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One of the most popular feature in our
monthly newsletter is an article written by our
Bichon-Frise, Chloe. Her views from "under the desk" are
very perceptive in a simple, doggy kind of way. Here is
an archive of some of her best work.
Check out my Blog
July 2002
Fireworks! People seem to like ‘em, but I’m not so sure.
I think they’re probably best viewed from beneath Dad’s
Expedition. Mom and Dad took me to Buchanan on the 4th
of July for the big fireworks show. I was just marching
into the fair when a really big guy in a brown uniform
told us, “Sorry no dogs allowed.” He obviously didn’t
recognize me, but there was no persuading him, so we
walked over and visited the ponies. I love the smell of
ponies in the summer.
After sharing some of the “world’s best French fries”,
we walked up the hill to Main Street and visited with
Nicole and Ken Thorn, the new owners of The Fountain at
Ransone’s. They introduced us to that “famous guy”,
Harry Gleason, he was nice, but I actually liked his dog
better. I don’t think “Buddy” was too impressed with me
until Nicole told him I ran the print shop and had a
monthly column, I could feel his sense of appreciation
increasing.
Later, we went back to the car and waited for the
fireworks, Dad gave me a little bit of his funnel cake.
I think funnel cake may be the best snack ever created
by humans. Funnel cake and fireworks will forever be
linked in my little pea brain.
We also took a stroll on the swinging bridge over the
river . . . just a little scary, but only a
foreshadowing of my first experience in the Cowpasture
River which I’ll tell you about next month.
August 2002
Last month, I told you about the excitement of our visit
to the fireworks in Buchanan along the James River. Well
a few days later I had my first close encounter with the
Cowpasture River. For years we’ve been printing a
newsletter and now a calendar all about the river, but I
had never seen it, much less been in it until Mom, Dad
and my Grandpa took me up to Bath County to visit Dad’s
old swimmin’ hole.
Mom carried me out to where the water was over my head.
I was a little nervous, but being the trooper I am, I
just stretched my neck up high, ears back, tail straight
up and my feet starting doing a serious “dog paddle”
even before I touched the water . . . then Mom just set
me down and quicker than you could say Mark Spitz, I was
swimmin’. Who would have guessed I could swim. Mom asked
me how I could tell it was over my head. I don’t know, I
guess it just came naturally. It was a glorious day. But
the best part was when they finally quit laughing and
let me get out of the water. I sat on the picnic table
with Papa and “shook off” in the sunshine. Yep, sure did
love that river.
September 2002
 This month’s topic is “lunch”. Definitely my favorite
time of day, because it often produces french fries.
Seems like a couple of times each week Chris puts me in
her car (as seen at left) and we fly through the
drive-thru at McDonalds in Troutville. I love to hang my
fluffy little head out the window and feel the wind
flapping my ears and drying out my eyeballs. My
girlfriends at McDonalds really know what I like and I
guess they think I’m cute ‘cause sometimes they even
give me a hamburger, sans the bun. They must love to see
me smile.
On Friday, we do Chinese take-out. Chris pulls right up
to the door at Best Wok and rolls down the window so
Eileen can wave at me and I can yelp back. I like the
Hunan beef, but my favorite Chinese treats are the
fortune cookies my Mom gives me. My big challenge is to
eat all of the cookie and leave that little strip of
paper on the floor. That’s not so tough really, who
would want to eat paper when you can have a yummy
cookie. That’ll put a smile on anybody’s face!
October 2002
 Trick
or treat . . . can you believe the ridiculous costume
they made me wear for this picture? The mere thought of
me as a “little devil”, how nutty is that? Sure, I may
get into a bit of trouble now and then, but everyone
knows I’m really a “lover not a biter.” I am, however,
very excited about this whole Halloween thing. I
understand that the “treat” part is the best element. I
also enjoy seeing all the little kids in their costumes.
I’m sure that none of them are “little devils”.
I hope my friend John “Sparky” Boothe comes by to see me
again soon. He was here last week hooking up those
little boxes on the walls that Dad plugs the big presses
into. I guess we’re expanding again. John made a really
big mess, that’s something I can appreciate. He had
sawdust and drywall all over the place. He really makes
me smile. Have you ever seen my smile? Some folks would
think its more of a snarl, but when you get to know me
you’ll realize that I’m actually grinning from jowl to
jowl.
I know I’ll be smiling “big-time” after we finish the
Halloween night adventure. Dog treats, anyone?
December 2002
Can you believe this picture??? My Mom and Dad hanging
out with that “goofy” dog,
 and
having a great time! They were living large on a Disney
cruise while I was back here in Virginia suffering in
the cold and snow. I hate it when the snow is over my
head, and walking through drifts and falling through is
no fun at all. I can’t see a thing. But the worst is
when my tummy rubs in the snow, I left a rut just
walking into work and I collected iceballs the size of
ping pong balls on my undercarriage. Thankfully, after
that first day, Chris put my sweatsuit on me, I look
especially sporty, it’s quite slimming.
The most humiliating part of the snow is that I still
have to go outside to . . . . well you know. It’s just
not fair, the “kitty” has her own special litter pan in
the cozy garage. I swear, I think I saw her laughing at
me one time when I came in looking particularly “snowman
like”. I get really frisky after being out in the cold
and I usually attack the cat and roll her over a few
times, she’s pretty old and only pretends to swat at me.
I don’t want to sound negative, but I hope we don’t have
a “white Christmas” enough is enough. Happy holidays
everyone!
July 2004
 A
couple of months ago I got to attend Mom's surprise
birthday party. Even though I was tied up outside the
deck at Three Li'l Pigs, I thought it was pretty much
fun. But recently I attended a REALLY exciting birthday
party for our friend Maria Webster. Mom and Dad couldn't
make the party since they had made plans to to go
DisneyWorld (again!). So Chris and I were on our own to
drive all the way out to Bernard's Landing on the lake.
It was a warm Saturday night and we were like two wild
women with the windows open and heads hanging out (mine)
letting the wind dry out my eyeballs. We listened to
"Born to be Wild" on the radio and felt empowered like
Botetourt's answer to Thelma and Louise. This is a whole
life I didn't know about...but it was just the beginning
of my "grown-up" experience.
There were lots of people at the party but I was the
only really short one, and I think the only one with
four feet. I wasn't required to wear my leash, since the
party was upstairs on the deck and there was no way I
was going to make a break when there were so many snacks
to be had. I circulated freely getting nibbles of party
treats from Maria's other friends. I amazed everyone
with party tricks, especially my ability to eat shrimp
cocktail whole and spit out the shells. I danced with
Maria's husband, Jim, (talk about "two left feet," try
six), I hope she wasn't too jealous. I ate ice cubes out
of the cooler and even had a little sip of beer....if
Mom had known she would have killed me AND Chris! But I
wasn't worried, after all, I am an empowered woman now.
July 2004 SPECIAL TO CHLOE'S CORNER
If you want to see my famous swimming
adventure in the Cowpasture River pass your mouse
pointer over the photo below....it'll turn into a movie
of yours truly. Be patient, it might take a minute to
load.
August 2004
There’s a whole side of me you probably
don’t know about...I’m a close friend of McGruff The
Crime Dog. I recently paid a visit to the sheriff’s
office for a high level meeting with the staff there
including McGruff. I have to say McGruff is very quiet
and a little serious, as one might expect from a “crime
fighter.” He was just a little bit fresh though. As you
can tell from the picture
 ,
McGruff did have a tendency to slide his arm down and
touch me in an inappropriate way. I don’t like anybody
to touch me near my hind quarters. Of course, this
McGruff is only a stuffed toy and not a living breathing
crime dog like me. It was all I could do to restrain
myself from shaking him good and carrying him around the
office.
I spent time visiting with DeeDee and Sharon at the
sheriff’s office where I was named an “honorary crime
dog”. I wonder what my duties are as a “crime dog”? Will
it interfere with my active social life? How about nap
time? I may need to consider this appointment carefully
since my life is already very full.
I tried on a deputies cap, but it just didn’t work well
with my ears. I even got to sit at the sheriff’s desk
(fortunately he was out). You just never know how some
humans will react when you invade their territory. Even
though I have been chosen as an “honorary crime dog”,
the sheriff might frown on the idea of a bichon frise
sitting at his desk, so please don’t tell him I did it,
he might toss me into the Botetourt County Jail.....and
I definitely don’t look good in orange.
January 2005
We’ve had an addition to our family! On
Christmas Eve our family had it’s much anticipated
meeting with “Rawls.” Rawls is my “sister” Cathy’s new
puppy. Everyone oohed and aahed over the little floppy
eared guy. They considered it fun to put us outside in
the fenced backyard behind my sister and Dave’s place. I
guess they thought I would enjoy running around with
Rawls. Why would I want to run around with a crazy hound
dog pup? He wasn’t even mature enough to play games, he
just ran and ran with an occasional blood curdling howl,
oh my gosh “Rawls, get a grip!” I decided to just sit
out the excitement and watch him fly around the
backyard.
We finally went back into the house and before Dad could
get my leash off, Rawls grabbed it. He started pulling
it like he was going to lead me around. I don’t think
so!!! The more he pulled the more I dug in. Pretty soon
he was pulling the leash so hard the collar was about to
pull my ears off the front of my head! I tried to let
him know who he was messing with, but he was so wrapped
up in all his puppiness he just didn’t get the message!
My family just stood there laughing at us. Where’s the
respect I usually get? Does being a cute puppy trump
sophistication and panache?
I’m anxious to see the little guy again soon, I hear
he’s growing up a little, maybe I can educate him on my
importance in the family.
P.S. After my close encounter with Chris’s scissors, my
poofy tail is growing back-in quite nicely. Thanks for
your concern.
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