Broccoli

I have been on a diet for a month now.  Jim and Jean are really serious about making sure I lose weight.  I don't get table food any more.  Today Jim gave me some broccoli.  It was very tasty.  I liked it.

Helping Jim

I helped Jim bring more wood up to the house.  I also chased the tennis ball.  It was a good day.

Running

Today I went for a run with Jim and Jean.  We went to our favorite trail. Jim and Jean were running and I was just walking fast.  They are not too speedy but I like going with them.

Keeping watch

When I go outside I keep pretty close to the house.  If Jim goes to the vineyard the I go there with him.  If Jim and Jean take me for a walk then I walk down the driveway.  That is the only time I go near the street.  Jim and Jean walk down to get the mail or take down the trash can but I stay by the house and watch them.

Many coats

Jim and Jean have many coats.  They have a whole closet just for their many coats.  They have coats for cool days, coats for cold days, coats for rainy days and coats for very, very cold days.  Me - I have one coat that is good for any weather.  It is such a beautiful coat that people always stop us and remark that I am gorgeous.

A visit

Today Country Grandpa drove all the way from Marquand to bring us a big machine in the back of his truck.  I was so happy to see him because he is one of my favorite people and he threw a stick for me.

The beer fridge

Jim and Jean bought a little fridge for beer and wine.  This will make for room in their big fridge for food.  This is all fine with me but they put this new fridge in the laundry room where my dinner bowl is.  They moved my dinner bowl.  I was concerned at first but when they fed me dinner right on time I was happy.

Cold boring day

It has been very cold lately.  This means we don't work outside.  We stay inside.  Sometimes we play ball in the basement.  It's mostly boring.

My diet

I have been on a diet ever since the vet said I was overweight.  No more chips or cheese puffs for me.  I get dog food for breakfast.  Then I get a half of a dog biscuit for lunch.  For dinner I get dog food again.  Once in a while I get a bite of real meat.  Today Jim gave me some green beans.  I really like them and they don't have many calories so I won't gain weight.

Looking out the window

I like to look out the window.  When Jim and Jean are gone I like to watch out the window to see if they are coming home.  I like to watch out the window to see if we are going to have company.  Jim and Jean like to look out the window for wildlife.  We see a lot of deer and turkey out of our windows.

More Snow

It snowed again last night.  It was only an inch but that was enough that Jim and I had to go outside and get the driveway shoveled.  I just love the snow.

Outside all day

Today I spent the whole day outside with Jim.  Jim was working with wood.  He threw the ball for me all day.  I was so tired that I went to my bed early.

Castlewood State Park again

Today we went to Castlewood State Park again.  We met Charlie along with Jen and John there.  We went for a run.  It was much muddier today.  My feet and tummy got pretty muddy.  Jim made me rinse off in the creek.  It was pretty cold but I was happy to chase a stick.  When we got home I had to be rinsed off in the sink.  Jen and John stayed for dinner.  Then we all hung out to watch football.

A good day for a walk

Today was a good day for a walk.  We went to Castlewood State Park.  First we walked the River Scene Trail to the bluffs overlooking the river.  It was a nice cool day with a dusting of snow.

Next we walked to the big field where Jim found a stick and threw it for me.  I love playing fetch.  My foot feels so good I can run and run.

Good morning turkeys

This morning I got up and Jim let me out the basement door as usual.  Jim gets wood for the fire and I sniff around and find place to lift my leg.  There were 26 turkeys in the back yard.  I didn't know they were there because they were below the retaining wall.  They didn't know I was there until they heard a noise and they flew away.  You can see some of them flying in the picture.

Working outside and a bath

Today I worked outside with Jim.  I found something roll around in.  Jim did not like the smell and gave me a bath.  I don't enjoy baths but I have to smell good if I want to be an inside dog.  I got to play lots of ball today and it was fun.

My new toy

Jim and Jean bought me a new toy.  It was on the Christmas clearance rack.  It is a Santa with a plastic bottle inside.  It makes a wonderful crackling sound when I chew on it.

Cleaning day

Today Jim mopped the floors.  That means I had to stay in the kitchen.  It was a nice day.  We should have been working outside but we were inside.  Jim and Jean went for a run but left me at home because they are still careful with my healing paw.  It is perfectly fine.

A walk

Today Jim and Jean took me for a walk in the neighborhood.  I have not walk there for a long time because me foot was hurt .  I was so excited.  I was hoping to see my friends.  None of my friends were out but I did meet a new dog.  She was just a puppy and she wanted to play with me.  She was a pretty golden retriever named Lilly.

I like to play with my toys.  I like to always have a toy near by.

I love my toys

I love my toys.  I especially like my tennis balls.  They are so much fun to chase after.  The trick is to get someone to throw them for me.  I will gently place them in Jim or Jean's lap.  Or I will set them on the chair where they are sitting.  If I stare at the ball maybe they will throw it.

Running and playing

My foot is all better.  It's hard to believe that just one week ago I was walking around on three legs and just had my bandage taken off.  Now I can run and play like nothing happened.

Bedtime

Jim and Jean have a clock that makes a bird sound every hour.  I know that at 10 o'clock I go to bed.  When the bird sings I get up and to to my bed.

Playing

It snowed again last night.  Jim and I spent the morning outside.  Jim plows the driveway and throws sticks for me.  My foot is all better and I can play again.  I spend most of my day with Jim because he is more interesting.  Jean just sits at her desk and types on the computer all day.  When I get tired I like to take a nap in Jean's office.

Playing in the snow

My foot is better so I can play again.  Jim still is careful so I don't over do it.  I love to play in the snow.  It is hard to find sticks because they are buried under the snow but I found one and chewed on it.  Jim and Jean went for a run but I didn't get to go because they don't want me to hurt my foot again.

Another cold day

It was still cold today but that did not keep Jim and me from going outside and working.  Jim worked on shoveling and I chewed on a stick.  Jim did not let me stay out very long because he doesn't want me to get cold.  I have a warm coat but I don't have long underwear like Jim has.

Sometimes when Jean works she shuts her door.  Today she was in her office with the door shut.  I threw my ball against her door and whined a little because I wanted her to play with me.

I am sleeping on my pillow in the kitchen again.  I really like it when TJ and Pat are here and I can sleep with them.

Cold

It was very cold outside today.  That did not keep Jim and I from doing work.  Jim working on plowing the driveway and I worked on finding sticks.  Jim put me in the house after a while because he thought my feet were cold.  Then he came in for lunch.  After lunch we went out again for a little while.  Then Jean took me out when she walked down to get the mail.  I am glad I have a nice warm house to live in.

Let it snow

This morning when we got up there was about four inches of new snow and it was still coming down.  I was so excited.  I just love the snow.  I am not supposed to play for a couple more days because of my paw but I was so excited I ran through the snow.  This morning we all went outside and plowed and shoveled snow.  Then we went outside again and shoveled more.  We got over 10 inches of snow by the end of the day.

My foot is much much better.  I still have to take medicine but I like it because I get it with peanut butter.  I can walk just fine now.

Goodbyes

This morning I went outside to help TJ and Pat pack up their car.  They loaded their suitcases.  Then they tied on their bikes and kayaks.

Next we went inside and I said goodbye to my bandage.  I was very good and did not chew on the bandage.  I did not like it much.  I walked on three legs.  I was happy to say goodbye to the bandage.  Now I can walk like normal.

Next I said goodbye to TJ and Pat.  They gave me lots of hugs.  I don't know when I will see them again but I know they will come back for me because I am their dog.  I love TJ and Pat.

My Foot

My foot is very sore today.  I have learned to walk on three legs.  I have been good and have not chewed on the bandage.  I am very bored because I don't feel like playing.

Jen and John and Charlie came for dinner.  I just hung out while Charlie chewed on my toys.

The vet again

We woke up this morning and there was snow!  I went out to help Jim with the driveway.  He got his mower stuck and TJ and Pat had to help him get it back on the driveway.

Next TJ and Pat took me to the vet.  I hurt my nail yesterday.  They looked on the internet and the internet  told them to take me to the vet.  At the vet it really, really hurt and I cried.  Then they wrapped it up.  I am not supposed to run and play for five days.  I do not like the vet.  First they put me on a diet then they tell me I can't play.  I have to leave the bandage on my foot.  If I start chewing on it then I have to get the cone of shame.  I do not want to wear a cone so I am going to be good.

My left foot

Today I was outside helping Jim bring wood up to the house and I hurt my left foot.  I tore one of my nails.  It really hurt.  After that no one would throw the ball for me or let me run around.