The Unconditional Love of a Puppy

It's been 4 months since I last saw these puppies. They were the tiniest, chewed up little critters you ever saw. Now, they're bigger, leaner, stronger, healthier, and getting better and better looking by the day!

I was a little worried that they'd forgotten me all this time. But as soon as I whistled...

Hurry Blackie, I think it's Netty!

Oh, pet me, pet me, pet me!

Um, you're not Netty!

Excuse me, Papa Val, have you seen Netty?

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, it is Netty!

She's MINE, I found her first!

Not if you can't get to her, she's not!

Oh yeah? Well, I got moves that put SuperDog to shame...

Take that, you stinky black stub you!

I am Whitey! I can take you down with one eye closed!

And this is what happens when two puppies go at each other blindly: they run into Mama K's shin.

They stop fighting for one second when they get yelled at, but then they resume without missing a beat. And eventually Blackie gets onto my lap.

Oh Netty, where have you been? It's been too long since laid on a human.

Oh Netty, the things that have happened since you've been gone...

Hello! Are you listening? I said... [woof-woof-woof-woof], [pant-pant-pant]...

[Slurrrrrrrrrp!] Oh how we've missed you so much.

Aw, Whitey, Netty missed you too...

She's MY Netty!

No, she's MY Netty!

Oh, Netty was so flattered to be fought over by two hyperactive, sweet, kissy, fussy, inquisitive, unconditionally loving puppies.

Parade Show Foiled by Tissy Fit

It was early on the morning of July 4. We all took a leisurely stroll through our still-sleeping town. It was lot's of fun, until somebody - ahem, Sonya - ruined it...

Sonya:

Preach, check it out, the pavement is still warm!

Sonya:

Where are all the cars?

Sonya:

Birds, have you seen any cars around?

Me:

"Uh, Sonya, there are no cars today. The streets are closed for the parade later."

Sonya:

Yum, chewing gum!

Sonya:

So this is the hunk of metal that wails down the road.

Preacher:

You're right Sonya, the pavement IS warm!

Preacher:

Ah, I could go to sleep right here.

Preacher:

Whewh, it's actually too warm.

Preacher:

Dadda, can we walk on the streets like this everyday?

5-Star:

"Um, no Preachie. The streets are closed only today for the 4th of July parade."

Sonya:

Mama, hurry up, we aren't getting any younger here!

Me:

[Dobermans, they think the world revolves around them!]

Sonya:

Quick, Ma, quick! Like this, see. Hurry!

Preacher:

Is this where we'll be watching the parade from?

Sonya:

No, no. This is a better spot.

Sonya:

Actually THIS is the spot!

Sonya:

I'm cold. I'm gonna lay down for a minute...

Huh?! What is that giant bag of fluffy brown fur coming toward us?

[Here came a couple with their Newfie, lumbering down the street just like we were. And just like that, it was game over. Sonya threw the most excruciating sounding tissy fit you'd ever heard from a Doberman. She wanted at it! I wonder if she knew it was a dog...

And that's when we decided they weren't coming to the parade with us later on.]

5-Star:

Sorry, Preach.

Preacher:

But Da, I didn't do anything! That's not fair.

Preacher Ate My Toothbrush!

As most of our get-togethers are amongst our friends, Saturday night's World Champion UFC event was last minute. The usual suspects showed up, which includes the sweetest blue eyed, blond little boy named Liam.

Liam always asks to pet Preacher and Sonya. But the one time he met them, they plowed him over and licked every inch of his skin not covered by clothing. Needless to say, at the tender age of 4, and with no dog experience whatsoever, he got scared. Then the dogs got excited, and barked with Liam's screeching screams. And, worst, Liam's mama panicked. Not good. So until Liam is tall and strong enough to stay upright, and keep his cool when the dogs come charging him with kisses, the poor dogs have to be put away regardless of Liam's constant pleading to "please, please, please... can I pet the dogs?" (God bless his little heart for not giving up on my loving brutes.)

After Liam left, we let the dogs out to say hello to the remaining guests. And after they left, we all went to bed for the night. That's when I found this:

I know who did it right away! Preacher loves anything that's been in our mouths, and socks.

Sonya loves blankets and... um... Well, I'll show you when I catch her with it. It's rather embarrassing. Don't hold your breaths though; I've been keeping them very secure, as even the tiniest articles of "clothing" from Victoria's Secret are too expensive to make into chew toys. Oh, but Sonya has very good taste. In clothing, that is. Ugh, I better stop here before I dig myself into a hole I can't get out of.

"Preacher, what d'you do this for?"

Oh, that. Yeah, it was in the shower.

"So you step into the shower to get it? It's MY toothbrush!"

You know, I thought I'd save you the time by brushing my own teeth.

"This is a Sonicare. You hate the Sonicare!"

Oh, is THAT what it is? It's tasted really good.

"Preacher, next time you do this, I'll use it to brush your teeth." (I make idle threats all the time, the dogs can't tell the difference between a bluff and a real warning.)

Next time you should just let us watch TV with the rest of you!

Sweet, Darling Luna

Luna is a molly mule. She is just over two years old, which is practically a baby! And she is such a darling, sweet molly.

Luna loves her human, Steve.

Because Steve plays with her hooves.

Because Steve loves Luna too.

Because Steve scratches Luna's back.

Because Luna loves getting her back scratched.

Because Luna is just a sweet, darling molly mule.