Pick a Pup for me!

Hello everyone from the United Kingdom of Great Rain and Northern Coldland! Yes, I left Summer on Sydney's wonderful harbour and landed smack in middle of the Oxfordshire Autumn, beautiful though it is!

Lovey is enjoying her new home full of four kids, fifteen rabbits and, yes, count them, forty guinea pigs! They have a farm and an enclosed pen full of clover in which to frolic and play, and get loads of fresh crunchy veggies to eat - yum!

Now I find myself completely without an animal. First things first, a home:



No, that's too big...



...cute, but too small....



...almost...we're getting somewhere.

In the meantime I find myself awed by Oxford's dreaming spires and the surrounding countryside where people have been really nice. But when I find a place, I will need a pooch! Please keep suggestions coming: what kind of puppy should I get? I like big-ish dogs, but I think I like to be able to pick them up if I can, do not mind fur everywhere, drooling can be a bit of a bore, prefer pricked ears, but will consider floppies, prefer non-smoker!

Si tu veux un ami, apprivoise-moi

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

So we go through the world, taming that which is wild, that which to us, imperfect humans catches our hearts in one imperceptible moment in time, with a glance, with a look, with pricked ears and intelligent eyes... and we begin to see that which to the eye is invisible; we begin to see clearly with our hearts, and then we know longing and love... and what is means to say goodbye.


...to me, you're still nothing more than a little boy who's just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I'm nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you'll be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world ... Nothing is perfect," sighed the fox. But he came back to his idea. My life's very monotonous,...I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it'll be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that'll be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat...
(from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

... and this big southern continent will always hold, for those whose hearts can see it, the last resting place of a dear dog, the grass on which he and his companion lay in the shade on hot days, smiling and happy, the creatures that held such interest for him and his sister, the places we played, the beaches we ran on, the breezes that were sniffed; it will always hold the furry and feathered friends we made here, still going about their animal business, perhaps with memories of some human, that to them is different among other humans - will they hold those memories, too? Only the heart can see them, and the sun will shine in our hearts, no matter how dark the weather...

...and so we say goodbye to Australia, to friends and to memories, memories that will grow in my heart, and we look towards England, to new friends, to a new home, to new creatures with whom we share the world... and our hearts - next post from Oxford, my friends!

You're Nobody 'till Somebody's Bunny Loves You!

Yes, bunny love is pretty good - and this furry blog has lots of it: check out Our Fuzzy Family!

The human was trying to film me cleaning my face in that cute bunny way, but I'm a bit camera shy, so every time the camera came out, I stopped doing cute things and sat there relatively still and boring, or else turned my bum to the camera!

Bunny Times

The human tried to take some vids of me running around, but I was too fast and they turned out badly! The ones of me eating were just boring, so I'm posting a picture of Charlie, who is going overseas with the household move.
You will all excuse me for not writing for a while. Some of my humans went on a trip and took the compyooter with them, and the one that stayed behind to give me veggies to eat hogged the remaining two laptops, though even if he hadn't they are in such a state that I would not have been able to use them anyway, besides, I have a lot of chewing to get through every day, so I can't possibly devote any more of my limited brain capacity to figuring out PCs!

At the moment, Spring is in the air and it gives a rabbit urges. I want to run free through the grass, but as there have been so many lizards (2+ ft long) around lately, I have not been let off the rabbit leash. (don't tell the humans, though, but I can squirm out of it any time I want!)

Hope you're all well and happy and we look forward to stopping by soon before the big moving house that is tearing up the place lately. The human says, at times through tears, that with all of the things that have transpired in her lifetime, it is uncanny how deeply her heart is affected by one little dog. Well, I miss those furry whirlwinds sometimes, too. Now all I have to play with are the lizards and they are, well, a bit boring!

Tuesday Evening

I didn't chew any cords today, but lots of carrots and lettuce and rabbit food, oh and I got really bored so I gnawed my house, too. It was cold so I got to play inside. We were glad to hear that Asta is back on the aether and hope her humans are feeling better about everything.

Just a treat for us smaller animals: have a look at what this guy did!

Saturday Night

Hello animals everywhere! This is Fierce Bad Rabbit - actually I'm not fierce at all, I'm rather a wuss and I let kids drag me around all day and play with me and give me rides and sleep with me and handle me and my name is Lovey! -But a rabbit can dream, sometimes.

I will be taking over Charlie's DogBlog for a short time as those of us who knew and loved (yes, I was one who loved having my fur tousled by a wet dog nose and snuggling up to a warm dog on the carpet) Charlie have missed being part of the animal blogging world and visiting all of our friends. While Charlie's family is getting ready for the big move to Oxford, I will revive the old dog blog and get it ready for the arrival of a new animal some time in the near future in England. Being an Australian Rabbit, I will be staying here - let's be honest: I don't exactly jump at the idea of a 24-hour plane trip.... carrots, now there's something I'll jump at! ...and grass and fruit and just for the sake of jumping, but not for plane rides, so I'll be staying here with a new loving family who will feed me and play with me.

In the meantime, don't forget to tell your friends if I don't get around quickly enough, that Charlie's DogBlog is on the air, and don't forget to stop by the First Ever All Animal Lyric Writing Bee, as I have kept it going uninterrupted.

Sunday Evening

Wednesday Evening

Many thanks and my deepest gratitude for all of the wonderful animals and humans who have stopped by to share their sympathy, prayers and support as I brave each new day without my dear companion. Truly, it is a time that must come to all of us who open our lives and hearts to those creatures who, though they teach us so much about love, loyalty and indeed, humanity, must leave us all too soon. I would like to especially thank KeyWest Collies, Alassandra and the Cats - and dog, Jan's Funny Farm, Sassy, Karl and the Cat Realm, Asta, Momo and Pinot, Ludo, Opy, Leslie, Pye and Tigger, and Opus in Italy - the list just goes on and on - for all of the posts and messages - thank you everyone who has stopped by and left us a little note, and to everyone who has shared the last two years with us in blogland. I do not know how I would be getting through if not for all of you.

I have spent the last few days reading and re-reading again all of the posts on our blog and others, reliving those wonderful memories of the adventures over and over again. I detest lugubriousness, and I know Charlie would not have tolerated my tears at all, being the dignified and somewhat aloof dog that she was, but it will be a long while before I can stop putting my hand out, expecting to feel that wet nose and stately head, rubbing the soft fur between pricked ears, eager to hear my voice.

Once again,

Thank you, my friends everywhere

Crossing the Lake

Charlie!  Charlie!

You are but a puppy.  I cannot play.  Let me be.

No, Charlie, I am ageless.  I am here to take you onward so that you are not alone in your journey.

I can't.  I'm too slow.  Are we on a frozen lake?  I can no longer hear the sounds of my happy family as I lie sleeping in my bed.  Where are we going?

You will see, Charlie, when we get across the lake.  Come, Charlie!

It's cold and the snow is getting packed in my paws.

Come, Charlie!  Come with me; I have something to show you!

It's getting warmer.  I can see the opposite shore.  I'm getting faster and there is a forest over there!  I can see him; it is the Keeper at the Gates of Dawn; how beautifully he plays his pipes!

Yes, Charlie!  You are young again and it is Spring.  We are in the Great Forest Beyond and all of your friends and kindred spirits await to greet you, see!

I had forgotten what it is like to run and jump!   How joyful and happy I feel!  The cool water tastes good and my tail is up high, wagging, and I can smell flowers, birds and many interesting creatures!

Charlie, you are home now, but there remains an important job to be done.

When I look back across the lake I can hardly see through the fog.  It is still frozen.  There is my beloved human; I can see her crying.  She is so sad and I have left her.  

Humans live much longer lives than we do, Charlie.  You must wait to show her the way when it is at long last her turn, so that she will not be alone.

My human has lost so many friends in her life, how can I leave her now, and how can humans keep on living with such grief?  I have left her all alone.

No, Charlie, she is never alone, for you will soon understand that even if you are not a creature of the Earth anymore, your presence is still there in the heart of your human.  She has a great heart, and you have left it bigger and more full because of your life.  She knows both love and pain, for humans must learn to reconcile the two.  Loss and grief are part of the human existence, Charlie, but these things will right themselves in time.  When you finally meet your human, alongside all of your friends who have gone ahead and those who will come after, you will both understand.  

I shall miss her.  I will never leave her alone.

No, Charlie, you shall always be with each other, but for now you will be young again, playing, jumping and being happy and healthy, and when your human comes to join you, she, too, will know youth again in its abounding eagerness, energetic anticipation and excitement, and more, she will know peace in her heart, and reap the rewards of eternal friendship and devotion, for the two of you have only just begun your journey.

Then I shall wait patiently, and when my human and I are together again, she shall hear the joyous barking and see the wave of tails in the air of all those to whom she has given her love and compassion - I will be there!  Do not worry: I will wait for you!

Add Glitter to your Photos

Beloved Furrie Carlie Cewe "Charlie"

at peace

ANZAC Day, 2009

forever in my heart

The lesser creatures await Christ's return to redeem the sons of God so they, too, will be released from physical death to eternal life. 

Romans 8:19 (KJV) 

Thursday Evening

post by human -

My darling dog, I have never been without a dog in my life these long years I have lived it, and for the past fifteen and a half, not without you by my side. Over three continents, through life upheavals, career changes and a long road - I was never alone, for you have always been with me, human, fallible, imperfect as I am and you have never once ceased to love me with all of your canine soul, your deep eyes full of devotion and lifelong friendship. We have always been there for each other, never left each other behind, even when continents and oceans separated us, we were never apart for long.

It is heartbreaking for me to watch you growing old and feeble, and now these five days past I cannot get you to eat, though I've tried, have been dumping pills disovled in water down your snout, which you hate, have been plumping your bed as you grow skinnier, getting you out of corners in the middle of the night when you go wandering and get stuck, and talking to you when you pull away from me as if you've forgotten who I am. I will be strong for you, dearest dog, and watch over you. When you at last must go from me, please remember me to all of those who have left their pawprints so indelibly on the walls of my heart. I love you, dearest dog. I love you.