How to get onto a bed, and other mysteries of life

Before we found Sasha, our first poodle, the people who gave Chuck the name and phone number of the breeder said, "Make sure you get a small Standard: they take up a lot of room in bed!"

True.

Sasha had her own unique way of joining us in bed. She waited until we were sound asleep, and then she began the process of pouring herself onto the bed. First one paw, then a second. Then slowly inching forward, between our feet, until she could put her hind feet up on the bed. Then carve out room for herself, constantly putting light pressure on us so we made way for her (similar to tightening the wires on braces!)... and in the morning, we woke up with her head between us on the pillows. We never caught her in the act.

Anya's approach is more straightforward: Step up, preferably turn around a couple of times, and then FLUMFP! down into a curl, with her head facing the door. At least, we like to tell ourselves that she's facing the door rather than facing away from us.

We have tried to teach her to shnuggle, which specifically requires that her head be on one of our shoulders and that we get her soft back against us, not the pointy feet... It works, sometimes, and then it turns into the next story, from our friend Al, about his Schipperke, Ike.

"I remember Ike trying to make the jump, it took him awhile. He has a rather odd sleep pattern now. Every night he jumps up on the bed and checks in with us. Shortly after turning out the light he jumps down and goes to sleep in his favorite corner of the master bathroom (tile floor). Then sometime during the night he comes back on the bed, and that's where we find him every morning curled up between us."

And now, we have Tango. He has mastered the art of throwing himself headlong into the challenge, and he makes it up onto the bed almost every time he tries. Sleeping is the last thing on his mind, although sometimes he will cuddle for a few minutes. But this morning, for instance, my head was under the covers when Chuck let him back into the bedroom after his morning outing. This would not do! and Tango set to work sniffing and digging to find me, following up with a few exploratory nips at my ears and cheeks. Fairly soft teeth, but still teeth.

Then off the bed to tussle with Anya...

******************
I was reading a blog (Living Fragance) and found this citation for a site where you can spell words using all sorts of letters: http://metaatem.net/words/. Give it a try.
******************
Then there is the latest painting obsession.

I am only posting the original photo and the latest false-color attempt to capture value changes.

Not so satisfied. I did a nice charcoal of the photo, but need to try again with the paint!

Chuck has posted a nice little video of Anya and Vanya (aka Tango) playing in the library. Doggy exercise x2! http://fdsailor.blogspot.com/