How big is Liam?

 BIGGER LIAM

BIG
"How big is Liam?" This question from the staff person at the desk surprises me. I am at Best in Show Pet Resort making a reservation for Liam's overnight stay. Big? Do they know Liam has put on a few pounds? I am sensitive to questions on bigness. My radar is activated whenever size is mentioned. Over a half century of managing an eating disorder has me vulnerable to words invoking body mass. I feel an oral defense about to erupt on behalf of my little "big" boy. He has been adding a pound here and there. He is 8 years old. He can run faster than almost any dog. He looks fine. Then a statement. "The file says he is 31 pounds." Do they know Liam has put on a few pounds? Will they weigh him? An event I most dread at any doctor's office. Why this question? I guess my face had an expression of wariness and incredulity and tenseness. "We want to know so we can put him in the proper playgroup. And in the most comfortable room." My anxiety recedes, a bit. Nothing sinister, I think. Then help from one of the handlers who has been listening. "Liam is a small dog."

SMALL

SMALL
I say "Yes, he is 15 inches tall. Small. I add he has gained some weight and mumble he is 39.5 pounds; adding he is hard as a rock and full of sinewy muscle on every part of his body. I point to the gallery of photos."See his portrait is on the wall." No one is listening to my ramblings but I keep talking."This new poundage will not increase the space he takes up in the playroom."
Yes, I gave this speech. I hear myself and cannot believe I am saying all this. I am projecting. One fear I have is taking up too much space. Or rather more space than I deserve. This is not Liam's issue. This is my issue. I tell myself to stop  Be quiet, Carol

TODAY THROWBACK THURSDAY
We bring Liam in Monday morning. And the same day some old photos show up in the On This Day feature of Facebook. Liam and I on April 18, 2010. Six years ago.

What do you think readers? A thinner Liam in 2010?  See next photo

LIAM IN APRIL 2010

Here we are using space wisely. Compressed. Efficient. A small circumference for the two of us.

NOT TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE

And now, April 2016...a bigger boy? Liam ..39.5 pounds 

MOM! MAYBE A TOO WIDE ANGLE

BEST IN SHOW
And the bigger Liam is boarded at Best in Show this week. I had told him of the "How big is Liam?" question and he is prepared to look small.

The way to look small and conceal weight gain is to surround oneself with bigger dogs.

Or with pals the same size

Not with pals smaller.

OH NO, THESE GUYS ARE TOO SMALL

THIS IS WORSE, A TINY ONE UNDER ME

OKAY, BETTER, AT LEAST THEY ARE MY SIZE

FOUND A BIGGER PAL

Liam returns home. He must have lost a few pounds. All that running in playgroup.

We have a cutoff weight. Forty pounds. He cannot go over it. He spends the first night home napping. Dogs do this after boarding. The stay away is emotionally and physically rough for them.

In the future, more walks, fewer treats.

Woof woof

Ancestry Addict

LOOKING FOR HIS ROOTS, "IS THAT SQUIRREL MY COUSIN?"

Liam's Ancestry
Liam did his DNA test first...and he was as surprised as we were. What was expected was a lab/basset hound mix and he is
Beagle
Great Britain

Dachshund
Germany

Irish Setter
Ireland

and Dalmatian 

Croatia

A European Ancestry result...Doggie DNA testing info can be found here
http://www.wisdompanel.com/breed_count_matters/breedlisting/?F_All=Y

I did mine with Ancestry DNA kit. 
Ancestry.com  I am 99% European...like Liam...and was also surprised...like he was...

I had expected mostly Irish. Ireland is there at 41%. Yet so is Britain, Scandinavia, Western Europe.

And some small percentages in a few other regions. See breakdown for all regions in the next screenshot

I received messages from my DNA matches.The first were from Pruntys. My mother's maternal surname. We shared trees and stories. Thank you Prunty cousins. And my mother was right. We started out Irish. Longford Ireland 1815.  At some point my ancestors settled in Sheffield Yorkshire England. Being born in England does not cause the loss of one's Irishness. A shared quote from a newly discovered great granduncle "Being born in a barn does not make you a horse."

And with a few clicks, I met my great grandfather John Prunty and his siblings. And with a following click. I lost them. I just met them!  Records popped up. Really? I have records of 5 graves. Further research revealed my great great grandmother Maggie Prunty (John's Mom) gave birth to 11 children in the 1870's and 1880's and only 3 survived to adulthood! My guy John being one. Almost every year she had a child and buried one. In one year 1882 three died. I found a record of 5 graves in an Irish cemetery in Sheffield, created by an Irish priest for the Irish. I suppose the other 3 graves are nearby. See below

I just met them and now I am saying goodbye to Daniel, Mary Ann, James, Daniel (second) Patrick, Michael, Walter. They lived only briefly. Mary Ann lived the longest, age 6 at her death. I will honor them. They are part of me. I am here because they lived. My great granduncles and great grandaunt. And one more I have yet to locate.They are on the tree and will not be forgotten.

Scotland
An explanation about the Western Europe and Scandinavian ethnicity. Lots of travel back and forth across the water caused a lot of DNA mixing, people got together...I have read most folks showing Great Britain also have Western Europe DNA. Same deal with Scandinavia. Ships traveled back and forth and around.
And through another cousin I know that my Great Britain ethnicity is Scotland not England.I like that. Get out the kilt and bagpipes.

Carol McNiff's Tree
My tree was a Charlie Brown tree. For years I had only 4 members. I now have over 100 relatives and over 200 attached. records.  Every time I try to leave the Pruntys they call me back with a new clue. The want to be heard. I am listening.

LIAM WITH A COUSIN

Psychic

Six years ago, a psychic mentioned four letters which she said were significant in my life.   

...the letters C, J, L and P. 

I have them all over my family tree. Great grandfather John Prunty and third great grandfather same name...

Grandfather Patrick Coughlin...Grandfather James Charles, 

And many Johns, Jameses, Josephs, Pauls, Patricks, Peters, Charleses and Williams (Liam) and C surnames.

Charlotte Brontë
Through Ancestry DNA research, people have discovered famous ancestors. I am not looking for one. I have her. Charlotte Brontë, author of Jane Eyre. Charlotte is celebrating her 200 birthday April 21.  A new bio about her life is out. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/books/review/charlotte-bronte-a-fiery-heart-by-claire-harman.html?_r=0
And we read it. Charlotte was the original Taylor Swift. If you hurt or disappointed her you might show up in her writing. The deeper the grievance the more hateful was the character. Jane Eyre is said to be populated with people and places from her life. And wow, did she punish some of these folks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre 

LIAM WITH CHARLOTTE

Prunty/Brontë
You see her Dad was Patrick Prunty. Moved from Ireland to Yorkshire. Reinvented himself as Patrick Brontë. Left behind many Prunty siblings. Changed his surname to what he fancied to be more heroic and classic. And he may have felt the ë elevated the name. More continental. not so peasant...not traceable to Ireland. My Pruntys moved to Yorkshire also. They were proud to be Irish.

Patrick Brontë wanted to erase his past. I want to find mine. I have not proven this relationship.

Yet.

Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Ireland, 1854 and 1967
In 1854, Charlotte Brontë was on her honeymoon (she married Irish, take that Dad)...riding along the treacherous cliffside path above the gap of Dunloe. Her horse reared and threw her, She was okay. And enjoyed telling the tale of her near death. One hundred thirteen years later, in 1967, I was riding a horse on the same path above of the gap of Dunloe. My horse threw me. I was okay and also enjoy telling the story. This is a new connection piece for me. Did not know until I read the book.
Ruth's alternate name choice for me was Charlotte. 

Only a Prunty woman could have written Jane Eyre...fiery hearts...

.

Liam, who started it all, has not yet found his cousins. He is okay with it. He feels connected with every dog, every fire hydrant, every lamp post. Every smell is a cousin. He is keenly aware of DNA deposits all over the 'hood. His family tree is any and every tree.

We are all connected cousins
Happy Birthday Charlotte Prunty.

Woof, Woof

Westminster Woofs

David Frei. Late in knowing him. I had watched the Dog Shows intermittently over the years. Especially the one on NBC after the Thanksgiving Day parade. I did not watch it with any depth of knowledge. I only knew there was a dog show immediately following Santa's triumphant end of parade appearance. After adopting Liam my entire life's direction changed and with it came an increased level of interest in all dog related shows.

BEAGLE BOY

In first year of Liam, 2008, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club competition at Madison Square Garden. Uno the beagle won. One quarter Liam. The announcer, guide, expert commentator was the iconic David Frei.

We wrote about the WKC in our blog story in 2012.

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Dog%20week%20Feb%202012

David Frei's final appearance for the WKC show was February 16, 2016. FOX will now be broadcasting the show. He does not work for them. And he is out. Here is the farewell story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/sports/saying-farewell-to-david-frei-westminsters-nuzzling-voice.html

The sad new of David's leaving hung over the two day event. Liam did his best to enjoy the show even striking a pose for the judges. See pic below. But he is a muttigree...not a purebred and only purebreds can enter.

Instead we entered a contest in which we could compete...the WKC selfie contest. 

What a gallery...we did not enter to win but to be part

We posted with the requested hashtag #wkcselfiesweepstakes

We did not win...over 3000 canine selfies are there and they are all award worthy.

LIAM'S INSTAGRAM SELFIE

We don't think purebreds and mixed breeds have to be on opposite sides.  David Frei loved all dogs. So do we.
Liam at Best In Show Pet Resort with all dogs 

http://www.bestinshowpetresort.com/

Goodbye David Frei

Maybe some day all dogs will be welcome.

Woof, Woof

Liam bit a Bunny and...

RABBIT KILLER

I thought the title would be milder than the captioned photo above.
We are living with a rabbit killer.

Liam. 

I always wondered what Liam would do if he caught a rabbit. He had not been successful in snaring one.

Until Saturday. 

Background
Early each morning Liam rings his poochie bells. These hang on the doorknob of the side door. see photo

POOCHIE BELLS ON DOORKNOB

Their jingling is his signal for his morning excursion out to the backyard to do his business.
Before he leaves I give him a greenie (dental chew treat) I know. He is controlling me. True. He is. But that issue will be for another blog story.

This story is about murder. See the face of a killer. 

HEY MOM. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

Death Knell
The poochie bells are ringing.
It is 4:10 AM Saturday morning. No daylight yet, not a bit. I don't turn on any indoor lights. We have a powerful street lamp which shines up our driveway and illuminates half our backyard. We also keep on a side door light. I can find my way by these artificial lights. I give Liam his daily greenie. We proceed to the side door. I prop it open so he can come back in on his own.

He may be out for 5 minutes or 15. I watch through the rear room window. I can see him moving about...a dark shadow darting among the bushes and trees. He is sniffing and looking and listening. Stopping and going. I go into the bathroom and while in there I hear squeaks and squeals. Why is he back and why is he playing with his toys? He has rubber squeaker toys and the noises sound exactly like ones they make when squeezed.

Not his usual routine. I come out...look out the door. Liam is hovering over what appears to be a large animal. No, not a squirrel. A rabbit? I call his name. He ignores me.The shadows created by the street lamp light give a Halloweenish glow to the scene and I realize oh no, those sounds were from this animal. I don't see a head. Has Liam ripped off its head?! The body is still.

The Rabbit Died
Liam has killed. And he is not coming in right now. He is all over the yard. Following a trail...reliving the event. Paul appears. He heard the noises. I show him our killer and his prey. We are both horrified. Paul takes a close look. A bunny! Liam killed a bunny. Easter is coming. What bad timing. There is no blood. Its head is there. With a shovel and broom we get the body in a hefty bag.
And the bunny is placed in the back. It is over.

What the heck occurred here? We surmise our backyard stalker surprised a sleeping rabbit. And did what his instincts dictated. Pounce. Grab its neck and shake...

Would it have been better if I investigated the noise immediately/
It was only minutes.
Could I have stopped the killing? Should I have?

It is not murder if it is not planned, right?
Manslaughter

But Liam did plan it. Every time he runs after a rabbit he expects to capture it. So there's the plan.

Paul explains this is the better outcome. He says would we rather have looked out and seen a rabbit standing over Liam?

Or a dying rabbit in pain?

Liam did what he had to do.

BUNNY RABBIT DREAMS

Protected his territory.

He is at peace with himself
Or is he?
Liam has not been out for his early morning trip since the killing. Has rung his bells for his greenie. But after scoffing it down, he refuses to go out. 

Remorse? 

Or an item on his bucket list checked off?

Which is it Liam?
Woof, Woof

Not a Snow Dog

WAKE ME WHEN THE BLIZZARD IS OVER

Snow

Many dogs love it. Puppy Liam did. See him at the side gate licking the icy fence and hoping to be free to run. I am a snow lover and was pleased to have an ally in my storm anticipation and accumulation appreciation. Liam was an avid snow fan for several years. Last year not so much. And here we are in 2016.

SNOW PUPPY LIAM

Blizzard 2016
We have our first storm...Saturday, January 23. It achieves blizzard status early in its arrival. Officially tagged Winter Storm Jonas by TWC. Liam is not showing snow dog joy. He requires my presence when going out to do his business. There are whipping winds and surprising drifts...not conducive to play. Liam does not like the snow touching his bottom. He has short legs and any amount above a dusting clings to him. The contortions he performs to twist his body up and away from the wetness resemble a composite of advanced yoga poses. The storm amounts are high, the second highest in history at 26.8.
Inside, he sets himself up on his usual perch and watches.

ADULT LIAM BLIZZARD WATCH

Blizzard Snuggles

How could being outside beat what he has inside? The wine is mine.

A Day Care Day
A few days after the blizzard, we put him in day care. In stormy weather not a lot of his pals are out. And I believe dogs deserve canine companionship.

Liam stays dry and safe. We watch on FB and see. He is in a group. I always like to see him with others. Though it appears they are planning an escape. As long as they are socializing.

Then another snow

A February Friday morning...this one named Winter Storm Lexi. Liam watches from the window perch. This storm is fast and fierce. Heavy and dense. The sort of storm compelling folks to photograph their trees. Gone within hours. From his window seat, Liam watches it go. I got our tree in there.

It leads us into Super Bowl weekend.

Indoor activities take place on Super Bowl weekend.
Perfect for
Not a Snow dog 

Liam finds waiting for the festivities exhausting.

WHEN IS THE PUPPY BOWL?

Not a Snow Dog
Super Bowl Dog?

I'LL REST MY EYES

Puppy Bowl time
See photo below
Latte is licked and disposed of...see right corner.
Puppy Bowl on. Liam on the couch.

Not a snow dog day.

LIAM ENJOYING THE PUPPY BOWL

More Snow

Morning after the Super Bowl, more snow. Something changes. Paul reports Liam leaping and racing through the backyard. And doing the doggie snow nose dive...yes they create snow holes with their snouts and Liam is doing it. Must be sniffing for what lies beneath.
Maybe savory smells sealed in by snow cover. 

I follow him outside and sure enough Liam is a snow dog. This week.

Is it this storm with its wet clumpy qualities?
Or is it the storm accumulations producing an exciting promise of excavation?
A canine archaeological dig?

Liam the snow dog
Once again

SNOW IS FUN!

Woof, woof