We’ve been busy cleaning for company and I want you to know we helped Momma Dog every step of the way from rolling on the old sheets when she took them off the bed to fighting the mop when she was washing the floor.  We have worn ourselves to a frazzle!  We’ve been outside a lot now that spring is here.  Still no sign of a kangaroo, but something knocked a big tree down back in the forest.  I thought I saw the Easter Bunny up on the hill but he’s not big enough to push over a tree.  We are going to dye eggs later, Huck is insisting on a camo egg.   Affectionately, BFF, Nemo

Good gravy!  We’ve been out off and on all week end!  I played bumper cars Saturday morning, in the rain with Momma Dog, it’s one of my favorite games.  I run ahead and then stand on the path, Momma Dog comes up behind me and pats my furry rear and says,”get going there Nemo boy”, then I run ahead and stop again.  I’m especially fond of this game when we are going down the steep part of the hill.  Huck was off on a “kangaroo” scent, he says.  He thinks it has to be a kangaroo he’s trailing since the scent is not solid on the ground but makes great leaps.  He wants to be “bring em back alive Huck”.    We’ll be bringing him home in a box someday!  Affectionately, Nemo

Today we went to the field and ran for at least a mile.  Huck found a coyote den and stuck his nose in there, but no one was home.  We ate a little grass in the front yard while Momma Dog raked.  Now for a nap.  Affectionately, Nemo

“Whoo Hoo!”  We went down the front driveway, out onto the road, and into the lane below our house.  We did this on a dead run as Momma Dog doesn’t like us on the road at all.  Then we trotted across the corn field, investigated a couple of log piles, and back up the hill to our house.  It’s a sunny 31 degrees ouside but a ten mph wind makes it seem colder.  We have another Missouri ditty from Momma Dog’s 94 year old Mom.  She was one of eleven children and learned this as a young girl.

“Caw, caw said the crow,                                                                                               Spring has come again I know,

just as sure as you are born,                                                                                         here comes the farmer planting corn.”

Won’t be happening here as long as the ground is this cold, but we do have those noisy crows who warn everybody that we are in the forest.

A cold and windy grey day awaited us this morning as we climbed the hill.  Momma Dog put a hat on after I disappeared around the cedar tree, and when I came back, at first I didn’t recognize her.  I disgraced myself with an atonished little bark.  Luckily my ears “hang low” so I don’t have to worry about earaches. 

“Your stomach hangs a little low too.”

“Never mind my stomach, gnarly fur.”

“Can I help it if it’s time to shed my undercoat?”

“Maybe you could shed your mouth too!”

“I’m going to shed my mouth, right into your ankle!”

“You two stop arguing.  Here Nemo put on this hat!”

“Run for it Huck, show me how to get up in that Oak tree!”

Affectionately, Nemo

Nemo and I are expecting company today.  Momma Dog taught us this little jingle to say when you see a cardinal.  She learned it from her mother, it’s probably a Missouri thing.

Red Bird, Red Bird, please be true,  see someone I’m not expecting to.

We saw several pairs of Cardinals today, so we are sure a visitor is coming.  We played in the piles of leaves Momma Dog raked off the flower beds, and rolled in them just so we could smell extra nice.  This afternoon we are taking the pruners up the hill and clear a path through the raspberry canes.  The rabbits have chewed a lot of them off and Nemo’s big furry feet collect them whenever we go that way.  I can climb to the first fork of the oak tree now.  Of course it helps having a fallen tree right beside it.  Later Mate, Huck

Today is VOG’s (Voice of God’s) birthday, so we helped Momma Dog make him some cinnamon rolls this morning.  Each of us got a bite.  On our walk this morning, Huck climbed the tree, then took off and we didn’t see him again until we were almost down the hill and home.  He wouldn’t tell us what he’s been up to, as usual, but he doesn’t smell too bad so I don’t think he was rolling in anything.  He has to pass the “sniff” test before he can come in the kitchen.  I have an embarrassing thing to report.  I got a raspberry cane stuck on my back legs and Momma Dog had to clip it off of me.  She carries her wire cutters with her when we walk.  The nasty thing got me from behind while I was watching for squirrel.  Spring is back again, it’s heading for the sixties this afternoon.  Got to go out and watch for it.  Affectionately, Nemo

Well, we spoke too soon.  It’s back to snow again!  We got our dog walk in early this morning before it started, but we’ve got an inch or two of white stuff now, so we are mostly napping.  Nemo brought his tennis ball along this morning.  so the entire trip it was throw the ball, chase after it, throw the ball, chase after it.  Why he likes to do that rather than track something I have absolutely no idea.  It must be a “spaniel” thing.  My only purpose in chasing a ball is to kill it and desqueak it, but tennis balls are tough toenails and if they have a squeaky, I can’t find it.  Besides, they taste terrible especially when they have Nemo saliva on them.  Blimey!  Huck

We have worn ourselves completely out and it’s only four o’clock.  It’s Spring outside!  Huck rolled in some really stinky thing and had to have a bath, I chased a squirrel and got last year’s burrs in my fur requiring clipping, while Momma Dog has been raking, burning, and sweeping.  All outside!  What a wonderful place!  We go in and out with Momma Dog every time just in case she needs protecting from something.  Nothing riles Huck’s blood up more than the sound of a motorcycle in the spring.  He has plans to drive one while I ride in the sidecar. OMG!  Affectionately, Nemo

Our noses have been working overtime.  So many smells on the ground after four months of snow, we hardly know where to start.  I’ll be working out a line, and then Huck will bark from another part of the hill and I have to go over there and check out what he’s got.  The geese came back to the pond yesterday, the Daffodils and Iris are poking their heads up, and Momma Dog says spring is here.   She’s been poking Sweet Peas into the ground, I’ve tried to help her but my ears get in the way.  Huck’s on the move so fast we had to take three pictures to get one with him in it.   I like daylight saving time.   Affectionately, Nemo