Family Reunion

I got to go to the family reunion/ birthday party. Auntie had been doing a lot of cooking—I knew it was going to be fun. Twenty-five of my relatives were there, but I really hit it off with the youngest, Lexie. She was the perfect dog walker. I even got to see my big sisters! We ate, played games and had a great time. I slept all the way home.

Ticks

It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything—but I had a good reason. I’ve been sick. I had a broken tooth that Mom (my Doctor, too) was going to pull. The day I went to Kansas City for my appointment I had a high temperature, I wouldn’t eat anything and the tooth wouldn’t stop bleeding. When my blood work came back from the lab, Mom new it was serious and started the treatment. She took care of me for a week, even feeding me special food with a spoon. I was finally showing signs of improvement so she let me go back to the farm. When Auntie and Popo came to pick me up I was still pale. I had lost a lot of weight and my balance was still off but I was happy to see them. Mom said it was like getting out of the ICU. All of this from a nasty tick bite—a tick I probably picked up hunting for rabbits.

Anyway, I’m doing better now. I still have to take my pills and have my blood checked every week but I’m ready for every meal! (Everybody new something more serious was wrong when I wouldn’t eat!)

Mud Ball

Popo, Auntie and I went outside to do some odd jobs. I thought I’d look around the usual places for a rabbit. Popo said he’d seen one when he was mowing. I was poking around in the tall grass and there he was—I tracked him through the grass and out into to pasture. Then he headed back across the yard. I was still on his trail, but he was out of sight. Everybody was calling my name but I was too busy to stop. Then I got him in my sight and we were off—I was a few yards behind but he wasn’t getting away this time. I was yelping and he was squealing as we shot across the yard, around the shed and down through the garden. Then he was out of sight, darting into a drain pipe. I worked in the water and mud, trying to see if he was still in the pipe or had gone out the other end.

All this time, Popo and Auntie were calling for me. I knew they were looking for me but I just couldn’t give up the chase. Finally Auntie saw my butt sticking up out of the grass. She couldn’t help laughing—I was covered in mud for nose to tail. With all the water, I couldn’t pick up the scent so I guess it’s time for another bath!

Happy Birthday - Let's Eat Cake!

Popo and I celebrated our birthdays--he's 94 and I'm younger! They say I'm 11 but I'm not sure. If I get my wish I just might start having a birthday every week. This is the only time I've had cake without getting into trouble. I got to eat the crumbs off the cupcake paper without having to dig it out of the trash--it was my own cupcake complete with a big candle!

Happy Easter!

Hunting Easter eggs is my new sport. I'm really good at finding the eggs, popping them open and getting the treat inside. Of course I like anything that involves getting a treat. Auntie even made me big ears so I would look like an Easter bunny. She thinks I look cute--I think I look kinda silly. I'm supposed to chase rabbits, not look like them.

Tomorrow I get to celebrate my birthday.  Since we didn't know my exact birth date, Popo said we could celebrate our birthdays together--I hope I get cake!

Spring!

It feels like spring! Auntie and I went out to take some pictures. We walked over the corn field and through tall grass. When we got to the pond I walked around the edge and then decided to step out into the water. It reminded me of when Sheila and I used to wade around in the pond looking for frogs. When we started home I stayed in the little stream of water running though the thick grass, almost getting stuck in the mud. Back out on the dry crunchy weeds it was time for a roll!

All that walking and I didn’t find a thing to chase—not a frog, rabbit or even a squirrel! By the time we got back home I looked like a mud ball. Time for a bath and a nap.

Cookie Monster Strikes Again

I’m a pretty good dog. I got into the trash cans a couple of times, but only because there was a cupcake paper I wanted to check out. Then there was the cookie incident. It was only once, until yesterday. My humans don’t really understand what it means to have an eating disorder—sometimes I just can’t control myself. Auntie tied the package of cookies up in two bags and hid them in the back of the car. I knew I had to act fast when they got out. While they were going into the restaurant and ordering their food I had to find the cookies, get the package open, eat the contents and make it back to my spot before they looked out to check on me. I did it—seven big oatmeal cookies gone—and I’m smiling back at them through the window.

It’s not like I was hungry. I know I need to eat healthy food. I had a chew stick and my treat toy waiting for me in the seat. (And seven cookies should give a little dog a tummy ache.) What was I thinking? Is there an Overeaters Anonymous for dogs?

Visiting the Kauffman Performing Arts Center

Monday we went to see the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City. Auntie says the exterior reminds her of the Sidney Opera House. Inside, the Great Hall is all white to showcase the patrons--I would show off really well since I'm mostly black! I particularly like the Casavant Freres Pipe Organ in Helzberg Hall. It has over 5500 pipes--the smallest is the size of a finger and the largest is 32 feet tall. I wonder if they would ever let me play? I'm really more of a dancer, so maybe I should think about the ballet.   If I ever get to go see the opera, there is a little screen on the back of the seat with translations.  I don't suppose they will translate into dog.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today I helped make pink cookies for Valentine’s Day. I love helping out in the kitchen. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!

The First Snow

Snow! The first snow of winter and I couldn’t wait to go out and play. I built a snowman—complete with a scarf and carrot for the nose. It was a little hard to roll the snow into balls, but I’m pretty strong. The hardest part was getting them stacked on top of one another. Nanny helped me and if the boys had been here they could have helped, too. After I admired my work, I grabbed the carrot for a treat—as Popo says, I’ll eat anything!

I hope there's more snow this winter so I can make some ice cream. I really need a snack after all this hard work (play!).

Learning to Drive

I want to learn to drive. Yesterday I saw a big boxer sitting in the driver’s seat of a little pickup. Even though he wasn’t moving I know he could drive—he was right there behind the steering wheel. I’m kind of small so I may have trouble reaching the accelerator and brake, but I’m very observant when I sit up front. Popo tells me where we are and I watch for deer and other things that might cross the road. Auntie said it would be important to have a backup driver and that could be me!

Rabbit Hunting

I’ve been looking for rabbits all winter. I check all their usual hiding places—in the fence rows and between the big bales of hay. And nothing—nothing until this week. I was poking around the asparagus patch when out jumped a rabbit. I didn’t know where he was headed but I was right on this tail. Then he lost me when he got to the barn. Popo said they often hide under the boards that are stored there. Yesterday we were out for our walk when I stopped to check the asparagus patch and there he was again. He headed across the yard toward the road. I jumped over the tall grass and hit the ground running. Auntie was screaming and jumping and the rabbit turned and ran under a building. He got away again but I’m not giving up.

My New Sweater

Auntie finally finished my new winter sweater. It was supposed to be done for Christmas but I think she forgot. Anyway it's done now and I know I look cute--I just hope it doesn't make me look like a girl. I've had lots of sweaters but I always seem to loose them. It's hard to keep a sweater on when you run through the brush chasing rabbits. I even caught my new coat on a barbed wire fence the other day.

I really need my sweater today--it's cold and the wind is blowing so hard my ears stand straight out!

Merry Christmas

I helped put lights up outside so Santa could find me. I had a bath. I tried to stay awake for a glimpse of the big guy, but I finally fell asleep. When everyone got up Sunday, there were packages waiting for me. It was a good Christmas. I actually spent much of the morning in the kitchen helping Auntie and waiting for something to fall on the floor—I love turkey!

The holidays got even better yesterday when my big Sis came to see me. I was so excited. She played with me and I did all my tricks. We all played dominos. It was just like old times.

Chow Hound

I’m a smart and lucky dog. And I have a problem. If food were available, I think I would eat until I explode.

Yesterday Auntie got a big cup of coffee. While they were in the restaurant eating lunch, I saw it sitting in the cup holder. I couldn’t resist. (Although, in all honesty it wasn’t entirely my fault. Last week she let me lick the lid of her latte cup—yum!) I managed to get the cup into the seat with the lid still on. I couldn’t get to the coffee, but it all leaked out on my blanket. The seat cover was soaked, too. When they got back to the car, they weren’t mad, just puzzled. How did I get the cup out of the holder with the lid still on? I gave my best “Oops, what have I done” look and I was off the hook. Off the hook until Auntie went digging though my travel bag and couldn’t find my treat sack. Then she started finding pieces of the sack on the floor mat and under the seat. And then there were the crumbs.

The whole experience reminded me of the box of cookies I found a few months ago, and the cupcake at Thanksgiving. Everyone knows I have a problem and yet my human family keeps leaving temptation in front of me.