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

It's summer hibernation!

It's been so hot, Mom and I have been reverse hibernating. We're staying inside a lot and I'm going a bit batty. That has nothing to do with the dead bat Mom found a couple of weeks ago. I pointed it out to her and she buried the body. We don't know what happened, but Mom wondered if it was old and the heat weakened it. 

Anyway, inside is good except Mom changed the setting on the thermostat so the AC wouldn't run so much. This I did not like. When she turned on a fan, I flopped down right in front of it and blocked the air. That felt good! Mom didn't like it much, but I don't care. She doesn't have a shiny black fur coat making her hot.

We have worked in the garden in the mornings when it's cooler. Mom wasn't happy about it, but she pulled all the tomato plants. It didn't matter to me. I do not like tomatoes. She made a video about it, too. I have a cameo in that one! Mom caught me trying to chew up a Frisbee but since I was staying out of mischief, she told me to 'have at it'. So I did.

The last few days have been soooooooo boring, though. A tropical depression named Debby hovered over us and dropped 2.5 inches of rain on us. Mom took me outside and held the umbrella for me so I could do my outside necessities. I appreciated that. Mom thinks the rain is over now but she says she won't swear to it. 

I hope it is over. If it is, Mom might take me for a ride this afternoon. That would be great! I'm tired of hibernating inside the den. I don't know how bears can do it. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, rural living, Hurricane Debby, a dog's life, country lifestyle, dangerous weather, a writer's life, good dogs, YouTube videos, gardening

It's MINE and I know it!

I'm a special boy! Mom has been making food for me for the last few months. We used to get The Farmer's Dog, but Mom said that got too expensive. I don't really know a lot about money because that's her department, but I guess $100 for two weeks worth of Deuce food must be too much.  Mom makes me a chicken dinner with real chicken thighs that only costs about a dollar a day. 

A few days ago, Mom left me ALONE at home while she went to Sam's Club. I did not like this. I never like it when I have to stay home alone, but I'm a good dog. I don't tear up the furniture or anything. I just go take a nap on the bed until she gets home. 

Mom came home with several big packs of chicken thighs, and she put them all in canning jars and processed them! And they are ALL FOR ME!!! The house smelled like chicken when she was canning all that. YUM!!! And there is broth, too! 

She said she'll open one jar at a time and make my chicken dinners. She could leave the veggies out and I'd be okay with that, but she said no. It's the best of both worlds. A little kibble to crunch and lots of chicken for protein. I can't wait until she does beef! 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country dogs, homemade dog food, chicken dinner for dogs, rural living, a writer's life, country lifestyle, good dogs

It'll never fly again!

Do you know the very best thing about retrieving a Frisbee?  Sometimes you do not have to give it back! 

Mom buys me knock-off Frisbees a dozen at a time. I love flying discs! If Mom throws them just right, and she does almost all the time, I can snatch them right out of the air. I have great eye to fangs coordination. Mom agrees. 

A few days ago, Mom had to water her garden so I went along so she could give me a quick spray to keep me cool. Then we played Frisbee for a few minutes, but it was hot so Mom wouldn't let me run too much. When she said I'd had enough exercise for such a hot day, she gave me the Frisbee and told me to "have at it."  WOOFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew what that meant!

I found a shady spot beside the garden and went to work while Mom watered all her plants. I know a good dog shouldn't boast, but that is one Frisbee that will never fly again!

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, good dogs, country lifestyle, rural living, enjoying dogs, dog toys, Frisbee, country dogs, a writer's life, dog with a blog, animal blogs