Maybe it should storm every night

It's been a really busy month. I've been doing all sorts of dog stuff - playing Frisbee, chasing my ball,
going for walks, barking at deer and stuff. Cousin Dave even brought Bella to meet me! I knew she was up on the hill - we talk back and forth a little bit - but that was the first time we met nose-to-nose. She's smaller than me, and her fur is longer, and she's pretty. Mom says I need to look in a mirror because I'm rather handsome myself. 

I didn't sleep too well last night. I heard Mom and Dad say we might get a thunderstorm. I wasn't sure what that was, but I know now. We were a snuggled down in bed - me, Mom and Dad - and all at once there was a bright light and a bang and the whole house shook! 

Well, right away I jumped up and barked. My job is to protect Mom and Dad at night. Mom woke up and told me to come lie down beside her on her pillow, that it was only a storm. I trust Mom and if she's not worried, I'm not worried. I put my head on the pillow and rolled onto my back so Mom could rub my belly. I love it when she does that! 

She whispered to me about the storm, how I was a really good boy to ignore it. I think she whispered so Dad wouldn't wake up but it tickled my ear. 

Maybe it would be okay if we got a storm every night. It would give me a reason to cuddle with Mom. I mean, I'm all grown up now. I'm the big dog on the mountain. Cuddling is for pups, right? 

Maybe it's okay during a storm and Mom is awake. After all, she needs me to keep her safe. 

A snake is not a turtle

One day last year, when I was just a pup, Mom and I saw a turtle while we were out for a walk. It was pretty cool. Mom told me how when she was growing up she saw turtles all the time. Now - not so often.

Today, Mom looked out the window and told Dad to grab my collar and not let go. I didn't like the sound of that at all. Then Mom ran outside to see if she needed to put a bullet in the gun, and I liked the sound of that even less. 

It turns out Mom saw a big snake, and if it had been a Copperhead that near the house, she would have killed it. A Copperhead snake is poisonous and could kill me. (I don't think I'd like that.) Anyway, it was a Black snake and Mom took a picture of it and then chased it away. 

She said Black snakes eat mice and moles, and while it might bite me if I annoy it too badly, it won't kill me. (I don't like the idea of anything biting me, especially on the nose!)

Mom said it was ready to shed its skin and I should leave it be. Shed its skin? Really? Snakes are stranger than turtles! 

I'll be on the lookout for the snake this summer. Mom says if I see it, I should bark. I can do that. 

I'm Deuce. I have the loudest, biggest, badest bark on the mountain. Everyone WILL hear me.

Riding in Mom's car

Mom and Dad really do listen to me! They were sorry they left me home alone this morning and they took me for a ride in Mom's car! I even got to stick my nose out the window before we got on the highway. 

IN MOM'S CAR!!!!

I don't get to ride in Mom's car much. I go along all the time in Dad's pickup, but not the car. I had so much fun!  Well, I didn't like having to wear a harness and be hooked to the seatbelt, but it didn't hurt me to tolerate it. We went all the way to Clear Spring and back!

I saw cows, horses and this ugly thing Mom called the Easter Bunny. It was standing outside of Denny's Restaurant waving at everyone. I might have bad dreams about that. It didn't look like any bunny I've ever seen! It was as big as a person! 

Mom says we can go for a drive in the car again soon. I'd like that. I just hope the Easter Bunny isn't out again. Talk about something to creep out even a brave dog like me! 

I'm Deuce, and I know creepy when it waves at me. 

Dog logic

This morning Mom and Dad have to take Mom's car in for an oil change. Has it been six months already? I really wish I could go with them, but they haven't said a word about taking me along. I'll just lie in the sun and be a good dog. Maybe if they have to step over me, they'll decide I can go with them.