following an unknown path

sometimes gilby thinks he's a cat

Since you haven't seen much of him recently, here's a picture of gilby, our silly, silly dog who sometimes sits on the top of the sofa.

Oh, and just for the record, I think Lawrance might love Mr. Gibs more than I do. :)

I also just found this silly photo of him sitting on the same spot on the same sofa . . . He's dressed for one of the Christmas parties we had at our house last year.  He's proudly sporting a Christmas shirt from Auntie Sarah and an elf costume from Nonny (his maternal grandmother). 

 

Ok, so maybe I'm the silly one. :)

a sea of flowers

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."
Lady Bird Johnson, Public Roads: Where Flowers Bloom


Part of our Chinese New Year break we went back to Meinong.  There we found a lovely sea of flowers that delighted me to no end.

take me with you PLEASE!!!

Gilby really doesn't want to be left behind.

He often gets either on top of or next to his bags when he thinks I am getting ready to leave.   Or, if his travel crate is near the door, he climbs into it to wait to be taken out the door with me.

In the absence of his travel bags or travel crate, he will sit right by the door on top of my shoes. :)

P.S. Yes, he does have a superman outfit he wears when we go to visit children. :)  Gotta love a super-dog.

mr. gibs is ok

Just wanted to tell you that my little dog with many nicknames* is doing ok.

The bruise on his leg has cleared up very well, and he seems to be doing just fine.

I've not yet taken him out around mopeds, so I'm not exactly sure what his reaction will be now.  He was already scared of them to begin with, so . . .

Anyway, thanks to all of you who've been asking about him. I appreciate it. :)

*Gilby answers to "shiao bye" (little white), "shiao Gil" (little Gil), "Que-Be," Mr. Gibs, and of course Gilby.  Why he has so many nicknames I have no idea! But, he does, and he doesn't seem to mind.  Oh, maybe I do know why . . . . he is Taiwanese!! :D  (Just in case you don't know . . . Taiwanese people all have many nicknames.  A Taiwanese person with no nickname is someone with no friends.)

at the strawberry patch

Yesterday, I joined a few of my students for a fun little adventure.  We rode out to a strawberry patch in Tainan county and picked strawberries. 

I'd never done this before, and it was kinda fun picking and choosing the reddest berries I could find. 

And they are so delicious!!  Wish yall could come stop by for some strawberry shortcake tonight!

gilby's first christmas

For gilby's first christmas he was only five months old.  And, he hadn't ever had a haircut.  He looked quite different than he does now . . . long gone is that adorable little puppy phase. 

Oh, he is still cute--but it is defiantly a different kind of cute. :)

This red toy that he is playing (a Kong) with was a Christmas gift from my grandparents.  He even unwrapped his present all by himself.  I highly recommend the Kong toy--it's the most played with toy we have.  Also, it's now two years old and still in great condition.  Oh, and the little snowman outfit was a gift from my coworker/office-mate, Kady.  Her friend designs doggie clothing.

Ok . . . that it is for awhile about Gilby . . . I promise not to turn this into a dog-blog. :)

smile at the camera

I think Gilby has actually learned to "smile" for the camera. When I say "Gilby, look at the camera" he actually does!! 

I used to hold a treat right by the camera and give the command.  That way he'd look at the treat and thus be looking into the lens of my camera at the same time.  But, now, no treats are needed at all.  And, not only does he look . . . he opens his mouth and appears to be smiling.

In fact, he absolutely loved taking pictures last night.  I was trying to get some shots to send home to parents and grandparents so they could see my tree.  In some of them I held Gilby, but if I decided to take one by myself he either jumped into my lap or ran over to stand by my feet. 

Silly dog . . . you think it's possible for a canine to actually fall in love with the limelight?

You see him just sittin' there beggin' for me to take his picture, right?

caution: dog in sink

No kidding.  Gilby likes the sink.

I leave Gilby in the bathroom when I leave the house for more than 5 hours (if less than 5 he stays in his little crate, also in the bathroom). 

The last few times I've come home guess where I've found my little guy?  That's right . . . in the bathroom sink!

Last week, I saw paw prints all over the sink and just wondered why.  But, now I know.  When I'm not home he climbs into the sink!  Silly dog.  It must be the perfect size for him to curl up in for a nap, but it worries me a little as far as safety goes. 

I guess I can add this to the weird places my Mr. Gibs likes to sleep. 

Does your dog sleep anywhere weird?  Has your pet ever surprised you by being in a strange place when you got home?

happy adoption day, gilby!!

Gilby, my sweet, little puppy-boy, came to live with me two years ago on September 23, 2005.

So in honor of his adoption day, here are 14 random facts about Gilby:

1. He was a teeny-tiny thing when I got him.  He could literally fit in the palm of my hand. 

2. He went nameless for four days. 

3. His name was chosen by an internet poll.  Other names in the poll included: Kody, Timmy, Theo, Quincy, Bailey, Howie, Frankie, Jake, and Buddy.

4. I have 3 sets and at least 515 pictures of gilby on flickr.

5. He sleeps with me.

6. He really enjoys playing fetch, and he will initiate the game himself.

7. He also knows how to lie down, stand up and walk (on hind legs), give five, "ask for it," "drop it," and go into his crate on command.

8. He loves to get into bags and boxes whenever possible.

9. I sometimes call him Mr. Gibs. 

10. My Taiwanese friends who don't speak English call him "Q 比" (which is pronounced Q-B").

11. He loves fruit--especially apple, mango and pineapple.

12. He loves to meet new friends and hates to see them go.  Friendliness to strangers is one reason why I choose the Maltese breed.  But, his friendliness scares some of my students who are not used to being around dogs.

13. My mom has sent her grandpup doggie treats all the way from the US.

14. He sometimes wears clothes--mostly in the winter when he is cold (we don't have heat here)--and he loves it!

I can't believe I've had Gilby for two full years.  My how time flies!!

I love you Mr. Gibs!!  Thanks for being my sweet puppy-boy!

www.flickr.com

www.flickr.com

photo hunt: shadow

Cutest little shadow I've ever seen!! :)

This photo of gilby was taken by larina when she was doggy sitting for me.

Theme: Shadow(s) | See More Shadows

pray like a puppy

When Martin Luther's puppy happened to be at the table, he looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes.

Luther said, "Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope."

(story found at Grace Gems!)

much ado about gilby

As I've read and visited blogs this past week I have run into so many "blogkitties" in bloggy world.  Don't get me wrong, cats are cute, but come on . . . where are the dogs?

I even read--but don't remember where--that for every picture of a child posted to blogs there are 2.3 cat pictures posted.

I can't do much about the cat to cute kid ratio, but I can help with the question about where are all the dog?

So, without further ado, I offer you a few pics of my own sweet Gilby with his new haircut.

Cute right?

...
Here he is (pre-haircut) with Karen and Christine, some friends of mine.

...
And, last but not least, here is where I found him a few weeks ago after I finished putting away all the groceries.

Yeah, that's right--inside the newly emptied sack. :)

a short trip

Last week, two of my students, Gilby, and I went to PengHu County--south of where I live--for an evening of traditional Taiwanese fun.

We ate some traditional foods for dinner and then tried the famous 冷熱冰 (literally translated: "cold hot ice") for dessert.  "Cold hot ice"  is a bowl of hot treats--red beans, taro chunks, glutinous rice balls filled with peanut powder--covered in shaved ice topped with brown sugar water.

Here are pictures of what 冷熱冰 (cold hot ice) looks like, as well as pictures of me and Gilby with my students outside of the famous restaurant.

Another cool thing about this restaurant is that just outside of the restaurant is a vendor who sells mantou (steamed bread) from a converted bicycle.

Here is a pic of me on the bike, and a pic of Julie pointing to what is inside the steamer on the back of the bike. (Yes, we had the vendor's permission to play with her movable store.)  But, since the vendor was done for the day, she had already cleaned out the glass case in the front.  (I found one on flickr taken in the daylight when her case was full.)

Picture Credits: cold hot stuff 1 and cold hot stuff 2.

gilby's new "den"

I'm in spring clean and declutter mode right now.  So, I was using a box I found as my papers to be recycled pile . . . well, that was until Gilby decided to climb in and claim it has his new den.

When I put the box away, he was a little upset and let me know that he could not get comfortable without it.  So, it is back out for now--and as I type he is sleeping in it. 

Don't know for how long I'll keep the recycle box out as his new little "den."

Forget the expensive dog pillows and wicker baskets . . . just get an old box the right size!

since he hasn't been here in awhile

Since its been nearly four months since Gilby had his own post . . . I thought I'd let him say hi today.  I took this right after he dried off from his bath last night. 

He is finally getting much better about not jumping out the tub during bathtime. :)

Isn't he just the cutest little pup!?!

pet pigs

Some walk dogs (me) and some walk  . . . PIGS!!

This little pig and Gilby did not quite hit it off--Gilby just couldn't quite figure him out.

This is actually not the first pet pig I have seen in Taiwan.  And, awhile back, another pet pig made it into the English language newspaper. 

And, it is my guess that since this is the "year of the pig" even more Taiwanese will take in pigs to be their pets.  And, why, might you ask, would someone want a pet pig . . . well, it is claimed that pigs are clean, don't smell, are affectionate, and don't bark.

Wanna know more about "precious pigs"?  Read this.

a pictorial year in the life of

Like last year, I am summing up my entire 2006 in only 12 photos (one for each month). 

For someone who took over 9000 photos in less than one year that is a lot of choices!!  So, picking just 12 is NOT easy to do (in fact it is REALLY HARD)!!  It gets even harder when several important things happen in one month. 

Anywho . . . less yappin' and on to the pictures.

(BTW, each month name below is a link to a calander view of pictures I took that month and uploaded to flickr. Just in case you wanna see more than 12.)

January: Gilby and I visit Kady in TaiNan

Feburary: Ellen and I go to Taipei (world's tallest building is behind us)

March: I spend time with little friends

April: My sister, Sarah, is married

May: Sam Comes to Taiwan

June: Sam and I do some sightseeing

July: After LOTS more sightseeing, and a day of flying, Sam and I get back to Austin.

August: I visit family and friends in Texas, and I have straight hair for three days!!

September: A very good friend has her engagment ceremony.

October: My mission team had a retreat in Kenting

November: I spend time with my students friends

December: Lots of students come to my house (and we get a little silly)!

If you make your own 12-picture collection for 2006, please leave your link below!  I'd love to see your year-in-review in pictures!!

9000

After my old camera bit the dust (actually it was tile but that's just semantics) this time last year.  My "old one" was my precious for about 3 years.  It lived in my purse and was with me at all times.  It blessed me with over 7000 digital images.  That averages out to about 7 pics a day. 

I got a new camera--a new precious in January.  This new baby took the empty spot in my purse and lived their all year, faithfully accompanying me through my adventures. 

Well, something happened this year. 

I am not sure if it was the new camera, my brother coming to visit, all the weddings I attended, a cute puppy to photograph, joining flickr, or what.  But something did happen  . . . because, well, I took a ton of photographs this year. 

I've not owned this camera 365 days yet, but this precious has blessed me with over 9,000 digital images!  That's averages to about 25 images a day.  I know that sometimes my precious didn't see sunlight for days or weeks at a time, so that means some days I took hundreds of photos.

Thought I'd grace you with the 9000th image I took with my Sony T9:

who me?

"who me?  no, way.  i didn't tear up the tissue!! ok, you can stop looking at me like that now!"

_____

  To see other photo hunters photos of "red" go here.

Gilby's Latest Command

               
 

Feeling the need to brag a little more about my dog . . . I give you a home video showing his latest (and greatest) command.  Gilby has now learned the command "up.  be a bear."  In order to "be a bear," Gilby is supposed to walk on only his back legs.  He walks for awhile, but then he hops.  The book that gave me the idea to teach this command says you have to help the little dog to develop muscles so that they can go further and longer on just two paws.  Anway . . . what are you waiting for . . . Watch and see Gilby's greatness for yourself!!

just too cute

I haven't shown off the cutest puppy in the world--that just happens to follow me everywhere I go--in a while, so I thought I would. 

Isn't he just too cute?

I am very, very thankful for Gilby being a part of my life.  He makes me smile, gives me company, and is always happy to see me.

(Check out things that others are thankful for over at Rebecca's.)