“We are leaving in the car in an hour, will you be ready?”
“Remember Maisie, that Border collie you saw in National Geographic Your Shot? She sent me some pictures. I’m writing about the handsomeness and beauty of herding dogs…yes, I will be done here within the hour…maybe we can visit Maisie…”
“You better include your buddy Patrick on this post, and don’t refer to him as the Cattle Collie, anymore…he did not like that. And as long as I’m thinking about it, don’t forget to mention your sudden success with squirrels…the corpses are starting to add up.”
“Mmmmm…good point about Patrick…I’ll start with him…”
My good friend Patrick lives in Shannondale, and I refer to him as Patrick of Shannondale. IT’S A JOKE, PATRICK! My Dad thinks you are very handsome and I’ve got to tell you, I owe you an apology. Your Mom sent me a picture of your sister (I’d like to know her a little better) and your Mom sitting together in the Sheriff’s Prison Transport (just kidding) and without a doubt, your mom is an Australian Cattle Dog, and quite beautiful, too.

Patrick’s gorgeous mother is on the right and his sister is on the left. (Photo courtesy of State Prisoner Transport System)

And, as all of my loyal readers are aware, this is my good friend and play-fighter, Patrick of Shannondale. He certainly looks like his sister…compliment Patrick! (Photo courtesy of Home for Deranged Cattle Dogs)

This is my mentor and renowned Therapy Dog, Cody of Lenox (RIP 01-08-2015). Cody was well known for his fabulous ticking, split-face, and endearing disposition.

And, speaking of ticking, GORGEOUS ticking, this is the beautiful Maisie, recently observed in National Geographic Your Shot. Photo used with permission of Maisie’s Mom, Tiehrra Alexander. I’m hoping to get a play-date with Maisie!

Maisie smiling…look at those golden eyes!

And…Maisie after running through the mud…

This is Maisie’s house-mate, Porter. Porter is 7 months old. Nice ears, YOU BABY!
“We’ll be leaving soon, wrap it up, Magic! Don’t forget about the squirrels…”
HA! It has taken me over a year to catch a squirrel…I was always overplaying my moves…too quick, too straight, too reactive. But, that changed last week…patience, pursuing a bit slower, and not reacting to their little deke-out moves, their trickery, their sense of superiority. They are actually idiots, they wait too long to make their break for freedom, they get a bit too choosy in which tree to climb, or they choose one tree and just as they get there, they change their mind. Three squirrels, two last week, and one yesterday (who did not die very pretty). Pretty simple stuff…grab ’em, puncture ’em, crunch ’em, shake ’em. Time to go. Thanks, Maisie, for the great pictures. I think I’m in love. -Magic