Oh, Henry!

September 27, 2007: Today we went for a walk past our neighbor's house where a German shepherd friend of mine named Henry lives. Henry is still a puppy (about 6 months old), but he's big and strong. As we got closer, Henry pushed against the gate to his yard and pushed it open! He came running towards us. He was so happy to be out and free that he played a little rough. I am bigger and older than Henry so I put him in his place with a few sharp growls (and maybe just a nip of two). With the help of my leader and his mate, we finally got Henry corraled and back in his yard. Whew!

Is She Back?

September 24, 2007: Guess what? I was sitting by the gate and I looked up and there was my missing spider friend! At least I thought it was. The more I stared at her (remember she is a black and yellow argiope), I noticed this one looked a little smaller. Maybe she's her sister?

P.S. to Johnsonfamily: I'm glad that my "slippery bottom" isn't waxy build-up! :-)

Slippery Bottom

September 21, 2007: I have a little problem: a slippery bottom. In my leader's house there are carpeted floors and wooden floors. My leader's favorite chair is in the family room that has--naturally--smooth, wooden floors. Whenever I sit beside him to be petted, I slowly slide backwards until I'm beyond his reach. I have to walk up close again and when I sit, it starts again. That's the problem with a slippery bottom!

This and That

September 18, 2007: My leader has been dragging his feet lately about posting to my blog, so I convinced him to catch up! The other morning after getting a drink, my leader wiped my mouth with a paper napkin. It tasted good, so I ate a piece! My leader opened my mouth to get it, but. . . too late! Yesterday, I met another black Lab walking with his leader. "Max" was taller than me, but he was skinny. (I hope he's getting enough to eat.) Tonight I heard a funny-sounding bird in a tree nearby. I felt the urgent need to find it, but I couldn't leave the yard. The chirping finally stopped, but it was a real curiosity. P.S. to Sophie: Sounds like you have a lovely coat. I'm glad your leader helps you take care of it.

Big Bang

September 12, 2007: My leader brought me a surprise today! He bought me a new, big ball. It was pretty and had a picture of SpongeBob SquarePants. It was about 10 inches across so I couldn't get it in my mouth like a tennis ball. He kept kicking it at me and telling me to "get it!" So, like a good, obedient dog, I got it. I opened my big mouth and bit down with my big teeth and. . ."BANG!" Instantly my new round ball was an empty rubber bag! Well, it was a nice two minutes.

Friends Old and New

September 9, 2007: My friend is missing! I went out this morning and noticed that my spider friend was gone. She had been living above my favorite bush for almost a month. I wonder where she went? Maybe she will build a new web nearby. It's too bad that she left today because when my leader came home from church, there was a huge (!) bug caught in her web. I stood on my back legs so I could get a good look at the buzzing bug trapped in the sticky web. Since the spider was gone, there was no reason to let the poor purple creature lay there, so my leader cut it free. I made another friend last night. She was the mother of my leader's mate, and guess what? She went to visit Sophie, my doggy friend in Dallas!

Sitting Pretty

September 5, 2007: I discovered that I can do something new my leader says is "cute." When I go in to wake him up, he opens one eye and pats my head. But, then I do my "trick." I put one paw on the edge of his bed and then my other paw. By doing this I can sit up! He thinks this is great, so he laughs and gets up to pet me some more! I've done it twice and it's worked both times! It's an easy "trick" and I taught it to myself! Yeah!

Off the Hook

September 3, 2007: Today was something called "Labor Day." I don't know why because we did nothing in the way of work, but we did go for a walk in a new place. My leader and his mate took me to a school nearby and let me run freely! It was exhilerating! It was the first time I've been off the leash since I came to live here (except a few short runs from the street to the back yard gate). Of course, I had to check the entire school grounds and for a short while I disappeared from their sight. I think they were worried that I would run off, but a few minutes later I came trotting back. P.S. to Sophie in Dallas: I hear lots of crickets but I never see any! BTW: Our spider, a female, is a "black and yellow Argiope."