Crowder State Park

Another day that was perfect for a picnic and a walk through the woods. We ate lunch next to the lake. Then it was time for a hike on one of the walking rails. Right after we crossed the dry creek bed I heard rustling--out jumped four deer. If Auntie hadn't had hold of my leash I would have been off and running! I could be a hunting dog!

Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad

It was finally cool enough to take a train ride so we loaded up the car and headed for Boone, Iowa.  The steam engine only pulls the train on Saturdays so we had been waiting for a nice weekend.   This train crosses the Bass Point Creek High Bridge.  A show on PBS said this was one of the tallest single-track railroad bridges in the US.  I knew I wouldn’t get to ride on the train so Auntie and I stayed behind while Nanny and Popo headed down the tracks. 

After the train ride we stopped for ice cream—Yum!

Corndog

Do you like sweet corn?  I like it so much I’ve been helping Auntie in the garden.  We’ve been tilling and watering the corn all summer, hoping to end up with something really yummy.  Well, the weather hasn’t cooperated, the ears are really small and then came the raccoons. 

This morning Auntie went out to pick the tomatoes, spinach and corn.  I went out to help her shuck the corn.  There were only four tiny ears left after the raccoons went through.  She gave me a little piece and put the other ears in a bucket.  She went back to the garden to pick up all the cobs the raccoons left behind.  The bucket was sitting on a picnic table on the deck.  I stood up as tall as I could and grabbed the edge of the bucket—the shucked corn rolled toward me.  Heaven!

When Auntie came back I was standing in the yard with bits of cob scattered around me and corn hanging from my chin.  At first she didn’t know what I’d done—then she saw the bucket.  Oh no, this could be trouble!   (It’s not like she didn’t know I like corn.  After the high winds blew the top off the compost bin the other night, she found me standing in the middle of the garbage eating corn cobs.)

Popo said I "would do better next time."  I don’t know if he meant I wouldn’t get in the corn bucket or I wouldn’t leave any evidence behind.

Lesson for the Boys:  It helps to be cute and/or funny when you get into trouble.

I Am A Good Boy

“You’re such a funny boy. What a good boy. You’re so cute.“ I hear these things all the time. So what came over me? It was a little after six in the morning. Auntie had gone out to water the garden and everyone else was asleep. She had given me a few kibbles and said she’d be back in a little while. When she came back in the house I was standing in the kitchen—trash everywhere. While she was outside I went through the kitchen trash can looking for something—something good to eat. Yesterday was the big July 4^th picnic. Auntie had been baking and cooking stuff to take. Because it was so hot, they brought our dinners home to eat. I saw the paper plates, cupcake papers (I love cupcakes), and all kinds of other good stuff go in the trash can. When I was done going through the trash, it looked like I had been possessed—everything was shredded into bits.

I was so embarrassed. I was caught red-handed. For the rest of the day all I could do was lie around with a stomach ache from all the junk I ate. What a way to celebrate the 4^th of July!

Where Are You UPS Driver?

I know the UPS truck, the UPS guy or someone who looks like the UPS guy.  Popo was in the eye doctor’s office and Auntie and I were waiting for him in the car.  I saw the UPS truck pull into the parking lot up the hill.  The driver got out and I shot out of the car window, ran across the parking lot, climbed the retaining wall and ran across the next parking lot and up to the office door the driver went in.  Auntie was running behind and hollering for me to stop but I had to see the UPS guy.  I couldn’t see in the door and before the driver came out, Auntie scooped me up and headed back to the car.  When we got back she checked me over and before I know it the same UPS truck pulled in right next to us.  I stood up in the window.  I was so excited—my tail was going and I was shaking all over!  He was coming to see me!  Instead, he got out and went into the doctor’s office.  He didn’t even notice me standing in the window.  I was devastated. 

I'm a Nut

Sometimes I do silly things.  Yesterday I stepped on a wad of gum and then got my foot stuck to everything.  Yuck! 

This afternoon when everyone went out to do some work, I stayed in the house alone.  Auntie didn't want me to get out in the tall grass and pick up ticks. I don't know what came over me.  I've been exceptionally hungry lately and went tooking for something to eat.  I found a can of almonds on the trunk in Auntie's bedroom.  When they came back in, there was the open can with a few nuts on the floor.  When Auntie picked up the can she saw the tooth marks around the rim--how had I done that?  Of all the things I could get in to, they wanted to know why I got the almonds--I'm guess I'm just a healthy eater!

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!