Apart from longer daily walks to pass the time these days (all the while adhering to appropriate social distancing which isn’t easy when you have a uber friendly dog begging to be pet by passersby), I’ve been working on several training sessions throughout the day while trying to figure out Stormin’ Norman’s personality. Turns out he’s more than a good sport on both counts. Maybe it’s my non-stop snickering that allows him to focus on me whenever I dress him up in hats and headgear. Then again, it’s more than likely he’s in it for the magic pocket of treats to showcase his easy-going and compliant nature.
In the face of doom and gloom, we think it’s more important than ever to elicit smiles on people’s faces. I do note that minimizing time on social media and keeping news programs to a minimum has likewise been effective and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a coping mechanism if you’re down. So for the time being, be prepared for occasional goofiness from me and the Ranch hands (though I suspect Elsa will be far less accommodating than Mr. Big). For now though, who among you is able to resist a fat-headed, furry Rainbow Unicorn?
Live, love, bark! 🐾
What a cutie!! 🐾 🐾 🐾. And I agree about reducing media and social media. I like to focus on facts and there is too much wrong information being posted.
Cutting back on news consumption has been a godsend. Making up for it by spending more and quality time with the dogs has been far more ‘pawsitive.’
Love it!! 🐾
Way to go Norman! Good boy!
Not me. I could not – would not – resist a furry-headed rainbow unicorn. I don’t know if the Great Teddy-Bear hunt is happening here, but I put a Teddy-Bear in the window anyway.
I’ve been reading about that. I’d put one in my window but suspect Stormin Norman would snag it in a heartbeat. Because a Rainbow Unicorn’s work is never done. 🤣
OH NORMAN! YOu are the cutest my furiend! Ma says she can’t gets enough of your furry face! And Ma tells me that her Angel Panda was the same way….so laid back that it was freaky (being an owner of terrierist all her life, this was new to her! BOL!). SHE says she misses that….I say, she would be BORED without my terrierist arse buggin’ her all day! hehehee
Oh, and Ma says if you have to watch the news, keep your finger over the MUTE button…it helps her ☺
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
Oh Ruby, you always make us smile so it’s only fair we try to do the same for you and your mum. Don’t know if I told you before, but I owned (maybe I should say he owned me) an Airedale mix many years ago. He always kept me on my toes and provided loads of adventures much like you do for your mum. 😍
We can use all the goofiness we can get.
I absolutely cannot ever resist that sweet looking unicorn. It sure looks like Norman has a perfect easy-going personality for therapy work!
He really does. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
We love the goofiness – better him than us:) He is a good sport.
Woos, Lightning and Timber
And he doesn’t seem to hold grudges. Thankfully.
There is a thing of too much news. Norman wears the hat well 🤣
Absolutely true. On both counts. ☺️
Love your new header. I’ve got a fridge drawer full of cheese sticks that are waiting to go into a little schnauzer’s stomach. I’d better get back to the training…thanks for the reminder!
Thanks! Cheese snacks? I think Norman wants to come for a long visit. 😊
Also dried beef heart pieces.
Oh my, he’s packing his bags now!!
Tell Norman we’ll see him here when the travel bans are lifted. (Are there travel bans? Or just people who are smart enough to stay put?)
🥰 A bit of both.
He is SO adorable!! I think that is sound advice about limiting time on social media and news. I’m trying!! 🙂
I thought it would be hard but it was surprisingly easy. By limiting it I can spend better time reading pawsitive blog posts and see adorable pictures of dogs. Win-win.
There IS no resisting this unicorn. Totally unfair and very much appreciated, Monika. 😉
He’s such a trooper and has been lifting my spirits up from a whole lot of darkness. The fact that he’s so easy going is the cherry on top.
He’s such a beautiful personality.
And one who is so easygoing to put up with my shenanigans. 😆
You’ve got some great company in your little corner of the world.
I can’t think of anyone I’d prefer to be quarantined with that these two fur-kids.
I believe you. 🙂
Puppy kisses!! <3
I keep wanting to leave lipstick marks all over the white part of his head! 💋
Yes! 🙂
Yore so adoorabell Stormin Norman!!! Wee <3 LOVE <3 you!!!
**purrss** BellaDharma an {{huggiess}} LadyMew
Thanks sweet kitty. He’s loving all the attention the blog world is giving him.
Cute!
Sweet!
Thanks. And thanks for swinging by the ‘Ranch.’ We 💖 visitors.
And the same to you. He’s a cutie.
You’re most welcome. And probably far easier to manage than triplets! Goodness gracious 😍
Did you say dog costumes? Dog hats? I knew you would eventually come to the Dark Side! Muwahahaha.
Bwahahaha! Poor Max…Norman sends his condolences because he has experienced the humiliation himself. Luckily he’s a good natured chap (or as Helen says…OES-over-enthusiastic sod).
Until Norman has been dressed as a pinata he will never know the depth of horror that is in Max’s soul when costumes are mentioned.
Yeah right…you can try dressing the Sasquatch as a piñata, not me. Not in a million years.
We have all fallen in love with Norman. And your laughing while taking his picture makes him happy so it’s win-win-win…
And YES! Do please keep it light and goofy. I am thisclose to pulling out my hair from reading blog posts about the virus. Can we just try to change the subject while we are doing what we are told to?
Keep it up, my friend.
Amen, sistah! I know being informed is important, but jeez Louise, it’s become way too maudlin. Luckily I’m a master at silliness so we should be in good shape. Presuming that Norman continues to cooperate. LOL
Yes, it is… but not ad nauseam mixed in with fear and lies and endless propaganda.
You and me, both, Sistah! I am not in the least worried about Norman’s desire to make you laugh…
The fear factor has definitely gone into overdrive. I’m not riding that merry-go-round anymore! 🎪
Good for you. This whole managing or leading through fear is so ineffective. When will the top echelons understand that?
Been saying that for years. Between the fear and the lies, I just can no longer stomach it.
Of course you have. We are smart chicas 😉
I don’t even watch the news anymore. I just can’t take it. The important stuff finds its way to me one way or another…
I only tune in for the weather forecast and maybe a local feel good story-that’s it. Talk about lifting a dark cloud off my soul!
Good for you. It’s what I do. I turn on the TV to watch Netflix or movies I’ve PVR’d… 😉
May need to binge some Great British Bake-off seasons to really feel good.
Oooh… Now you’re talkin’!
A little Paul Hollywood and a lotta Mary Berry (who btw turned 85 yesterday)…paradise.
Gonna have to check it out!!
I shudder at the thought of trying that with any of my dogs. In addition to my own herd, I have 4 foster shelter dogs and a 5th who is recovering from a broken pelvis. All but 2 are females, also a bad mistake.
In answer to your unspoken question, I am stupid, very, very stupid.
Bwahahaha! Not stupid, just uber compassionate. 🤣
By the end of the day the compassion wears thin by the evening. I have a senior skinny mini who is blind. I sleep on the couch so she doesn’t fall off the bed and break something. Last night there were 6 of us on the couch
It can definitely be exhausting. Hopefully things will get better so everyone can have a good night’s sleep with room in between everyone.
Must try your recipe, this day has been difficult. Seeing Norman ,”smiling”, makes the whole world feeling better.
Sorry things are difficult on your end and hope we continue to bring smiles to Finland. 🇫🇮
Kiitos.
🥰
So cute.
🦄Our pleasure.
I get my entertainment from the news. The interviews of those experts who think that they know everything are a riot.
It’s stopped being news, it’s a circus now.
Block Tom before the poor Max is also unicorned!
Hey! I read this blog, too! Monika has finally come to the Dark Side and I know where to find eight (8!!) dogs who will likely be wearing traditional Costa Rican canine costumes in the near future.
Yikes, looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down with a warning to the ‘thugs’ that a madman in California who dons clothes on a poor unsuspecting Malt is eyeballing them.
This Devries character should know by now that I take no prisoners.
:checks Amazon shipping to Costa Rica:
Yikes, sounds like we’ve unleashed a monster, Helen!
Amazon does not ship to Costa Rica….well I think not, to judge by all the disgruntled Americans on FB.They will deliver to a U.S. address whence shippers will send the package to CR…at a cost. There it will meet the devoted officers of the Aduana..who will eventually get round to opening it to check for comestibles. To judge by the size of most of the thugs – and the observed size of the said devoted officers – the costumes will be taken home for their own use and the paperwork marked ‘destroyed in transit’.
But he will just regard that as a challenge, won’t he? Thank goodness no ‘planes are flying here now…or else he would be getting some unsuspecting tourist to mule the costumes in their luggage. Mark you, the devoted officers at the airport might have the same reaction as their colleagues in the post office….
The only other option is to contact the Colombian drug dealers to take the package in one of their hand cobbled artian submarines…but why am I giving him ideas……
What about DHL?
Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! Tom, like the bomber, will always get through!
I think I might move house….
🤣
Incoming….
Let’s just hope these costumes only come in Malt sizes. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
If the churches werenlt closed I might be in there seeking sanctuary
Norman you sure gave us a smile today.
Excellent! Our work is done today.
Hope all of you are keeping good in these tough and trying times.
We love that fluffy unicorn. Mom and I find lots of laughs and fun in our quarantine days. Sometimes, she posts them on social media to share a laugh or two with her cyberfriends.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
We always love your smiles on social media. You guys make a super happy team for us!
Norman is one handsome guy, and being accomodating is a very nice quality in a man Norman!
He’s such a big lunkhead. But ever so sweet.
Pawfect advice.
HuMom isn’t a news junkie; in fact, she’s never been a fan.
Too much sensationalism that is geared to fear & anxiety.
She has her go to source when necessary but otherwise she pawfers to occupy her time with readings, podcasts or visuals that are educational, humorous or dog gone silly.
Stay strong & 💜nose nudges💜 to you, Elsa & Bruce🐾💜🐾
Doggone silly is helping me cope and reminds me of better times. 💖
💜gentle nose nudges💜
I’m doing my best to be positive with my blog and my comments. There is so much to smile about if we just look around.
Have a fabulous day, my friend. Stay well. ♥
Your blog is always so upbeat and positive; we so enjoy it and helps us cope better in this crazy world.
please mr. unicorn bring mr. normal back!!! and make some rainbows… frolic is good for making them… we tried that last night…
Ooh, Weimaraner frolic…even the thought makes me giggle.
Minimizing the news is key. I have blocked all nonsense so that Facebook can be a happy place for me. I love blogging because the people I follow make me smile. We do what we can but there is no point in wallowing in muck. Spring is in bloom here and it is so welcome. Be safe and give both dogs a big hug from me. My cats have no thoughts of social distancing especially when it comes to putting their butt in my face! 🙂
I so agree-thank goodness for this wonderful online community to help cope with this craziness. P.S. The dogs say thank you for the hugs and send big licks to the kitties (not that they probably appreciate that kind of affection).
Cats say, “ewwww, dog germs!”
Bwahaha!
I must really be out of touch with my reading, because this is the first time I remember seeing Norman! I know a thing or two about rainbow unicorns, and he makes a nice one!
Thanks, I knew you’d appreciate a Rainbow Unicorn. I’ll have Norman reach out for tips on how to do it well.
Norman looks great. and – even if it is for the treat only – he seems to be so patient. Thanks for the uplift.
Stay healthy, all of you,
Pit
He really is a tolerant and sweet boy. Knowing that the silliness uplifted makes me very happy. Hope you and Mary are staying well. 🥰
What a handsome unicorn! Bravo Norman for being a good sport. 🙂
He must think I’m a daft nut because I laugh so much while taking photos and shaking the camera. He looks at me like ‘what in the world is wrong with you?’ all the while wiggling his butt as I’m laughing.
Haha! Oh yes I think our dogs think we are crazy most of the time! But they still love us. 😊
And thank goodness for that devotion!
For sure!!❤❤
Ooooh, Norman’s gonna be great!
You have more discipline than I. I’ve tried to get some extra training in with my puppies, but so far I’m being sucked into binge watching the Great British Bakeoff instead.
Maybe I ought to puts some treats for ME into my pocket, to help me focus as well as Norman is doing.
I forget many things, but always have treats in pockets (which often makes for a nice mess in the washer when I forget to remove them). Training sessions are short-just spread out throughout the day and for the record there’s absolutely nothing wrong with binge watching the Great British Bake Off (yesterday was Mary Berry’s 85th birthday). 🍰