I had a visitor. His two-legses were going away for a few days and couldn’t take him, so my mate Hardy came to stay with us instead. He’s never been to this place before, so I wanted to make sure he’d settle in okay. He didn’t seem to have much trouble once he’d found the toy box… though I was waiting for the sighs when she saw… she was doing stuff with boxes again. I never know whether we’re coming or going these days! She must’ve wanted him to settle too, though, ’cause she didn’t say much at all… not even when he ate the ball. To be fair, it was his… she’d given us one each when he arrived. Not that I’m short of balls at the moment exactly, but a spare or three never goes amiss.
The thing is…and she doesn’t get it at all… I have a special ball. It may be a bit old and chewed…and often a bit soggy… but it smells right, you know? There are many tennis balls in the world…and even more in her cupboard, I know’cause I can smell ’em… even if she thinks she’s fooling me… But there is only one Ball of Power. Okay, I say she doesn’t get it… but the ball guy put her straight on that. So she knows how important it is… and just stood there with the camera thingy when Hardy trotted in with it! Now, some things just matter, you know? Others might not get it, but if something is really special to someone, you have to treat it with a bit of care…even if you don’t understand why. But, he was a guest, you see… Still…
He can destuff the duck, eat the other ball, shred the tug rope and chomp his way through as many of my bones as he likes. But not The Ball… Calling up all my ancestors, I did a quick retrieve…I don’t do it often. Or at least, not when she says so. Unless I want to. But, Dad’s not a retriever for nothing…and I had the moral high ground…
I waited till he was busy playing with something else then sneaked walked quietly away. Not even she could find The Ball after that. Or at least, not until she got the Hoover Monster MkII out of the cupboard. That thing is vicious… on a stick… gets everywhere… and it sucked my bed out of place… ‘Course, she burst out laughing then.
I’d put The Ball and my second-best ball under there. And another one, just to be on the safe side. They had been safe all day….and all night. Give her her due though, she left them there and tucked them back in with just an ‘Oh Ani…you daft dog!’
Well, I’m not as daft as I look… is that really right? you two-legses say some weird stuff.. I still have The Ball…and I’m going to stay with Hardy and Gooch for a couple of days now while she’s off meandering. Could be interesting…
Wonder where Hardy hides his? 😉
Much love,
Ani xxx
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
I sympathize. It’s those old, comfortable things that we love best. You hold onto that ball!
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My ball is safely tucked away 🙂 Much love, Ani xxx
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You are smart Ani, balls are balls but special balls…………
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Exactly! You have to tak care of them 😉 Much love, Ani xxx
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Hi Ani, I knows whats you mean. My special balls are mine, I don`t share. And whats with the two leggeds when I presents them with the number one toy stinky bum. They screw up their faces and go uhhhh or noooooo, I`m only showing them how much I loves them. Yesterday they tried to trick me into the bath, he he he, they will never get me, I just go and roll in the mud some more. much paw love Dante Dawg xxxx
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BATHS! Hate ’em… don’t know what they see in all that sopay, flowery stuff myself…. Now, fox poo or dead fish… that works 😉 Much love, Ani xxx
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ooh tried the fox poo but not the dead fish, yet. Dante xxxx
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Give it a go… they don’t like it, but if they are going to bath you, might as well make it worthwhile 😀 Much love, Ani xxx
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Never let it go!!!
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Don’t you worry about that 😉 Much love, Ani xxx
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why do they wonder at our hiding things in our bed? They’ll only go and wash it or something. They really have no idea about smells do they? Mine even washed my bed the other day. Yuk, I slept on the floor for two nights as a protest. Much fondness Mylo
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Yeah, she tries the bed-washing thing too… but I sit on it and won’t let her till she forgets. It still ends up smelling what SHE calls clean though… Don’t know how she manages that… Much love, Ani xxx
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Love dogs. Love your piece more! 😀
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It is hard not to love this dog 🙂
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Hardy sure is cute (not cuter than you, Ani, but very cute!).
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He’s a good friend 😉 xxx
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Stay strong, Ani. It’s your stuff. ☺☺
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Doing my best 🙂 Much love, Ani xxx
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That looks so familiar! 😉
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No surprise there, Paulette 🙂
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I don’t blame you at all, Ani! There are lines a guest shouldn’t cross 😉
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Not many…but where the Ball is concerned… 😉 Much love, Ani xxx
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And to you xx
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Don’t mess with a dog’s balls, lol. It’s like our own favourite sweaters 🙂
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She used to let me sleep on one of hers… Then I picked the wrong one. She wasn’t pleased 😦 Much love, Ani xxx
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Stand strong in your territory Ani. ❤
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I do 🙂 ❤
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🙂
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Dear Ani … well snuck. 😀
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It had to be done 🙂 Much love, Ani xxx
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Clever girl! Enjoy your time away. 🙂
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I did 🙂 Much love, Ani xxx
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That was very clever of you. I don’t blame you at all. I do something similar with doughnuts when my kids are on the prowl.
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I likes dognuts… er… doughnuts…Much love, Ani xxx
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Lovely!
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Thanks, John 🙂
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Haha! They are so funny! They are like small children…. I remember my house looking much like that when my boys were toddlers!
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Mine would be spotless these days if it weren’t for Ani, the toy box and the stuffing 🙂
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Ha! You are a clever girl, Ani, There are some things that just aren’t for sharing!
I hope you have a wonderful time at Hardy’s xx
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I agree… that ball is special 🙂 And I did thank you! Much love, Ani xxx
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xx
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Oh, Ani…you never fail to put a smile on my weary face.
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Than I have served my ‘pupose’ 😉 Much love, Ani xxx
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Ani, some things are not meant to be shared, so don’t worry about hiding what is really important to you, as long as you share your other things. Sending you hugs and kisses and a belly rub.
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I share everything else… but the ball is different, you know? Much love, Ani xxx
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