Where's the frog at today?

Where's the frog today?

I'm a pretty smart dog. Ask Mom. She'll tell you I'm not fibbing. I learn new stuff all the time, and one of the things I've learned is that frogs are sneaky little things. It's true! Let me tell you the facts.

There is a ditch that runs along the lane so that when it rains, the water coming down from the top of the big hill doesn't make ruts Mom's car can't drive over. There's a spot where the water makes a tiny pool and a frog lives in it. Mom says a frog in that spot is a good thing because it eats bug eggs which, sounds really nasty, but I'm not a frog.

Oh, and Mom says not to worry about the frog. It's just a couple of hops over to the spring branch or the creek, so if his little pool dries up, he'll be fine. 

Anyway...I know about the frog. When Mom and Dad take me down to the creek to play in the water, I look for him. I know how to stand really still, too. Mom says I have really good focus when I want. The funny thing is, I know he's there and I still jump every time he moves! How silly is that? 

I'm Deuce! I'm a big, bad, black Labrador Retriever, for heaven's sake. I'm descended from the St. John's Dog! He's an itty bitty frog. It's not like he's bigger than me. The deer are bigger than me and I'm not jumpy over them. 

Some days the frog isn't around. Maybe he's back inside the culvert or under the water where I can't spot him. I get a little disappointed when that happens. It's a lot more fun to sneak up on him and make HIM jump.

I'll try again tomorrow. 

Prepping for spring

The entire pack was home today to enjoy a beautiful day. It was so warm I trotted down and jumped into the creek. Boy, that water was c-c-cold! I liked it! And it was really cool that Dad went with me and Mom down to the creek. He only recently started taking his chair down the hill. Don't know why, but I guess since he's a pack leader he doesn't need to tell me.

Mom went to town first thing this morning to finish doing Grandma's taxes. I'm a dog and I don't need to know what that means, either. I do know Mom was sort of, you know, pissed off. The lady told Mom she didn't have some form and Mom knew she did. Turns out Mom was correct so the trip to town was just wasted gasoline. Mom hates that. She does pay attention to something called her carbon footprint. If it's necessary, she doesn't mind going, but when it's not... Mom gets formidable. 

Then it was more about gasoline. Mom and Dad gassed-up the mowers and topped off the tank in the John Deere 1023. Then we loaded the gas cans in the back of Dad's Silverado and went to the gas station. Mom filled the cans and the tank of the truck. I can't get out at the gas station but I get to hang my head out the window and watch. 

On the way home, Dad left my window down because it was 70F and really nice. My nose was really busy! There were a lot of new spring smells to take in. Then Mom leaned back and took my picture. My humans are just way too camera-crazy. It was a really fun outing for me. 

What a day! I got in the creek, went for a ride, and we had pizza for dinner!
It's good to be ME!!!!

My paws got wet

It snowed last night! Mom said a bad word when she looked out the window this morning and saw snow on the ground. I pretended not to hear it, but I did. The good news is Mom took me outside and I got to run all over the place and she didn't make me hurry. She was taking snow pictures.

Mom said Auntie Roxy jinxed us. Auntie Roxie asked Mom last night if we were to get snow and Mom said she hadn't seen that on her weather app.  Come to think of it, Mom actually snickered at the idea of snow. I bet that's why Mom said the bad word. She was surprised. 

There wasn't much snow. It didn't cover the lane or even all the grass, but it was sure cold on my paws. I had fun, though. I ran up and down, sniffing where the deer had been. 

Even Loki ran through the snow. I bet he won't do that when there are six inches of the white stuff on the ground. He's a little guy. Plus, cats are wimpy in the snow. 

I'm glad I'm not a deer. I got to sleep on a nice warm bed while the snow was falling. The critters have to sleep on the cold ground and get wet. 

You know, maybe I shouldn't whine about my paws getting wet this morning. I have it pretty good. I have a pack, a safe place to sleep, and I get things to eat like turkey giblets. 

I'm Deuce, and I'm really a lucky dog. 

Really, Mom?

It's gotten really cold outside, so cold that Mom can't go out without a coat. I have to stand at the door and wait for her until she's got on a coat and gloves. I hate to wait!

Cold weather cuts into my walk time, too. My paws are pretty tough but the ground is freezing. Mom knows this and she pays attention. I must do something that signals her my tootsies have had enough because she seems to know just the right moment to turn around and head home. We had a dusting of snow the other morning. That was really cold on my paws but I liked it. 

Mom and I get bored when it's cold outside. We were out of bed at our usual time and I went out by myself to tinkle. That's all good. But Mom won't take a cup of coffee to the porch or patio when it's this cold. I sit at the door in Mom's office and look out, but it's not the same as being outside and able to smell the breeze. Plus, that skanky Loki comes pussy-footing along and sits beside me. He doesn't help me keep an eye on the neighborhood. He's too busy washing his paws to be of any use. 

This morning, Mom set the jar of Grillers on her desk. I love Grillers! They're the best!  Anyway, she gave me a few bites - she always breaks them into pieces so I get to taste them - and then she closed the jar. But I could see it. I could see there were more Grillers inside! So I sniffed the jar and do you know what she did? She took my picture. Mom set me up!

Really, Mom? I'm Deuce and I know what you did. We can be friends again if you give me another Griller. 

Did not! Dad gave it to me!

I love Frisbee! It's really difficult not to be able to chase and catch them. Running and jumping like that is bad for my leg. Mom and Dad understand how sad I am so they still give me Frisbees to gnaw on. They're good parents. It's not the same but I get a lot of mileage out of one Frisbee. 

The thing is, Mom put this one in the trash and it's my favorite. Dad got it out for me but now I'm in trouble with Mom. She thinks Dad is covering for me. He's not! He really did give it to me. 

Mom says I'm holding the evidence. She'll get over it. She did take my picture and that means it's really okay. And she let me keep it. 

Mom lets me get away with a lot of things just because I'm Deuce. It's good to be me!

A quick walk on a cold day

I love Saturdays! Mom is home with Dad and me, and I get to do cool things with her. It's really fun 

to be able to play ball with her when it's not getting dark. Dad says the days are getting longer and pretty soon we'll have daylight when Mom gets home from work. 

It's been cold this winter. I hear Mom and Dad talking about it a lot. Mom has a website she checks all the time that has the daily temperatures for our area on it. She says our warmest January was back in 1932. It averaged 42.9F that month. This January isn't going to be anywhere close to that. It was zero degrees a lot! No wonder she didn't want to take me for a Saturday walk for weeks and weeks. 

Today was better. It was about 32F, or right at the freezing mark, but the wind wasn't blowing very hard. We'd have frozen solid if we'd gone outside in the wind yesterday. I made quick work of my necessary outside trips, let me tell you. I'm Deuce and I know when it's too cold to be outside on a lark.  

Mom bundled up in a coat and put on this weird hat/scarf thing on her head. The scarf part has built in pockets to keep her hands warm. Anyway, we walked along our favorite road. It goes into the state park and cars can't drive on it. Except for the park rangers but they don't bother us because we don't bother them.

I was a little disappointed, though. We got to one of my favorite spots to play in the creek and it was frozen. Mom said that meant it was too cold for little ol' me to jump in. There's a really deep hole just before the water goes into the pipe and I love, love, love to hop in. When it's warm, Mom sits on the edge and applauds my splashing efforts. We have a lot fun at that spot.

On the way home, I was bad and disobeyed Mom. I don't do that very often but I really wanted to jump in the water just once! I waited until we got to the very last spot, at Cousin Chris's dam. There wasn't any ice there and I jumped in. Mom was right. The water was freezing! I got out in a hurry, let me tell you. 

I can't wait until spring gets here! 

I hurt my paw

I hurt my right front paw. I don't know how I did it. I don't remember doing it. Mom dragged me to the vet so I really wish I hadn't done it.

It started on Sunday. I heard Mom ask Dad if he'd noticed me limping. He said maybe and that was all it took. Mom turned into a hover-hawk-Mom. Every time I walked she watched me. She even took me outside for no reason except to watch me walk.

Yesterday, that was Monday, my paw hurt a little worse when Mom took me outside first thing in the morning so I could do my outside activity stuff. Then she told Dad which meant Dad took me outside during the day but he wouldn't play ball. He didn't want me to do any running. Then before Mom and I went to bed, they ganged up on me.

They tricked me into getting on the bed and rolling over. Then Dad held the flashlight while Mom examined my paw. She told Dad she saw a red bump that looked like a pimple. (What the hell is a pimple?) She told Dad if I wasn't better in a day or two, she'd call the vet.

Mom lied. She called the vet this morning!

It seems she didn't like the way I limped this morning, or that I held my front paw up when I tinkled. (She laughed at me when I did that. Don't let her say she didn't.) Then they double-teamed me on the bed again. Mom had my paw and hit a spot that really hurt and I sorta almost snapped at her it hurt so bad.

I was really ashamed I did that. Mom fussed me just a little bit because she had to but then she stroked my face and told me it was okay. She understood it had hurt.

And then she called the vet.  She even left work early to come get me and Dad. 

The vet was really nice to me. I could tell he didn't mean to hurt me but he did. He took a real sharp needle and jabbed the pimple. I hate needles! Then he squeezed my paw some more and I did not like that at all, but my paw felt a little better after he did that. Mom said there was nasty stuff in there I don't want to know about. 

Now Mom has pills to give me every day for five days which means cheese. I love cheese! Maybe I'll allow her to soak my foot in Epsom salt like the vet said and maybe I won't. We'll have to see about that. 

I'll have to be more careful outside. This could have been a lot worse than the vet sticking me. Dad said my paw might have fallen off! I think he's pulling my tail. 

Isn't he?

Happy Very Cold New Year's Day!

It's cold outside. Dad says we're in a deep freeze. Is that like Mom's freezer? Humans can be a bit confusing at times. I just know my toes got really cold when Mom took me out to play. 

Yesterday Mom was working on a story and Dad was watching the television. I was bored so I tried to get Mom to put on a coat and take me out to play ball. It worked! We went out but then my feet were so cold I ran past Mom with the ball and headed for the door. She laughed and followed me. It's kinda cool when Mom knows exactly what I need and I needed to get my feet warm!

It's even colder today. We stayed up late to watch that silly ball drop again. I still don't get it. What good is a ball you can't play with? Because Mom stayed up late, we slept in this morning. I'm glad, too. I bet it was really cold at six a.m.

I think today is a good day to stay inside where it's warm. I'm sure Mom can think up a few games for me to play when I get antsy.

Mom says I'll be two years old in just a few days and that's a good start for the New Year. As long as me, Mom and Dad are a pack, this year will be great! 

I wish I had thumbs

Mom and Dad have been uber busy since Thanksgiving. Especially Mom. She looks after Dad and me, and now she has to look after her stepfather and his house. The other night she fell asleep at seven o'clock. I wasn't ready for bed but I went with her because protecting her is my job. 

She's been sorting through Grandma's things. It started out because of a plumbing leak at Grandma's house. She had to move a lot of plastic storage containers so she decided to just "handle it right now and be done." I'm not sure what that means but it took a lot of hours and Mom took a lot of clothes and fabric somewhere. I went along to help once, but I think I just got in the way. I wanted to help but I don't have thumbs. I can't hold open trash bags or carry them for her. I don't think that's fair. 

The funny thing is, Mom loves my paws. She's all the time saying, "look at your feet!" when I come back from being outside. I can tell she's not angry so that must mean she loves them. 

I remember when I was really, really little she always played with my toes. Come to think of it, the first thing my vet said to me was "look at the paws on that one!"

So I guess I have really good paws even though I can't help Mom carry stuff. But I'm thinking having thumbs would be pretty cool.

The red fox

Saturday morning started out with a boom. Seriously. A big boom! The neighbor down over the hill fired a shot at daybreak! Dad said it sounded like a black powder muzzleloader. The deer hunters have a black powder season so lots of the neighbors have those guns. 

Mom and I woke up to the big boom. Mom muttered something about idiots but since she wasn't talking about me or Dad, I went back to sleep for a bit. When we finally got up, Mom took me straight-away to the door like she always does. I knew as soon as I stepped outside something was wrong. I smelled it and pushed Mom back inside. She didn't know what was going on and fussed me for almost knocking her down. 

I growled and growled so she started looking out the windows and that's when she saw it lying in the yard beside the patio - an injured red fox. Mom opened the bathroom window and the fox tried to get up and run but it couldn't. Its hind legs were paralyzed but it was still strong enough to drag itself a few feet and hide under the hostas. 

Right away she told me it had been shot. Mom went into the bedroom and told Dad he had to get up and put the fox out of its misery. I had to think about that for a minute and I'm pretty sure she meant the fox was in a lot of pain and it made her sad. It made Dad sad, too. He got up and didn't even put on his pants before he loaded the rifle. He said we couldn't let the fox suffer any longer than necessary. 

Dad's a really good shot. 

Mom and Dad used the backhoe on the John Deere to bury the fox. Even though they don't like having foxes around, they were still sad they had to put it down. They're kind of angry with the neighbors, too. They say if you load your gun to hunt, you'd better know how to make a clean, quick kill. They say it's wrong to let any animal suffer. 

I agree.

The big, bad kitchen floor

Mom's not happy and when Mom isn't happy, ain't no puppy happy. 

I don't know why, or maybe I can't remember why, but I'm afraid to walk across the kitchen floor. It doesn't make any sense. I used to run through the kitchen all the time. Now it scares me. 

Mom is trying to be patient with me, but she knows there's no reason in the world for me to be afraid. It's only the floor. We all walk on the floor.  Heck, I sleep on the floor. The floor doesn't move or anything. It just lies there. 

I wish I knew why I got frightened. I'm Deuce. I'm a big guy, not a baby. So why am I behaving like a little scared puppy? It's sort of embarrassing. 

Mom's being patient with me and helping me work through it. She puts her hand on my shoulders and tells me it's okay. Once I take the first two steps into the kitchen, I'm better. I can do it.

But you know what's really confusing? Sometimes I forget I'm scared and trot right through! 

No wonder Mom told me I'm behaving like an idiot. 

Let's talk

It's time for me to have a serious conversation with Mom and Dad. 

Yesterday was Dad's family reunion. I had to spend a couple of hours in my crate. Ok, I get it. They worry I'll get bored and do something they won't like to entertain myself. It could happen even though I'm pretty much all grown up now. I know a lot of things and I know chewing up the throw pillows and digging in the trash can are big no-nos. 

I don't like it when Mom and Dad go away without me. Sure it hurts when my people don't include me, but I understand. Sometimes they just have to go take care of business. 

They said they were going to a family reunion. So how come Mom came home smelling of hound dog??????  I did not like this. 

And I get it that Dad wanted to spend some time with Uncles Bob and Jim playing poker and losing money. (He could have bought a whole big bag of Grillers with that money!) Mom says it's bonding time and I get bonding time is important.  So how come Dad came home at one o'clock in the morning smelling of two different mixed breeds????  Did he think I wasn't going to notice???? 

There had better be some good compensation for this. 

My feelings are a little hurt. Mom has apologized to me. She said if she'd known dogs were allowed, I could have gone along. Dad is still sleeping and I'm going to ignore him until he apologizes, too. 

I'm a good dog. I don't pee on human things. I don't bark much. I don't, nor have I ever, snatched people food off the table. I listen to what Mom tells me. I'm polite and well-behaved when Mom says the situation calls for it.

I'm Deuce, and I'm family, too. 

Love those pearly whites!

Mom says I have great teeth. Even the vet said my teeth look good so I'm not sure why Mom thinks we need to do anything to them, but you know how Moms can be. 

She says we need to keep the pearly whites white so that's all there is to that. There's no point arguing with her. She's going brush my teeth. 

I guess it won't be all that bad. Mom never does things to hurt me. Smart money is on me getting a good treat when she's finished. 

Mom calls me a money pit. I'm not sure what that is but I think she means she spends a lot of money on me. 

I'm Deuce! I'm worth it! 

Mom's writing today

Mom's on vacation this week which means she's home with me and Dad. I really like that. She said today was her "don't bother me I'm writing" day. 

I was a little worried about that idea. Sometimes I'm a bother even when I don't want to be. But Mom said it was okay for me to keep her company if I planned to be quiet and nap. So I did.

Then Dad came to fix the door because it was sticking in one corner. Too much damp weather caused it is what he said. After he fixed the door, he took a picture of me under Mom's desk. Mom really liked it because she never gets to see me under her desk from the front. 

Mom says I'm a good dog and she likes that I want to be with her. I like she wants me to be close to her. 

I'm Deuce. Helping Mom write is what I do.

No! No! This can't be right.

I heard Mom tell Dad I had an appointment with the vet next Friday morning for "booster shots." This is NOT a good thing. I hate needles. Mom had better have something good planned to make up for this. 

If I close my eyes, will this go away? If I can't see it, it can't hurt me, right?

It's all in a dog's day

It's been a busy week. Mom went to her day job office every day. I wish she could stay home with me, but she says she has to work in order to keep me in Frisbees and kibble. I like it when she can work from home. She doesn't get to do that nearly enough.

While Mom is away, Dad and I stick to our routine. I like to go back to bed with him for a little while so we can talk. Well, he talks and I listen and then we get up. Dad lets me out again if Mom reported I didn't do all my outside activities. After coffee, Dad gets dressed and we go out together to play Frisbee. Dad sits in his fancy chair and we walk out and back in the lane so I can check on everything.

Before lunch, we do Frisbee again. After lunch we Frisbee and walk. This is my third walk because Mom and I walk before she goes to her pesky day job. Then it's nap time. (Oh no! I wasn't supposed to tell Mom about our nap time!) After that, Mom comes home and it's always a surprise as to what the evening brings. We might play ball, or go for another walk, or even go check out how cold the water is in the creek. We did that last night.

I like my routine. It's good to know what the day will bring and it makes going for rides with Dad more special since they don't happen all the time. Mom says her spring vacation is coming soon and we'll do fun things like go down to the aqueduct to swim. It'll be great to have Mom home even if it will bust my routine to smithereens. That's a new word Mom used. 

Dad says this summer I'll be able to help him outside more. Last summer I was just a little guy and had to stay in my crate while he mowed and stuff. Dad says as long as I don't wander off on my own, I can hang out in the yard with him. I'm good with that.

I'm Deuce. Keeping an eye on Dad is what I do. 

We have a new office

Mom decided to move her office to the sunroom and I think it was a great idea. The sunroom has windows for me to look out and keep an eye on those skanky deer. The windows in Mom's old office were too high. I had to put my paws on the window sill to look out and Mom did not like me to do that. 

Anyway, Mom leaves the blinds up so I can stretch out in front of the door and have a good view. 

It wasn't much fun when Mom was moving furniture. She was a real bear. It must have been hard work maneuvering all that heavy awkward stuff in and out of doors. I wasn't much help at first. I got in the way and ended up in my crate for an hour. Then I understood - stay out of Mom's way when she's carrying stuff, sliding stuff, flipping stuff, and rearranging stuff. 

Another thing I really, really like is I can rest on Mom's bed and keep an eye on her. The sunroom was built on to her bedroom for her to have a private room. Last night I tried to get her to turn off the computer and come to bed, but she ignored me. So I took a nap on her pillow.

Mom says she needs to get a rug set, whatever that is, and then she'll be all settled in. Dad has to fix a piece of moulding that got broke - I did not do it.

I hope Mom likes her new office. I think we'll have a lot of fun watching all the critters and sitting on the porch. And of course writing, but I'll leave that to Mom. 

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.