Inspired

 Since the Olympics, I've been inspired to conquer one of my fears.  Well, not a fear, really, more something I dislike.  Water.  I still don't like getting rained on, and I don't like getting squirted with the hose, especially when Freddy plays with it.  But, I've become interested in swimming!

I started off slowly.  I sniffed around the pool and sniffed inside the pool before there was any water in it.  That wasn't an easy thing to do.  Freddy gets so excited when the pool comes out he's jumping in and out of it like a crazy dog.  I have to bark at him to get him to calm down and watch out.  He's almost trampled me a couple of times.  During the times Freddy's doing his hose biting activities, I check out the water in the puddles around the pool.  I didn't want to start too deeply, you know.   Besides, people pay a lot of money in spas for mud treatments, so I thought I'd pamper myself a little.  I'll have to recommend this to my Groomer, D. the next time I'm in to see her.  Daddy and Aunt Pat weren't too thrilled, but I cleaned myself up.

 

Then, I actually hopped into the pool when there was a little water in it.  Aunt Pat was so startled, she didn't get a picture of it.  I started to lap up the water, it tasted just fine.  I waited to go in until Aunt Pat had Freddy occupied with the hose.  He won't let Aunt Pat put more than a couple of inches of water in the pool, because he'd rather drink it straight from the hose instead of let the pool fill. 

So, in order to get a taste of what real swimming was like, I had to wait until our weekly visit with Freddy's family.  Freddy immediately jumped in the pool, which was filled nice and deep.  I wasn't scared.  After all, there were puppies to teach!  I had to make sure I wasn't scared, so they wouldn't be scared.  I jumped in once the humans were paying more attention to Freddy.  I didn't think I'd be noticed, but everyone told me what a good girl I was.  You can see Kyleigh standing on the back of the pool, rooting us on.  

It was fun. I was very happy that I actually swam.  I'd never go into the lake or real deep water, but the backyard pool was perfect!  Both Freddy and I got very wet.  I just wasn't too thrilled at how my coat looked.

Harper and Crispin, two more of the rescue puppies waiting for forever homes,  tried to convince me that I looked just fine.  But I felt a bit frizzy, you know, like how your hair gets on a really humid day.

The Olympics, Really?

For the past week or so, we've been getting glimpses of the Olympics on television, and I haven't been impressed.  Badminton and Ping Pong are considered Olympic sports, but not Baseball.  Really?  I think the Olympic organizers really dropped the ball on this one.  Although it's been nice to see the US athletes doing well, there's a big aspect missing from this event.  What is it you may ask?  Why dogs, of course!

 What's wrong with a few events for man's best friend?  After all, there were dogs in ancient Greece.  Dogs were actually very popular pets in ancient Greece.  I say we add some canine competition to the big show.  Not any special competitions for dogs elsewhere.  If the humans can get away with synchronized swimming, dogs can go something like synchronized napping.  Chase agreed with me that this could be a sport, and we started training last week. We've been working on some of our poses.  It's early, and I don't want to brag or anything, but I think we have a great chance at a gold medal.  

Of course, we'd have water sports as well.  Freddy's a natural.   He gets so excited when he sees the garden hose come out.  Aunt Pat can't water the garden if he's outside.   

He's figured out how to get the hose off the reel in the backyard, and will paw at the nozzle to get it to work. He's managed to squirt himself a couple of times, but most of the time, he has to wait for Daddy or Aunt Pat to let loose.  

Freddy's also a natural in the pool.  Michael Phelps and the rest of Team USA have some competition.  Look at that form! Stanley is training with Freddy, while Jade is coaching.  

 Freddy and his half-brother/nephew Stanley are also getting ready for the fetching competition.

Stanley's an expert at chasing down a tennis ball, where Freddy will stop and sniff the stick to see if it's worthy of him to return it.  Sometimes Freddy will stop and chew it, and not return it to Aunt Pat.  He needs a lot of work which I'm glad to provide.

Relief!

 Well, the last few days have been a big relief weather wise.  The temperatures have been cooler, and, as you can see, I went to the beauty parlor ,err, Groomer, who did her usual magic!  I feel so much better.  It was so nice to see my friends and share secrets with my Groomer. And no, I don't divulge what we talk about, because what happens at the groomer, stays at the groomer.

 After Aunt Pat and Freddy picked me up, we went to his family's house for a visit.  They're fostering some new puppies for the rescue group. That's Bindy and one of the "E" litter playing with a rope toy.   Freddy and I love to make sure the kids feel comfortable in their new surroundings.  I like to play with them and run around with them.  I let them chase me, and I'll chase them.  At times one may chew on my ears or grab my collar. If it gets to be too much, I'll either growl at them, or get up on Aunt Pat or Daddy's lap. With Freddy and Sarah being so big, I don't have anyone my size to play with.

 Everyone admired my new look!  They couldn't wait to sniff me.  Bindy, the puppy sniffing my muzzle, was particularly complementary.  It's nice to meet new dogs, but it's nice to see them get new homes.  We were lucky enough to be there when Bob's new mom came to pick him up.  She seemed like such a nice person, I know he'll enjoy his new home.

 Freddy, however, has a one track mind.  He loves to play in the hose and in the pool, but the hose is his favorite.  He'll jump and whine, which he never does at any other time...except for the time Aunt Pat thought he was whining to go outside and play in the hose and he piddled on the kitchen rug.  Poor dear.  Aunt Pat felt awful that she didn't realize he needed to go so badly.  Aunt Pat blamed it on the brain fog from her migraine.  Freddy knows how to stay on task as the professionals say.  That's one reason he almost became a guide dog.  He would have been, if the program hadn't gone out of business.

I know this post is a little late, and I'm sorry.  I had some tummy trouble yesterday and the night before.  It all started when Daddy took me outside to do my bedtime potties.  I stepped on something, and came in the house holding my right hind leg in the air.  He and Aunt Pat got very upset.  It's a good thing Aunt Pat was a nurse, because she started to administer first aid.  She checked my leg-it didn't hurt for her to touch it, and I let her gently move it.  She got some ice for it, and gave me some buffered aspirin.  I started feeling better, and was able to climb the stairs to go to bed.  But, I got a tummy ache from the aspirin.  I took a little nap, and my leg was fine when I had to get up to do potties again.  But, I threw up on the rug in the hallway before I went out.  Later on, I threw up on Aunt Pat's bed.  I did the best I could to clean it up, but Aunt Pat had to wash all her bedding.  After that, I fell asleep and felt fine in the morning.  But, the humans called the Vet, who said not to feed me breakfast until later.  It didn't matter that I told Daddy I felt fine.  Daddy didn't even take me for a walk despite my telling him I really wanted to go.  I got so upset when he left with Freddy, I cried.  I had a temper tantrum as well.  I'm not proud, but when the humans don't get my messages straight, or they think they know me better than I do, I get upset.  Anyway, I tolerated a little kibble later in the morning, but threw up again in the afternoon when I overdid it.  I just love a good cracker.  Aunt Pat made up for the deprivation when she cooked me a turkey burger and some rice for dinner.  It was so good, she even fed me twice!  Today, thankfully,  everything is back to normal

There's No Place Like Home!

This special guest post I dictated to Daddy, instead of Aunt Pat.  She's fine, but sometimes I like to give her a post or two off to keep her fresh.  Anyway, the hot weather continues! Friday and Saturday are supposed to be in the 90's with some rain possible on Saturday.  Freddy loves to hang out in the pool which he did today during our visit to his family's house.  Me?  I'm not a big fan of water, unless I can drink it.  I prefer to relax indoors, in the air conditioning.
                                                

Our friend Sarah went home today.  We dropped her off on our way home from Freddy's family's house.  Her mom is doing much better after her surgery and after a few visits with her, Sarah was ready to go home. 

 We're all really glad that Sarah stayed with us.  It was so nice to have another girl around the house, and Freddy and I enjoyed her company.  She had lots of energy, and loved running around the backyard, as well as playing chase in the house with the tennis ball.  She loved her daily car rides with Daddy, and playing tug-of-war with anyone who would play with her.  She's a very sweet girl and we hope she, and her sister Weezie, come over to play sometime. 

 

Next week, I have an appointment with my favorite groomer, D.  I love seeing the other dogs she takes care of, and chatting with them.  Not that I would ever gossip.  Nope, what happens in the salon, stays in the salon.  I just need to be sure I stay well-informed about current events from a dog's eye view.  Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes.  We hope everyone stays cool this weekend!

                                         

Hot Enough?

 We hope everyone had a lovely Independence Day holiday!  We had a nice day.  Freddy's family and Sarah's mom came over for a cookout.  We had a great time.  Plenty of tummy rubs for all.  Plus, Aunt Pat dropped a hamburger roll on the floor that Freddy scooped up.  Not to be outdone, Sarah knocked over a hamburger and a turkey burger on the floor.  I'm so glad she's tall, but she's fast too.  I only got a small crumb of the hamburger.  She and Freddy got most of the treat.  We stayed in much of the time because it was really hot outside.

  The weather people said that today is one of the hottest days of the year!  I'd believe it.  Daddy and I only took about half our regular walk this morning before I started to pant. Plus, we've only been outside for a few minutes at a time.  Long enough to potty...and chase a bird or two before the humans are calling us back inside. Sarah would rather lay in the sun, and won't come in unless she's bribed with a treat.   Freddy, of course, would spend all day in the pool...or playing in the hose. He just loves trying to get the water as it's coming out of the hose.  Aunt Pat put the nozzle on the ground so Freddy could calm down a little and enjoy the pool, but he got out, and started biting and pawing at it.  He even managed to get a squirt out of it once.  He couldn't quite figure out how to do it again, though.  He's a lovely boy, but he can be a real blonde some days.  Oh well, off to lay down in a cool spot and relax.  We hope everyone takes care of themselves and doesn't overdo it in this heat.  

Happy Summer!

 We hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend!  We've been keeping busy, enjoying the nice weather with friends and family.  Freddy's family is fostering a new dog, a yellow lab named Gloria, but they've been calling her Ginger.  She's very sweet, loves to dance with the humans and loves laps nearly as much as I do.  Most of the puppies they were fostering have found new homes, but Lady, their mom, and Bob also need new homes.  You can see their pictures and their story at www.bluemoonmeadows.org.  Just click on the "available dogs" link. 
 

Freddy has so much fun in the pool at his family's home, Daddy and Aunt Pat thought that they should get Freddy one for the house.  He likes it, but I think he likes the hose filling the pool just as much, if not more.

 

 Freddy knows where the hose is, and tries his hardest to make the water squirt out.  He'll swipe at it with his paw, but can't quite get it in his mouth to squeeze the handle.  He may just get it by the time the summer is over.

 

Since it's gotten warmer, we've been spending more time inside in the air conditioning.  But we're not bored, no sir.  Sarah loves to play.  We've managed to chew up the majority of the chew toys we had, but we still have plenty of tennis balls.

 Freddy and Sarah like to play tug-of-war with the tennis balls.  There's one ball that has been chewed in half, and gives each of them, and whatever human Sarah presents it to, a chance to grip it for a good, thorough tug.

 

 There are still chores to do.   Sarah and I have been helping Aunt Pat in the garden.  The bean plants I've sampled for quality assurance purposes, of course, are very tasty.  Aunt Pat hasn't been too happy about my taste testing, but she's been planting more seeds to replace the ones I sample.  Heck, she said she needed to thin out the seedlings.  I was just trying to help!

It's Not All Fun and Games Around Here

 

     Although we do have a lot of fun here, every day we have work to do.  Sarah is still with us while her mom recuperates from her surgeries, and she's been a real sport.  Sarah has pitched right in when Daddy and Aunt Pat do their chores.  Like, changing bedsheets.  Sarah likes to jump up on the bed when Daddy or Aunt Pat  have just put the new bottom sheet on the bed.   She has to be sure the bottom sheet is smooth before the other sheets get put on the bed. Sarah knows the importance of smooth sheets to provide the utmost comfort for the sleeper.  She also likes to help Daddy dust.  Her tail is the perfect height to dust the screen on his TV!

 

  We've also been at work in the garden!  Now that the weather is nice, Aunt Pat has been weeding and getting it ready for planting.  I told Aunt Pat, err, recommended that she plant beans, spinach, lettuce and carrots.  Freddy loves lettuce, and I'll eat the beans and carrots.  We'll leave the spinach for Aunt Pat.  

   There's also yard work to do.  Freddy and Sarah have been doing their share of the edging and weeding after Daddy mows the lawn.  I've done some trimming, but the grass doesn't agree with me.  I'd rather supervise Aunt Pat in the garden, and make sure the baby birds who are learning to fly get their lessons.  Yes, I helped teach a baby bird to fly!  There was a baby blackbird who flew onto one of the chain links in the fence right in front of Aunt Pat.  In fact, the bird almost hit Aunt Pat on the head.  Freddy just smiled and looked at it, but I came up after it had time to rest, and tried to get it to fly again.  It flew the wrong way, into the forsythia in the corner of the yard.  I chased after it.  Mrs. G was out in the yard, and she yelled at me when I took off after the bird.  I think she thought I was going to try to catch it and eat it.  But, I was able to get it to fly into her yard.  I don't know if Sarah is a bird chaser, and I don't know if Freddy would try to catch a tired baby bird or not.  I wanted to make sure it was safe.  I gave Mrs. G one of my sweetest cute looks, and all was understood.