I honestly thought it would fall through; but it didn’t and I spent last week being happier than I’ve been in a long time. I chopped wood, decorated, shopped and wandered through the towns. It’s been amazing. The nights were beautiful, dark, and peaceful. I sat in my gazebo and stared at the moon as it lit up the lake and the woods; like a flashlight. I sighed with the breeze and relaxed. My mornings were spent with a cup of my favorite coffee simply watching the water and the animals. The fog peeling back baring a glass smooth surface. Perfection exists my friends: right here.
The dogs struggled a little. Winston suffers from suitcase anxiety. Watching me pack for a week took him to the brink of a stroke. I allowed him to sit in the car. I had him sniff where his things were packed away. No use. He lost about seven pounds in hair…and that says a lot for my lil pork sausage. Birdie knew something was up, but I think truly she was feeding off Wee man. She stumbled around and took his lead:
“Oh. Okay, we’re nervous? Yip! I can play nervous. We need to whine and shake? Gotcha. Is this the part where we piddle on the…ohhhhh no. Guess not. Is that over the line?”
So I drove the almost three hours with the Buster Keatons of the K-9 world hopping between seats and smacking the gearshift. I did my best to soothe and comfort them without driving into the side of a mountain or swerving onto oncoming traffic; multitasking at its finest.
We arrived, took them for a quick walk and stuffed them into new cages where nothing smelled the same. Poor guys. Birdie must have had one hell of a flashback to the days of her foster care. She began to howl (like a friggin coyote) I remember thinking this would be a lovely way to meet the neighbors.
“Hi. We own the world’s most obnoxious dogs and just moved in next door. Wanna be friends and come for dinner? They’ll steal your napkins and eat your shoes while you’re still in them. Sound like fun? Grrrrreat. See you at seven.”
I’ve had to really take time with them. We’ve walked miles in our little plot. They’ve sniffed, scratched, growled and yipped at every rock and shrub on our property; except the dock. I didn’t take them to the dock; until today. I thought they’d be ready.
Winston hunched down and almost slithered out to the end inhaling as much air as his twelve inch frame could hold. He chuffed and quivered. I believe that is dog for: “What the Hell is this?”
Birdie? Well, she took a different approach. She went in; simply walked off the dock. I could almost feel her shock at the frigid water (did I mention we had snow all day?) I ran to the end dragging Winston behind me. I thunked through the weeds and mud to reach her. She paddled as hard as she could. I could hear her gasping from the cold. Scooping her up, I ran to the house. Winton was choking, tripping over the lead trying to keep up. I grabbed a blanket and began to rub her dry. I peeked under the towel to see her almost smiling. She slapped the carpet and took off running. She lapped the sofa a dozen times, nipped her brother in the bum all the while her back end was tucked up. She looked like a big, furry, fast letter “C”.
“WOW! That’s some cool stuff Mommy!!” Then she almost passed out in front of the fire. Winston went over and hiked his leg. “All RIGHT! EnOUGH!” So, everyone got a bath. Winston’s was just because he hates it and after giving his sis a golden shower, I thought he’d more than earned it.
Later we’re going to try again. Guess I’ll head to town and pick up a couple more life preservers; of the puppy variety.
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