Christmas already?

Mum finally came back from her trip this week. I was so glad to see her. Dad was vacuuming when she got home (I told him he should have started the clean up earlier), so didn't hear her come in. It made me crazy happy. I was doing puppy paws and racing around the hallway at the top of the living room steps while Mum was hiding on the other side of the wall. Dad couldn't understand what I was so excited was about.

No sooner had we got all settled in as a family again than Monty arrived for a weekend visit. Mum says it's the curse of dog sitting that it rains as soon as there's more than one dog in the house. We all (well, not Dad, he was still in bed) got soaked on our walk this morning. Monty and I are really good at the wet dog drill and sat patiently waiting on our towels while Mum messed about with the camera. She said we looked like we were rehearsing for a nativity play. I don't really know what that is. What do you think? I just know that we both love wearing towels over our heads, and then getting all the rubbles that follow.

 

Indian Summer

The hot weather's back and I couldn't be happier. Don't get me wrong, I love snow, but when it's cold, Mum closes the doors and I can't keep watch from my outdoor lookout. After the sprinkle of snow we had a few days ago, we're back to lovely warm days and lots of lounging about in patches of sunshine.

Mum and Dad took me to the Sometimes Creek (Dry Creek) where there's lots of sand for me to gallop around in. I go a bit crazy digging holes there. They have to be just right - deep enough so I can feel the cool, damp sand on my belly and with just enough of a ridge for me to hang my front paws over.

This time of year is my Coming Home anniversary. It was 9 years ago that Mum brought me home from the Humane Society of Sedona to live with her. I worked really hard to let Mum know where I was and that she should come get me. It was touch and go for a week when another person took me home, but it "didn't work out" and they took me back. So then I pulled out all the stops and visited Mum in a very long and complex dream so she could get a really good look at me and know where I was. It worked, because the very next day she came and found me! I was so excited to see her. I couldn't stop jumping up at my kennel door. I still had another 24 hours before I was allowed to go home with her, but it was worth the wait. She went home and made me a very special bed - the first one I had ever had that I could call my own. I still have it today, even though I don't sleep on it any more.

So because of it being the anniversary and all, today we had to go back to the Humane Society to pick up my this year's legal tag. They specially make a new one for me every year. Always a different color and design. This year, because I'm 9, it's super special. It's a star and it's in my favorite color, purple. (Note from Mum: "Don't tell Ruby, but I think maybe all the dogs get the same design and color!)

It's like when you get the keys to the city and can go anywhere. I bet there aren't any other pups who get the purple star!