Tropical Tale No. 4 - Vol. 4

A Dog's Gardening Day 

by Zuzi Jacuzi

Since we are still having a water shortage in southern Florida , I decided to help my mistress, Alinka, do some gardening.  Here I am in the bicycle basket supervising.

She always has her camera in her pocket and likes to take my picture, but I am squinting because the sun was in my big, dark eyes. Even my long eyelashes did not protect me from the glare.  But later on, Alinka put a visor on my head.  I am sitting next to the orange impatiens which won't be planted this year because she says these are: "water pigs."  Instead, we are planting bougainvillea which tolerate dryness.

Here is a photo of me in the car wondering how she was going to get that huge plant out of the convertible by herself.  My master, John, refused to help plant the darn things because he always gets scratched up on them. He walked off to play tennis mumbling: "she digs up the plants, washes off the roots and replants them in another part of our garden. I don't see the need for something so absolutely illogical. I'm not getting involved! Tennis is my hobby, gardening is hers. 

The weather is still very humid and hot so I had to jump into the spa to cool off, that's why they nicknamed me: "Zuzi Jacuzi," but I prefer Tzulin.

We worked all day to get the garden looking nice for Christmas, as the grass had turned to straw from lack of rain or sprinklers.  It was a very busy day for me, as I am just a little dog, so I was glad when she put us in the bath tub before going to bed.  Rudy, does not like gardening and won't go out in the heat.  He is a spoiled poodle so he stays in the air-conditioning sitting in the window which is called: "doggie in the window."  Sometimes, I do it too, but I have to push Rudy out of the cushion because he is too fat. I like to watch Spot, the neighbors' cat, stalk the birds.  He never catches our doves that come to the bird bath for a drink.  I like to watch the fun as they flutter off into the avocado tree.

Here is a photo of me telling Alinka, "no more photos, please!"  She is relentless with that camera!  It was a hard day's work, but now the garden looks nice for the holidays.

I never know what she is going to do next.  I hope she doesn't get a cat!

Oh, I forgot to say my prayers.  I'm giving thanks for my daily dog food, a good family who loves and protects me; and also spoils Rudy and me rotten!  I hope there is peace in the world next year, and that all dogs in the animal shelters get adopted this Christmas to a good home so they don't have to go to doggie heaven! Now I'll dream of chasing cats. Good night.

Tzulin