think about that dream every day but uhh i digress

[elizabethplaid]

daily notes - overview of oct 5, 2023

omfg, I'm so tired. Like, we got home before 4pm, and I've been resting these last few hours. It was cool but humid, and I was just a sweaty mess when I got home. Hopped in the shower, then laid on my bed in front of the fan, and caught up on my web comic reading.

This will be the text overview of everything we did. When I get other posts up with images, I will edit and link to those.

First, we stopped by the local bakery I had mentioned on Monday. They probably had less-than-half of their inventory left. I got the very last blueberry-almond "scone", a couple other cookies for me, and some bits for LL-K. (K couldn't make the trip today, because she's busy with work.)

Second, we visited Rooster Brother, a store for cooks and those who love them, as they say. Lots of fun kitchen items, though they were more pricey than I'd prefer. Fun things, but nothing that screamed "must buy!". I did browse some chopsticks, though I was torn between using them as hair sticks or as chopsticks. (One was more decorative, but the other was cute enough for either use.)

There was a whole display of mushroom-themed items, too. The opposite side of that display had other woodland creatures, including deer and owls. They had the very same glass xmas ornament that @vintage-tech once sent me, several years ago - a little fawn, curled up and sleeping.

Next, we visited Riverside Cafe in Ellsworth for lunch. Very tasty, but neither of us could finish everything. (I only had fries left, but LL-J had 1-4th of her sandwich and fries leftover.) The music playlist was very good, though slightly biased towards my high school years. I can only remember 5 of the songs

Jack Johnson - "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"

Weezer - "Island in the Sun"

Counting Crows - "Long December"

Blues Traveler - "Runaround"

Counting Crows - "Round Here" (I think? It was another CC song, at least)

It was tough to hear the music, so I'm sure there were other songs playing, and I just didn't catch them.

We walked down the road, ducking in The Dream Catcher antique shop next. Lots of pretty visuals, though the aisles were crowded and some display cases didn't show prices well. (There was such cool jewelry!) Because it was a cold and humid day, and they left the doors open, we felt very uncomfortable in that stuffy place. Both of us were tired, so we decided to call it quits when we saw there were another 2 floors to the place.

I bought 3 small dolls and a snake-shaped pendant. They're all cheaply made items, with discoloring and no easy way to remove the clothes. One is an Irish (I assume) souveneir doll, who came with a stand - $12. Then I found a dandy, dapper Rococo man. A little more digging, and I found his lady. Both have sleep eyes and painted feet/legs. They didn't have tags, so the clerk said $10 for the pair. Fine by me!

The snake pendant was $1. It's shape to curl around a marble or gem stone, and even has prongs to help hold it in place. It was empty, found in a dish of tiny pewter figures glued to flattened marbles. So so soooo tiny!

When we left, we both felt awful and tired. We visited a kids' book-and-toy store very quickly, didn't buy anything, then browsed the store windows of some other shops. The two I liked both looked very elaborate and fun. We'll hit one of those first on our next trip, when I have more energy again.

From there, we went to LL Bean's outlet store. They had a big sale on women's pants, so I grabbed a couple pairs. One's like... lounge or athletic wear? The other seemed like casual drawstring pants. I can't describe the texture. Omg, the textures for most of the pants were so bad in that section. So 60% off, I only paid about $35 after taxes for 2 pairs, yay.

Hit up Dunkin's drive-thru on the way out of town. LL-J now knows the glory of the "frozen hot chocolate" - basically a chocolate milk slushy.

We stopped by LL-K's house once we got back in town, to drop off the cookies. She gave me 2 containers of chicken stock that she had made. A couple weeks ago, she had asked where she could find chicken feet, so I helped source some from Neighbor-J and -S's chickens. (They were the couple that ran a general store for a few years. S used to sew cloth diapers as a business, too.) ----------

I hopped in the shower once I got home. Very very tired. Laid in front of the fan for a couple hours, and now I've been typing for like 20 minutes. We left at 10:15am and got home before 4pm. If the weather wasn't so clammy, I think we would've done far better. BUT I still did very good, considering how cheerful and happy this day has been.

Will work on posting photos in multiple posts next. Some stuff at the antique store is worthy of shiftythrifting, but some is not. One item is even from the "we see this too often, so don't submit it anymore" list. My first time seeing one in the wild!

[muttsmischiefacademysblog]

Puppy Biting

The ultimate guide to Puppy Biting

Puppies do not bite out of aggression or being malicious, they do this as a form of communication and as a way of exploring the environment. 

Puppy Biting is really frustrating and upsetting for owners, especially when you haven't had a puppy before or in such a long time or you have children. 

Lots of people think that because puppies draw blood and growl the puppy is aggressive. 

This is a common misconception, puppies have razor sharp teeth and they hurt us. This is why they draw blood because their teeth are literally like needles, this is another reason their mum is so keen on them being weaned as these painful teeth begin to come through and why a lot of mums tell the puppies off when the puppies attempt to latch when they have teeth. 

Basic biology also explains this. When a human punches through glass it is not the punching through the glass that causes bleeding. It is the pulling back. As the human pulls their hand back, the skin is torn pulling against the glass. 

This is the same principle with puppies. The bleeding is because subconsciously humans pull back. 

Kittens also make humans bleed and especially with their claws when treating humans legs like a scratch tree to climb up. Again the kittens teeth and claws are super sharp as these are their baby teeth. 

So the sharpness of the teeth is physiological and moving onto the growling, all dogs and puppies growl and we never punish the growl. 

Dogs don't only growl due to aggression, they growl like cats pur, out of contentment, they growl to initiate play, they growl during play to match arousal levels of another puppy or growl to initiate play or growl because it feels good. 

We have to remember we typically have a puppy at 8 weeks old. All of these behaviours of biting typically are the worst and relentless between 8 weeks and 6 months. 

Just think for a moment compared to a human baby how much pressure and expectations we place on a puppy! 

We expect a lot of their mothers, that their mothers have taught them about biting, bite inhibition, toileting, and to behave straight away ready for the new owners. 

Nope, the mothers teach a little bite inhibition, mothers are tending to take breaks for their own sanity and physical well being by the time the puppies are all wrestling and play fighting with one another. 

The mother also doesn't teach toileting behaviours that humans want, they do stimulate the puppies bladder and bowels so that they do wee and poo. But mothers can also inadvertently teach puppies to eat their poop as many mothers eat poop to keep the area clean. 

Puppies initially learn through observation which is why many puppies do this behaviour in their new homes and owners are traumatised by this. 

So their mothers are not magicians in teaching them how to behave for the new owners. 

They raise them and keep them warm and fed and stimulate the toileting needs. They also teach them about some behaviours and the environment. So the mothers contribute to the initial socialisation process. Not playing socialisation but exposure to the environment. 

Let's also remember, not all bitches are born mothers, some puppies are unlucky enough to loose their mother during delivery, some puppies are a single or a very small litter. So less learning will occur. 

So once we understand this we then turn the brunt to the Breeders, well they should of toilet trained and stopped them from biting and have trained them to be ready for their new homes. 

Nope. Breeders who are good are the ones socialising the puppies to people, children, different noises, different surfaces and a program called puppy culture. 

Puppy culture is too long to write about here but is a whole programme to ensure that the puppies bred are to the highest standards for health both physical and mental. 

So let's start looking at a programme 

Let's begin with… 

What not to do with a puppy biting

Do not use any physical force or any kind of physical punishment. Even if your parents or grandparents used to smack the pup on the bum or the nose. No. A million times, no. 

Do not squeal or scream. Another of the hardest Myths to debunk, do not squeal or scream or yell. Because your making your puppy deliriously excited. Your now joining in and matching how much fun they are having. Humans are not dogs and cannot imitate puppy mates or their mother. Physiologically impossible. The Hormone of excitement and stress is shared by the same hormone in both human and dogs. So the puppy cannot tell your stressed and instead tread this as excitement. We use high pitched voices with dogs and puppies to meet their audible level which creates excitement and interest in Training so when you squeal etc during biting this is what your doing. They cannot differentiate. 

Do not use the crate as punishment The crate is a safe place. If your going to go down the route of Super Nanny we don't use naughty steps we do something called redirection which I will explain in the do's section. 

Do not squeeze their jaw shut this is not only cruel and unnecessary but you could also cause major damage to their delicate bones and muscles. 

Do not ram your fingers into their mouth. Again this is cruel and unnecessary and most likely they will bite out of fear. This is a whole other battle which you really do not want. 

Do not spray them with water. This is cruel and unnecessary and puppies do not need a negative association of water. The puppy or dog that won't walk in the rain… the puppy or dog who's terrified of water and won't swim… 

Do not alpha roll them. It doesn't matter what you've seen on TV pinning a puppy or a dog is cruel and again humans have no place doing this. We cannot imitate a dogs behaviour. 

Do not pin them to the floor. This is cruel and terrifying. 

I think the do not's can end here as I think this forms a full picture of what not to do. 

What to do with a puppy biting… 

Be quiet. There's no need to scream etc as above. Whenever I'm bit by a puppy or even an aggressive dog. I'm quiet. Being quiet is the best thing to do so that the puppy does not think that I am getting excited. The last thing I want to do is increase their arousal level. 

Time outs. OK so as I said the crate is never to be used for punishment the crate is their safe space. So what you can do instead is get them a toy such as a Frozen Kong, frozen chicken wing or duck wing or suitable raw frozen item according to the manufacturer's guidelines, such as Natures Menu in the UK. If you want them away from you for a break fine, have a baby gate in the doorway and give them a calm session in the hallway or kitchen, whichever room you can utilise. This isn't to punish them but to give them an opportunity to expel the energy and chew or play a brain game and then sleep. 

Begin to learn that your house is now shared with a furry land shark who you need to bargain with. Joking aside what I mean by this is begin to learn to have pots of treats around the home. So you don't have a puppy hanging off your trousers whilst trying to get to the kitchen to scatter feed for example. Pots of treats around the home are a life saver. If you have pockets all the time learn to join the crumb crew and carry treats in your pocket. Have toys like a pocket tug to hand, either on a shelf or in your pocket and as soon as your puppy has that glint in their eyes choose your defence weapon. Is it a toy or is treats or is it both. 

Put the phone down. I know its hard, but you have a puppy. You chose a puppy. Your time is no longer your own. Much like a baby the puppy wants attention it's better to engage when they approach then pushing them away or ignoring them. Again pushing them away. You've just made a fun game of "Push me and I come back harder and even more aroused, whoo hoo." In my home my dogs have formed their own unwritten rule with me. If I take a while to respond to a message or a comment you can bet it is because I've had the phone pushed out of my hand and I have to engage with my Dogs. And sometimes they even take turns doing this. I submit immediately because I know they need me, be it a cuddle or a scratch or they want to play. Once I satisfy this need, they are happy and go to sleep or play with a toy by themselves. They do this unique behaviour because I have reinforced it. When they were puppies they would come and jump up or bite and they learnt that the phone got put down and they got the attention they needed. Hence I've reinforced it. And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Despite what you've been told your puppy is not trying to dominate you (it's a myth) and there's zero harm of having them on the sofa or the bed! Yep that's right. If you want a snuggle on the sofa or bed with your puppy do it. There's nothing wrong with it. If you have children this becomes a case of management. So you are going to have to train a cue of when the puppy is and isn't allowed on the sofa. If they are allowed on with you say "up", "sofa", "OK", I personally say cuddles. This will help them to differentiate between when they are allowed on and what they are not, but you need to do the hard work. Of managing puppy and children. If you don't want them on the sofa with your children again your going to have to look at a Kong etc for a calm time. 

Now we have covered the do's and don'ts, let's now look at the Toy options you have. Remember I'm in the UK so you may have more or less access to these items or you may find you have the same but a different company for example in the UK we have Tug-E-Nuff in the US you have 4 my Merles creations which is the same and based in Canada. 

Tug Toys 

OK so let's discuss Tug-E-Nuff to begin with. Absolutely amazing products. Rabbit fur or sheep skin or artificial fur, handmade and custom made when you place your order. A range of pocket tugs, tugs on a long line for space and distance, squeaky tugs, bungee tugs. These toys are literally crack for Dogs. Tug-E-Nuff include a pamphlet in their package which also tells you what I am about to say. These are a high value toy which is only to be played with when you interact with the puppy or dog. They will be annihilated if you leave them with the dog or puppy. If you don't know how to play Tug instead of leaving a complicated link of letters and symbols you'll be frustrated with writing down when this document becomes a Pdf go to YouTube and type in Miyagis Dog Training Two Tug Toy game. I have made instructional videos on how to play Tug with your Dog. 

Tug does not make your puppy or dog aggressive it does teach them bite inhibition, it does meet the needs of natural instincts and natural expression. 

For the UK go to www.tugenuff.co.uk if in America go to https://www.4mymerles.com/ or 4 my Merles Creations via Facebook or Tug-E-Nuff through Facebook. 

If you use Tug-E-Nuff your welcome to use my discount code MIYAGI for 10% off. 

Kong

Where would we be without the Kong. Kongs are brilliant to feed meals in, to make as a frozen goody or as a room temperature goody. If you follow this link https://www.kongcompany.com/learn/Stuffing-recipes they have a whole range of Kong Stuffing recipes direct from the company themselves for all weathers. As well as this on this website you will find appropriate size Kongs this is especially important as the company stress themselves. 

Sodapup

SodaPup is another brilliant dog toy company making super strong toys for your puppies and dogs, more variations of the Kong, super tough Licki Mats and general toys. The bonus of this company, from every purchase they donate to working dogs in need. Check them out at www.sodapup.com again your welcome to my discount code MIYAGI for 10% off. They are based in the US but do ship to the UK. 

Zogoflex Toppl 

Again another form of a Kong but unique in its own way. Go to https://www.westpaw.com/ if in the US or Amazon or eBay or type into Google for individual outlets in the US and UK. 

Licki mats 

Licki mats are an amazing invention and investment. You will need to supervise your puppy with this item, they can be destroyed and are easy to chew so you need to supervise. You can use dog friendly peanut butter on these, plain natural yoghurt as long as your puppy or dog is not allergic to dairy. Smushed bananas, Strawberries, Blueberries etc. Soft spread cheese with no onions in the ingredients. If you want more ideas go to http://lickimat.blogspot.com/?m=1 These are widely available from most Pet shops, Amazon, Ebay, SodaPup etc 

Snuffle Mats 

Snuffle mats are another amazing invention, for mental stimulation, confidence building and engagement. These are also available on Amazon, from most pet shops, ebay, etsy and selling groups on Facebook. Again you must supervise, material can be chewed and consumed. With these you can drop in normal treats, freeze dried treats, some of their meals, natural treats etc. 

Brain games

Where would we be without brain Games, widely available from Pet shops, Amazon, Ebay etc. Brain Games again give mental stimulation and enrichment, help your puppy to engage and build confidence. K9 Connectables do a fabulous range of toys for your puppies mental stimulation go to www.k9connectables.com and again your welcome to use my 10% discount code Miyagis. 

Treat and Train 

A marvellous invention albeit pricey. But comes with a handbook with different games to play, mentally enriching, can be used via a remote to engage the puppy if not doing formal training at that moment and comes with a floor target stick. Honestly the treat and Train is brilliant with so many uses. 

General Treats (always supervise, always) 

Hugh value and the treats to have to hand for changing the puppies behaviour from biting to bringing a new mindset and engagement. 

High value treats are always the way forward with Training these include and this isn't an exhaustive list for all countries or dietary needs for example EPI

Primula (plain, ham etc no onions) 

Ham

Steak

Beef

Hotdogs

Cheese

Chicken

Duck

Tripe

Sprats

Hearts

Liver

Kidneys

Liver cake

Freeze dried meats

Dehydrated treats 

Jr Pate

Liver Paste 

These particular treats we highly recommend for taking in walks, classes, workshops etc too

Raw Treats 

Raw chicken wings

Raw duck wings

Raw Trachea 

Raw Beef Knuckle

Raw hearts

Raw liver

Raw Kidney

Raw fish

(if not a raw feeder in the UK and in doubt please go to www.naturesmenu.co.uk input your Dogs information and they will tell you which of their treats is suitable for your dog. 

Dried Treats and Chews

Yak Chews although be cautious of coming to the end of the chew due to swallowing

Antlers

Dried Trachea 

Beef Lips

Beef slices 

Mega Bully Chew

Lambs Tails

Rabbit Ears (natural worming aid) 

Chicken Feet (again use with caution) 

Black pudding bites (Jr or similar not human) 

Venison bites 

Goat strips

Ostrich twists 

Kangaroo twists

Braided Ostrich

Bulls Pizzle

Fish skins

Buffalo chews

Duck necks dried

Lambs ears 

Vegetables and Fruits 

Carrots

Watermelon (no pip's) 

Peas

Sweetcorn (not corn on the cob) 

Apple (no seeds) 

Cucumber 

Strawberries 

Blueberries

Pumpkin

This isn't an exhaustive list but the idea is to get you started as a quick reference guide. 

Also recommended is Astute Canine Club for natural treats, foods, shampoos etc and toys. Go to Astute Canine Club and request to join the group on Facebook or go to https://www.astutecaninedogclub.com/shop

Sleep

One of the most least known things about puppies is sleep and how much sleep they require. 18 hours per day! Sleeping through the night is great however all those nap times in the day add up and quantifies to 18 hours. Puppies not allowed to sleep or constantly disrupted, mouth and bite just like an over tired toddler, screaming, shouting, smashing the house up etc. We need to ensure they get plenty of sleep for physical and mental health needs. And biting is a side effect of being overtired. 

Walks

People think walks will tire a puppy or resolve the situation, nope. Walks can heighten arousal levels. If you don't let your puppy off to run they will also not be burning the energy that they need to burn, so the next thing you experience with horror and probably fear is the Zoomies. Which I will discuss in a moment. For puppies we want to work with them, when they are on, they are on and this is the time to engage with them. When they are off, they are off and we need to ensure they are settled and feel safe and undisturbed to fulfill the need to sleep and the benefits that sleep brings them. 

Walks are also not a frog march and the puppy should be allowed to sniff and interact with the environment. Although this is about puppy biting when we say socialise we do not mean them meeting every dog and puppy they see and playing. We mean socialising to the environment and getting used to sounds of wind, people, traffic, seeing dogs at a distance, different noises and smells. A puppy allowed to play with every dog they meet, will not only have social interaction problems as an adult or earlier but will also be on a massive high when you come home. So that poo and wee they did, that's because they was too excited to go to the toilet out and because excitement stimulates the bowels and bladder. And also the Zoomies when you get in too. 

Zoomies 

Zoomies is an excess or residue of energy which has to come out, again no different to kids charging around screaming at the top of their lungs. To people who don't know dogs or puppies for example a first time dog owner this can look terrifying, they charge around, punching on furniture barking and growling or squealing wild eyes and they are having the time of their life. So that's all Zoomies are just a lot of pent up energy being released before crashing. 

Mental stimulation 

Mental stimulation in the form of engaging with your puppy, play, Brain Games, toys are really important for the development of your puppy and meeting their needs and this continues all through adulthood. All dogs ancestors at one point were bred for a job, be it ratting, herding, carting, hunting, livestock guardians or like the doodle for Assistance dog work. 

We have a duty of care to meet the needs of the dog regardless or breed and genetics but we also have to understand that the Dog or puppy will be influenced to a degree based on their breed and genetics. So if you have a nippy Collie, they are practicing instincts of herding, if you have a retrieving breed they are practicing the instinct of retrieving. At some point the stereotypes of the breeds behaviour was selectively bred into your pups line at one time and we have to respect how much we relied on dogs through the ages to assist us. 

The puppy blues are real, the frustration, the pain you feel are all valid and real. Us Dog Trainers and Behaviourists we get it. We understand but we also know the right way in how to support the puppy and dog for success and for a happy lifestyle and life with you as the owner. This is why this guide has been written to offer you as much generalised advice as possible. Remember this is not individual advice or specific to your individual puppy. You may need to invest in a Trainer or Behaviourist for further Training and help. 

Remember your puppy is not being aggressive, trying to dominate you, eat you or ruin your life. They are a different species with different needs and as soon as you begin bonding and working with them. You will have a mega awesome relationship! 

One last note: as well as the toy recommendations above more toys to look into are 

Boomer Balls for destructive puppies and dogs

Kong range - The Canine Emporium on Facebook are a UK stockist of a large selection of Kong toys not available in pet shops. 

Goughnuts - a little pricey but as they are chewed they have a colour in the middle to tell you when it is time to replace the item.

Tree Root, Coffee Wood or Wood chews non splintering - available from most pet shops or Amazon and eBay as well as most online dog outlet stores. 

[rusticrevivals]

"What's the best of country life?" Many ask us daily "Is it the scenery, quiet, nature, veg?" Nope - it's celebrating gaily With our small communities, Like Perth or New Den-Mark It's singing, acting, being part Last week - we're angels! HARK! You've heard about the mass choir To mark 150 years You've read about the nursing home, And Pastor Ralph's old dears You know about the pageant And the summer's Founder's Days You've heard bits about Still Standing... (But in spring, to coin a phrase You'll hear lots more, for 'teasing' Is how telly's publicized- And as we're in the 'teaser' I'll be keeping you apprised.)

teaser screen shot for Season 4 of Still Standing, Julie, Leanne (visiting from Scotland) and Mom/Joy, beside the CBC logo. Ironically, Richard, who insisted we take these reserved seats for ‘Founders Day Organizers’, is out of shot to my right!   To see the full trailer/teaser, look at the Still Standing FB page, 2nd video, or try this link: https://www.facebook.com/stillstandingtv/videos/692295784304421/

I'd like to speak in detail About our church's 100th year And the celebration for it That many came to hear. And then I'll show you fun From the last two weeks of song With the Perth-Andover choir And the concerts we've put on! Back in the mid-summer, I was asked to c'ordinate The entertainment portion Of St. Peter's-at-the-Gate, Our little church up on the hill That I've shown you before (But will remind you once again With these photos I've in store:)

The Danish herring-bone wood designs covering every inch of the interior of St. Peter’s Lutheran on top of the hill just next to us

You’ve met her before in several blog postings. This is an amazing shot taken just after St. Peter’s 100th celebrations this fall, by our local professional photographer, Tiffany Christensen. St. Peter’s is on the right, just across the road from the slightly-older Anglican church called St. Ansgar’s.

To make up the fun night After a catered Danish meal We all put in our off'rings Of creative zest and zeal! It started with the Danish band That played some peppy tunes Then the "Minstrels" (or a handful of...) Sang a hymn with their soft croons, Then added another song I'd written for the night As a tribute to St. Peter's And its builders' strength and might.

Then Richard, in his debut Stepped up alone to sing Another piece I'd written Called "Where the Bells do Ring"

Thanks to Mom/Joy for taking most of these photos. To hear “Where the Bells Ring”, Richard’s first full solo (I add some background harmonies as well as the piano accompaniment), go to this link, which we recorded at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KStOMmr8WYs

After this bit of song, The pastor had a word About the history of the church -Then, something quite unheard! We came out to do a sketch As if from 100 years from now! (So, the 200th anniversary- It gave the crowd a WOW! Not because I'd written Such a finely-honed & gifted script, But rather, 'cause our costumes Were wild, and long - Zeb tripped! As 'teased' before, back in Sept., We all wore togas white With sashes of sparkly colour And dyed sheep wigs delight!

Richard, Zeb and myself at the meeting of the 200th Anniversary committee (sketch)

Curtain call for the 200th anniversary of St. Peter’s sketch, Pastor announcing. L to R Richard, Zeb Godbout (playing my son, Ned Kram, which is Den Mark backward) Peter Jensen, and seated, myself and Barb Christensen.

We’d had many rehearsals in our living room/meeting room at the farm and while we didn’t actually have all our lines memorized, the oddness of the skit got quite a few laughs, and the pretended ‘frustration and violence’ between us as our sketch showed that meetings don’t change much from century to century, really hit home for those in the community who sit on several boards and committees!

While we changed back out of costume The band once more would play The fiddler, 93, was sick Had been in ER all that day!

But like the true-blue Danes He would not back down, be weak There he was at suppertime To fiddle with his up-beat streak! And then some poetry I'd gathered About the early N.D. times Were read by Miss New Denmark With good old-fashioned rhymes:

But for the big finale Of this 100th year divine I asked some pastors, two from past And our current Ralph, to SHINE. Miss N.D. Megan spun the wheel That Richard made that day And the crowd laughed hard as at "Pastors' Trivia" we would play I'd written 70 questions From categories galore Like Church History, Pete the Saint, General 1917, and more... The pastors, how they struggled To come up with answers right But in the meantime, they were FUNNY And the crowd enjoyed their fright

Pastor Ralph appears to ‘give up’ on the question, as the others have a giggle…

They rang in on their buzzers (One was Smitty's squeaky toy!) But often they'd not get it, And that was JUST my ploy!

The crowd would hoot and holler, And eventually THEY won By answering the questions That the pastors hadn't done. One of the questions I best liked "1917" was the 'try'... This painting of a church was done So like our own, up high:

This painting by Georgia O’Keefe was done the same year our church was built, in 1917, and is very representative of how St. Peter’s towers over rivers and valley and nestled Appalachian homes.

    So, it's my belief that all had fun, That sweet September night When St. Peter's turned 100 With audience delight:

At this table, Megan Bach, Miss New Denmark, her grandparents,  as well as Richard sitting beside Leanne (in gold top), and across from them, Mom/Joy. Being too busy and too nervous of everything to come, I am standing in the background having some punch. Behind me is the old piano, on top of which I had made a 1917 lady’s church-going display.

The 1917 Lady's Church-Going Display:

a variety of hats from my drama trunk, along with gloves, a fan, a lace hankie, a turn-of-the-century scarf and matching hand-bag, and a special contribution from Pastor Ralph – a hymnal actually FROM 1918!

There I sit, 200 years in the future, wearing a toga and some of Mom’s sheep’s wool on my head, with the full program for the Entertainment Portion of the night written out on the wall behind me.

And so, that last event was done And while the harvest kept us crazed We still went to Perth each week To practice for our concert days. The first series, in fall, was with The Youth Orch-EST-ra grand! A full 80-piece symphony Where we joined the "150 Expand" (The same voices with which we sang For July 1st's big event. They come from towns all o'er the vale And it's Glorious, Heaven-Sent!)

Richard’s bald head 4 in at back, and I’m far left, hiding behind the curtain. We sang the Howard Shore piece Shore to Shore, which was WRITTEN for this New Brunswick Youth Orchestra for the 150th, as well as our old favourite We Rise Again (also sung July 1st for the big celebrations). We sang for school groups with a chamber orchestra, on the day before, then had this enormous concert over the weekend. You can hear a small part of We Rise Again at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEezCOAVgXE     An interesting bit of trivia, and to prove how small the Atlantic provinces are, when the conductor moves aside at 0:44, you’ll see a dark, curly-haired lad playing in the first row of the 2nd violin section. My sister started him in violin in St. John’s, Nfld 15 years ago! A neat connector!

  The choir in quaint Perth-Andover Is directed by the mayor A lovely lass from Leamington; There's many here from there!

Our Perth-Andover choir director (and mayor, and Book Club Organizer, and…) Marianne Tiessen Bell, from Ontario, warms us up before a performance.

Our Christmas series started Just at November's end. The hospital in Perth Has become our new best friend As both Mom and Richard twice a month Have teleconference talks And oncological care, so - We sang for Womens Aux.! Then just last week-end, 'Angels' sang 6 hours in the snow To raise some funds for Food Bank. "Bethlehem"'s winds did blow For this interactive nativity That's now a big crowd-thrill We entertained the masses Lined up for miles on the hill

While I’ve been in all kinds of performances in my life, I’ve never actually been able to witness my audience approaching from this far away! Police, firemen, traffic controllers and a radio station were all involved in keeping an orderly pathway to Bethlehem!

To get a really great feel for what this whole night was about, see: LIVE DRIVE-THRU:

or, slightly less exciting – the slide show:  https://www.facebook.com/perthandoverbaptist/videos/1682963368441021/

These productions were both done by the hard-working and energetic Rev. Michael Fredericks of the Perth-Andover Baptist Church.  WHAT A SHOW IT WAS !

We sang as angels in the heavens Pointing to the stable, close While Richard posed beside the inn And I got my daily livestock dose:

I'm not sure even Bethlehem Had as many farm-yard critters Some were small, like geese and hens And some were really heavy hitters!

That's right, a choir of angels sang Beside Alpaca's Paddock And beside THAT were market stalls Of bread, and tools, and haddock!

Marianne Bell front row, far, I’m right behind her. We are both ‘gettin’ down’ kinds of angels. Richard and Marianne’s husband are a little more unbendy in near back row. Notice all the alpacas are staring up at the star over the stable. Just as they should do.

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We know not where she finds the time But Mayor M.B. also made that bread! And still remains relaxed and calm As she chats with King Herrod!

  On the Sunday night’s performance at the nativity, the snow was falling beautifully and romantically and it wasn’t even that cold! I’m crouching because we’re dancing about, not freezing – plus we had a lovely barrel of fire beside us both nights!

On Tuesday night, in Johnville, We hooked up with a choir That came from just 'downriver' In a church that did aspire To give us but a chance to sing From choir lofts above As we sang in echo'd refrain To Vivaldi's Gloria of love

more amazing totally-wood-panelled church work (like St. Peter’s) in the Johnville St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic church, where we sang opposite Peter McLaughlin’s Tuesday Night Singers from the lovely choir loft. (Vivaldi’s Antiphonal Gloria)

Finally, our last big gig Was filmed upon a Woodstock pew- (How strange that in Ontario I lived near Perth & Woodstock too!) My camera propped on hymnals On the first of many pews 'Neath Saint Gertrude's glor'ous arches Marianne led our cues: Youtube wasn't working But we hope you'll link up-- though It's hard for some not on FB- Still, we think it's 'quite a show'!

Saint Gertrudes is the lovely big church in which we sang last night, in Woodstock, along the Saint John river.

    me with hat, far left, Richard with men, far right

  stunning choir loft arches of St. Gertrude’s

the sanctuary of St. Gerts 

Like our concert Tuesday night in Johnville, we sang again with/opposite The Tuesday Night Singers, Peter McLaughlin’s choir. You may remember from reading back in July that it was he who directed us all in the mass choir (150 voices)  on July 1st in Perth-Andover.

part of our choir warming up last night. We had a strong men’s section (4 is STRONG for small town N.B.!) and 3 of the 4 are all spending a lot of their spare time with horses out in the bush! What is the connection, you ask, between men singing and horsemen? Have you an answer?

Thank you to Marianne Bell and Peter McLaughlin – some brownies I made for the wrap-up party

And so, this Christmas season, But actually all year long We owe a debt of gratitude To those who led in song. For what a year it's been Full of music, drama, prayer To get us off the farm, And join pastor, teacher, mayor!

Cast of Thousands "What's the best of country life?" Many ask us daily "Is it the scenery, quiet, nature, veg?" Nope - it's celebrating gaily With our small communities, Like Perth or New Den-Mark It's singing, acting, being part Last week - we're angels!