Hot!! Hot!! Hot!!

There are a couple places in our yard where we are missing grass.  We need to re-seed those areas, but Mommy and Daddy just haven't done it yet.  Lately Hunter and Jenna (especially) have taken to eating the dirt exposed in those bare places.  Mommy has read that their love of dirt eating could be a mineral deficiency in their diet, but I share the exact same diet and I'm leaving the dirt alone.  Who knows?  All I know is that the holes are becoming slightly deeper each day and Mommy is tired of telling them no and popping them on the nose.  Instead, she resorted to a trick a former neighbor used to keep dawgs out of his yard (not us; we didn't exist back then).  She poured cayenne pepper into those holes!  Let's see what happens now . . .

Personally, I don't think this will stop Jenna at all!  She will scoff at this attempt to thwart her digging.  Hunter knows better and will probably learn a valuable lesson when this pepper goes up his nose.

I'll keep you updated on this HOT topic.

Dixie

PS:  Happy birthday this week to Cousin K who turns FIVE on Wednesday and Cousin A who turns TWO on Thursday!

Bye Bye Birdies!

A few weeks ago, we had a nasty storm that brought down a fairly small tree in our backyard.  When Mommy and Daddy went to check out the damage, I noticed something small hopping around on the ground nearby.  After doing some investigative sniffing, I let everyone know there was a baby blue jay on the ground!  Thankfully for the bird, it was on the other side of our fence.  Mommy decided to send the three of us inside, and then she returned with her camera.  I was a little offended.  After all, I found the baby.  Shouldn't I get to check it out closer too?

Mommy found one baby bird in the grass and one on a low branch of the tree.  At the same time, the birds' parents found her!  They were NOT happy with Mommy snooping around.  They squawked and flew back and forth between trees flapping their wings.  Thankfully they never made any moves towards her (although that would have served her right for not letting me share in this adventure).

About an hour later, Mommy left me inside (AGAIN) and went back out to see where the babies were.  One was still hanging out under the tree and the other was headed for greener pastures.  Neither bird seemed to be able to actually fly yet.  They just sort of hopped around.  Daddy figured they had recently been kicked out of the nest and told it was time to fall or fly!

The next day while playing ball outside with us, Mommy noticed two little bouncing blobs in the yard.  She rushed us inside (not again!?) and ran back out with her camera.  She discovered FOUR baby blue jays and this time they were inside the fence!  She watched as closely as she dared under the watchful eyes of the birds' parents.  She says they were super cute to watch hopping around.  I wouldn't know first hand since I was denied that experience.  [sigh]

We didn't see the babies after that.  I can only assume they learned to fly or at least realized our backyard was not an ideal location considering three dawgs lived nearby.  I wonder if dawgs ever get to a certain age where their parents kick them out?  Hmmm . . . I'll have to look into this.

Jenna

Wanna Walk?

We've had a stretch of non-rainy days this week and we are thrilled that Mommy has finally been able to take us for walks.  We have such a huge yard, that we don't actually leash walk a good portion of the year. However when school is out, we can finally get around to visiting the neighbors . . . or at least their yards!  It's been a while since we've been on a leash for anything except doctor visits.  Mommy was so sick with her thyroid last year that she was banned from any form of exercise.  As a result, it's time for a slim down this summer!  (I think she's hoping that putting those words down in writing will make it magically happen!  Crossing our paws.)

Mommy took Dixie out on Monday and as they walked, she decided on a schedule for us: Dixie will walk Mondays and Thursdays; Jenna will walk Tuesdays and Fridays; I will walk on Wednesdays to give Mommy a slower pace one day a week.  Daddy said Mommy should leave me home and take Dixie Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and give Jenna the other two days.  His plan did not include a day for me.  He already thinks I look like a Third World Dawg since I don't eat as much as I used to!  He says Dixie needs it more.  I don't know why Daddy thinks Dixie is chunky.  She and Jenna actually weigh within a pound or two of each other.  I personally think they're just built differently.

After having gone over a year without true leash walking, the girls surprised Mommy with their cooperation.  Dixie did a great job walking on Monday.  She only barked at one family and although tempted, did not run after a squirrel on the path.  Jenna dug deep into her memory and pulled out all of her training that came before her arrival here.  She rarely left Mommy's side during the entire walk.  Except for that cute little blue paper plate with white stars all over it found in the edge of the woods.  (Who leaves a party plate there?)  Jenna did think the plate was quite yummy, but Mommy was successful in keeping Jenna from eating most of it!

Then it was my turn.  I was super excited to be able to join Mommy.  We started out at a decent pace except for those million times when I felt the need to mark my territory all over the neighborhood.  I remembered our walk very well, but I just couldn't make it the whole way.  [sigh]  Mommy definitely slowed down the pace for me, but it didn't help.  She decided to cut our walk short.  (I think she was having nightmares of having to carry my eighty pounds back to the house by herself!)  She kindly took several rest stops for me on the way back to the house.  I'm not sure if she broke a sweat, but I sure did!

I was so happy to be home when we finally returned.  Mommy turned the hose on me to help cool me down.  I'm embarrassed to say all of this took place before 8AM, so it wasn't even that hot yet.  She finally propped the hose in one of the planters and I settled down in front of it.  Have no fear, I didn't actually drink that much water.  She and I both know better than to let me gorge on water when I'm super hot which could result in serious tummy troubles.

I guess we'll have to go with Daddy's walking plan after all.  Or maybe Mommy will just take me for a spin around the block every so often?  We'll see what the new week brings.

Growing old is ruff!
Hunter

Take Your Dog to Work Day

  

Yep, you read that right.  It's Take Your Dog to Work Day!!!  Today is a nationwide effort to promote pet adoption.  You can read more about it here.  At the very least, go to the website to see pictures of former participants.  Some of the dawgs are hilarious.  Be sure to read their job titles.

We begged and begged Daddy to take us to work with him today.  We even tried to talk him into taking just one of us, but he just looked at us like we had three heads.  Technically we do, but on three different bodies! Even though Daddy refused to take us with him (party pooper), we decided to brainstorm job titles for ourselves:  

Dixie would be the Office Gopher.  If you need something, just throw a tennis ball nearby and she can fetch it up for you!

Jenna would be the Break Room Janitor.  She could observe everyone's eating habits and clean up when everyone is finished.  The floor and tables would sparkle like never before!

Hunter would be Human Resources Supervisor.  He could make sure everyone was receiving the breaks they had earned and make sure they took a ten minute nap every two hours.  He could also mediate between teammates who were not getting along.  He's super good at mediation here at home.  

[sigh]  We'll just have to settle for going to "work" with Mommy today.  Since it's summer, that means we will take a walk, clean house, read a book, maybe scrapbook some, surf the internet, and so much more.  It's a busy day at the house when Mommy is home.  

Let us know if you took your dawg to work today.  We'd love to hear all about it!

Hunter, Dixie & Jenna

A Thank You to Daddy

Dear Daddy,

Thank you sooooooo much for sacrificing your sleep last night for me!  The storm we had was REALLY LOUD and it made me very nervous.  I know I had my thunder shirt on, but it was still very scary for me.  The lightning was so bright, I could see the frustration in your eyes.  I'm sure you could see the panic in mine.

Yes, you wanted to scream when Mommy got up and helped me into your bed.  And yes, you wanted to scream when I couldn't get comfy on the bed and just kept standing there in the middle panting and panting.  And yes, when I finally decided to lie down, it was practically on top of you.  But did you scream at me?  No, you did not!  Because you're the best Daddy in the world!

Instead, you grabbed your pillow and headed to your favorite spot in the house, the leather sofa, where you settled in for the rest of the night.  Mommy and I are super grateful that you didn't make a fuss about it even though you had to go to work the next day.  I was finally able to stretch out and be comfy with Mommy's arms wrapped tightly around me.  I felt safe and secure for the rest of the night.  [sigh]

Thanks, Daddy, for being so understanding.  I know I'm not always easy to deal with in my old age.  I woof you!

Hunter


PS: Mommy is super thankful she was finally able to sleep in until at least 7AM!  Maybe you and I should trade places more often?  I could sleep in the bed; you could take my place on the floor?  Or I have two dawg beds upstairs . . . just something to think about.  Sleeping in makes all the difference in the world when you're in a comfy bed, don't you think?

Wanna Drink?

I have a "new" water bowl!  Mommy keeps our water bowl in the kitchen as full as she possibly can, but it's a tough job with three of us in the house.  We each have our own unique drinking habits.  Jenna tends to head to the bowl as soon as she is released from her crate and right after she eats (dripping water ALL OVER THE PLACE).  Dixie just grabs and goes every so often.  There is really no rhyme or reason to her drinking.  I like to drink the entire bowl in one standing.

For some strange reason I've always preferred to do my drinking outside.  The water just tastes better outside.  Sometimes Mommy uses the hose to fill up our bowls (we have two outside) and sometimes she carries the bowl back and forth from the kitchen sink; either way, it's great!  The number one problem with my system is the winter.  At some point the bowls freeze over and stay that way for days or weeks at a time.  Another potential problem with drinking outside is that the birds like to use our bowls as bird baths.  I generally don't let that stop me from getting my fill!

We've had a decent amount of rain lately and so my newest water hole has been full!  Our outdoor dawg beds generally allow water to pass right through, but there are a few patches where water just collects in little puddles.  These puddles are perfect for drinking.  The best part about drinking from my bed?  Jenna and Dixie leave me alone, and I can drink all by myself!

A toast to me and my new bowl!
Hunter

PS: I've just been informed that Mommy has ordered a special outdoor watering system for dawgs.  We'll let you know how it works when it arrives . . . .

Happy Father's Day!

Today is the day we get to honor Daddy!  He works really hard to make sure we have everything we need (the essentials such as toys, treats, a comfy bed).  He's the best!

Mommy recently heard on the radio that Father's Day is the holiday people spend the least amount of money on.  What an outrage!  We don't really think that's true at our house, but it is hard to buy for the men in our family who already have everything they want and/or need!  Perhaps next year Daddy (as well as Grandaddy and Poppa) could pretend they are writing a letter to Santa and give us some sort of idea as to what they might like to have.  HINT!  HINT!  That would make Mommy's life much easier and even though it's Father's Day, we all know "if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"  Wouldn't you agree?

What is it about the fathers in our lives with their backs to the camera???

Grandadddy and Mimi were here for the weekend, but had to leave today.  Mommy made a special treat for a quick breakfast before they left.  (Actually, there was nothing special about the breakfast, just the toppings!)  We thought they tasted pretty good, but we weren't allowed to go anywhere near those tiny pieces of clothing.  

We hope Daddy, Grandaddy, and Poppa all have a terrific Father's Day!

We love you!

Hunter, Dixie, and Jenna

In a Rut?

Do you ever find yourself in a rut?  We can't believe we're writing this on Mommy's official first day of summer, but we are in a RUT!  Already, you ask?  Don't worry, it's not what you think!

Mommy has noticed that when she throws the ball, we're back and forth through the yard in the exact same place.  You can see this path in the grass.  We're not sure why she's surprised; it's the exact same path we created in the snow too!  She's probably afraid we're going to wear down permanent marks in the grass and then won't be any grass!

It doesn't matter where she throws the ball, we still find our way to this location!  And it's not just one of us; it's all THREE!!

We're not sure why we hone in on this particular roadway, but it seems to work best for us.  

Let the summer begin!!!  We're kicking up our heels!  All TWELVE of  'em!
Hunter, Dixie & Jenna

Play Ball!

Mommy bought us a bag of brand new tennis balls.  We go through them pretty quickly at our house.  Aunt Kelly gave us a bag for Christmas, and for the most part they've all been destroyed!  Mommy thought it would be a good idea to put the balls in a container on the deck for us.  What was she thinking???  Did she forget that Dixie insists upon stuffing her mouth with two if there are extras lying around?  And then Dixie refuses to let go of them.  Why did Mommy not think of these scenarios?  Dumb-de-dumb-dumb!

I hardly play ball myself anymore, but the girls love to play.  Especially Dixie.  Jenna, however, was the one who surprised us recently with her determination to play.  Frequently she will retrieve a ball only to have Dixie grab it as soon as it falls out of Jenna's mouth.   But with a plethora of tennis balls on hand, Jenna wasn't giving up.  She continued to take a ball and bring it to Daddy until her supply ran out.  Daddy threw the ball and Jenna retrieved it.  Dixie nabbed it and ran off with it.  So Jenna took another ball from the supply and the steps were repeated.  Over and over and over.

Poor girl.  I felt a little sorry for Jenna until I remembered how she likes to grab the frisbees out of my mouth even when she already has her own!

Jenna also displayed her smarts by taking a short cut.  Instead of climbing the deck steps to bring the ball to Daddy, she would sling it to him under the deck railing.  My parents couldn't decide if she was being lazy or smart.  I personally think anything to avoid stairs is smart (right, Grandma?).  Unfortunately, sometimes Dixie still managed to get her teeth on the ball before Daddy could pick it up with the Chuck-It.  That didn't seem to bother Jenna.  She just kept going until the ball supply ran out!

Mommy's real problem with leaving all the tennis balls outside is that we can only carry two each (if we're lucky).  That means what when we're feeling lazy or stubborn, and the balls are all over the yard, guess who gets to pretend she's a retriever???

So long for now,
Hunter

My Big Brother

Do you have a big brother?  Poppa is a big brother and so is Daddy.  Big brothers look out for their little sisters.  Little sisters also try to help their big brothers (when they aren't being pesky).  Hunter is a GREAT big brother to me.  There are so many times when we help each other out.

They say you can't teach an old dawg new tricks.  That must be true.  Hunter has never really caught onto ringing the bell to go outside.  He might have hit it once or twice in my first year here, but it never became a habit.  Hunter prefers the "stare down" method or the "stand at the door until someone notices you" method.  I don't think either of these methods is very reliable which is why I ring the fool out of that bell every chance I get!  For the most part, Hunter's system seems to work for him.  Our parents are usually pretty quick to notice when he needs their help.  But on those rare times when he doesn't get their attention, I ring the bell for him.  Mommy or Daddy shows up to open the door, and I step back to allow Hunter to go out and do his business.  Am I sweet little sister or what?

When Jenna and I are in a tug of war over a toy, Hunter rushes to my aid barking his head off!  I do the same when he and Jenna are in a battle over a frisbee.  We try to distract Jenna until she lets go.  She usually never does, but that's besides the point.  And whenever Hunter chooses a shady resting spot, you can be guaranteed I will usually choose the spot right beside him.

As payment for all of my kindness, Hunter points out the best spots in the yard to roll around.  When Hunter sniffs out something yummy, he shows me the magic spot.  After he takes a nose dive into the spot, I get my chance.

When I'm stuck outside by myself, Hunter lets my parents know when I want to come inside.  I don't go crazy like Hunter (barking his head off) and Jenna (jumping five feet in the air) to get my parents' attention. Instead, Hunter barks once to let them know their attention is needed at the door.  Hunter also rewards my sisterly kindness by leaving me a few morsels in his food bowl.  He eats as much as he wants and then steps back to let me enjoy the last few bites.  I enjoy cleaning out his bowl when he's finished.  It just shows how much Hunter loves me!

Having a big brother is the best thing ever!
Dixie


PS: I've been told by Mommy that if I grab Hunter's medications out of his food bowl one more time, I'm dead meat!  Surely he wants me to be healthy too???  Wouldn't a big brother want that for his sister???

PS2: Happy FIFTEENTH Anniversary to Mommy and Daddy!  Woof!  Woof!  Woof!