After we played in the snow yesterday, it continued to dump snow all night long and we had about a foot of snow when we got up this morning. But it stopped snowing and the sun came out so it was clear and bright and shiny and that means it is of course going to rain and ruin everything. So we made time for Snow Photos The Second, since we are unlikely to get snow again, plus it will probably just pee rain until, like, June.
Since my suggestion of a second snow photos post received an enthusiastic YES from y’all, here you go. This time I made sure I got shots of every dog so nobody is left out. We’ll showcase them alphabetically, just for fun.
ADDY has a look of grim determination on her face. Is it because she’s trying to break through snow that’s almost as tall as she is? Is it because The Food Lady forgot to put a sweater on her before we went out and she’s freezing to death? Is she being pursued by bear?
No. I offered her a cookie, and she is coming to get it as fast as she possibly can. It’s serious business, cookies.
DEXTER cannot apparently have a photo taken of him where his tongue is not lolling out of his mouth as though he were a halfwit (*whistles innocently*).
… unless you shove something in his mouth, so I did.
(Peetie ruined the Wootie Toy (surprise surprise) but it still flies straight! It’s a good toy, we’ll have to get another)
Retrieving this toy is FAE‘s version of tap dancing for attention. When she gets it, she does the zoomies with it and flings it around to be sure I have noticed what a Good Retrieving Girl Who Needs A Cookie Or Ten she is before bringing it back.
There are these “sticks” sticking up all over the property. They are the remnants of some dead plants and they plague me. They ruin more shots than I care to count, by virtue of being in the way. I edit them out when I can, but sometimes it’s just more trouble than it’s worth. In this shot, however, there were only two “sticks.” Just two in a vast stickless atmosphere, and MINI MAMA chose to run right between those two sticks. But hey, it worked, and it’s a good photo!
PEETIE has started picking fights with my other dogs. I don’t know why. This morning she decided to kick seven kinds of shit out of Winter, and he wasn’t even interacting with her – he was playing with me at the time, and this apparently offended her. It’s not the first time she’s done it and it’s not just Winter; she has also tried to kick the crap out of Spring for no really good reason. AND she knocked Piper ass over teakettle when she did it. AND she tried to bite me when I hauled her ass out of that scrap. I cannot have this in my household/life … Peetie is going to meet a person this week who is thinking of taking her home. This was a tough decision for me, but I cannot risk her hurting one of my other dogs and for the life of me I cannot figure out why she has taken up this new hobby now, two years into her life with us. If the woman does adopt her, Peetie will be moving to Belize. So not only has she driven me crazy for the last two years, and started beating up my other dogs, and making me feel like a monster for rehoming her, she is also going to have a much cooler life than I do. THANKS, PEETIE.
PIPER is doing much better on the steroids than off, so we are leaving her on them. Notice she doesn’t need to wear her harness anymore because I don’t need to haul her to her feet or help her walk! She can get along just fine on her own, even if her gait is a bit weird, as her right hind leg doesn’t work super well. And she can’t wag her tail anymore (?). And she gets stuck in a left-turning loop sometimes if I am out of eyesight, but less and less often as the days go by. And when she goes outside to potty she gets a bit confused and I have to put on my shoes and a coat to go retrieve her. But all in all, she’s holding it together pretty well, and I am very happy about that.
SILLY needs no explanation. Really.
SPRINGalingaling, while initially pretty traumatized by spontaneously having her ass handed to her by Peetie for no reason, has bounced back and is her very happy self. After all, when she is outside she gets to hunt all the bunnies, real and imagined, that she wants, and inside she gets to share my tv watching chair with me under the heated blanket. Not a bad life! And I love that provides me with “Look ma! No feet!” photos like this.
TWOOIE is becoming lazier by the measurable second. I cannot believe how expertly this dog can conserve energy (and thus body fat. No diet in the world will slim this chunk-o down). The ONLY thing that can motivate him to run is a bunny. Otherwise he spends the entire time we are outside laying down and pretending he’s scanning the property (but his eyes are usually closed) or dogging my heels making his snapping-turtle face for cookies. Deep snow makes him even lazier, if that’s possible. Cold be damned, he’s going to sit his ass down in one place and stay there until he can get back to the sofa.
Poor WINTER who this morning just wanted to play the “Don’t steal my apple!” game with me this morning (I have told you, haven’t I, how every morning he sneaks over to the landlord’s side of the property and steals a single apple from the goats? My landlord says he’ll be drinking coffee and see the goats startle, look out the window and then says “Oh it’s just Winter getting an apple.” He kills me). When he (Winter, not landlord) brings the apple back, I start stalking him and telling him I’m going to steal his apple and he growls at me and gets all hunchy over his prized fruit and then runs away with it so I will chase him. It’s a very innocent game that delights him, so it was super mean of stupid Peetie to attack him mid-game. And hard for Winter to fight back with an apple in his mouth. Winter also is built like a tank and cannot get Spring’s air, but he tries his best, my brave little weird soldier.
And last, but never least, we have WOOTIE. So distinguished, so photogenic, so full of poise and suaveness.
Oh FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, Wootie!!
In other news, if you happen to have a spare washing machine, can I have it? Mine died last week and there is a frightening, mounting pile of dog laundry in my kitchen. It smells bad, and pretty soon it’s going to all have to go live on the porch, which will make me more white trash than I am keen on experiencing. I keep trying to buy a cheap one off craigslist but these things get snapped up like a hot damn, as fast as they are posted! And given how the liquid-iron-I-mean-water here kills appliances, I am not keen on spending a lot on a brand new one. If you have a line on a cheap washing machine I can get my hands on, hit me up!
Vicky says
Loved the blog post and photos, especially the last photo of Wootie! Concerning Peetie starting the fighting: I have had three border collies that did that. There was no stopping them and I would have to keep them separate. It was at different times. I had to rehome one it got so bad. I was told by a border collie breeder that once alpha female borders start this, there is no stopping it. I tried gentle muzzles, drugs, etc., and nothing helped. My last female to do this I still have, but I don’t allow any other females to live with her. She does fine with the boys, but not females. My husband got bit trying to separate them once.
Maggie says
Great pictures! (as usual) The first thought that popped in my head on Dexter’s was
“kind of looks like a wolf” (w/o the wootie toy in his mouth)
Vicky G says
Don’t worry about giving Piper Prednisone. Vets say it may shorten their lifespan.My dog took it for 8 years and lived to be 18. She was a Lab mix.
Christina says
I have friends that will only have female dogs, I could never understand how they all get along. Perhaps it is because they are not herding breeds, or not so dominant. Early in my dog career, I was told by a long time rescuer not to have more than one (strong willed) female at a time. I have had one who will be 17 this April, and she is the queen of the boy dogs. I hope Peetie finds her happy place!
Princess Leah says
I was loving all the photos and then got to the last one and nearly fell off my seat laughing…well done Wootie, you take the biscuit!
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
riosmom says
Wootie is my boy whatever he does! His face is so expressive – unless it is buried in snow! Great post as always. You have such a lovely mix of dogs. Hope Peetie went to a one dog home where she can reign supreme and your dogs can have some peace.
Debbie says
What’s up, buttercup?!
You’ve been awful quiet since February. I’ve been bummed there have been no updates in awhile! I miss hearing you talk about whatever and the crazy regular life stuff about each member of your family. And the awesome photos! I should have said that first. It wouldn’t be the same without those. Let me buy some! Take care. Sending you lots good thoughts and love to all.