Me and my gang....

So we all figured the day would come when Tracey and I would decide to get another dog as a companion for Rascal.  Last Friday we welcomed a new member to the family....Austin.  He is a retriever mix (we suspect a Spaniel), 5 months old, and just as sweet as can be.  He has made himself quite at home since he arrived.  Much to our surprise, Austin and Rascal have become good buddies very quickly.  By Saturday they were chasing each other around the yard and playing with toys and stealing bones from one another.  Rascal can't wait for me to let Austin out of his bed in the morning so they can run outside and play before Mom goes to work.  

We have discovered several things about Austin over the past few days.....

1.  He loves to turn our kitchen floor into his own slip and slide as he likes to dive head and paws first into the water bucket and then attempt to swim which then causes water to go everywhere.  Thank heavens for ceramic tile!!!!

2.  He has aerodynamic ears.  Literally, when he runs, his ears go straight back and he looks like he has a swimmers cap on...that's how tight they are to his head.  Too funny to watch!!!

3.  He loves the cats.   Austin thinks the cats should love to play tag and be chased around the house just like Rascal does.  He gets very upset when one of the cats decides that vertical elevation courtesy of the coffee table or end tables is their best defense to his advances.  What ticks him off even more than that......when they dive through the cat door and go downstairs where he can't get to them at all.

Needless to say it is chaos per usual at the casa this week.  But I have to say....it is great entertainment!!!

I should not be allowed to go anywhere alone....

So this week is another local fair. Lots of good food, good family time, and a hot tub purchase. Yes you read that right...we went to the fair and bought a hot tub. Now this is not just any old hot tub...this is a portable hot tub.

Basically we were suckered in by two selling points....

1. We bought the tub from "family".

2. We are even bigger suckers for 12 months same as cash purchases.

I discovered this wonderful little household accessory first on Thursday and promptly told Tracey that I wanted her to check it out last night. Per usual, she was skeptical. But thanks to Ellen, the very nice sales lady, she too was sold.

It should arrive sometime this week and we are already in full landscaping mode to prep a nice area complete with walking pavers and new deck steps down to it. Good thing we bought a hot tub because we are going to need it to sooth those aching muscles from the new landscaping project.

I really need to learn to say no....my wallet would love me for that!!!

Time heals all wounds.......

Every pet owner knows the day will come when they will have to say goodbye to their beloved family member.  Unfortunately Tracey and I had to experience this very recently with our geriatric dog Morgan.  Morgan would have been 12 in September and I have had her since she was a wee little pup of 8 weeks.  When I first saw her I had to laugh because I swore she would never grow into her ears.  She was a Labrador retriever with the sweetest disposition you could imagine.  She loved belly rubs, being my shadow, and peanut butter.  

The first time the two ladies of my life met, let's just say it probably wasn't love at first sight.  Tracey was intimidated by Morgan's size (76 pounds to be exact at the time) and Morgan had no intention of sharing me with anyone.  Needless to say, after a few weeks of getting to know one another, they were friends for life.

You may wonder why we called her our geriatric dog.  Well for about the last year or so, our evenings consisted of "pill time".  Morgan had her own senior pill container.  You know the 7 day a week one with the little letters (M, T, W, T, F, S, S) on each section.  Each week Tracey would drop two pills and one joint supplement in each slot.  I am convinced those two bonded over cheese, peanut butter, and pills every evening.  It was their special time.

Morgan brought much joy to my life and for that I will be forever thankful.  Even knowing the outcome, I wouldn't give up that time for any amount of money.  Just like Tracey and I, Rascal too misses his companion.  When Rascal first came into our lives, he so desperately wanted Morgan to play with him.  However, when she wasn't in the mood to play she would certainly let him know....she would take her large paw and put it on the top of his head and hold him to the floor until he relented.  She was Queen of the Casa.

We are convinced when she reached the Rainbow Bridge, she gave the Master what for about her opinions on thunderstorms.  Long story short...she hated them.  So much so, that she turned into a rather large lap dog during such weather events.  Of course monkey see, monkey do...Rascal was soon to follow.  And who was the lucky recipient sitting in the recliner under that mound of fur...you guessed it....ME!!!  

Rest in peace my furry friend.  You were truly the best.