Our Country's Future is in the Paws of . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

As our country turns 239 years old (that's 1,673 in dawg years!!!), I thought it would be good to think about where we've come from and reflect on where we as a country are headed.  For a conservative family like ours, this can be a scary thought . . .

When you envision our country's future, what do you think of?  I'm betting you don't think of my sister Jenna!  Mommy and Daddy have decided Jenna definitely has a future as a government employee.  (I don't think they say this with pleasure, either!)  There are several departments in which she could easily be a good fit:

FAA: Food A-holics Anonymous

FCC: Food Control Council

DEA: Dead Edible Animals

NCIS: No Chance I'm Sharing

ATF: All The Food

What do all of these deapartments have in common?  You may previously have thought these government agencies had to do with aviation, communication, drugs, alcohol, tobacco,
or firearms, but you would be wrong!  Instead, they all deal with JENNA and her obsession with food!

So sit back America and hold onto your food!  We could be in for a bumpy road (possibly Rocky Road??) if Jenna's in charge!

Happy Fourth of July!
Dixie Doodle

The flag is about the only thing Jenna doesn't eat!  God bless America and God bless our troops!

T-I-M-B-E-R !!!!!

We told you Mommy deserted us in our hour of need last week.  While she was out of town, we had a MAJOR SCARY storm.  We were without power for about twenty-four hours and phones and internet for even longer!  It's ruff being without the internet; hopefully our public didn't suffer too much without us!

During the storm we lost part of a maple tree.  Daddy wonders if it was struck by lightning or if really strong winds took it down.  He's not sure because the storm hit while he was at work.  Poor Hunter.  He was really stressed out during the storm and didn't have the advantage of wearing his thunder shirt that day.

Because of the power outages, Daddy had to work extra long hours and didn't have time to cut up the tree before the yard people arrived a few days later.  They removed the huge section from the trunk in a way Daddy would NOT have: tugging, pulling, hopping, and stomping on it.  Literally!  That caused the broken section to pull more of the bark away than was needed.  I guess we can't complain since they saved Daddy some time.  He still has to cut it up for firewood.

In the mean time, I'll do my best to help him out!  I LOVE to chew on sticks, and this is a BIG ONE!

Once the yard men left, Mommy came out to begin the repair on the tree.  She sprayed it with a nasty, thick, black, gooey gunk so that bugs and other parasites can't get into the tree and do more damage.  I'm not sure what this black stuff is called, but I do know it doesn't taste good!

With the exception of getting a bit of that black stuff in my mouth and on my nose, I had such a good time chewing on the tree and playing in its branches.

Dixie doesn't seem to share my love for the taste of bark, but she definitely had fun exploring too!

Hopefully we won't have any more big storms blow our way.  If we do, we hope Mommy is home to hold our paws.   Or at worst, the storm produces BIG sticks for me to gnaw on!

Jenna

PS: Happy birthday tomorrow to Cousin K, and happy birthday to Cousin A on Friday!

Bahston Bound

Last week Mommy left us.  She was gone for five whole days.  She deserted us when we needed her most (more on that later).  It's a good thing we had Daddy here.  He took great care of us while Mommy was away.  She and Aunt Holly went on an adventure to Boston and its surrounding towns.  You might be surprised to learn that most people didn't make comments on their accents!  Maybe those Yankees are more polite than previously thought???  Hmmm . . .

Mommy and Aunt Holly started their trip in Salem communing with Mommy's distant ancestors . . .  Daddy was concerned Mommy might end up being tied to a stake, and Grandaddy told her to avoid the man with the matches!  Thankfully she survived.  Whew!

I have just one question about this sign . . . why are dead horses allowed but live dawgs aren't?????  Something to ponder for sure.

On day two, Mommy and Aunt Holly traveled to Martha's Vineyard for a great day of eating and shopping.

They started the third day with a tour of Fenway Park.  They both agreed it was one of the best tours they've taken . . . ever!

They spent a couple days walking parts of Boston's Freedom Trail where they soaked up tons of history.

The fourth morning started with a tour of the Sam Adams Brewery and a taste testing of several beers.  Yes, it was before noon, but Mommy said they didn't drink nearly as much as some people there!  And yes, Mommy decided to throw her doctor ordered wheat-free diet out the window . . . after all how many times will she be in a brewery???

That diet took another tumble when Mommy was at the Red Sox game that night.  Mommy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES hot dogs and says she couldn't resist one at the ball park.  Just because she's hacking up a lung this week means nothing.  Was it worth it, Mommy?

On their last day, Mommy and Aunt Holly visited a few more places on the Freedom Trail, enjoyed time at the Quincy Marketplace at Faneuil Hall, and then hopped on planes to their different corners of the world!

Until their next BIG adventure . . . how about a trip here Aunt Holly???
Miss you,
Hunter

Bound to Happen . . .

It was bound to happen.  And I have to admit, I'm surprised it took this long.  As we've recently said, toys don't last long around here.  Jenna's favorite toys, the Duck Dynasty stuffed animals, are very precious to her.  Apparently they are to Dixie as well.  The usual tug-of-war happened . . .

This particular duck was Jase (Daddy's favorite).  Uncle Si lives to see another day . . . for now!  It's a good thing Mommy loves us (and has coupons).  She recently brought home Phil and his wife Miss Kay.  You can't tell it from the picture, but Miss Kay's entire belly is the same pink color as her lipstick!!!

Jenna was in seventh heaven!  She claimed both ducks for herself.

And yes, once again, Mommy only brought home TWO ducks . . . good thing she knows me well.  I received something special just for me!!!

Do you think she's trying to say something subliminal with the dinosaur?  Nah, I didn't think so either.  Except that she loves me!  And purple!  And brontosauruses . . . or would that be brontosauri???  A good question for the English teacher . . .
Hunter

Silly Daddy!

We're always telling you how silly Mommy is, but we thought we'd let you know Daddy has his moments too!  As you probably know by now, our food stays in an aluminum trash can in the laundry room with a bungee cord on the lid.  We have to keep the lid strapped down, or Jenna will use her nose to nudge the lid off and help herself.

Mommy recently asked Daddy to help her out by putting a new forty pound bag of food into the can.  For a few days after replenishing our food, Mommy usually closes the door to the laundry room as she prepares our food.  Otherwise, the temptation of all that food in front of Jenna is just too much and she face plants into the can!

Sometimes when we are refilling the can, we still have just enough food left in the bottom of the can that all of the new food doesn't fit.  This time, we must have been really running low, because ALL of the food fit!  I guess Daddy was so happy that he had a momentary lapse in judgment . . . he opened the laundry room door to three barking dawgs BEFORE the lid was back on!!!!  DUMB-DE-DUMB-DUMB!!!!

Jenna saw her chance and took it.  Food went flying!  Naturally, Mommy did nothing but pick up the camera to capture this moment.

Being the wise father he is, Daddy also said nothing.  He knew he'd made a mistake.  He didn't fuss at all!  Instead, he grabbed the lid as quick as he could and let us enjoy our dessert spread out all over the floor!  He's super smart like that!

Happy Father's Day to Daddy, Grandaddy, and Poppa!  We woof you!
Love, Hunter
(and of course, Dixie and Jenna too)

Wanna Play?

Can you come out and play?

I promise to share . . . well, maybe!

You can't make it?  [sigh]  I guess I'll just have to entertain myself!

Let me know if you can make it tomorrow . . . 

Dixie

Gone Too Quickly

Remember that toy Mommy brought home the week of our birthdays?  I really enjoyed playing with it for a few days.  Yes, I said DAYS . . . 

Mommy found these toys for a cheap price and thought I might like to play with them.  I'll admit that sometimes I'm the problem.  I play with throw toys for a while and then decide they might be good to chew on.  At other times, Dixie is the problem.  She tends to grow a bit jealous and thinks she needs to have control of ALL toys!

These toys were designed for dawgs to enjoy.  They were specially colored for our eyesight.

I started with two toys . . . the first only lasted a few HOURS.  Mommy buried it in the trash can.

The second toy almost bit the dust on the first day as well, but somehow Mommy managed to salvage it from the jaws of life.  Please note the DNA evidence on these toys.  I am sure I've left my mark, but a good CSI would be able to prove Dixie started it!

The second toy moved on to Glory on our birthday.  I was totally innocent this time.  I was minding my own business and playing with Mommy when Dixie decided to join in the fun.  The problem is that she likes to steal my toy.  Naturally I'm forced to steal it back.  A tug-of-war usually ensues and then the toy is history!

[sigh]   Toys don't last long around here.  This one was gone too quickly!
Jenna

SUMMER TIME!!!!

It's official! Today is the first day of summer for us.  Lots of people begin summer with Memorial Day.  Others mark the season with the calendar and that's still over a week away.  We count our first day as Mommy's first day of summer vacation!

To celebrate, Mommy bought us summer themed cookies from the dawg bakery.  Betcha can't guess which one is Dixie's!  There wasn't one shaped like a cornucopia filled with food for Jenna!

We had to take the cookies out to the deck so we wouldn't make a mess in the house.

We eat a lot of messy treats on the deck.  There's just one problem . . .

How do we get those crumbs from between the slats???  Something to ponder . . .
Hunter

A FOURTH DAWG?????

Has Mommy told you about our newest addition to the family?  We now have a fourth dawg in our house!  Have you picked yourself up from the floor yet?  I know it's shocking to even think about, but it's true.

I'm not sure why Mommy felt the need for another dawg.  We were doing just fine with three.  I personally think the three of us keep things hopping around here.  A fourth will surely wear our parents out.  For now, the newest beast is being kept in the foyer away from the rest of us.  I guess it has been confined to that area until we get used to it.  When I was first introduced to the family, I had to stay in my crate for a few hours.  Then Daddy threw caution (and my crate door) to the wind and unleashed me on the household.

Perhaps this newest dawg will be allowed into other parts of the house soon.  Or perhaps not.  Mommy hasn't complained yet, but I've noticed every time she touches the new dawg, it sheds a tiny bit.  We already have black hairy tumbleweeds in the kitchen; why would Mommy torture herself this way???

I don't think Daddy was included in this life-changing decision.  Mommy said she just stumbled across the dawg and couldn't leave it behind.  Truth be told, she saw it two weeks earlier and passed on it.  She knew there were already three of us at home and no room for a fourth.  Lucky for her (but maybe not for the rest of us), the dawg was still in its same location when she returned.  She knew it was meant to be.

When Mommy arrived home with the newest dawg, we all took turns greeting it with our noses.  It took Mommy a little while to find the perfect spot for it.  She finally decided on the foyer.  The new dawg is allowed to be the first of us to greet guests when they arrive.  That doesn't really seem fair.  We've been a part of this family for much longer, so we should have that honor, don't you think?

I guess we'll just have to get used to this newest addition.  Mommy tells me not to worry.  Soon it will be summer and the new dawg will go away.  How can that be?  Summer's the best time to be a dawg around here because Mommy is home with us every day.  Why would a new dawg want to leave then??

 I guess only time will tell . . . .

Jenna

PS: I forgot to tell you his name.  It's Maxx.  As in TJMaxx!

Sweet Sixteen

Today is a great day for two reasons which are in no particular order (although they may be tied in Mommy's mind) . . .

1)  Mommy's students graduate tonight which means school will over for her VERY soon!  Yippee!!!  Bring on the summer!!!!  Thoughts of sleeping in (yeh, right!), playing outside, and inside, and outside, and inside, and . . . well, you get the picture of how we spend our days during this fabulous season.

2) Our parents are celebrating their sixteenth anniversary today!  Yippee!!!

Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy!  Here's to many more!
Hunter, Dixie, and Jenna