Smash, bang, crash.

“Great thundering dog!  What was that?”

“We flushed, Nemo, we flushed out three wild turkeys!”

“Was that what they were, all I saw was wings, red eyes, and beaks!”

“You should have held your point until I could have got close enough to grab one by the neck.”

“By the neck?  Who could even see their necks?”

Well, that’s our strategy, you point with your front foot and I spring over your head and grab one by the neck and crikey, it’s thanksgiving!”

“Uh Huck, if you were going to grab one by the neck, why are we both running like crazy back to Momma Dog?”

Elder berries, sunflowers, asters, and ragweed!  It must be Fall.  Momma Dog is reading to us from “Playing for Pizza”, John Grisham’s novel about a NFL thirdstring quarterback who goes to Parma, Italy to play football with the Parma Panthers.  His description of Italian food has our tongues hanging out.   Now Nemo and I  are looking for helmets and pads.  Nemo probably doesn’t need any more padding, especially over the rear, but I do.  One hit from him and I’ll be as flat as a pizza with one topping.  Maybe I should concentrate on kicking the extra point while Nemo is reading the play book.  Now, which one of my back feet should I use?  Later Mate,  Huck

Eld

We had company twice this week end and Krystal and Dale brought us bacon treats.  Ever since Huck watched “Croc Feeding Frenzy” on tv the other night, he’s been pestering me to hide behind the plastic shower certain and jump out of the tub at him.  No water of course, but I don’t see a self respecting spaniel like myself doing that.  Great Dog, crocs must take an ugly pill every morning and I know they have more than their alloted share of teeth!  I think I’ll just meditate today on some of my favorite things, food, bed, and people.  Affectionately, Nemo

“Huck, why are you barking?”

“Because Nemo is barking, I’m backing him up.”

“Why is Nemo barking?”

“He thought he heard someone out by the barn.  He’s my mate, I’ve got his back.  We’re shoulder to shoulder, to protect you from Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami, LV, and NY killers!  We’ve got a strategy worked out, Nemo will go for the throat, I’ll go for the ankles, and you can dial 911.”

“Well, you’re more like shoulder to knee, but thanks guys.  How come you let the mailman, the UPS driver, and the insurance guy drive in here last week?  In fact, you jumped all over them trying to be petted.”

“No masks.”

“Oh, that’s right.  Thanks again, I’ll think we’ll watch cartoons tonight.”

“No problem momma dog, no problem.”

The weather has changed and Iowa has a hint of fall.  We went to the park last night and ran just for the fun of it.  Then this morning we went up the hill, Toreadoro leading the way.  He gave an arrival bark when we got to the fenceline and Pepper and Star, Carla’s dogs, anwered as well as the little yapper that lives on the corner.  He was well pleased with himself.  Racing past me, he hit a sunflower plant and showered my fur with dewdrops.  Those of us with natural curly fur have to always be on guard, straight haired dogs are jealous.  Affectionately, Nemo

“Toro, toro, toro!”

“Huck, why is Nemo panting?”

“He’s been charging.”

“Nemo charging?  Look at him, he’s drooling.  What are you two up to?”

“Watch Momma Dog.  I can even turn my back on him just like the bravest bullfighters do!  I’m going to try to get down on one knee.”

“Huck, why is Nemo charging?  What is behind that cape?”

“A little, bitty piece of hamburger from last night that I saved from my dinner.  Look Momma Dog, Nemo’s eyes are turning red.”

“Huck!”

We went up the hill at five o’clock in the afternoon because Momma Dog watched three Criminal Minds back to back and she said no way was she going up there in the dark.  We said we would protect her but even Huck decided not to go into the woods alone.  They may be “lovely, dark and deep” as Robert Frost once said but he didn’t have television.  My job when I get up on top is to roll in the long grass and mash it down so nothing can sneak up on us.   Affectionately, Nemo

Momma Dog took her book up the hill with us this morning.  She is reading Laurel Lee’s Journal, the true story of a young mother who is diagnosed with *Hodgkin’s disease” and keeps a journal during her treatment.  It is 1975 and she is pregnant with her third baby at the time.  She does survive this cancer for almost 30 years, but died in 2004.   She is sort of a flower child and prophet in one person.  Her doctor sent her journal to a publishing company and when it was published, she became financially able to buy a house and clothes off the rack rather than from Salvation Army bins.  She lived to write several others, Momma Dog is reading “Walking Through The Fire” and “Signs of Spring”.  We play hide and seek in the forest while Momma Dog sits in her chair up on the hill and reads.  Affectionately, Nemo

We have been quiet the last couple of days because we wore ourselves out Sunday at Dog Camp.  We ran and played nine hours with eight, yes, eight other dogs.  OMG, it was so much fun!  It rained fourteen hours straight today, so we have been watching television.  Huck has been mouse hunting again, he swears there is another one in here.  I think I’ll just nap.

Affectionately, Nemo

Crikey we’re excited.  Nemo is even panting!  Tomorrow we are going to the dogsitter to play while Momma Dog and VOG go with Amber and her parents as she moves into college.  College is a big deal to humans, but Nemo and I want to stay at Dag’s and play with all the other dogs.  This time I’m standing up to that Great Dane!  We never know how many other dogs will be there, but we remember where all the dog doors are.  We can go in and out whenever we want to.  Maybe I can find someone to play bullfighter with me.  Later Matey, Huck