It was hot today - I got a patio bath, and Bambi was in my front yard

July 18, 2020

Oh, my paws it was hot today! I thought I might melt when we went outside this morning. Mom and Dad wanted to put the pallet forks on the John Deere 1023 and I went along to watch. Thank heavens they worked in the shade, and that they didn't work for long. I don't think we were out more than about an hour.

Mom said it was 95F. That's hot! I plopped down over the air conditioning vent. The cold air felt soooo good on my belly, at least at first. I had to move because, um, well, pinky started to get a bit chilly. Next time I need to make sure he's not over the register. 

I was panting so Mom filled a big bucket with lukewarm water and took me out on the patio for a quick shampoo. It felt sooooo good to be wet! Mom made sure the water got all the way to my skin. It felt so good I stood really still when she rinsed me out. Oh, my! If it's hot tomorrow, maybe she'll get me wet again. And the bonus was I shed and shed and shed! Mom brushes me but this was like a big-time shed! Now I'm cool and fluffy. Mom and Dad know just what to do to make me feel really good. 

We stayed inside all afternoon after my patio bath. After dinner, Mom looked out the window and saw the doe with the two Bambis in the front yard. She didn't tell me they were there until after they were gone. Seriously, Mom? I know I'm not supposed to chase a Bambi. Heck, I'm bigger than they are! It wouldn't be fair for me to scare them like that. 

What Mom did do was take a video of them walking into the woods and over the stone fence on their way down to the creek to drink water. The video is uploading as we work on this blog. I hope it finishes soon or today might become tomorrow and that might get confusing because Mom and I wrote this blog today. See what I mean? 

Today DID turn into tomorrow before Mom could upload the video! 

Tending the fire and a strange dog in my yard

Yesterday was another fun day. A couple of weeks ago, at least I think it was weeks because you know dogs don't tell time very well, some big limbs fell out of some trees. The wind blew so hard they snapped off and came down. I don't like the wind. It makes weird sounds in the night and I bark. That gets me fussed for waking Mom.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah! Yesterday. Yesterday Mom and Dad finished burning the brush from when those branches came down. I like it when we can all be outside around a fire. A campfire makes me remember things I've never done. Mom says that's okay, that it's a sort of primal memory. I don't know what that is, I just know I like to watch the fire with Mom and Dad.

The fire burned for a long time. Dad said it was because the wood was still green. Really, Dad? It didn't look green to me. I know dogs don't see all the colors but I'd swear on my treat jar that wood was brown, tan, and gray. 

We did have a couple minutes of excitement. A strange black dog with a red collar came into my yard. The hair stood up on my back and I went after him! He turned and ran away - fast! This is MY yard and I'll defend it! I'll keep an eye out for him, yes, I will, even though Mom says he probably won't ever come back and risk my ire. 

First thing this morning, Mom and I walked out to check the burn pile. It's an ash pile now. But I know my parents. They'll keep gathering all the big sticks and limbs that fall out of the trees and make another brush pile. Then we'll have another day where we can relax and watch the fire. It's just the way things work in my yard. 

And then there was ice

Ice that falls from the sky is not a good thing. I don't like it. Well, except for the fact Mom stayed home with me and Dad today. I like that. But ice on the ground, the kind you can't eat, is bad. 

First thing this morning when Mom let me outside to do my morning activities, I slipped. I spread my toes as wide as I could and I still slipped.  There was no traction to be had. I'm glad Mom didn't ask me to play ball because I don't know what I would have done. It would have been a real dilemma for me. But Mom could tell I didn't like the footing. I did what I had to do and went back inside with Mom and Dad. 

It's a good day for a nap but I don't think I'm going to get one. Every time the heat pump kicks on the ice flies off the fan blades and wakes me. What a racket! Oh, well. 

They say spring is coming. I'll believe it when I see it.

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.

Can I say "I told you so?"

Yesterday was pretty interesting and not in a good way, at least at first. 

I have a really big yard to patrol. I take this job very seriously. Mom and Dad depend on me to let them know when deer are in the yard, and to keep an eye on Dad when he's outside. 

Well, he went outside WITHOUT me, so how was I supposed to accomplish that?

It's autumn and that means lots and lots and lots of leaves are everywhere! I like leaves! Leaves are cool! They fly around when I run through them! I love the crunchy sound! But too many leaves can smother the grass so Dad rides the mower around to chop them up. 

Yesterday, Dad went out to do some chopping and he left me inside. I did not like this and I liked it even less when the mower stopped running and Dad was stranded out in the middle of the yard. I could have been there for him! I could have kept him company until help arrived! 

When the mower wouldn't start, he called Mom. Mom said she tried to call a few of the cousins but no one was home so she left her job and came home to help Dad. She got me to come outside, too, which was the right thing for her to do. I needed to keep an eye on them! 

Once Mom got Dad back in his power chair and the mower rolled back in the shed, she told Dad he needed to take us to Sonic for dinner because she needed to go to the grocery store and hadn't stopped. Mom confessed she was out of dog food!

What gives here?? Okay, I know Dad needed help, but he left me inside the house. Mom really should have stopped at the store on her way home. Dad could have lasted another ten minutes. It wasn't that cold!

And why was she out of dog food? I might starve! I'm a Lab and we really like our dinner. 

But it all worked out. Dad was safe. Mom got to go to the store and got not only my dog food (and a new kind of treat), she got a turkey. And the best part is we all went to Sonic and we each had a hamburger! Mine was plain. Theirs were loaded with stuff like pickles and lettuce that I don't like. 

Dad, next time you go outside, you'd better take me with you. 

Sunday morning with Mom

It's been awhile since I've had time to blog. Mom's been really busy. Her mom fell and is in the hospital. Whatever this Alzheimer's Disease is, it makes Mom sad so I do not like it. 

Mom was up early this morning. It was my fault. I was awake and bored so I nudged at her until she got up. I guess I should not have done that. Anyway, it happened and it might have been a good thing. 

This huge flock of blackbirds landed in the trees out back. They were soooo noisy. I barked and barked but they wouldn't shut up! Mom was annoyed and told me about how when she first moved here the blackbirds were a real problem. In fact, the old empty shotgun casings I find were left here in 1981 when Uncle Dick had to come and fire the shotgun to chase the birds away. Mom remembers that so she put a bullet in the little .22 and fired a shot. Those nasty birds took off! Mom's the boss, you know. 

Dad got up after that happened and they watched some of the cooking shows. Boring. In fact, I got so bored I hopped up on the loveseat with Mom and made her pay attention to me. Dad took our picture, which I don't think Mom liked because her hair was all messy. 

Mom told me to get off her lap. She says I weigh a ton but I know better. It's only seventy-five pounds, not two thousand. I asked nicely if I really had to get down so Mom relented and allowed me to stay on her lap until she finished her coffee. Then she took me outside and we played ball until she got cold. Dad took me out and we played Frisbee and I found his old Bluetooth earpiece that he lost last summer. He was happy and told me what a good boy I am.

Of course, I already knew that. I'm Deuce! 

What's the fuss about New Year's Eve?

New Year's Eve sure is noisy around here! It's really difficult for a growing boy - me - to get in his beauty sleep. All day, Mom and Dad were talking about the neighbors and their guns and now I know why. 

First off, I'm not sure what the fuss is about New Year's. A day is a day is a day. Except when Mom is home all day. Then it's sorta special. I like my people to be with me. 

So I can watch them. Like a hawk. Their every twitch. I count how many times they walk by the Grillers treats jar and don't give me one. Anyway...

Mom stayed up late to "watch the ball drop." Hey! I love, love, love balls! I KNOW balls. This one was a big dud. Boring. Anyway...

Mom and Dad got smoochy and then the racket began. A bunch of the neighbors started firing their guns. It was really loud! The noise echoed off the mountains and I finally got tired of it. I barked! Mom told me I was a good boy and we ran for the door to go outside so I could bark even louder.

I barked and only a few of my barking buddies answered me. There's a really deep voice up the hill and he wasn't talking. Then there's the female on the lower road (I can tell she's a girl) and she didn't answer me, either. If they don't answer, our network collapses. I only heard from the yappy voice a little north of me and I can never tell if that little dog is answering me or what he's doing. I think he just likes to be mouthy. Anyway...

After I barked a few times, all the shooting stopped. Mom says I'm The Boss. I was really glad it got quiet again because it was way past my bedtime. 

Mom says we'll do it again next New Year's Eve. Seriously? Why? I need my sleep!