I want hazard pay!!!

It's a new year and the same old Sadie. 

Yep. Mom and Dad doggy-sat Sadie the Heathen again today. Did they consult with me first? Nooooo. They most certainly did not. 

It was pretty obvious Sadie was having a bad day. She wouldn't listen to Mom at all, and she usually does. When Mom says, "SIT," she means the dog's butt should hit the floor. I know it. Sadie knows it, too. But today Sadie ignored Mom. 

Mom tried to take her picture, but they all came out looking like a demon dog, which was accurate for today. 

Sadie followed Mom downstairs to the den, which is a big no-no. Loki's litter box is down there and it's off-limits to canines. Then Sadie made a grab for Loki's feeder, also a big no-no. It's a good thing Loki wasn't there when she did that. He's not one to mess around with when he's pissed off. 

Oops. I'm not supposed to say that. When he's annoyed. Don't mess with Loki when he's annoyed. 

Cousin Dave wasn't gone all that long, I'm happy to say. Things got back to normal after they left and I finally got my morning nap. 

I'm going to ask Mom and Dad for hazard pay. I want ten extra biscuits this evening. I'll be counting! 

Deuce's Day, black Lab, Labrador Retriever, rural living, dog sitting, hazard pay, good dogs, rainy days, dog treats, 

SHE was here again, and I was on my best behavior

I had to babysit Sadie again. Her parents wanted to go see a Van Gogh exhibit or whatever, so Mom volunteered us to take care of Sadie. Why does she do that? I like my days to be full of whatever Mom and Dad are doing, and with HER here, nothing happens. In fact, the pack watched television the entire time SHE was here. Mom took us out to pee-pee and stuff, but boring. 

I'd had my day all planned out, too. Around dawn, I chase the deer out of the front yard, then watch over Mom as she gets her emails handled. Then we have breakfast and coffee, which means snackies for me. After that, we go outside and do garden stuff, or walk, and then it's chores. Once chores are done, I get to nap while Mom is at the computer again. That was MY plan, which Mom shot all to smithereens. None of my plan happened. Nada. Nothing. Zippo. Zero.

I guess it wasn't all that bad, though. Sadie laid down and napped, so I did manage to snap a nap, too. Not my usual, but it had to do. Even though SHE wasn't too bad and didn't smack me in the face this time, I was glad to see Cousin Dave show up to take her home. Does that make me a bad dog? 

Mom and Dad praised me for being a good dog, so that settles it. DEUCE IS A GOOD DOG!!!!

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, dog sitter, rural living, country lifestyle, whitetail deer, doggie naps, dog treats, writers on writing, Springer Spaniel, Van Gogh

Ok, so it's neat

 

Mom decided she'd better go through the papers on her credenza. She had to scan and then shred a few papers, go through some old receipts she kept in case she needed to return anything, and file a couple of things. It's all stuff she has to do to keep the Manor running smoothly. BUT... do you see what I see? 

Look closer at the picture. 

There are TWO clear glass antique canning jars on Mom's credenza. 

And they are EMPTY. 

They should be full of MY treats! 

What gives, Mom? Why are the treat jars empty? Don't you love little Deucie any longer? Was I bad?

No. I was not bad. You always tell me I'm a GOOD DOG! So why no treats in the jar, hmm? 

I don't know about this whole retirement thing. Mom says she'll be here to take care of me every day. That we'll be able to go on long walks and play in all the creeks. She can go to the store whenever she wants to make sure we don't run out of stuff. 

So... why no treats in my jars? 

Houston, we have a problem

It started out like any other Saturday morning. Mom and I got up around six, and I went out to do all my outside activities. Mom fixed a cup of coffee, and we trotted back to her office.

And that's when it happened. 

Mom sat in her chair and I sat right in front of her like the good dog I am and batted my eyelashes at her. Then I offered her my paw. This ALWAYS gets me snackies. 

Not today.

The jar was empty. 

That's right, folks. The jar was empty. Mom let the treat jar in the office get empty. 

I know I trained her better than that. And instead of immediately going to remedy the situation, she checked her email! I did not like this at all. So I stared at her and tried to send her a telepathic message, which she didn't get. Now she's writing my blog while I sit here starving. 

That right. STARVING. 

No, I'm not being melodramatic. I want my morning snackies. 

Houston, we have a problem...........

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. 

Mom's been holding out on me!

How could Mom do this to me??? She came home from work last night and said she had something special for me. Now, I didn't think too much at first, but then she opened a container of icky stuff into a saucepan and cooked it. 

Boy, did it smell good! I didn't know what it was but I knew I was going to love it!

Chicken livers! OMG! Chicken livers!! They're as delicious as giblets! I love, love, love chicken livers!!

Mom asked me to be "handsome" and I was so excited I forgot how to do it. (Mom says "handsome" instead of "pretty" because I'm a guy.)

Then Dad spilled the beans. Mom could have been bringing me chicken livers for years. Organ meats are good for the wolf in me and Mom's been holding out. 

Bad Mom. Bad. Why don't you have a time-out in my crate?

On second thought, just give me another chicken liver and I'll forgive you. 

It's New Year's Eve and I'm quivering already!

Today is something called New Year's Eve. I remember last year when this happened. It was really difficult to get a good night's sleep. People around here went crazy! Shooting shotguns and firecrackers and blowing car horns. 

It was bad enough Mom and Dad stayed up so late. I'm used to being in bed with Mom around ten o'clock for her reading time. This staying up past midnight makes me yawn. It sounds like it's going to happen again tonight.

But there's really good news, too! I saw Mom put two steaks in the fridge. I love steak! I love steak almost as much as giblets! I get steak four times a year! 

All I need to do is cozy up to the dining room table between Mom and Dad, sit like the good dog I am, and wait for the steak! And if I sit up and be "handsome," I'll get even more. Mom calls me a beggar when I do that but I think she secretly likes it because it always makes her laugh. 

And then tomorrow we're having pork! 

I love New Year's! I'm quivering already! 

I just hope I don't start to drool before the food is on the table. 

I'm a lucky dog

I'm a really lucky dog. Mom and Dad wanted me before they even met me. Mom says the way things fell into place for them to find me means we were meant to be together. 

I have a crate I only sleep in when I want to, although sometimes when company comes I have to go inside and wait until everyone is sitting down to greet them. That's difficult. I don't have a lot of patience, but I'm Deuce! I can do it. Mom fusses about my crate. Well, it's all my stuff on top of it that bugs her, but I NEED my stuff. 

Dad's a little different. Dad doesn't fuss about much. In fact, he spoils me worse than Mom does. Dad lets drink from his water bottle, which makes Mom cringe. 

I don't get it. I give Mom kisses. What's the difference? 

Dad and I are home all day while Mom works so we get out a lot. His chair can go four miles per hour but I'm still a lot faster. We go in and out the lane a couple times a day, even when it rains. We love getting outside in the fresh air. We play Frisbee and ball a lot, but not in the rain. 

Mom keeps my treats in sealable jars on the kitchen island. Dad keeps a stash for me in the stand beside his chair. I can hear the drawer handle jiggle from anywhere in the house. 

I love riding in Dad's new pickup and he takes me with him almost everywhere he goes. Except when he has to go to a doctor. I have to stay home but I don't have to stay in my crate. I can sleep on the couch when he's gone. Mom put a special quilted cover down for me. Mom says I'm a money pit but I'm worth it. 

I saw on television that this is the time of year to be grateful for things called blessings. I think that means to be aware of the people who love me. Mom and Dad love me a lot. I'm a very lucky dog.