Ouchy

This morning started like every other fine country morning. Run around in the dew and get our fur wet and me beat up Morris while the Grannma picked green beans in the garden.

I got Morris on his back a few times and made him squeak and growl. Such the inter-active toy that doesn't need batteries! He got up, smiling his JRT smile at me and we ran and played very hard.

Then we had to go and water the big animal type things. Morris kept hinting that I should NOT touch the white wire that was next to the water tank. In fact the Grannma yelled at me a few times for going under the wire.
Hmmm

What do the Grannma and Morris know anyway?
Humphf.
So I went back and forth under the wire while the Grannma stood holding the water hose into a big water tub. Morris wouldn't come with me, he looked very worried. I walked right up to the white wire and showed them!

I stuck my nose on it!

OHHHHHHH OUCHY! I yelped as something punched me in the nose and made my toes curl. I ran to the Grannma and put my feet on her. She calmly reached down and petted me, I even shook hands with her. I was so upset I didn't know what to do.
The Grannma tried to explain what an electric fence was but I only understand now what Morris was trying to say...don't go near the white wire, it bites!

I wouldn't get more than a foot away from the Grannma and Morris for the rest of the morning.

When the big thunderstorm came we went inside the house and my paw got stepped on by the Grannma when she was trying to hurry and shut windows. I yelped again.

I feel better now, I took a big nap on the couch and ate Morris's food. I hope we can go for a walk today and play some more in the yard. Morris felt really bad for me and stayed right beside me for the rest of the morning.

Life in the country is tough on a city dog.

Hot and Humid

This morning is very warmy and sticky, the grass is wet and makes my fur damp. I chased Morris around the yard and then met a horse thing called Little Richard. Morris told me that Little Richard is a small pony and doesn't mind dogs.

I growled at him and then followed Morris up to the pony thing. He was pretty friendly and we got to smell his horse apples. The Grannma wouldn't let me eat them though...
She said *Yucky!*

She doesn't know very much. Morris and I may sneak out there later and catch a chew.

This morning I was sure I heard something 'dangerous' in the Grannma's flower garden next to the house.

Morris and I had to investigate. I don't know why he likes to put his nose up where he does. Morris is an odd dog.

But I guess I'll put up with him during my stay.

Another Tes Day

[Tes is still highjacking....]

I slept in very late this morning. Being a country dog is very difficult.
You have to follow the Grannma around when she waters the big monster animals that she told me were 'mules'.

It can get very hot.

Then you have to follow the Grannma around when she picks beans in the garden and onions and stuff. I don't like the onions.
I got yelled at bad when I went under a white wire and into a sandy place where the big mules were at the top of the hill.

I don't get it, I was just sniffing around, but I came back and got petted on the head until I decided to walk through the tomato plants, and then I chased Morris and knocked him down a bunch of times...

I felt better.
He is fun to knock down and he squeaks when you bite him on the neck. I didn't do it hard ... really I didn't, and he liked it cuz he came back for more.

When the Grannma had to leave for a while, I got tied up in the yard so I could enjoy the country air. The Granpa man didn't want me wandering off with Morris while he drove around the yard on a machine that spits grass.

So now I've had my big meal and I am ready to go sleep on the couch. I've been dreaming of chasing squirrels.

Teslin's Day

Teslin is my son and his wife's dog, who often comes to visit our place. It is the better alternative than spending time in a kennel.

This is Teslin's narrative...she is hijacking my blog for a few days....

Grannma is a nice people. She let me sleep in bed last night and I cuddled right up on her pillow. I think she is an okay human.
Our day was super hot, I spent the morning wrestling with Morris, it was fun, but we got pretty hot and went for a walk to 'chill' out.

Grannma put us inside for a while and made us take naps, but I decided I'd like to read instead. I found a really good book, it was very very strange. I think the Grannma person brought this from Big Berthy's house. I learned alot about human behavior.
It is very odd.Tomorrow we should go rock climbing and play in the woods some. The Grannma person has to run errands and I'd like to ride along. If it is too hot I won't be able to.

Morris got sent to his crate to sleep and I am making sad eyes at the Grannma. I think she'll get the idea that I am a pooped out puppy.
Goodnight people.

More about Morris

Here is Morris 'reading' a Harry Potter book. It did eventually put him to sleep.

Morris is always doing something that gives me a chuckle. He is such a help in the garden that I'm sure I wouldn't know what to do without him!
[I say that while laughing of course!]

He is getting doggy company later today. Her name is Teslin and she is a character also. Morris and Tes are about 1 month apart in age and get along famously. Of course there is the usual running, chasing, and rough housing, but at the end of the day, I have TWO tired dogs.

Teslin belongs to my oldest son and we love having her visit.

This is Morris helping out with the gardening. YES he is eating a very small beet that I gave him.




And here...he takes a green bean and eats it!
Ahhh, Morris, what would we do without your entertainment!

Hazard Trail

Badger stopped and stood stiff legged. His ears and eyes turned towards the old coyote den. I couldn't see what had disturbed him.
But he is a mule, his hearing is much better than mine, his senses are sharp, and because of that, I listen to him.

So I sat and waited.
Soon enough, whatever had bothered him had moved on. He sighed and stepped forward.
We were headed for the 'Lost Valley'. The 'back' valley as I've always called it.

However today I'd chosen to explore the Lost Valley by using an old trail...one that hadn't been kept up for the 4 wheelers. The trail in years past was very difficult, I expected it to be impassable after last year's storms and this year's repeated flash floods and winds.

We wandered down into where the entrance to the trail used to be. A large oak tree had fallen, twisted and wrenched from its roots. We bypassed the fallen oak and edged near the fence. The trail was nearly washed out in one spot.
Badger calmly found his way around.

More trees down, more detours. I was half way 'down' the trail when we got to a portion that was literally overgrown with berry briers. Badger refused to go through them.
I sighed nearly ready to give up.

We edged up towards the fence line again and I found another detour around the sharp brush.

Suddenly I was on the old trail. It looked clean and brush free, in fact it looked as though it had been mowed.
This trail gives 'steep' a whole new meaning. I was grateful that I'd used a britchen on Badger instead of the crupper. We slowly made it down to the 90 degree turn and over the huge slippery rock.
I got down and checked my saddle and gave Badger a rest. The most difficult part of the trail was yet to come.

[No pictures!...I was watching what I was doing!]
We made it to the trail end...it disappeared into a huge rocky washout that was impassable. We used to be able to cross the small wash...it was now 6 ft deep and about 6 ft wide. The rocks were large and to attempt to take Badger across it would guarantee a broken leg.

Hmmm.
Well I looked around and spotted a deer trail. I asked Badger to take it.
He smelled, he bobbed his head up and down to look...then...

We took a 'mule slide'. Badger dropped on his haunches and used his front legs to steer himself as we slid.
I must admit, it was a rush.

We were in the Lost Valley.
It had been two years since I'd been to this part of the valley. The stream had changed course from repeated flash floods.
Mother Nature...redecorating.

We moved on carefully as the valley floor was sandy and 'unknown' territory. Some landmarks where familiar and some were new.
We crossed through an area that I call the dead place...all the trees are dying, the valley floor is deep white sand and rocks. All the undergrowth is gone, except for some straggling weeds.[after crossing the 'dead place...looking back]

Once, while weaving our way through, Badger encountered a 'hole'. Soft sand...he lurched out of it.
We carefully worked our way through, he checking the footing, me checking for other hazards.

I am enthralled by riding such a wonderful animal. He is so careful. He is so wise.

Our little trip down 'Hazard Trail' to the 'Lost Valley' will be replayed over and over.

And yes,
we will do it again soon.

Flash back

I started making the jam---mash berries, measure out berries, measure out sugar, get the jars sterilized...add the pectin, boil,
skim
pour into jars
hot water bath....

As I pulled the jars out of the hot water bath, they started to make 'plinking' noises. The sound of the jars making a seal.

Flash back to being a child. Sitting in the kitchen in the little house near Half Moon Lake, my instructions were to count the 'plinks' as the jars cooled.
Hot nights
Hot days
No AC

But the sound of jars sealing as the result of hard work.
Yep, it sure brought back memories.

Oh...yeah...
the jam is awesome!