Today is Indigenous Peoples Day in the US. Formerly known as Columbus Day, it celebrates and honors Indigenous American peoples by commemorating their histories and cultures. While I always post some light-hearted smile on Monday’s today always leaves me with an uneasy feeling because of how native peoples have been treated and there is nothing funny about the historical past in that regard.

We here at the Ranch ask you consider the history that went into the creation of this national holiday.
And because it still IS Monday, we can’t begin the week without some sort of smile. As you may recall, Elsa has a long history of eating things that is well documented on this blog. (for example, see The Carnage Continues). She’s been very civilized for some time but then suddenly last week decided the mail would be her latest conquest, including important notices and bills. She managed to pull several pieces of mail off the dining room table 3 days in a row.
I will note however, she’s never chewed up junk mail instead, she seems to focus on important items and then proceed to pull them down from the middle of the dining table. She managed to munch was an agreement with the Water Department regarding agreement for replacing the service line. Do you know how embarrassing it is being an adult and telling a service rep “my dog ate the agreement” and how can I get another one? Luckily it’s a national holiday with mail not being delivered today so it’ll be safe, at least today.
As you celebrate the contributions of Indigenous People today, we hope you have a good week.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
On the bright side, you save by not having to buy a paper shredder . . .
Bwahahahaha! Love that you’re looking at the positive. Way to make lemonade, Marc!
Oh, Elsa. When I went back to college for accounting, Bear used to tear up my homework. Several times, I turned in copies after taping the shreds together. And now, Latte likes to chew library books like Bear used to do.
What IS it about paper that attracts our pets into chewing it up?? I just don’t get it.
Java Bean: “Ayyy, but having the dog chew up your bills means you don’t have to pay them, right? It’s a law or something, isn’t it?”
Don’t I wish! If that were true, maybe I should start soaking the mail in gravy.
When I was first married ( 32 yrs ago) , my husband had an elkhound that ate some of the vinyl replacement windows that were dropped off to be installed. Luckily they replaced them because my hubby warned them not to put them near the dog.
Oh gosh, even Elsa hasn’t gone that far off the reservation! 😁
I still don’t know why my comments aren’t showing up.
They’re showing up. Guess WP is a bit slow today. Sorry.
I think Elsa felt if she ate the bill it would provide free energy. Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to you and the ranch hands, Monika.
Clearly nobody likes electric bills. But the water department contract…well that was something I really needed. Doggone crazy dog! Happy Monday, John.
Hopefully they have a copy.
We managed to recreate the contract. Whew!
Excellent. Good news. Everybody won.
What a helpful girl you re Elsa! Some people spend a fortune on an office shredder and you are performing the service FREE. Not so sure your Mom appreciates it as much as she might if you were able to read what’s important and what’s junk mail! Tee Hee
Hugs, Teddy
No kidding. Nobody likes to pay bills so she was probably just trying to help. Silly girl! Happy Monday.
Happy Indienous Peepless Day to you Miss Monika an Elsa an Wilson!!! Iss our Catnadian Thanxgivin today…wee pawss to reeflect how our Native peeple helped our Ancesturss to survive an thrive inn this county!
Elsa you sure did sum damage, mew mew mew…
Moss Monika this iss a “Mee Poochie ate mee homework!” situation rite??? Mew mew mew…..
BellaDharma an BellaSita Mum
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day!
Yeah, the dog ate the homework line was very embarrassing. At least the guy at the water department laughed.
Thanx fore Guud wihsess…it iss furry quiet today. Efurryone iss busy. Wee reedin blogss an tryin to catch up….
Wee reeleeved THE Water Man had a guud laff 😉
Oh, Elsa! 😀 She must have heard you grumbling about bills and thought she’d take care of the problem for you! 😂
The bills, while annoying to look up online weren’t so much of a problem but that contract for the water service line approval was. Luckily the service rep was very kind and laughed when I told him the dog ate it. 🤣
I imagine he has heard it all. 😉
He actually said that was a first to him and we both had a good laugh about it.
Probably made his day! 😀
It always makes my day when I can make someone smile at customer service, even at my expense. 😉
Oh Elsa! What kind of example are you setting for your brother?!
Some days they’re like a WWF tag team and making my life more than interesting! Happy Monday.
This reminds me of those funny videos where the dog waits by the mail slot in the door and attacks the mail as it comes in!
Bwahahahaha! Elsa is more strategic. She waits until I fill out important forms to be returned and then shreds them. Naughty little scamp.
There is so much we can learn from the lifestyle and spirituality of the indigenous people we, as settlers in a foreign land, were so terrible to over our history. The fact that this holiday-ish, until recently, was referred to as “Columbus Day” speaks volumes. Thanks M for the thoughtful post. AND, I share Elsa’s seemingly disdain for energy bills. Good girl Elsa! 🙃. Have a good week at the Ranch.
Given the recent rhetoric about certain immigrant groups lately being the lead story on the nightly news, far too many people forgot how we took over land they had for centuries which is one reason why I’m glad we changed the name of today’s holiday. Columbus may have been revered in some circles but sadly wrought disease and all sorts of trouble for local indigenous people. Have a great week, Mike and please give the Golden Girls a nice ear scritch from me.
Ours was June 21 and they added the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. It’s about time our countries did something!
As for Elsa, why chew up junk mail? What’s the joy in that? Today is my LAST day for watching the little beast. He ate my glasses… and many other things…
I agree. Our countries have foisted such misery on local indigenous people across the hemisphere.
Oh Vasco…you naughty little troublemaker. Sounds like someone needs a lot of discipline! Elsa has munched 4 or 5 (I’ve lost count) pairs of eyeglasses. Luckily I had spares but still…very expensive lessons learned. Grrr.
That they have.
Oh he is. But guess what? His mom is home!!! And Elsa munched on your glasses… but at least she is your dog…
Grrr big time!
Fair point. Hopefully the mom will at least offer to make you whole? 🤞🏼
Well, I had not even gotten home from driving her home when she transferred the sums offered to me to take care of said beastie. I won’t be persnickety.
That was good of her. She sounds like a stand up person.
That she is.
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A great thing to celebrate. Beautiful.
Elsa did a great job. Our Squeaker does this. If we cherish something we need to protect it from her.
I linked this post to Awww Mondays as always.
Have a fabulous day and week, my friend. Scritches to the pups and a big hug to you. ♥
For the life of me, I could never figure out why she does this–little stinker. Thanks for adding us to your Monday link. Always grateful. Enjoy a beautiful autumn week.
One year I included a catnip sachet in Christmas cards going to friends with cats. One friend had his mail inserted through a door slot landing inside the house on the floor. When he came home his mail was ripped apart and there was catnip everywhere. Fortunately, as a cat person, he thought it was funny.
You can only laugh when they do stuff like that. Happy Monday.
Oh Elsa, not quite as bad as Lucy’s newest thing – eating pebbles – but still bad, just in a different way. Guess your Mom’s going to have to find a new place for her mail!
That was some darn nice shredding! Happy Indigenous Peoples Day, they should have built a wall.
Oh yes, Elsa can shred with the best of them. Yesterday morning, she shredded by newly received ballot while I was walking Wilson. Grrr. Had to go to the election bureau and obtain a duplicate. Quite the adventure-I haven’t been downtown in ages and that trip was definitely not for the faint of heart! Makes you wonder how things would be if Indigenous Peoples would have down to the settlers who did what they did. Sigh.
dog ate my homework was never a whitewasher but the truth ;O)))
Too funny. Maybe your dog is mistaking the bills for some sort of homework!
oh i feel your pain on the stealing and eating valuable pieces of mail. my foster has been doing the same! not that it helps but know you are not alone ….
I wonder what set her off….