The City Rat: April 2020

Sky: The Family's Gentle Sunshine

Pets ·

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

I wrote about our little Shih Tzu in a separate post. This time, I would like to give you a sneak peek of our second dog.

We want to share what kind of dog she is, and how happy we are to have her as Bolt’s playmate and an addition to the family.

Sky is big and a bit tall even when she is still a baby.

Related Post: Meet Bolt, Our Furry Ball Shih Tzu

Our Sky is a big dog. You may think she will bite you the first time you meet her? No, you are wrong. Sky is one of the smartest and loving dogs in the world. Her friendly looks will melt your heart away.

She loves many things. She loves to eat, walk outside, fetch game and extra attention.

Sky eats plain dog food or a mixture of dog food and boiled pork meat and pork bones. We can even throw anything edible to her. During mealtime, she patiently waits for food remnants.

She loves long walks. She barks the bedroom door to remind me that it is walking time. It is like heaven when she goes outside the house. She sniffs everything that smells differently.

And of course, she does her routine - she poops and pees, not necessarily in that order, though. When everything is done, she continues walking excitedly to find another spot to smell.

She rests after a long walk. Her tongue is sticking out when he feels hot and thirsty.

Labradors are active and high-spirited dogs. Sky loves to play fetch. She has extra energy when she is in the mood to play. She runs fast and could easily find the toy even when it is hidden somewhere.

She also obeys basic commands - sit, down, rotate, go or up.

She loves road trips.

Sky is the family’s sunshine. It is easy for us to meet her daily needs and care. We seldom go to the veterinarian nor grooming salon.

She never growls when our play gets too much. When we see her wagging her tails, that is an assurance that Sky loves us more than we do.

You may read Bolt and Sky's first-ever travel: Lakawon Island Resort and Spa: A dog-friendly Paradise

Do you have pets, too? Please share how you love and care for your furbaby in the comment section below.

Meet Bolt, Our Furry Ball Shih Tzu

Pets ·

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

33 comments

Bolt is our snob but playful Shih Tzu who loves everyone in the house.

He is always the first at the door to greet us and shows his bottom for a belly rub. He also gives his favorite squeaky ball as a greeting.

When he was small, he had many health issues. We spent a lot treating his health problems. I think the most challenging one was when he had a blood infection.

Bolt ate nothing for two days and his mouth was dry. His vet gave plenty of medicines. He had intravenous fluids (IV) inserted on his foot too. I did not sleep the whole night checking if the IV was intact or he was still breathing.

After six months and a new veterinarian, his infection was gone. I am glad it was over now.

He is shy and very small when he came inside the house for the first time.

This little lion is a picky eater. He loves dog food mixed with boiled pork meat. He would finish the whole serving immediately.

If his bowl is unmixed, he would just sniff it and turn away. He has that distinctively arrogant look, with head up high and curved tail at the back when turning away.

He doesn’t mind skipping meals. If he doesn’t like his meal, he doesn’t care.

Though he is small in size, this fluffy buddy is full of personality. He is fond of playing his neon squeaky ball with us. He would drop his toy in front of us.

Then we would throw it against the wall. He would run as fast as he could, unmindful of sliding or getting harm in the process. He will catch the toy through his snout and two front feet so he could give it back to us securely.

He is very affectionate. He would follow us around the house. And when we settle down to watch television, we would show his bottom wildly or push his snout on our feet.

Sometimes, he gets too stubborn. He would ignore us when we want him to be inside the house after a routine.

It takes a few “COME INSIDE” commands before he will realize we want him to go inside. But he is easy to forgive.

How can you not forgive this cute pooch with his long shiny coat flying in the air while running inside the house?

He sports a "summer cut" now because of the hot weather.

Caring and loving this small pooch is fulfilling and challenging. It lightens my day the moment he wags his tail after a hectic day.

Sometimes a tear stain or an irritating cough worries me. Dog cough sounds strangely than humans.

But no matter what the situation is, we will always love Bolt by providing him the care and comfort he deserves.

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Do you own a pet or pets? Share to us how you love and care for your pet/pets in the Comment Section below.

The Pilgrimage Hill of Garin Farm: Retreat and Meditation Place During the Holy Week

Travel ·

Saturday, April 11, 2020

26 comments

The observance of Holy Week in the Philippine is regarded as one of the most important events in the Catholic church calendar. It is a week-long solemn contemplation on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.

We also attend mass during Maundy Thursday and join the procession on Holy Friday.

There is one place in the southern part of Iloilo - in San Juaquin that is a haven for Catholics who would like to meditate on Jesus’ passion during the holy week, in a more solemn manner within a lush greenery on a hill, about the height of a 10-storey building.

The /Garin Pilgrimage Hill, about the height of a 10-storey building can be accessed by about 450 steps.

Related Post:

We climbed the Garin Pilgrimage Hill after about 450 steps, leading to the big white cross.

Is this what heaven looks like?

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: the origin of humanity

Our experience is made more meaningful because as we entered this part, the white surroundings are so strikingly hurtful to the eyes. I can really feel that it is like heaven, as the way I watched it in the movies.

But as we went downstairs, I realized, it was just an optical illusion.

Aside from the heavenly spectacle, the hill features life-sized installation of biblical scenes which devotees can visit while climbing upstairs.

We dropped by all these attractions and said short prayers for each.