And it was fun, too!

 

According to Mom, getting dirty isn't much fun. I disagree.

Yesterday, Mom and I went out to work in the garden area. Mom wanted to run the leaf blower, transplant some baby strawberries into the new Greenstalk, and tidy up inside the little greenhouse. And where did this leave me, you ask? On my own.

On my own. So I acted like the dog I am. Why did this surprise Mom? 

I don't get it, Mom. You should have known I'd play in the dirt. It's spring! I've been cooped up like a chicken all winter, so get over it. 

And you did wipe me down with a cold, wet rag, so be happy you got your revenge. Just remember I'm Deuce and I'll do it again if I want to. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, country dogs, dirty dogs, The Hideaway, Greenstalk, black Labrador Retriever, black Lab dog, dog with a blog, rural living, gardening, homesteading

I had to keep an eye on Mom

I worry about Mom. She does things like ride around on the tractor when no one else is around. Dad used to keep an eye on her, but now it's up to me. 

It's only February, but we've had two days that were warm. Mom said it was 58F yesterday, and it's going to be 58F again today. I don't know what that means, but I know the ground is still cold when I lie down, even in the sunshine. Anyway, Mom said it was warm enough and she went to work. I went with her, of course. 

Yesterday, she picked up all the downed sticks around the shed, the tractor park, and the greenhouse. I helped! Well, I did until she stopped giving the stick back to me and put it in the bucket of the John Deere 1023. After that, I took my stick a respectable distance away from her. 

Today, Mom finished moving a stack of maple firewood. Boring. Mom hired a guy to come in and cut down a big oak tree and she wanted to move the maple firewood out of the way. She said the stack isn't pretty, but she can't see if from her office window so she doesn't care. That is what we'll burn first next fall, so it'll work out. 

Did I mention it's boring when Mom does some of these things? I had my Frisbee and we played a little bit, but mostly I relaxed and watched her. I know not to run in front of the tractor when it's moving because I get yelled at for that. So I don't. I wait until it's parked before I come close to see what Mom's doing. I'm Deuce and I'm pretty darn smart about the tractor. 

I'm glad we got the job done and came back inside. The ground is really cold on my paws, and now that I'm nine years old, I'm not as tough as I used to be.  But I can still keep a close eye on Mom and keep her out of trouble.  

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country dogs, rural living, John Deere 1023, firewood, good dogs, 

We got snow!

I love snow! Does Mom love snow? Not as much as me! 

The morning after it snowed, we walked out to play in it and Mom took a video. I'm the star of the little movie, you know. Yeah, yeah, Mom talks about all sorts of stuff but it's really all about ME. 

Take a look and you'll see I'm telling you the truth. King Clarence has nothing on me! 

 

Happy 9th Birthday to me!

Today is my ninth birthday. I'm not sure what that means, but Mom told me so it must be important. She calls me an "old man," but I still feel like a pup. Mom and I were outside yesterday, burning the brush pile, and I had a great time playing in the snow! 

Mom tried to convince me to pose for a picture, but I was having too much fun. I ran and ran and finally she'd had enough and made me go inside. I suppose I was misbehaving just a wee bit because I went down over the hill where she couldn't see me. In my defense, there was a deer hiding in the thicket. I could see it! 

I don't know if we'll do anything special for my birthday or not. It's awfully cold outside again today. And with snow everywhere, Mom says we can't take the car out. We'd have to go in the pickup. Maybe being nine is why it's not so easy to make the big jump into the back seat these days. I used to sail right up there and now...not so much. Mom made me a step but it's in the shed and the shed door is frozen shut. This cold weather ruins our fun. 

But there is some good news. Mom got PORK CHOPS out of the freezer! I bet I'm getting pork for my birthday dinner. This is a good thing. Can I have a ninth birthday again tomorrow?

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retrievers, country dogs, black Lab, love of dogs, companion dogs, snow dogs, dog birthdays, a writer's life

2024 was a long year

I haven't been blogging much this year. Dad went away and I've missed him. I know he had to go. I even know when he left because...well, I cried out to him. Mom got a little freaked out when she understood I knew, but she knew, too. That's just the way it is. But I remember being a little guy and sitting on his lap all the time before I got too big. I miss that.

It's been really cold here, like January cold. Mom and I go out several times a day for short walks, going in and out the lane. We don't want to go too far because my paws get too cold. I'm not a spring chicken any longer. We play Frisbee some, but if I misjudge, a whack on the snoot by a cold plastic disc hurts. If that happens, I snatch the thing and head for the door so Mom knows I'm done with it for now. 

Mom has a toasty fire burning in the woodstove, but it's down in the basement and I'm not allowed down there. The big bed is a lot softer, anyway. I like to snooze on the bed when Mom is at the computer. I can keep an ear on her. 

I'm really glad Thanksgiving and Christmas are over.  Mom had to go to all these different dinners and I had to stay home alone. I did not like this, especially when she left me alone after dark. What gives, Mom? I'm a good dog and you leave me alone in the dark? At least I always had dinner and a quick walk first. But I still didn't like it. 

My birthday is next month, and I'll be nine. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that. Mom asked me if it was time for us to get a puppy, but I don't think it is. Maybe when I turn ten will be the right time. I have a lot to teach a puppy about how to be a good dog. 

So I've been busy taking care of Mom. It's good we get to spend a lot of time together. Since it's cold, I get to go for more rides. Mom tells me I'm worth the cost of a bit of gasoline for us to go out around our loop and see what's happening in the neighborhood. 

Mom's looking forward to the New Year, but it doesn't mean a lot to me. Dogs take each day as they come. We don't really plan ahead, and that's okay. I know me and Mom will be together for a long as we can be, and I know a puppy can't really replace me. Mom will love the puppy for whom he is just like she loves me. I'm good with that. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, rural living, country dogs, black Labs, a writer's life, Labrador puppies, special dogs, dog with a blog, New Year 2025, love dogs

I dare you, Mom!

Mom did a good thing and got me a new Kong chew toy. The product detail said she could hide treats in it, but I know her better than that. She'll just give me... She did it! She hid biscuits in the toy! 

I can't believe she did that! Mom doesn't believe in teasing me. Well, only if we're playing but I get it then. She never teases me to be mean. Until now.

I gave here a dirty look, too. She just laughed!

According to Mom, getting the biscuits out is supposed to make me think and problem solve. This has something to do with me running into the screen, I just know it. Mom thinks I wasn't thinking when I did that, and she might be right. She thinks just because I'm almost nine, I must be slipping upstairs. Huh. Wrong, Mom!

I got those biscuits out of the ring in about two minutes! Do it again, Mom. Put a few extra biscuits in there while you're at it. I dare you! 

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, dog toys, smart dogs, Milk Bones, good dogs, cognition, dog Moms, a writer's life, country lifestyle

I really miscalculated my trajectory

I have committed another faux pas. It's a bit more serious than muddy paws, too. It's a pretty big oops. I'm in the dog house for real this time because Mom will have to pay someone to fix my screw-up. 

In my defense, there was a deer standing right beside the patio. It's my job to chase the deer back into the woods. Mom opened the door and I launched! 

I launched in the wrong direction. 

I tried to run straight at the deer, hit a screen, and bounced back like a cartoon dog. It kinda hurt, too. Concrete is hard with you land on it. 

Anyway, Mom is not happy me. She said fixing the screen is one project she didn't want to do this year because she already has a lot on her plate. 

I'm Deuce. If Mom had something on a plate, I'd know it. Mom is typing for me and doesn't even have a plate, so maybe her saying that is some sort of pay back for ruining the screen. 

I'll have to take my punishment like a big dog. No treats for me today. 

Then again, Mom forgives me of every mistake. I bet I'll even get a ride later today because Mom wants to do some leaf peeping. 

I won't try to run through a screen again. Honest, I won't. 

Deuce's Day, black Lab, Labrador Retriever, bad dogs, deer, patio screen, leaf peeping, rural living, country lifestyle, trajectory, miscalculations

Boys will be boys

Mom always says she likes boy dogs the best. This is a good thing for me because I'm a boy dog! But yesterday, I pushed it a wee bit far and I paid for it. 

We went out to work in the yard. Mom wanted to see if she could do some tractor work (still too wet) and I went to protect her from squirrels. 

I made a mistake and ran through the clay muck that came up out of the well drill hole. It was nasty. It clung to my fur and made my paws filthy. I showed Mom and she shook her head and told me no way was I going to be allowed back into the den...er...house without having my paws scrubbed. 

For once, I agreed! 

I was a good dog and stood still while Mom washed me with Dawn and then rinsed my feet really well with the hose. After I dried for a few minutes, I went inside and stayed out of trouble until Cousin Dave and Sadie walked up to see if we had anything exciting going on. 

But I stayed out of the mud! I'm Deuce and I don't like mud on my paws! 

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, rural living, country lifestyle, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, a writer's life, squirrels, dirty paws, Dawn dish detergent, family, good dogs

Mom says I can sleep on the bed

It's been raining for a WEEK!!!!  Every time I need to go outside to, you know, do my outside activities, I get wet. I do not like this!

I need to adjust my thinking about Mom's umbrella. Maybe it's a good thing she tries to shield me with it, but it feels weird to have that thing over my head. What if I can't see a deer or a squirrel because of it? I can't chase what I can't see. 

And then there is Loki. He's been sleeping on my...er...Mom's bed. Mom doesn't seem to care. She says he doesn't need to be out on the patio when the rain blows in on him. This does not bode well for the coming winter. I bet I'll have to put up with him on the bed all the time. Mom says I need to get over being petty about it because Loki is getting older and he'll probably stay in the house more. I like him better when he stays on the patio. It's screened so he's perfectly safe out there. 

Dogs don't measure time the way people do. Mom says Dad has been gone for six months now. I'll always miss him. I sleep on his side of the bed. Mom doesn't even fuss me for putting my head on his pillow. It's been quieter without Dad. I miss the sound of my parents talking in the background when I nap. 

I miss sunshine, too. Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I have to go push Loki off the bed. Just because I'm Deuce and I can. Does that make me a bad dog? I think not because it'll make Mom laugh at us. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, a dog's life, Loki, rural living, good dogs, Hurricane Helene, rain, sunshine, patio, dog parents

This is NOT cute!

So you think Loki taking a snooze on the counters on the patio is cute? Let me explain something to you. YOU are not a champion-bred Labrador Retriever whose great-great-grandfather got the highest score ever in field trials! Loki is not cute - he's a pain in my tail! 

Do you see that paw hanging over the edge of the counter? He swats at me with that paw! I do not like this! 

I don't know why Mom puts up with him. Okay, so he catches mice before they get inside the house. That's his job. My job is to keep Mom company and I can't do that if I always have to be on the alert to what Loki may do next. It's exhausting! 

It has been a quiet month, though. Mom and I haven't done too much because of how hot it's been. We go water what plants are left in the garden, but until yesterday, we didn't spend much time on the patio. We miss our patio time. We used to have patio time almost every day with Dad. I think Mom remembers that and gets too sad. I get sad, too, but dogs are smarter about such things. 

I don't mind Loki when he behaves. That's almost never...

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, country living, cats and dogs, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, rural, good dogs, black Lab, Tuxedo cats, bad behavior, summertime