Lambchop!

It's almost Christmas, and I already have my pressie! Mom got me my very own Lambchop! 

I love Lambchop! I'm not going to chew her up. I'm going to keep her. I'm going to kiss all over her. I'm going to sleep with her, too! 

What's that you say, Mom? Lambchop needs a BATH???

Oh, Mom. I don't think so. Lambchop likes my slobber better than you do. 

You'd better think twice, or a bunch more times, before you throw Lambchop in the washing machine. 

Seriously, Mom. I'm watching you. No drowning Lammie. I mean it. 

I am one busy dog!

I've been busy these last few months! Mom has been telling me we need to take a break and blog to let everyone know I'm still kicking. Take a break? Who is she kidding? I've been keeping her so busy she hasn't had time to blog for me. 

Seriously. I'm keeping her busy. We walk almost every day again, and I love it. Except for the fact Sadie goes along, that is. But I know how to avoid her, and Cousin Dave keeps her on the leash a lot. I don't need to be on the leash all the time because when Mom tells me to heel, I heel. She wouldn't tell me that if it wasn't important to do it until other people on the trails get past us. Apparently, I'm big enough to scare folks. That's funny! 

Mom and I go for a ride every afternoon, too. I've got to see all sorts of things. Do you know that cows are HUGE! And we've been working on firewood for weeks and weeks. I don't like the log splitter, but Mom says it's a handy-dandy thing to have. I find a sunny spot and relax to watch Mom work. 

Mom has something new for me almost every day. Most of the time it's fun, but sometimes I don't want to be "engaged." I want to sleep. I get happy when Mom settles at her computer and I can nap on the bed. I guess mental stimulation is a fine thing, but someone needs to explain to the vet that I'm almost ten years old and I need my beauty sleep. 

So there it is, Mom. Please let me get a good nap in today while you go blog for me. Okay?

Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, good dog, a writer's life, busy dog, dog walking, dog car ride, dog on bed, firewood, old dogs, country dogs, rural living

What's this thing?

What is this THING Mom and Cousin Dave left sitting in my yard? It's too ugly for yard art.  

I don't think I like it.

Mom says Cousin Dave is going to climb up in it and go way high in the air to cut the tops off of a bunch of trees. They agree the trees are too tall and too close to the den...er...house to be safe. 

I guess we do want to be safe when the wind blows. Mom says that eventually it'll all make firewood and that keeps us warm in the winter.

I guess it's okay the hoomans are doing this, but I don't think I want to watch. I'll just stay inside and snooze on the bed. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country lifestyle rural living, tree trimming, firewood, good dogs

And she did it anyway

Sometimes a guy just likes to sneak off in the middle of the day and snap a nap. Like today. Mom was canning cherries - BORING! Why won't she can steak? That would be so much better! Anyway, Mom was busy in the kitchen, so I put myself down for a nap. 

I always keep an ear tuned in on her when I nap. She has this nasty habit of sneaking out the patio door without me, so being a light sleeper, I listen. Well, I must have really dozed off because I rolled over and Mom was on the bed with me. And do you know what she asked me? Get this! She asked me what I was doing.

Seriously? Wasn't it obvious????????

Then to really be insulting, she tapped me on the shoulder. When I looked up to see what she wanted, she took my picture. 

She KNOWS I hate it when she does that. 

Lucky for me, I'm fast. I turned my face away in the nick of time. 

I bested her this time, but I know she'll get me next time. She knows how to be sneaky. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country dogs, lazy dogs, rural living, spoiled dogs, black Lab, sneaky Labrador Retriever, a writer's life

It's bad karma, isn't it?

Sadie is here. 

I must have been a very bad dog sometime in my life.  

She's following me around like I'm her daddy, or something. This is Cousin Dave's fault. He had to go for a checkup and I'm the one suffering. 

Mom told me to buck up and be a big dog, but I don't wanna! I want to whine! 

Sadie comes here and eats my snackies. She gets between me and Mom and I DO NOT like this. Mom pets her and I don't like that either! 

The next time Cousin Dave calls me his "buddy," I think I'll ignore him. 

What's up with the snakes?

 

Okay. This is getting spooky. I do not like this at all.

A couple of days ago, Mom spotted a water snake trying to take over my creek. This morning, I go outside to take care of my outside activities and I find a snake? 

Well, okay, it was just the shed skin, but ICKY! 

And all Mom has to say is she needs to weed and feed the lawn? 

What the fluff, Mom? Are you trying to grow snakes?

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country living, black snakes, rural living, good dogs, KC Kendricks, a writer's life, 

I wish Mom would not have shown me this

 

No no no no no!!!!!!!! What is that THING doing in my creek?????

I really wish Mom hadn't told me there was a SNAKE in my creek. And I really really wish she hadn't shown me a fluffin' picture of it! 

That's just plain nasty, even though it doesn't look slimy at all. 

Things have been sorta slow on the home front. I chase the deer and the squirrels, and I'm napping on the bed, most days. I go out with Mom and keep both eyes and ears on her while she does chores. And most days we go down so I can romp in the creek, but now.... Now I'm worried. 

Mom says I don't need to worry. Right. It's MY paws in the water with that creepy thing. SHE says it will hear me splashing and vamoose. Where's a moose? What the fluff, Mom? 

Mom says this guy will probably stay on the lower side of the culvert where there's a deep pool and the water is slow moving. I don't go over there and now I know why. I trusted my instincts. But Mom says the fast running part of the creek where I like to play isn't where snakes like to rest. 

I'll believe her, but I'll look around really well before I hop in the creek. This really ruins it for a guy, you know. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, water snake, creeks, good dogs, country lifestyle, rural living, a writer's life, KC Kendricks

We walked in the rain

Rainy weather doesn't stop Mom from taking me for a stroll. She has a big umbrella and off we go - unless it's what Mom says is it's pouring buckets. Then we wait. 

I'm not real fond of rain, but when it's only a drizzle, it won't stop us. Mom knows I have a favorite spot in the woods for my afternoon outside activities and she makes sure we walk past it, rain or shine. 

Any time Mom and I walk is a good time. She tells me I can walk beside her under the umbrella, but I almost never do. That thing is really weird over Deucie's little black head! 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, country dogs, walking in the rain, a writer's life, good dogs, black Lab, umbrellas

Is there a reason for this?

Oh, my Dog, I'm BORED!!!! So is Mom. So is that skanky Loki. This is awful!

It rained for days and days and days and we didn't go out much. Mom did let me ride along to the transfer station one afternoon when we were between showers, and she did take me for a short ride yesterday, but I'm still bored. 

And on a side note Mom told me she may never let me in her Charger again because I got too excited and bit at the window when she cracked it open for me. Oops. I should not have done that...

It rained all day yesterday and now today it's cold and windy outside. The sun is kinda shining, but it's windy and Mom doesn't work outside in the wind.  Mom is blogging and doing other computer work, so I went to bed. 

Now, there is a pillow beneath the bedspread to keep Loki on his side. 

He's not on his side. He's in the middle. He's sneaking up on my butt. 

I swear if he were bigger, he'd shove me right off MY bed! And what does Mom do to help? She takes a picture. 

Not helping, Mom. Not at all.

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, a dog's life, Loki the Cat, country living, a writer's life, bored dogs, great dogs, dogs on the bed

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, 

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

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

I was a rebel!

Mom and I took a little stroll to see if the wildflower seeds sprouted. Some have, but Mom said there are a lot more that should sprout if the sun ever shines again. I hear ya, Mom. All this rain is making my paws feel soggy. 

Usually, I'm a good dog. If Mom says not to do something, I pay attention. But it's spring and the grass is tall and tender from the rain. It's quite tasty! 

The problem is Mom told me not to eat the grass. 

Really, Mom? 

So I just sampled a few little pieces, and don't you know she snapped a picture for evidence. 

Busted, again!

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, grass, evidence, sneaky dogs, good dogs, country dogs, rural living, country lifestyle, dog with a blog, blogs about Labs

The chicks won't see my scar

Last Thursday was a big day. I had to go back to the vet to get my staples removed. Let me back up and say I was not pleased.

Mom tricked me again. She asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. Of course, I did! I love, love, love to go for rides. We even went through some road work and I got to bark at the flagman! How cool was that? But then Mom pulled into the vet's parking lot. Not cool at all!

The last time I was at the vet, Mom abandoned me. She handed my leash to a stranger and walked away from me. Yeah, okay, she cried when she did it so I know she felt bad, but she did it. I was really scared she would do it again even though she promised she wouldn't unless there was no other choice. 

But Mom didn't seem upset at all. We took a seat in the waiting room and I eased back between Mom's knees to keep her safe. It made me feel better, too. And Mom bent over and wrapped her arms around me. I appreciated that. 

Then the vet tech called us to go into this little room and she got on the floor beside me. She had a pair of nippers and she took out the surgery staples. I barely felt a thing! Then Mom said, "C'mon. Let's go," and I fairly dragged her to the car. I was ready to go, let me tell you! 

We got home and Mom gave me an entire Pup Peroni stick so I know I was a good dog the whole time! 

After a while, I took a look at my scar and it's impressive! If I had a girlfriend, I'd show it off, but I don't have a girlfriend. I guess it'll be mine and Mom's secret, and that's okay. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, dog surgery, dog scars, car rides, vet visits, country lifestyle, rural living, flagmen, work zones