Wordless Wednesday

Contrasts in Weather

First, it was too cold and we lacked access to patrol the yard.

Now it is too hot to run around and keep things under control.

We are hoping for some fun weather soon.

There Really is a Creature in the Garden Stamping on the Veggies

We are demanding Mom get a CSI team out here to take samples so the next time she blames us we can be eliminated as suspects. She found a cat in the veggie garden and it left after we barked at it.

Now the last time Dad found Katy in the garden there was not one plant touched. Katy's princess paws negotiated the rows and not one veggie was harmed. We are demanding Dad reopen the onion assault case that he has blamed on us. We think there is reasonable doubt that others are to blame. If nothing else, we want paw prints and DNA to exclude us from any further crime scene activities. This garden is a hot bed of critter crime. We are tired of being blamed for it when there are clearly other suspects with motives to pin the veggie assaults on us.

Wordless Wednesday Featuring Dogs in the Hosta

Mom and Dad are Going to a Baseball Game Without Us

Mom and Dad are off to see a minor league baseball game this week. They are taking Grandma, Grandpa, and one of our human cousins. Mom recently was talking about how family friendly this park was so we wanted to go. Mom had to explain family friendly means human kids, not fur kids.

Who are bigger baseball fans than us? We sit with Dad through every game. We would make great ball dogs. When the kids run the bases, we would be great at herding them. Yet, no dogs allowed in the park.

Can you picture us with our baseball hats and team bandanas? Well hopefully, Dad will leave the Red Sox game on so at least we can watch that while they are gone. Katy thinks we can get an extra walk out of Dad over this issue.

Doggy Story Time

I have been listening to audio books in the morning while I work on writing, crochet, and house projects. Some of the books I review for my education blog, others are just books of personal interest. This keeps me from doing what I did last night, staying up into the early hours of the morning finishing one paperback and one hardcover book that I need to return to the library.

Bailey and Katy were not sure at first about this noise coming from the stereo. However, now Katy will come and poke me if I have gotten distracted and forgotten to put her stories on when I come downstairs after my husband has left for work.

Yes, Katy now thinks that the stories are for her. Bailey will listen, and enjoy the voices, but the TV equally entertains him. There is something about the sounds coming from the stereo that Katy really enjoys.

Now Bailey will listen to anything that does not have scary sounds. He is the same way with TV. When I watch anything on TV with scary music or sounds, Bailey will leave the room and not return until it is over.

Katy on the other hand has developed a taste for books. At first, I thought it was the reader. Perhaps she appreciated a certain sound, tone in the voice of the reader. When she did not like the reader, she would demonstrate her objections by leaving. However, some of these readers read multiple series. She has liked some, disliked others. She seems to like the romantic stories. She has loved the The Frog Princess series and was very upset the other day when I did not continue the story as I had other tasks I needed to do outside the range of the stereo. She loved the Larklight series. However, she was not at all a fan of the Percy Jackson series I was reviewing. She came back for the The Red Pyramid series by the same author. I really am not sure I can trace a pattern. It has been amusing watching her get up and leave when she is just not interested.

Today she is resting by the door, listening to a new Charlie Bones series, Chronicles of the Red King. She seems interested and has yet to leave. Yes, Katy I did hear the CD player stop. I will put the next one in as soon as I finish typing.

Summer Dog Days

Summer time and the living is busy. We are having so much fun. There are so many more things to explore in the yard. Dad and Mom come out and play with us more often.

These things Mom call Hosta plants have become great caves for us. Last night Bailey and I dived in to them during our ball game with Dad. Who knew plant life could be so entertaining. You never know what you will find in there.

Katy and I have been working on our tree house, too. It is the best place to be when it gets hot and we want to be outside. It is also a great place to make contact with a certain dog next door.

Hiding my Bone

I am glad everyone liked my picture yesterday. What people missed was I was hiding my birthday bone from Bailey.

I love my crate. It is fun to go in and relax with my binky. Since Dad installed the air conditioner over my crate, it is fully air conditioned for the summer heat. One of the few places in the house Bailey does not like to go is my crate. You see this used to be Bailey's crate when he was a puppy. Unlike me, he was not a happy crate owner. He thinks crates are prisons with blankets.

Bailey was chasing me, I ducked into the crate with my bone and he stopped. After I came out and left the bone, he did not steal it from me for once. I had found a hiding place for my toy. Well for a little while. Eventually he did get the courage up to get it out. However, for a little while I had my toy all to myself.

Gardens are Not All Evil After All

Bailey and I have decided there are a few good uses for the gardens. The flowers in particular make wonderful hurdles and items to climb under when we play. Bailey is not as crazy about this as I am, but I love jumping over them in my zoomie phases.

Secondly, our neighbors have started a veggie garden and Dad and Mom have been giving them advice about the process. As a result, the Doggie Mom came over to our yard to visit. Bailey did the immediate meet and greet and I finally had the courage to go over and meet her. After all, if I want to meet the dog I have to charm the Mom. She really liked me and even petted my head. If this keeps up, I may finally get a chance to meet HIM. Our parents discussed some vague times for getting us together. This is the first time a play date has been discussed. I am so excited.

Grandma and Grandpa are Coming

Grandma and Grandpa will be in Massachusetts tomorrow! They have not been to visit since Christmas. Katy has only met them once, but I got to spend lots of time before they moved to Florida. We used to go to their house all the time and play. Then they left and we only get to see them twice a year.

Grandma and Mom's sister buy the best toys. The cow in the picture is one of Grandma's picks and Katy and I play with it all the time.

Holiday Plans

Well we know we will be scheduling some of this time in after we enjoy some of the stuff Mom and Dad have planned.

We have guests coming Saturday with a kid who loves to play ball. When she is done, we usually look like that picture up there, exhausted.

Dad and Mom decided we are going to stay home while they go to the parade on July 4th this year. Bailey has had a harder time with loud noises. Sure, blame me Katy, the real reason is they know you do not like crowds and they do not want to leave you home alone. Either way we are not going to the parade.

However, two of our FAVORITE people are coming over for an afternoon cookout after the parade so we are very excited. We have not seen either of them in a while and they are always willing to give us endless attention.

We hope all of you have a happy, safe, and treat filled Fourth of July.

Katy the Sentry

Mom has called me a stalker and Bailey says that is not a complimentary term. However, I am a sentry. It is my job to patrol the wall. On the other side of the wall is a friend I never get to play with, but we do meet nose to nose from time to time. We share information about the state of the neighborhood. One time I was very surprised when a beagle head popped almost completely out from under the fence. I learned the beagle was just visiting.

Mom has been using treats to train me to stay away from the fence. She does not want to create problems with the neighbors who so far have not been interested in a play date. I love my treats, but it is so hard to resist checking on my friend.

So just to clear the record I am not a stalker, no matter what Mom says.

Birthday Suggestions

I am going to be three on Thursday. I have never celebrated birthdays before. I never even knew how old I was until Mom and Dad started talking about age and birthdays. I learned about birthday presents when I saw the stack Bailey got and got to share his bones and play with his new toys. Mom and Dad then realized they needed to plan for my birthday, too. Bailey said this year was pretty low key as birthday's go.

So, what suggestions do you guys have for my birthday. Bailey says Mom and Dad have some cool presents tucked away. He thinks I should ask for a trip to a local park to go walking this weekend since I am not crazy about lots of visitors and crowds.

My dream would be a visit next door, but that is not happening. I am not sure I will ever have my dream play date, although we have met on-leash and we do sniff noses under the fence.

Any ideas?

Wordless Wednesday

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We Warned You about the Evils of Veggie Gardens

Mom and Dad keep talking about their veggie gardens. Fellow bloggers keep blogging about their veggie gardens and nobody discusses that they infringe on our play space and are just too tempting to resist.

Last week Katy and I were playing and just "happened" to wander into the back veggie gardens. No veggies were killed in our wanderings, although I must admit I was not paying much attention. I told Katy we might be able to get out of it by making Mom prove they were our paw prints, but Mom saw one small and one larger size dog prints and was not willing to provide us with legal counsel. Instead, Dad built a small enclosure so now we cannot get near the back corner. This is the best place to track squirrels and now it is off limits for the growing season.

Therefore, my fellow dogs beware of these veggies. Oh, they say they are harmless. They even will tell you how good they are for our humans. However, the first sign of a dog print and you will learn of the evil veggie plot to take over your territory. When I get some photographs I will demonstrate the encroachment.

Even When Wet Dad's Wings Worked

Katy is still not buying that those big metal contraptions fly despite Dad's absence and safe return. She was a bit stand offish last night when he came through the door. I did not mind because I had Dad all to myself for a change. Dad being fair sought out Katy and spent some time giving her attention. I think she was looking for those wings. Either way, she was punishing him for being gone and I knew she could not hold out long.

Sure enough, who was snuggled in bed with Mom, Dad, and me this morning?

Wordless Wednesday

Dad Thinks He Can Fly

Dad told us he was going to be flying for business. I know Dad likes to tease, but people do not have wings. How does he think he is going to fly?

Bailey says he has done it before. In fact, he says he knows dogs that have flown. He says Grandma's schnauzer Shadow has flown on something called an airplane. He tried to show me a picture of this huge machine on TV last night, but I am not buying it. There are all kinds of crazy things on TV and Dad told me they are not real and I do not need to be scared. So why would I believe that Dad is going to fly in a metal container?

The flying thing confuses Katy, but Dad does get on that metal thing. Shadow told me about his trips with Grandma. I would not want to do it, but he said it was fine. He has to stay in the kennel when he does not travel with Grandma, so I can see why he would rather make the trip. Katy and I get to go to play group so it is less scary than getting on a plane or a long car ride.

We Missed Paws in the Park

First Dad got sick, then Mom. Mom had something Bailey thought sounded like broccoli. He immediately started lecturing me that this was our chance to convince Mom and Dad that veggie gardens were dangerous. I pointed out to him that Dad had said bronchitis, not broccoli and he then just started sitting on Mom’s feet leaving me to do all the doggy nursing for Mom and Dad. I am exhausted. There is much to learn about humans. First, Dad has finally convinced me that Mom is not barking in a hostile tone, he calls it coughing. I was confused because she would be petting my ears, or rubbing my back and then start in this very rude tone. Mom has never been known to bark and it was upsetting. Bailey seemed to know about coughing. I guess this is not his first experience with it.

Bailey was more upset about missing Paws in the Park then I was, although the dog massage sounded interesting. Mom says we have another event coming up in June if everyone gets and stays healthy.

Katy and Grandma

My Mom was up to visit at Christmas, so she and Katy did meet. However, the house was crowded and Katy was overwhelmed with the changes to the house and the number of people who seemed to find a all her favorite spots fun to hang out in. Bailey enjoyed Grandma's attention while Katy hid away from all the excitement.

Mom usually makes a spring or summer visit. Last year she came for her granddaughter’s graduation, this year around Mother's Day and her birthday. She came by the house for a birthday lunch and was determined to meet the newest doggy grandchild.

Some people have suggested Katy may be shy by nature. However, I have seen signs that Katy really wants to join the family gatherings, she just is afraid of the outcome. I have tried a strategy of placing her on her favorite couch, petting her and comforting her and having someone sit in a chair next to the couch and just scratching her ears or lightly petting her. This strategy has been effective. She has licked a few of these people and when released even tried to overcome her fears and approach them. She has seen Bailey get lots of Grandma love and she wants in on Bailey's action. Bailey is content to let Katy stay on the outside looking in. He is more than happy to have the guests to himself, especially Grandma. Bailey's reaction has encouraged Katy to try even harder to overcome her fears.

She is making huge progress. It is hard for outsiders to see, but I can see confidence that was not present in September.