May 7 2023 - The Day After

 

What was yesterday's Coronation highlight? "Over 100 dogs, who share the same name as the UK’s new King, participated in a pup parade after the coronation on Saturday 6 May." "A timelapse video shared by the Associated Press showed pet owners walk their spaniels down the famous West London road, to commemorate the beginning of Charles’ reign.  The lap dog was reportedly named after King Charles II, who favoured the toy breed in the 17th century." Twitter has the highlights.  Look at them all!  Lots of great pictures of Cavaliers.   One quote says "They are the most cat-like of the dogs".   So here's a cat's retort to that.  This fence in Queenston says:  Be Aware of the Cat.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Apr 29 2023 - King Charles - The Spaniel

 

Here we are with a King Charles about to be crowned, and little Millie is named after the previous King Charles.  What is that history?  The Charles is Charles II so that's 1630 - 1685. The other names they've had are English Toy Spaniel, Toy Spaniel, Prince Charles Spaniel, Ruby Spaniel and Blenheim Spaniel.  Actually these were separate breeds that were merged in the twentieth century in association with the American Kennel Association. I hadn't realized that the colour combinations also have "Charles" names: King Charles (black and tan), Prince Charles (white with black and tan patches), Blenheim (white with red patches), Ruby (red).  Wikipedia says: "King Charles II of England was very fond of the toy spaniel, which is why the dogs now carry his name, although there is no evidence that the modern breeds are descended from his particular dogs. He is credited with causing an increase in popularity of the breed during this period." The breed continued to be popular with Royalty.  Consider this history fact: In 1896, Otto von Bismarck purchased a King Charles Spaniel from an American kennel for $1,000 (the average price was between $50 and $200 for a Blenheim).  Wow!  What's that value now? That's $40,000 today.  And there is a dog worth that today: "Selling for $40,000, this adorable puppy just became the words most expensive sheep dog. A puppy has recently bagged the title for the most expensive sheepdog in the world after being sold for a grand $39,980." That was Feb 8, 2021  I could never make up these facts - they seem more like fantasy. There's a King Charles Spaniel urban legend or two:  An urban legend claims that Charles II issued a special decree granting King Charles Spaniels permission to enter any establishment in the UK, overriding "no dog except guide dogs" rules. A variant of this myth relates specifically to the Houses of Parliament. This myth is sometimes instead applied to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.   And that brings one back to Millie - she appears to be a King Charles Spaniel with her signature snubbed nose vs Dezi who had the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel elongated nose.   Here's Millie as a puppy! Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

June 27 2022 - She did it herself

 

What about those DIY tricks on amateur YouTube videos.  There seem to be a lot of them.  Some of them are silly, others are misinformation, and a few are remarkable.  There's one that made the news in the"Good News This Week" site.  Nikki Coles has stayed busy over the last two years. At the beginning of the pandemic, the 37-year-old mom of two from Essex, England, decided if she was going to be inside, she might as well do a few projects around the house. At the same time she was studying for law school, Coles began watching DIY videos on YouTube, and soon, she was upgrading each room in her house. With her new skills, Coles recently revamped her kitchen — she retiled the floor, changed out the countertops, and applied fresh paint to the cupboards and walls, doing everything herself. She went to thrift shops and found items for free on Facebook, so it only cost her £200 ($245) to get a stylish new kitchen. "It kind of started with a little bit of tweaking here and there, and then I really got the bug," she told The Independent. Coles is working on her final project — redecorating a bathroom — and said it "just goes to show what you can do even as a busy mom on a budget — and if I can inspire other mums in any way, shape, or form, then I'm happy." One of the articles references the British equivalent to our Dollar Store - it is called  "Poundland".   Today's picture is Millie.  This seems to be her typical pose for the camera - the worried little Cavalier look.

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Sep 19 2021 - Max in Animal News

 

Max the Miracle Dog, who made headlines around the world when he was awarded the PDS Order of Merit in 2021 has had a permanent statue unveiled in his hometown of Keswick, Cumbria.  There's a picture of Max and his statue in the article.  "English Springer Spaniel Max was an online star thanks to his owner Kerry Irving’s regular updates on social media. Photos and videos of their antics in the Lakes, charity walks and public appearances had already made the special spaniel a household name, but when the pandemic hit in 2020 Max’s daily live broadcasts resulted in him becoming the world’s virtual therapy dog, with dedicated fans tuning in from Australia to America. Their daily Facebook Live videos became a lifeline for hundreds of thousands when the world went into lockdown, helping people through incredibly dark times of isolation, grief, loneliness, anxiety and fear.  In February 2021, Max was presented with the PDSA Order of Merit, also known as the animals OBE, for his outstanding contribution to society. Now his statue, which has been designed and made by local sculptor Kirsty Armstrong, is a permanent tribute of Keswick’s most famous dog.  Reacting to the unveiling, Max’s owner Kerry Irving said, “Hope Park is the perfect location as Max has brought hope to so many people. It’s incredible that our little boy, proudly wearing his PDSA Order of Merit, will now be sat there and remembered for generations to come.” The statue was unveiled by 12-year-old Sophie, a local girl who has dyslexia, and who has found great comfort in Max’s stories. The statue was paid for by a crowdfunding campaign, which raised £26,000 in a single day! Kerry was able to donate additional funds from the campaign to vet charity PDSA, which provides free and low cost veterinary care to the pets of people in need." Read Max's Story HERE.   She Max HERE.   The picture today is our motion blur winter study of birches and a wonderful sentiment about our relationship to dogs.  Will Rogers' most famous words are:   "I never met a man I didn't like" When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like." I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved.

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April 6th 2021 - Dog Town and Kitty City

 

There are a lot of Dog Towns. Real places, most of them nicknames in California.  And then there are towns with the note, formerly Dog Town - all of them in California, too. The nickname likely has to do with surfing and skateboarding, as this was a well-known documentary movie about skateboarding in the 70s. A real dog town is where prairie dogs live. They also have coteries and clans, and they do a lot of kissing and grooming.  Common usage today is for canine pet grooming, animal rescue and computer games involving dogs. Don't be alarmed for cats, though.  Their residence is Kitty City.  While there don't seem to be skateboards, movies, or novels with the name, there are games and all manner of products.  There seems to be a lot of furniture for cats. There are many comparisons of dogs vs cats.  I will highlight their personality differences with the "bar" joke. A dog walks into a bar. The dog says, "Gimme a beer." The bartender says, "Wow! You can talk! You should get a job at the circus!" The dog says, "They're hiring electricians at the circus?" A cat walks into a bar.  The bartender says, "what'll you have?" The cat says, "A shot of rum." The bartender pours the cat his drink. The cat slowly pushes the shot off the table. "Another." Today is Millie Day! Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Jan 19 2021 - Unicorn Thinking

 

What makes us value the Unicorn? It has been in our collective existence since antiquity.  Generally it is white.  It is wild and untameable. A symbol of purity and grace, which could be captured only by a virgin.   There are references to unicorns in the Old Testament of the Bible Thanks to the King John version which turns the re'em into a unicorn.  Both are equally unknown to exist. The unicorn continues to hold a place in popular culture. It is used as a symbol of fantasy or rarity.  It has mostly been co-opted into a feminine character of vivid colours that can be sold as fluffy toys.  So that means there are unicorn movies, games and theme park characters too.  And then don't forget the LGBT  community adopted it along with many other symbols. With uni and corn composing its name, it is perfect for kid jokes: Q: What did the mythical creature serve at his barbecue? A: Unicorn on the cob.   Q: What is the difference between a carrot and a unicorn? A: The first is a bunny feast, the other is a funny beast.   Q: Why do unicorns like silly jokes? A: Because they’re uni-corny.   Q: What street do unicorns live on? A: Mane Street.   Q: What’s black and white and eats like a unicorn? A: A zebra.   Q: Why can you always trust what a unicorn says? A: They’re no bull.   Q: Do they have unicorns at the zoo? A: Yes – they’re just big, grey and called rhinos.   Q: What do unicorn moms bake on Sunday? A: UniCorn muffins.   Q: Why do unicorns listen to polkas? A: They like to hear unicordians.   Q: What do they call the best student at Unicorn University? A: The A-corn.   Q: What do unicorns call their dad? A: Pop corn. And to complete a perfect Unicorn day:  Write some unicorn jokes on little pieces of paper, fold or roll them up, and stick them inside a balloon. Blow the balloon up and tie it off. Play a game of pop the balloon, in which kids sit on a balloon to pop it. When they do, they can read the joke or have an adult read it to them. It’s hilarious! Here is Millie looking so pensive - a typical Cavalier expression.     Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Bungalow The Origins

Dezi has enjoyed the beach with running, a mistaken swim, and deciding shells were something to chase. As one drives along the coast, the original houses were the long Florida bungalow, and we wondered the origin of the word.  This was a surprise: 1670-80; < Hindi banglā literally, of Bengal The word bungalow was originally used to describe the temporary houses set up by English sailors traveling to India to work for the East India Company. These little houses were often just one story high with a thatched roof. Nowadays, the word bungalow can be used to describe any one story house. Think of the little cabin you slept in at summer camp — that’s a kind of bungalow. What words rhyme with bungalow?  Here are a few from Merriam-Webster Rhymes with bungalow acid snow, afterglow, aikido, alpenglow, apropos, art deco, art nouveau, audio, Baguio, Bamako, barrio, bay window, Bergamo, bibelot, Bilbao, black widow, blow-by-blow, body blow, bone marrow, bordereau, Borneo, bow window, buffalo, Buffalo, Bushido, buteo, calico, cameo, cachalot, cembalo, centimo, CEO, chassepot, cheerio, Clemenceau, cogito, comedo, comme il faut, counterflow, Cupid's bow, curaçao, Curaçao, curassow, curio, daimyo,

Dog Days

Yesterday Dezi met Maggie.  She lives in the neighbourhood on the other side of the highway. She's a smaller Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which is unusual.  Usually Dezi is the smaller dog.  They sniffed and did the dog circle dance.   It was our third meeting within the last year of Blenheim spaniels.  We are onto another day of big waves - they are now at the bottom of the stairways to the beach, so it doesn't look like anyone can walk the beach at all.  They are mesmerizing!  View this email in your browser

Who's On First?

Who is on first?  That's Dezi on our walk at Beamer Park in the first picture. But who's on second?  It looks like two Dezis.  We met little Nicos on our walk - very similar to Dezi in colour patterns, and just a little younger so doesn't have all the feathers on the legs yet. If you want to listen to the real "Who's On First" then here is a link to Abbott and Costello's famous comedy routine.  You can read it or listen to them. http://www.phoenix5.org/humor/WhoOnFirst.html

Double Dog Dating

A few days ago I met a dog that looked like Dezi - with the white and butterscotch colours that are known as Blenheim.  His name is Pete.  This is the story of their meeting and parting.