Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy’s Ball

“Let’s go outside and play while it’s still cool Little One.”

“I gotta find my ball.”

“So you have your ball. Let’s play.”

“Yeah, but something’s different.”

“What do you mean?”

“It smells different.”

“I don’t know, kiddo. it looks the same to me.”

“Yeah, it does look the same but trust me, something’s off.”

“How does it smell?”

“My ball always smells like bacon. This one smells like old feet.”

“Old feet? How can that be?”

“I think I know the reason. I must have grabbed the old ball.”

“The old ball? How many do you have?”

“Just two. After a while, the bacon smell disappears, and I whine until mom gets me a new one.”

“So you grabbed the old one. Can’t you make it work?”

“You don’t understand, Lucy. This one is a stranger to me.”

“I detect an element of spoiled here.”

“Not spoiled. Discerning.”

“Sure. There are underprivileged dogs who would love to have that ball.”

“I know, and I would love to give it to them too.”

88 comments

  1. Twiggy’s parting shot reminds me of (frequent) conversations with my mother when I was very much younger than I am today. She’d say that I should eat all my food because there are starving children in Africa who would give anything for that food (usually fatty meat which, to this day, I detest); my reply was always that she should send it to them, as I didn’t want it. Went down as well as … [insert your own comparator here]

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Ha ha ha. I remember the same sort of thing. My mom always told the story of me hiding my uneaten broccoli inside a baked potato skin. I can imagine how well your retort went down. Thanks, Keith.

      Liked by 3 people

  2. Can’t help but wonder if Twiggy’s offer is generous or if she just wants to get rid of that ball! 🙂

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    1. I think it’s the ball. We did solve it without bothering those underprivileged dogs. Thanks, Joan.

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  3. Lucy’s expression in the second to the last shot and Twiggy’s in the last cracks me up!

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    1. I had to laugh at them as well. Thanks, Jill.

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  4. Does Twiggy really know the word discerning?

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    1. Of course. She has a MA in English. I’m surprise you didn’t know that.

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      1. Didn’t know …. But impressed!

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  5. Poor baby. Frankie does the same thing with her ball.

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    1. We buy two at a time for the wear out factor. Sadly we get then confused. Twiggy never does. Thanks, Craig.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Clearly, Twiggy isn’t ready to have a ball with that ball!

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    1. No it was the worn out one. Will never do. Thanks, Linda. 😁

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  7. As Keith says, that conversation takes me back to traumatic childhood meal disputes! 🤣 I once tried to sneak some meat off my plate to the dog. She chewed it, gave me a ‘look’, and spat it out. I reckon the dog thought it smelled like that old ball. That day did not end well, lmao. 💕🙂

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    1. You poor thing. Done in by the dog. Thanks for sharing that, Harmony. 🤣

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  8. Going from bacon to old feet is the recipe of disappointment. Sounds gross too.

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    1. I can only imagine what goes through Twiggy’s mind when it comes to no longer wanting to play with a ball. This one is on the reject list for sure. Thanks, Charles.

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      1. I can understand it though. If a toy has a specific smell as a selling point, it loses its appeal when it goes stale. Kind of like how the Scratch N Sniff books would get tossed if they stopped smelling.

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      2. Yes. Just like a scratch and sniff that no longer smelled.

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  9. haha, that must really smell bad!!!

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    1. According to Twiggy. Seems fine to me but what do I know? Thanks, GP.

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      1. Your sniffer doesn’t work as well as hers!! 😖

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      2. That is true. She is like a bloodhound. 😁

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  10. Ha ha ha! The girls are in rare form this morning!

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    1. Yes they are. Glad you enjoyed it, Liz. 😁

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  11. Discerning, yes. Dogs are smart and if something is different, they let you know. But who wouldn’t want something with a bacon smell?

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    1. Too bad the humans in this house don’t get it. Thanks, Steve.

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  12. Twiggy is right, dear John. A ball makes sense. 🙂 🙂 🙂 That’s good that she does not pay attention to the difference between a tennis ball & a soccer one…yet…😎

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    1. She has a tennis ball the size of a soccer ball but she has lost interest in that one as well. She loved pushing it all around the house but lately has paid no attention to it. Have a super day, Maria.

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    1. Thanks for sharing, Michael.

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  13. Look on the last photo, and the unmistakable facial expression, John. They have recognized your intentions. :-)) xx Michael

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    1. Ha ha ha. Twiggy has an air of disgust for sure. Thanks, Michael. 😁

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      1. Really? Oh these dogs with French origin. Lol xx Michael

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      2. Yes. She has the perfect French look.

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  14. Ha! Ha! Not spoiled, discerning. I hope my grandchildren never learn that word. And the old line about the poor starving children who would happily eat the green peas never works. Looks like it doesn’t work with Twiggy either. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. No she could not relate to disadvantaged dogs when it came to her bad ball. I’m sure she would think no other dog would like it either.

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  15. That was great ! Dogs know for sure. You have a smart one.
    My son had an English Mastiff. He had what I’d called a “horse ball”. It had to be 3 feet in diameter. He loved pushing, carrying it chasing it around the yard. Funny to watch
    Yes horses did use them too
    No bacon smell, but drewel for sure. Enjoy your little ones 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Tom. I remember the horse balls (Called Jolly balls) from when we had a horse. I can see that as a great toy for a mastiff.

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  16. “Not spoiled. Discerning.” This description fits another furry friend I know who refuses to play with his toy birds anymore after the chirper breaks, lol.

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    1. I can identify with him for sure. Who wants a bird that won’t chirp.

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  17. Spoiled vs. discerning is an interesting thought that slides into contemplation. Bacon vs. old feet is a no-brainer, though. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, John, and bringing a smile to this tired old face.

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    1. Always happy to hear that you found a smile in my stuff. Thanks, Tim.

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  18. Your discerning Twiggy is a hoot and a half and that last shot of her is just too funny!

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    1. Thanks, Dale. I thought the last shot was funny too.

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      1. Twiggy is just so darn expressive! So is Lucy, come to think of it….

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      2. They do have there moments.

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      3. I don’t doubt that for a second 🙂

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      4. I can’t believe I wrote, “there.” 🙄

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      5. I completely ignore it because I have looked back and been guilty a time or two! So… Don’t worry your pretty little head about it 😉

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  19. Sharing is caring. Now can you get Linda to do a prompt for bacon balls for this Saturday ?

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I keep on hand a sack for Monkey’s old, tattered throw-away toys … and the ones he never warmed up to. One day, I hope to donate it to the animal shelter (they’re always grateful for donations). One dog’s trash is another dog’s treasure!

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    1. So true. We make that run too.

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  21. When I first read Twiggy’s Ball, I at once saw her descending a circular staircase in a Chanel gown.

    OOPS. It’s that girl in me John who never sleeps. WOOF!!!

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    1. Ha ha ha. And glass sippers I’m sure. Thanks for the chuckle, Susannah.

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  22. Twiggy has a discerning palate. There’s a big difference between bacon and old socks, you know, lol

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    1. So she says. I think they might smell the same to me. But I don’t have to play with them. Thanks, Jacquie.

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  23. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    This made me laugh. I’m pretty sure I’ve had a similar conversation with one of my grandkids down to getting the item to those ones without.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think we all have, Denise. Thanks.

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  24. Hahahaha! This one is too funny, John. Old feet… discerning… and the perfect ending retort from Twiggy. Thanks for these smiles and chuckles. Hugs on the wing.

    Like

    1. Thanks for letting me know you liked it, Teagan. Hugs.

      Like

  25. I love that animals ‘see’ with their noses. It is such a different world from the visual one.

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    1. It is. When I watch Lucy and Twiggy sniff the world I know they are getting more information than I am about what’s going on. Thanks, Pamela.

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  26. Picky, picky! And a bit spoiled? My suggestion: roll the ball in bacon fat and then wipe it off. That old sock smell will be gone!

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    1. Great idea. It would have to be an outside ball after that.

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  27. These guys crack me up, John. Not meaning to add to the spoiling, but maybe you should get them both a new toy.

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    1. They just got new, Twiggy grabbed the old by mistake. 😁

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  28. petespringerauthor · ·

    Don’t you know there are starving dogs in Africa who would love that ball? 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, Twiggy. Sheesh.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Jane Sturgeon · ·

    Love it…discerning. Go, Twiggy. I remember the poor starving children line and I, like Keith, suggested a parcel was sent. My cheek didn’t go down well… 😉 Much love to you and your girls, John. ❤ xXx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jane. Much love back to you. ❤️

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  30. The back and forth was hilarious, John.

    Hmmm . . . bacon wins ANY argument with me, but when the alternative is old socks . . even more so.

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    1. Bacon does trump just about anything.

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      1. It really does.

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  31. Old feet, too funny, John! Twiggy knows what she likes and that’s a great characteristic. Great photos!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren.

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  32. Good for Twiggy, she knows what she wants and she makes sure she gets it. Atta girl.

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    1. That is true. Thanks, Robbie.

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  33. You really make their antics come alive with the commentary 🙂 I look fwd to coming back to read more.

    Like