Balloon Fiesta

Woof ... What's all the todo about?

Dakota and I had visitors this week and we learned a new word ... Grandma!  Dad introduced us again to his mom (as if we didn't remember when we visited her home and her dogs Quasi and Chewy)  and we really like her.  She gave us food and petted us ... Bow wow!

It seems that Dad and Mom were gone a lot with Grandma and they left us home alone with nothing to do but eat some gnarly bones and dog treats.  That's OK I guess -- we're used to Dad and Mom leaving us alone to defend our castle against all intruders.  I'm especially skilled and barking in the garage at strange sounds that I hear on the streets.  The sound of sirens stirs something deep within Dakota and I and we break out into harmonic howls that are wooferful to hear.

One night Dad, Mom, and Grandma were out quite late and came home talking about balloons and glows and fireworks and such.  After Mom showed us some pictures, I think I have a better idea of what they were talking about ... but then again, what good is a balloon and what does it do?  Dad helped me post some of Mom's pictures in this entry ... Thanks dad for using your opposable thumbs to work the keyboard!

We Love Ice Cream!

Woof woof woof!

We have discovered soft serve ice cream cones and we wove it!

Duncan and I had a hard day a while back because dad took us to the vet.  Things were a little tense when we arrived, what with all of the new people and new smells, but we settled down nicely until that man invited us into this little room and shut the door.  Good thing dad was there to protect us!  He seemed nice enough at first, but then came the shots and the stuff up the nose and up the butt!  Yikes!  Is there no modesty any more?  We'll we survived the visit to the vet and it wasn't fun.

When dad came from work he invited Duncan and I into the car to go for a ride.  I don't like rides.  Every time I get loaded into the car we end up at places like the vet or the groomer.  I don't like rides and I don't get into cars willingly.  I did my best to avoid the ordeal by laying down on the ground and not budging an inch but dad came over, picked me up, and put me into the car.  Isn't that dognapping or something like that?  Mom didn't even seem to mind that her little Dakota was being dognapped, in fact, she was an accomplis to the whole ordeal.  Mom, I thought you loved me!

It was dark so I don't know exactly where we went.  It didn't smell familiar.  Dad stopped the car in front of this little box on a stand and started jabbering about something to someone who was in the box.  How did they get someone into that small box.  Then we moved again for a short distance.  A man on the other side of the window opened the window and then handed dad something tall and white.  In fact, dad got two of these things and then we were off again to park in some giant parking lot.

Dad started licking his thing and then turned and let Duncan and I check it out.  It smelled good so I stuck out my tongue to give it a taste.  Wow, it was sweet and cold too!  Ah, just what I needed after a hard day.  Then Duncan started licking and so the competition began ... someone was going to lick more of this thing than the other and I was determined to be the winner.  At least, I thought I was going to lick up the lion's share but then Duncan started taking huge bits out of it.  Where are his manners!  Ladies do not just bit and swallow ... there are some dainties that are required of a lady.  Duncan, just wait until next time ... I'll get even!  Woof!

Dug It!

Well, the diggin' is done and the yards, front and back are really nice.  Dad even left some great grass in the back yard for me to lounge in...yeaaaah!  Those strange workmen no longer come to our house so that I can bark at them.  Guess they really were afraid of my ferocious bark.  I am the queen!

Mom took some photos of the finished landscape so that I can share the view with the rest of the pack.  Take a look.

Mom and Dad keep going out to the back yard to take a look in that big puddle.  Dad keeps pointing at things in the water and gets pretty excited about it, but I can't seem to see what he's so excited about.  Looks like plants and water...ho hum!  Now if he was pointing out a rabbit, that would be something, but water?  He keeps saying the "fish" word, but I don't know what a fish is so I'll keep trying humoring him until he gives up.

I must say that I do enjoy the sound of running water in my lazy days of summer.  It sounds so soothing and peaceful, even for a dog!  So all, in all, I approve of what Mom and Dad have done with the yard.  I wonder what they'll do next?  I could help perhaps!

Dakota

Diggin' It

Mom and dad have done it this time, and boy are they going to be IN TROUBLE!  Sometimes they get after Dakota and me for digging in the backyard.   (I don't know why.  Don't they know that dogs sometimes feel a need to dig.  Digging happens.)  Anyway,  nothing we could have done can compare with what they did.  What used to be a nice back yard has been transformed into a bunch of dirt and rocks.  Even Dakota's nice little patches of grass that she reclines on during the day were taken out.

Here's our before picture of the way things used to be.

Then they started digging and digging and digging.  They didn't even let us help.  Before we knew it the yard was filled with bricks, and rocks, and more rocks until it looked like this.

After many more days of watching the transformation in the back yard it finally looked like this.  Mom says the waterfall/pond still needs a little work.  Dakota and I are looking forward to spending some time in the pond when it's finished.  Woof! Woof!

Remembering Idaho

I was looking over Dad's shoulder today while he was reviewing some pictures, and I nearly barked when I saw this darling photo of me with Siera on our trip to Idaho last year.  I remember those bittersweet days.  Bitter because of all of the girly things I had to endure with Savana and Siera and sweet because of the love that both Dakota and I felt from everyone we met.

The photo shows me "dancing" with Siera.  I had to do a lot of dancing and did a lot of stepping on people's feet.  I think I need a few more lessons.

At least I didn't get my nails painted with fingernail polish like Dakota.  That would have been totally embarrassing for me, but I think Dakota liked it in a weird way.

We had a good time and miss those kids in Idaho.  We hope to see them again someday.  Perhaps they'll come and visit us and we can take them to our favorite rabbit hunting ground.

Aaarrrrfffff!  Woof!

Special Visitor

We had a special visitor come to our house a while back and Dad got a picture of us with him. He was covered with loads of white fur, just like us, and we almost thought for a moment that he might be one of us, but then he didn't walk on four paws. He seemed a right jolly sort and kept saying, "ho ho ho" or "no no no" or something like that. No matter what he said, we liked him a lot. He gave us treats and he sat and talked with us. Mommy like him too. We could tell because when he was about to leave, she kissed him! (Shhh, don't tell Dad!)

Dangerous Doings

You'd better watch out ... Dad's working in the man cave and no-one is safe! If you don't believe us, just look at these two pictures. Dad was working on a project on his router table and must not have been focused on what he was doing. One second I was lazily watching him and scratching behind my ears and the next second I heard a thud and saw Dad staring at the wall.

Where was Dad's project? He had a piece of wood in his hands a second ago ... That's when I noticed that a piece of wood sticking out of the wall. You can see for yourself. Dad was surprised and looked a little nervous but shook it off quickly. He ran to the house to get a camera so that I could share this important safety tip with you ... Pay attention to what you're doing!

That was a close call for Dad. He still has his ten toes and fingers and that cheesy grin and goofey laugh, but Dakota wasn't so lucky. I still don't know what happened to 'kota. One day we were barking, playing, and chasing rabbits and then next she seemed really tired and wouldn't play at all. Dad and Mom noticed her change in mood too.

They got concerned and Dad took her to the doctor. I had to stay home alone. Normally, that isn't a problem because 'Kota is always with me. Today was different and I was a little nervous.
Dad was gone for quite some time but then came home again with 'Kota.

She still wasn't feeling well, but it got even worse. Later in the day, she started bleeding from her bottom. Mom and Dad tried to rig up some diaper like thing to keep the blood from getting all over the place, but it didn't work very well. So Dad took her back to the doctor the next day. She's been taking some pills and that seems to have helped. I was pretty concerned for a few days. She's back to normal now and life is good again. We're back to chasing rabbits at the school and rough housing in the living room. I love my sister Dakota.

Carolyn and her family are coming this week so Dad took us to the groomer to make us look "pretty." I'd rather look cool and let 'Kota be the girly lookin' one. Here's our picture for your viewing pleasure. Woof!