P.S. Some people have worried that I might have pee'd on Christo's art. I did not! And I didn't see any other doggies pee'ing on the walkways either. A dog knows art when she walks on it. xo
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2016
#TBT - The Floating Piers
We had such an incredible time on Christo's The Floating Piers. I walked on art!
P.S. Some people have worried that I might have pee'd on Christo's art. I did not! And I didn't see any other doggies pee'ing on the walkways either. A dog knows art when she walks on it. xo
P.S. Some people have worried that I might have pee'd on Christo's art. I did not! And I didn't see any other doggies pee'ing on the walkways either. A dog knows art when she walks on it. xo
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Christo's The Floating Piers: Art that Walks You Into the Present Moment
Christo's "The Floating Piers" is art that walks you into the present moment.
We had an extraordinary time at the installation on Lake Iseo. When you walk on the piers, they undulate with you -- or you undulate with them -- and the water motion has a way of making walkies even more profound than usual. And the best part? -- all the people there having so much fun.
Lots of people got stuck in long lines, but it looked like any stress from the wait disappeared once people walked on water. Thanks to Dachshund Daddy, we had a unique approach that saved us lines & stress. We hope that our post with tips about how to visit was helpful to readers.
The Floating Piers has now closed, but Christo is hard at work on two future installations. Cue the wags!
A wonderful segment on the PBS NewsHour -- by Rome-based reporter Christopher Livesay -- will give you the perfect overview. Watch it here.
We had an extraordinary time at the installation on Lake Iseo. When you walk on the piers, they undulate with you -- or you undulate with them -- and the water motion has a way of making walkies even more profound than usual. And the best part? -- all the people there having so much fun.
Lots of people got stuck in long lines, but it looked like any stress from the wait disappeared once people walked on water. Thanks to Dachshund Daddy, we had a unique approach that saved us lines & stress. We hope that our post with tips about how to visit was helpful to readers.
The Floating Piers has now closed, but Christo is hard at work on two future installations. Cue the wags!
A wonderful segment on the PBS NewsHour -- by Rome-based reporter Christopher Livesay -- will give you the perfect overview. Watch it here.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
The Floating Piers Unplugged: Enjoy Christo's Art without waiting in line
We just visited The Floating Piers, a collection of interlinked floating docks wrapped in yellow-orange fabric connecting the east shore of Northern Italy's Lake Iseo to the island of Montisola and surroundings. AMAZING!
Created by Bulgarian-born American artist Christo, The Floating Piers is as close to waddling on water as you'll ever get.
You may have heard of the epic lines to get to The Floating Piers, and it's true. Most people face daunting waiting times under the scorching sun after facing a hellish journey to wade through the insane congestion in the Lake Iseo area. You can avoid all that by following our special tips based on our visit of the past couple of days.
Basic orientation. The Floating Piers includes about 2 miles of floating docks and 1.5 miles of land segments. There's one floating dock connecting Sulzano on the mainland (east entrance) to Peschiera Maraglio on Montisola. Then there's a system of floating docks connecting the small island of San Paolo to Montisola (Sensole and Peschiera Maraglio). Finally, the land segments: Christo's magic fabric also covers a number of pedestrian streets both on the mainland and on the island and the road link from Sensole to Peschiera Maraglio.
Let's begin with five tips on the most arduous task: how to get to The Floating Piers without getting stuck.
Tip #1: avoid Sulzano. Sulzano is home to the only mainland entrance to The Floaring Piers and you should avoid it like the plague. Trains to Sulzano are packed beyond imagination (extremely unsafe for dogs), while cars and even bikes are not allowed into Sulzano. The lines to get onto the docks in Sulzano can be unreal.
Most folks don't seem to realize there are two other entrances in Peschiera Maraglio and Sensole, both on the island of Montisola.
Tip #2: use the west entrance in Sensole. The Sensole entrance is by far the quietest and has virtually no congestion. You can reach Sensole by bus from Carzano in the northeast corner of Montisola; get off in Menzino and walk 20'. You can also walk all the way from Carzano, like we did: just follow the road on the west side of the island. Cars are banned (other than public utility vehicles) but watch for locals zipping by on their mopeds.
Now you're probably wondering how to get to Carzano (on Montisola itself). Read on!
Tip #3: access the island from Sale Marasino. Sale Marasino is the town just north of Sulzano. From there, you can board a ferry to Carzano, on the north shore of the island. Most people don't realize how easy it is to get to The Floating Piers from Sale Marasino, which means you'll be mostly sharing the ferry with locals. Ferries from Sale Marasino operate on a first-come, first-serve basis (reservations are not possible) but travel frequently (every 20' at peak times). We had a bit of a wait (40'), but it was fun because we got to make new fur friends.
The catch: Sale Marasino is off limits to cars, unless you spend the night in the area and can show a reservation when you drive up to the police checkpoint.
Tip #4: spend the night on the island. It's a lot easier and cheaper than people realize, and you can find enough workable options with some basic googling. If you spend the night, you get to see The Floating Piers both in the evening and early in the morning. You also get to drive straight into Sale Marasino, where you'll find plenty of cheap parking. (You need to buy a scratch-off card called Gratta e Sosta, literally Scratch and Park, sold by several of the town businesses. The friendly folks at the Visitor Center can help you figure it out.)
Tip #5: if all else fails, find a private boat. We've met people who day-trip to The Floating Piers by paying a random boat owner to dump them on Montisola and pick them up at a predetermined time. It may cost a lot (more or less depending on how non-Italian you look or sound), but it seems to work. The best route is from Sarnico at the southwest end of Lake Iseo to Sensole on Montisola. Sarnico is accessible by bus from Bergamo.
There are also public ferries from Sarnico to Sensole and from the north shore (Lovere and Pisogne) to Carzano, but they travel relatively infrequently and most tickets can only be bought online up until three days before the travel date. It may be difficult to get on if you haven't reserved.
Now stay tuned for our briefing on crowd avoidance.
Roughly 90% of the visitors arrive from the east entrance on the mainland (Sulzano), so foot traffic is much thinner at the west end of The Floating Piers (Sensole). The floating docks are over 50 feet wide and there's generally plenty of room for everyone. The land segments vary in width and can get much more congested. The land segment in Peschiera Maraglio between the dock to San Paolo Island and the dock to the mainland can be extremely congested, but alternate routes exist through Peschiera Maraglio and you can easily figure them out.
And now let's wrap up with five tips on how to enjoy your time on The Floating Piers once you're there.
Tip #1: beware of the sun. Wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and lots of sunscreen. Avoid walking on the docks in the middle of the day; the best times are early morning (as soon as they open at 6:00 a.m.) and evening. Carry a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated. There is an excellent public fountain in Sensole.
Tip #2: spend your time on the floating docks. The streets covered in Chisto's fabric are neat, but you came here to waddle on water, so spend most of your time on the docks. The docks from Montisola to San Paolo island are the most amazing, and the dock from Sensole is the least crowded.
Tip #3: avoid Sulzano. We already told you to steer clear of Sulzano en route to The Floating Piers, but you should also avoid it once you're there. If you walk the dock from Peschiera to Sulzano, do not get off the dock in Sulzano or you may have to face a long wait on the mainland to get back on.
Tip #4: keep your socks on. Christo recommends walking barefoot, which works well if you're a dog but not as well if you're a human who worries about warts and athlete's foot. Keep your socks on!
Tip #5: bring a muzzle. Leashes and muzzles are required. Keeping dogs leashed is common sense and all dogs we met were on leash, while the muzzle requirement is not strictly enforced. None of the little dogs we saw had a muzzle on, a few of the midsize dogs carried one around their neck, and most big dogs wore one. On the ferry, your dog must wear a muzzle or be inside a pet carrier, like I was.
I sure hope these tips will be helpful to anyone who wishes to see The Floating Piers in the next four days before it closes.
Buon viaggio!
Created by Bulgarian-born American artist Christo, The Floating Piers is as close to waddling on water as you'll ever get.
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| Suntanning on The Floating Piers. Thank you, Christo, for thinking this one up! |
You may have heard of the epic lines to get to The Floating Piers, and it's true. Most people face daunting waiting times under the scorching sun after facing a hellish journey to wade through the insane congestion in the Lake Iseo area. You can avoid all that by following our special tips based on our visit of the past couple of days.
Basic orientation. The Floating Piers includes about 2 miles of floating docks and 1.5 miles of land segments. There's one floating dock connecting Sulzano on the mainland (east entrance) to Peschiera Maraglio on Montisola. Then there's a system of floating docks connecting the small island of San Paolo to Montisola (Sensole and Peschiera Maraglio). Finally, the land segments: Christo's magic fabric also covers a number of pedestrian streets both on the mainland and on the island and the road link from Sensole to Peschiera Maraglio.
 |
| The west entrance in Sensole is much quieter than the busy Peschiera entrance and the hellish Sulzano entrance. It's only a 20' walk from Menzino, which you can reach by bus from Carzano. |
Let's begin with five tips on the most arduous task: how to get to The Floating Piers without getting stuck.
 |
| The west entrance in Sensole (on Montisola) is by far the quietest entrance to The Floating Piers. |
Tip #1: avoid Sulzano. Sulzano is home to the only mainland entrance to The Floaring Piers and you should avoid it like the plague. Trains to Sulzano are packed beyond imagination (extremely unsafe for dogs), while cars and even bikes are not allowed into Sulzano. The lines to get onto the docks in Sulzano can be unreal.
Most folks don't seem to realize there are two other entrances in Peschiera Maraglio and Sensole, both on the island of Montisola.
Tip #2: use the west entrance in Sensole. The Sensole entrance is by far the quietest and has virtually no congestion. You can reach Sensole by bus from Carzano in the northeast corner of Montisola; get off in Menzino and walk 20'. You can also walk all the way from Carzano, like we did: just follow the road on the west side of the island. Cars are banned (other than public utility vehicles) but watch for locals zipping by on their mopeds.
 |
| The quietest area of The Floating Piers (at 6:00 a.m.) is the dock jutting out from Sensole toward San Paolo Island. |
Now you're probably wondering how to get to Carzano (on Montisola itself). Read on!
Tip #3: access the island from Sale Marasino. Sale Marasino is the town just north of Sulzano. From there, you can board a ferry to Carzano, on the north shore of the island. Most people don't realize how easy it is to get to The Floating Piers from Sale Marasino, which means you'll be mostly sharing the ferry with locals. Ferries from Sale Marasino operate on a first-come, first-serve basis (reservations are not possible) but travel frequently (every 20' at peak times). We had a bit of a wait (40'), but it was fun because we got to make new fur friends.
 |
| Waiting for the ferry in Sale Marasino with a fluffy friend. |
The catch: Sale Marasino is off limits to cars, unless you spend the night in the area and can show a reservation when you drive up to the police checkpoint.
Tip #4: spend the night on the island. It's a lot easier and cheaper than people realize, and you can find enough workable options with some basic googling. If you spend the night, you get to see The Floating Piers both in the evening and early in the morning. You also get to drive straight into Sale Marasino, where you'll find plenty of cheap parking. (You need to buy a scratch-off card called Gratta e Sosta, literally Scratch and Park, sold by several of the town businesses. The friendly folks at the Visitor Center can help you figure it out.)
 |
| This friend of mine lives near the Sensole entrance... and welcomes everyone to The Floating Piers, day and night. |
Tip #5: if all else fails, find a private boat. We've met people who day-trip to The Floating Piers by paying a random boat owner to dump them on Montisola and pick them up at a predetermined time. It may cost a lot (more or less depending on how non-Italian you look or sound), but it seems to work. The best route is from Sarnico at the southwest end of Lake Iseo to Sensole on Montisola. Sarnico is accessible by bus from Bergamo.
There are also public ferries from Sarnico to Sensole and from the north shore (Lovere and Pisogne) to Carzano, but they travel relatively infrequently and most tickets can only be bought online up until three days before the travel date. It may be difficult to get on if you haven't reserved.
 |
| Taking a break while taking in the view due west. Mom is wearing boots, but you'll be fine with tennis shoes. |
Now stay tuned for our briefing on crowd avoidance.
Roughly 90% of the visitors arrive from the east entrance on the mainland (Sulzano), so foot traffic is much thinner at the west end of The Floating Piers (Sensole). The floating docks are over 50 feet wide and there's generally plenty of room for everyone. The land segments vary in width and can get much more congested. The land segment in Peschiera Maraglio between the dock to San Paolo Island and the dock to the mainland can be extremely congested, but alternate routes exist through Peschiera Maraglio and you can easily figure them out.
And now let's wrap up with five tips on how to enjoy your time on The Floating Piers once you're there.
Tip #1: beware of the sun. Wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and lots of sunscreen. Avoid walking on the docks in the middle of the day; the best times are early morning (as soon as they open at 6:00 a.m.) and evening. Carry a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated. There is an excellent public fountain in Sensole.
Tip #2: spend your time on the floating docks. The streets covered in Chisto's fabric are neat, but you came here to waddle on water, so spend most of your time on the docks. The docks from Montisola to San Paolo island are the most amazing, and the dock from Sensole is the least crowded.
Tip #3: avoid Sulzano. We already told you to steer clear of Sulzano en route to The Floating Piers, but you should also avoid it once you're there. If you walk the dock from Peschiera to Sulzano, do not get off the dock in Sulzano or you may have to face a long wait on the mainland to get back on.
Tip #4: keep your socks on. Christo recommends walking barefoot, which works well if you're a dog but not as well if you're a human who worries about warts and athlete's foot. Keep your socks on!
Tip #5: bring a muzzle. Leashes and muzzles are required. Keeping dogs leashed is common sense and all dogs we met were on leash, while the muzzle requirement is not strictly enforced. None of the little dogs we saw had a muzzle on, a few of the midsize dogs carried one around their neck, and most big dogs wore one. On the ferry, your dog must wear a muzzle or be inside a pet carrier, like I was.
 |
| Bring a muzzle like we all did. |
I sure hope these tips will be helpful to anyone who wishes to see The Floating Piers in the next four days before it closes.
Buon viaggio!
 |
| Tootsie & Renée at the top of Montisola with a view of The Floating Piers. |
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Paws & Books: "Neighbors" by George Held and Joung Un Kim
Book One
Poems by George Held
Pictures by Joung Un Kim
Published by Filsinger & Co Ltd
The first in a series, this is such a smart, fun, beautiful, and engaging book of poetry and pictures!
It's a perfect gift for young and old alike. We've given the whole series to our nephew Aghi.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
#TBT -- Throwback Thursday: Truffle & Tootsie in Conversation
I really miss Truffle. He was my mother ship.
Xo
Tootsie
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Dachshund Handbags by Cathy -- Oscar's Creations!
We love Mom's new dachshund purse. It's specifically designed and handmade by Cathy Skinner to fit Mom's (and my) travel needs. Mom is a doxie fashionista!
Cathy has a wonderful Etsy Store called Oscar's Creations. You can find handmade purses ready to purchase or you can pick the material for your purse, and Cathy will design something specially for you. She's fabulous to work with and asks the pawfect questions.
Inside this purse, Mom can fit: her travel-wallet (also designed and made by Cathy; we wrote about it here), her eReader, extra kibble for me, her mini notebook (like me! I'm a mini!), a hankie, and hand sanitizer. There is room for extras, too.
This is a coin purse Cathy designed for Mom. Mom's going to use this one to hold Swiss franc coins.
We have two coin purses, and the second one will be used for Euro coins.
It's lovely to support independent artists who make handmade items. The quality of these is fantastic.
You can find her on Facebook, too: Dachshund Handbags by Cathy.
Here's the link to Cathy's Etsy Store -- Oscar's Creations.
Cathy, Thank you so much for your beautiful work!
Cathy has a wonderful Etsy Store called Oscar's Creations. You can find handmade purses ready to purchase or you can pick the material for your purse, and Cathy will design something specially for you. She's fabulous to work with and asks the pawfect questions.
Inside this purse, Mom can fit: her travel-wallet (also designed and made by Cathy; we wrote about it here), her eReader, extra kibble for me, her mini notebook (like me! I'm a mini!), a hankie, and hand sanitizer. There is room for extras, too.
This is a coin purse Cathy designed for Mom. Mom's going to use this one to hold Swiss franc coins.
We have two coin purses, and the second one will be used for Euro coins.
It's lovely to support independent artists who make handmade items. The quality of these is fantastic.
You can find her on Facebook, too: Dachshund Handbags by Cathy.
Here's the link to Cathy's Etsy Store -- Oscar's Creations.
Cathy, Thank you so much for your beautiful work!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Special Wednesday Spirit Things. And Tube of Fur.
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| My spirit animal. [This tile is by artist Heather Galler.] |
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| My spirit animal. |
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| My actual animal. |
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| The Force. |
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| Postcard to inspire. |
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| Postcard from a dear friend. |
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| A green knobby to smash Trigger Points. |
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Friday, February 14, 2014
Am I a Valentine Sausage?
Dear fur-friends,
Here's Dachshund Daddy's retro Valentine's Day design for all of you:
Two large wobbly eyes keep track of four dachshunds, who in turn watch over a heart with a serene smile.
Mom thought the eyes were a bit freaky until I explained to her the basic idea in DD's design: dachshund eyes see right through to your heart, and they also protect it. "But why does the heart have a pink nose?" Mom asks. I lay down on my favorite rug to think about it, but I still don't have an answer. Do you?
DD created these wotten waven designs for my Zazzle store, my favorite pet project. (No pun intended.)
Happy Valentine's Day. Pet bloggers are the most compassionate bunch, and we really appreciate your friendship.
Love,
Your Valentine Sausage
Here's Dachshund Daddy's retro Valentine's Day design for all of you:
Two large wobbly eyes keep track of four dachshunds, who in turn watch over a heart with a serene smile.
Mom thought the eyes were a bit freaky until I explained to her the basic idea in DD's design: dachshund eyes see right through to your heart, and they also protect it. "But why does the heart have a pink nose?" Mom asks. I lay down on my favorite rug to think about it, but I still don't have an answer. Do you?
DD created these wotten waven designs for my Zazzle store, my favorite pet project. (No pun intended.)
Happy Valentine's Day. Pet bloggers are the most compassionate bunch, and we really appreciate your friendship.
Love,
Your Valentine Sausage
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Doggy Highways
If teleportation was invented, we would no longer need to drive, and highways would exclusively cater to bicycles, pedestrians, horses, and dogs. Rumor has it Google may nail teleportation by the end of the fiscal year, and transportation agencies are already thinking ahead.
I was recently commissioned to propose a number of esthetically pleasing designs for doggy signage to the transportation agencies of various countries.
As much as I love cuddles, I admit that they may create congestion on shared roadways. For instance, a miniature dachshund getting cuddles by a number of road users may hinder traffic, which is why we need to warn cyclists and joggers.
The very presence of a dachshund may warrant a sign such as the following.
As you can see, these truly unique signs are featured on my "Very Dangerous American Dog" notebook series.
Back to dachshund-induced congestion... in certain situations, it may help to provide quantitative information about the distribution of the dachshunds, as in the fridge magnet below:
The Mexican Department of Transportation pointed out that, even after the uptake of teleport pads, some people may still wish to drive their cars just for fun. It makes sense, as the demand for oil will drop and gas will be cheaper than dog pee, which is why I sent this fridge magnet to Mexico City:
"Careful -- drive slowly -- sausage dogs." Concise, vivid, and right to the point. And I even figured out how to use the polite form of the imperative in Spanish. Hasta luego, amigos!
I was recently commissioned to propose a number of esthetically pleasing designs for doggy signage to the transportation agencies of various countries.
As much as I love cuddles, I admit that they may create congestion on shared roadways. For instance, a miniature dachshund getting cuddles by a number of road users may hinder traffic, which is why we need to warn cyclists and joggers.
The very presence of a dachshund may warrant a sign such as the following.
As you can see, these truly unique signs are featured on my "Very Dangerous American Dog" notebook series.
Back to dachshund-induced congestion... in certain situations, it may help to provide quantitative information about the distribution of the dachshunds, as in the fridge magnet below:
The Mexican Department of Transportation pointed out that, even after the uptake of teleport pads, some people may still wish to drive their cars just for fun. It makes sense, as the demand for oil will drop and gas will be cheaper than dog pee, which is why I sent this fridge magnet to Mexico City:
"Careful -- drive slowly -- sausage dogs." Concise, vivid, and right to the point. And I even figured out how to use the polite form of the imperative in Spanish. Hasta luego, amigos!
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Arnolfinis love to hike
Painted in 1434 in Bruges, Belgium, "The Arnolfini Couple" is one of the most popular paintings at London's National Gallery. If you listen to the BBC, you may have heard that Dachshund Daddy recently discovered this previously unknown version of "The Arnolfini Couple", which features my great-great-...-grandfather Zibibbo next to his fur-brother Baruffo.
Baruffo was a fluffy Brussels Griffon. According to the Daily Mail, Brussels Griffons are the descendants of a long line of Flanders Terriers bred to hunt rats.
My doggy family records confirm that Dachshund Zibibbo lived with Baruffo and the Arnolfinis in Lucca, Italy in the 1420s. Later, in the 1430s, they traveled to Bruges, Belgium, where Jan Van Eyck created their iconic portrait(s).
On their way from Italy to Belgium, the Arnolfinis and their doggies came through Switzerland and took a day off to hike to the top of Monte Lema, where the following photo was taken with Dachshund Zibibbo's digital camera.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck would have posited that I owe my mouse-hunting skills to the training that Dachshund Zibibbo received from Baruffo the Brussels Griffon. Unfortunately, as my godson Bouncing Bertie would confirm, Mendel has already shown that acquired traits cannot be inherited. Too bad.
Before I fur-get... you can find the Arnolfinis, Baruffo, and Dachshund Zibibbo in Tootsie's Shoppe as part of my wotten waven "Dachshunds in Art" collection.
Baruffo was a fluffy Brussels Griffon. According to the Daily Mail, Brussels Griffons are the descendants of a long line of Flanders Terriers bred to hunt rats.
My doggy family records confirm that Dachshund Zibibbo lived with Baruffo and the Arnolfinis in Lucca, Italy in the 1420s. Later, in the 1430s, they traveled to Bruges, Belgium, where Jan Van Eyck created their iconic portrait(s).
On their way from Italy to Belgium, the Arnolfinis and their doggies came through Switzerland and took a day off to hike to the top of Monte Lema, where the following photo was taken with Dachshund Zibibbo's digital camera.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck would have posited that I owe my mouse-hunting skills to the training that Dachshund Zibibbo received from Baruffo the Brussels Griffon. Unfortunately, as my godson Bouncing Bertie would confirm, Mendel has already shown that acquired traits cannot be inherited. Too bad.
Before I fur-get... you can find the Arnolfinis, Baruffo, and Dachshund Zibibbo in Tootsie's Shoppe as part of my wotten waven "Dachshunds in Art" collection.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Sweet Molossus and Hotel California
Can dogs visit the British Museum? Not really, unless you're lucky enough to be a guide dog or an assistance dog, in which case you should be aware that dog bowls are available. If you're not a guide dog or an assistance dog, you can still visit the British Museum if you're a Molossus hound.
Now take a look at me:
Do you think I might pass for a Molossus hound and visit the museum? I think I might. But what if they think I'm the real thing and never let me leave? Kind of like the Hotel California?
P.S. Thank you, Dachshund Daddy, for finding the time to engage both in cultural and canine activities during your recent work trip to London.
Now take a look at me:
Do you think I might pass for a Molossus hound and visit the museum? I think I might. But what if they think I'm the real thing and never let me leave? Kind of like the Hotel California?
P.S. Thank you, Dachshund Daddy, for finding the time to engage both in cultural and canine activities during your recent work trip to London.
Monday, September 30, 2013
If Tootsie and Bertie had puppies
A while ago, in a comment left on my blog, my dear friend Bouncing Bertie wondered what our puppies would look like if Bertie and I could have them. Due to my spayed status, we will never know for sure.
But Dachshund Daddy thinks he knows. Meet Chuchu the doxie-terrier and Bubu the wirehaired fox dachshund!
Chuchu would really love to bounce like her dad, but her dachshund body upper-bounds the extent of her bounces. Bubu would really love to hunt marmots like her mom, but her wirehaired fox terrier body is not designed to get into their burrows.
Despite the mismatch between their instincts and their bodies, they look magnificent. Do you agree?
Bouncing Bertie writes a fantastic blog from his home base in Aberdeen, Scotland. You may have already fallen in love with him, like us, but if not, start with this post.
But Dachshund Daddy thinks he knows. Meet Chuchu the doxie-terrier and Bubu the wirehaired fox dachshund!
Chuchu would really love to bounce like her dad, but her dachshund body upper-bounds the extent of her bounces. Bubu would really love to hunt marmots like her mom, but her wirehaired fox terrier body is not designed to get into their burrows.
Despite the mismatch between their instincts and their bodies, they look magnificent. Do you agree?
Bouncing Bertie writes a fantastic blog from his home base in Aberdeen, Scotland. You may have already fallen in love with him, like us, but if not, start with this post.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Bedroom in Arles
By now you will have heard the news: experts at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam authenticated a new version of "Bedroom in Arles" with the help of Vincent Van Gogh's letters, chemical analysis of the pigments, and X-rays of the canvas.
This is the fourth known version of "Bedroom in Arles"; the most notable difference with respect to the first three versions is the presence of a burrowing dachshund ensconced on a most excellent doggy couch.
As soon as I saw the painting in the newspaper, I went straight to my family trunk, and I was amazed to find this picture of my great-great-great-great-...-great-grandmother Zelda next to her doggy diary.
Now, guess what? According to her doggy diary, Zelda lived in Arles in 1889, the year when this version of "Bedroom in Arles" was painted! What an amazing coincidence, I thought, just before I woke up from a nap on my own most excellent doggy couch.
Luckily, I was able to get Dachshund Daddy to recreate Zelda's portrait just like it looked in my dream. It is now featured on my new Time to Burrow card as well as my Burrower's Choice US stamps, all of which are available from Tootsie's Shoppe.
As Van Gogh famously said, “If you don’t have a dog--at least one--there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.”
This is the fourth known version of "Bedroom in Arles"; the most notable difference with respect to the first three versions is the presence of a burrowing dachshund ensconced on a most excellent doggy couch.
As soon as I saw the painting in the newspaper, I went straight to my family trunk, and I was amazed to find this picture of my great-great-great-great-...-great-grandmother Zelda next to her doggy diary.
Now, guess what? According to her doggy diary, Zelda lived in Arles in 1889, the year when this version of "Bedroom in Arles" was painted! What an amazing coincidence, I thought, just before I woke up from a nap on my own most excellent doggy couch.
Luckily, I was able to get Dachshund Daddy to recreate Zelda's portrait just like it looked in my dream. It is now featured on my new Time to Burrow card as well as my Burrower's Choice US stamps, all of which are available from Tootsie's Shoppe.
As Van Gogh famously said, “If you don’t have a dog--at least one--there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.”
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Swiss Dachshund Club Week: Part IV (Art by Manfredo Haeberli)
The Swiss Dachshund Club gathering featured dachshund art by Manfredo Haeberli. His fabulous paintings are all about the down low. The tableaux are available as original art, cards, postcards, small prints, puzzles, and lots more!
It was thanks to Manfredo (pictured here on the left) that we were able to join the Swiss Dachshund Club spring walk.
I have a question for Manfredo:
Please wag on over to www.comics-naifs.ch to enjoy Manfredo Haeberli's wonderful artwork. Tell him Tootsie sent you!
You'll notice all these words for the down low on his fun website: "dackel" (German) and "teckel" (French) and "bassotti" (Italian).
Si! Sono una bassottina!
Ciao, Tootsie
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Portrait by Aghi
Last summer, my mom commissioned my human cousin Aghi to draw my portrait. Thank you, Aghi!
And for my time, my mom's brother and his sons (my human uncle and cousins) gave me "Alaska Wild Things" salmon treats. These are total wotten waven! You can purchase treats for you and for your pets by clicking Wild Alaska Smoked Salmon for Humans and for Pets.
As a working Alaskan fishing family, during the summer, my human cousins fish with their dad in a safe southeastern Alaskan fishery. Mom says that her nephews, my human cousins, are two very lucky, very special boys to have such a neat Dad who is also a Captain. Their dad cares for them and teaches them skills and keeps them safe. The whole schnaa is wotten waven.
Here is Aghi's design for their Mojo Coho Wild Salmon fishing business:
Here is a photo of my human family fishing: my grandpa, my human cousins, and my uncle:
And for my time, my mom's brother and his sons (my human uncle and cousins) gave me "Alaska Wild Things" salmon treats. These are total wotten waven! You can purchase treats for you and for your pets by clicking Wild Alaska Smoked Salmon for Humans and for Pets.
As a working Alaskan fishing family, during the summer, my human cousins fish with their dad in a safe southeastern Alaskan fishery. Mom says that her nephews, my human cousins, are two very lucky, very special boys to have such a neat Dad who is also a Captain. Their dad cares for them and teaches them skills and keeps them safe. The whole schnaa is wotten waven.
Here is Aghi's design for their Mojo Coho Wild Salmon fishing business:
Here is a photo of my human family fishing: my grandpa, my human cousins, and my uncle:
Send more salmon, please!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Did William Tell rescue dogs?
On the shores of Lake Lucerne, just south of the village of Sisikon, lies a chapel dedicated to William Tell, Switzerland's quintessential folk hero.
The Chapel marks the spot where William Tell jumped off the boat of his captors as it was getting ravaged by a storm, as shown in one of the four frescos by the Swiss painter Ernst Stückelberg that are inside the Chapel.
I hope William also rescued the dog on the boat.
William's captors worked for Gessler, the Austrian overlord who had forced William Tell to hit an apple placed on the head of his own son with a single shot. After William's success, Gessler noticed a second arrow in William's hand. "You were supposed to hit the apple with a single arrow. Why did you need two arrows?", Gessler asked. "If I had killed my son, you would have been next", was William's honest reply.
Gessler got very upset, visibly riling up his dog.
Enraged by William's words, Gessler had him arrested and ordered his men to take him to his castle across the lake. As a massive storm broke out, the crew freaked out and unchained William so he could steer the boat to safety. That's how William managed to jump off the boat and, I hope, save the dog.
Note that the dog on the boat is different from the dog in the apple-shot scene.
Dachshund Daddy's travel note: the Tellskapelle, or Tell's Chapel, can be reached with a quick scamper from the Axenstrasse between Sisikon and Flüelen. You'll most likely use the Axenstrasse if you ever drive across Switzerland north to south. A much better way to visit the Chapel is to use the lakeside trail from the village of Sisikon. You can also take a ferry from Flüelen or Lucerne to the landing dock right by the Chapel...but check the weather forecast first and be sure no storms are expected.
The Chapel marks the spot where William Tell jumped off the boat of his captors as it was getting ravaged by a storm, as shown in one of the four frescos by the Swiss painter Ernst Stückelberg that are inside the Chapel.
I hope William also rescued the dog on the boat.
William's captors worked for Gessler, the Austrian overlord who had forced William Tell to hit an apple placed on the head of his own son with a single shot. After William's success, Gessler noticed a second arrow in William's hand. "You were supposed to hit the apple with a single arrow. Why did you need two arrows?", Gessler asked. "If I had killed my son, you would have been next", was William's honest reply.
Gessler got very upset, visibly riling up his dog.
Enraged by William's words, Gessler had him arrested and ordered his men to take him to his castle across the lake. As a massive storm broke out, the crew freaked out and unchained William so he could steer the boat to safety. That's how William managed to jump off the boat and, I hope, save the dog.
Note that the dog on the boat is different from the dog in the apple-shot scene.
Dachshund Daddy's travel note: the Tellskapelle, or Tell's Chapel, can be reached with a quick scamper from the Axenstrasse between Sisikon and Flüelen. You'll most likely use the Axenstrasse if you ever drive across Switzerland north to south. A much better way to visit the Chapel is to use the lakeside trail from the village of Sisikon. You can also take a ferry from Flüelen or Lucerne to the landing dock right by the Chapel...but check the weather forecast first and be sure no storms are expected.
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