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'm not sure about this "garden" thing

It rained all day Monday, and then it rained again this morning - and Mom was happy about it. I wasn't, not at all. Rain means little Deucie - that's ME - doesn't get to go for a walk. Apparently what is good for the garden is not good for me. 

And what is the big deal about the garden? I was out there with Mom not an hour ago and there is nothing in the garden for ME to eat. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. Mom offered me a sugar snap pea and it was foul!  

Then, to top off that insult, Mom went on Twitter, said she'd found an odd tomato in the garden and posted a picture of ME!!!! 

Is this Deuce abuse? It sort of feels like it. Why can't Mom and Dad grow me a cow? Steak comes from a cow and I like steak. How difficult can it be? No, Mom grows green plants that even Dad isn't fond of. We need to gang up on her. What the hell is Purslane, anyway? That stuff excites her. She breaks off leaves and eats them on the spot. It doesn't smell good to me. 

I'm the Number One Dog around here, but you wouldn't know it by what growing in the garden. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, gardening, rural living, black Labrador Retriever, country lifestyle, good dogs, Labs, sugar snap peas, Purslane, dog abuse

A long ride in my van

I like it when Mom gets an idea! Well, to be fair, she had this idea a while ago, but she called the plant place today and they had a dwarf blueberry bush that she says is "just the ticket." Whatever that means. 

Road trip! That's what it meant! 

We loaded Dad in the van. I sat in the back and Mom drove. Our first stop was the car wash. Now that is sort of freaky, but Mom and Dad weren't scared so neither was little Deucie. I'm smart. I know when the parents aren't concerned, I don't have to be. It's an energy thing. 

After the car wash, we went to the sub shop. Yum! Dad got a steamer sub and that a good thing for me. I like steamer sub. Mom got her usual ham and cheese. That's pretty good, too, but I don't get much of that because of the onions and hot peppers. 

When we left the sub shop, we didn't head home. We went down to the nursery instead and Mom got a blueberry bush. She's happy but she told me I can never ever never pee-pee on this bush. Well, that's no fun at all, is it? 

At least I got to go for a long ride. And we'll see just what I pee-pee on. Boy dog. That's my thing when I'm outside. Watch me.

Deuce's Day, black Lab retriever, car rides, a dog's life, rural living, dog car wash, a writer's life, Peach Sorbet blueberry, country lifestyle, gardening

Busy, busy, busy! I'm tired!

Mom and Dad have been uber busy which means I've been uber, uber busy! Do you know how difficult it is to keep an eye on BOTH of them when they won't stay in the same spot??? It's HARD!!! There's only one of little Deucie. I need a clone! 

A clone, Mom, not another puppy. You hear me, right? 

Dad's been busy working on the old Husqvarna mower and the old log splitter.  He was making progress on both, but then moved his shoulder in a way it's not supposed to move and it hurt! He had to take it easy for a few days, which was okay since it rained. Rain means both my parents are inside and easy to keep track of. 

Here's a picture of me watching Mom when she was on the tractor. We need a doggie sidecar. 

Mom's been working on her garden, using the weed whacker thingee (too noisy for me!), and mowing the grass. She could be anywhere at any time and that makes it tough to keep up with her when I'm trying to watch Dad. Yesterday was a perfect example. 

Dad was working on the old mower so he was only rolling in and out of the shed. Easy peasy. But Mom? What's a watchdog to do? Mom was on the X370 mower, on the John Deere 1023, making and mixing her soil mixture for grow bags, in the greenhouse, over to the patio, to the fire ring, back on the tractor, back on the X370, in her office, in the garden, back to her office, back on the tractor, and FINALLY she fed poor little me! 

You know, Mom. It wasn't fair to give me dog food, even if it is The Farmer's Dog, and then fix Stromboli for you and Dad. My belly was already full when the people food came out of the oven. I know you tricked me and I won't forget it. 

I sure hope things slow down around here soon. I've only had one decent car ride in a month. This is unacceptable. I keep trying to tell them it's time to go, and they do listen, but do they go get the car keys? Noooooooo. 

I don't know what the plans are for today. Mom's at the computer blogging for me but after that, she hasn't given me any clues. Maybe after yesterday, she'll take a rest. She does that on any given Sunday. We'll have to wait and see. Whatever she does, if she and Dad stay together in the same spot, I'll have an easier day. 

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, country dogs, rural living, John Deere X370, John Deere 1023, gardening, mowing, Husqvarna, log splitter, The Farmer's Dog, a writer's life, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, Labrador dogs, 

Where have I been?

I can't believe a whole month has passed since Mom and I had time to blog! We've been soooo busy in the yard, the garden, on the tractor, and helping Dad, we just haven't taken the time. 

This spring has been fun with Mom home. I'm outside all the time and I love it! Two of my balls are outside now, and when Mom walks past one she gives it a toss. I'm playing ball a lot! We also play Frisbee a bit, but Mom is very careful about that. If I start to jump and land on my back legs, Frisbee time is over. 

I've been for rides, too. Sometimes Dad rides along with Mom to town just so I can go, too. I love Dad for that. We sit in the van while Mom goes into a store. It's only on fast trips, though. We never have to wait long to head home.

Mom and I took one walk with Sadie and her parents. Don't you know she ran away from her dad and got into big time trouble. She had to go on a leash for the rest of the walk while I was able to roam out front. It was GOLDEN, baby! Mom says I shouldn't be like that, that poor Sadie can't help herself. Ha! Neither can I, Mom. 

I'm still on The Farmer's Dog diet. I love, love, love it! I'm feeling a lot better, too. I have a lot more energy. I really like it when Mom fries an egg and puts it on top. I know I'll be getting a lot of exercise that day when an egg happens.  

So everything is okee-dokee here. We're just busy. Oh! And did I mention the deer? There are deer everywhere! Mom counted and the herd is at eleven right now. I don't count. I just run them out of the yard. And the fox got hit by a car. I didn't see it, but Mom said it was pretty smushed. It's a lot quieter at night now. Loki goes outside more, too. I mean, he knew when the fox was too close and he stayed inside. 

It's almost my bedtime, so that's all for now! 

I'm Deuce and I'm helping Mom and Dad this spring! 

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, good dogs, country dogs, rural living, a writer's life, black Lab, black lives matter, deer, foxes, gardening, log splitter, 

I helped by staying out of the way!

Deuce helps make garden racks

The weather was great today! Not too cold, not too hot, just right for Mom, Dad, and me being outside. Mom had all this garden stuff she wanted to do and she needed Dad's expertise with the cordless drill to get it done today. I helped by staying out of the way. I mean, the sun was sooooo warm and my fur is black and it was sooooo nice to just flop in the grass and feel the warmth of the sun on my toes. 

We have an old pool pad beside the front porch. My parents used to put a pool on it but it's gotten sort of dangerous for Dad to climb in and out of a pool so Mom's using the spot for what she calls her garden corral. Dad helped put down a new tarp, build the racks, and get them set in place. 

Here's the problem with all this. So Mom is growing veggies. 

Peppers. I can't eat them.

Cucumbers. I don't like them.

Radishes. Yuk.

Spinach. Double yuk yuk! 

The Garden Corral ready to go

Carrots. Um... maybe, but probably not.

Lettuce- four kinds. No, no, no.

Peas. Nope.

Tomatoes. No.

Pumpkin. Yes! But I have to wait so long to get some!

Watermelon. Heck, yea!! Make me some frozen treats! 

Are Dad and I glad there's no kale on this list? YES!

So as you can see, there's not a lot for lil' ol' me to enjoy in the garden corral. I have a sneaky suspicion that if I forget myself and pee-pee on any of Mom's grow bags, I'll be in the deep doggie doo-doo. 

Tomorrow, Dad's getting on the John Deere 1023 and helping Mom do a few more things. Cousin Dave gave Mom some blocks to build a wall down on the turn of the driveway. Those careless Amazon delivery drivers have turned the corner into a muddy mess by driving up the bank. Mom and Dad say some nice concrete will stop them from being able to do that. It's a shame Mom won't let me scare any of the delivery drivers.

Not that I'd EVER scare Mary the Mail Lady. She's pretty cool. She likes me a lot and always gives me a treat. Plus, Dad says she knows how to drive slowly and is respectful of our lane, not like the Amazon drivers. Mom used to get my treats through an Amazon subscription and she canceled it because the drivers are so disrespectful. She told me not to worry, though. She can get my snackies at lots of other places. 

The thing is that if this silly garden corral makes Mom happy, Dad and I will go along with it. If Mom wants to make pickles, we want to watch. If Mom wants a big salad made with lettuce she grew in a grow bag, we'll stand back and let her enjoy it. And if Mom wants to raise a steer for steaks, we're all in!

How about it, Mom? Got any plans for beef?

****Note from Mom****

Sorry, baby. You know I'd turn a calf into a pet and then where would we be?

This seed thing is taking over!

 

I think Mom has gone round the bend. The sun is shining, true, but the ground is still chilly. I know this because I don't wear shoes! I'm outside running around in my bare paws! 

Mom says it's March, and March is the time to start planting seeds. There are little seed trays in the front window and two butt-ugly red pots on the sunroom floor in front of the door. Plus, Mom was just outside mixing garden soil, cow manure, and potting mix together in the one cart. Then she filled two grow bags with what she'd mixed and mumbled something about radishes and spinach. They don't sound very good to me, especially the spinach. Dad doesn't like it so neither do I. 

It was forty degrees outside this morning and seventy-eight in the little greenhouse. Mom was in the greenhouse talking to the celery. I just don't get it, but I'm getting worried about her. I've tasted celery and it's not my thing, just like radishes and spinach. I know a decent snackie when I smell one and seeds miss the mark. 

And Mom fussed me for something I didn't do! Okay, I did think about it, but she said "no" and I stopped. How often do I get the chance to roll in cow manure? Never, that's how often. And it was only a little clump that dropped out of the bag, not the entire bag. 

Some days I just don't have any fun at all.