Costumes

I don't dress my dogs up for Halloween. But I certainly do fantasize about what they would wear for a costume.

Perhaps Sage would go as a Lab Model, you know, the perfect looking lab? And Annie? Cleverly disguised as a lab puppy!

This will be Annie's first Halloween. We've made it through the dreaded 4th of July, and now we'll see how she does with kids at the door dressed up in crazy outfits. Sage barks and snarls at them...hopefully Annie doesn't mimic that trait.

Happy Halloween!

Murphy's day.

Until Next Summer

This will be one of the last times the girls wade in Icicle Creek. Soon it will freeze, then the run-off which makes Icicle a raging torrent. So we enjoyed some quiet time, wading and watching sticks.

It's been a good season on Icicle for the girls.

Murphy's day.

Playtime!

A few hours outside, no leashes, just able to romp. It's great. These two just love the nip in the air, the wonderful Autumn days. It's playtime for them.

If you look closely you'll see Sage protecting a pink ball. Possession, she says, is 9/10ths of dog law. Plus there is nothing better than frustrating Annie.

Murphy's day.

Autumn Glow

Sage just radiates with the Autumn glow. Such a pretty and happy girl.

Murphy's day.

Today is Her Birthday

Ok, so I really don't know her real birthday, but by counting from her nine weeks when she came, it's around now.

1 years old. And let me tell you how she celebrated. Rolling in lots of stinky stuff! Perfume to a young lab!

Time to take her to the Nordstrom's perfume counter for smelly stuff I enjoy!

But Happy Birthday Annie. Even though you have had three baths in two days, I still love you. Pee-u!

Murphy's day.

Scrum

Now this is more like it. Hand off to Sage, and Annie tackles, trying to force a fumble! Football as it should be!

Murphy's day.

Play Calling

It's tough being the quarterback for the Kissing Labs. They demand good execution and tend to get a little bored with my need to hang out in the pocket.

Just give us the ball, Mommie!

Murphy's day.

Paying Attention

Sage, who will be 6 in two months, has been in every team meeting, watched all the pictures, heard every chalk talk. So, sometimes she feels like she shouldn't have to pay attention to the new x's and o's that I am trying to teach both of them.

Annie, on the other hand, is exuberantly embracing football. Or really, she is embracing any chance I give her to have a scrum with Sage.

Murphy's day.

Chalk Talk

University of Washington Huskies are rebuilding (euphemism for "no hope this season, folks!"), Seahawks, well, er, they are just plain bad.

But there is always, and I mean always, the Kissing Labs. Attentive during practice, eager to watch game film, and anxious to understand the x's and o's during chalk talks.

Murphy's day.

Kidnap!

You know those shots, the kidnap victim holding up the New York Times to prove they're alive on a certain date.

Annie scampered out of my bedroom and into the back yard with the front page!

Send ransom!

Murphy's day.

Hall of Fame

On Wednesday, I was walking the dogs in our usual place. After a day of pouring rain, the sun was finally coming out, the rays shining through the wet Douglas fir and White pine needles, it was gorgeous. As we reached the little lake, I started thinking about Murphy. My Murphy. She loved t his walk, ambling along, crawling underneath a log, watching Sage do her mad dogs with other pups we met along the way.

And I felt her with me as we walked.

I realized if there was a dog hall of fame, Murphy would be in it. She was one of the great ones.

Murphy's day.

When It Rains It Pours

It started raining this week and Annie, wisely, has figured out she can stay in bed while I run in it. Sleeping. Then, sweetly and eagerly greet me when I come through the door, sopped.

She's smart.

Murphy's day.

Can You Find Annie?

Remember that magazine, Highlights? Ah, a trip to the dentist was never the same without figuring out the puzzles. They always had a hidden object in the picture.

Where is Annie (other than hiding from the loose dog)?

Murphy's day.

Country Dogs/Loose Dogs

Residents of Chelan County, like in many rural areas, have slightly different ideas about domestic animals. Particularly outside the small towns, dogs and cats are "free range," in other words, run all over. Well, the cats certainly do. And some dogs. At first, the black lab that showed up every time we pulled in, was cute. It romped with Sage like there was no tomorrow, but when we tried to leave, it would chase the car. We'd spend lots of time trying to get it back home, even leashing it and walking up the road to it's house.

Now there is a neighbor with a pit bull/lab mix who allows his dog to run everywhere. I have frequently had to stop and wait while it stood in the middle of the road. When this dog sees us it is now beginning to think it can mooch food. It is sneaking up to where I feed the girls. I have no idea if this dog has fleas, been vaccinated, has kennel cough, who knows. Last year I asked the neighbor to keep the dog on his property because I was worried about Sage's knee. But that lasted about two weekends.

It drives me nuts. I would never let my dogs wander to other people's property. When I am out of the city, I want to relax with my dogs, not be worried that the dog will try to eat Sage's food and start a dog fight, or give Annie fleas, or...and the dog is no longer responding to my yelling at it to go home. It thinks it owns the place!

Yikes!

Murphy's day.

When It Gets Cold

Sunday morning it was 22°! Whoa, we were not prepared for that! To get warm we took several walks, a short run, and looked for down and fur! Still not much color on the Aspens, but whoa, was it cold.

Murphy's day.

More Puppy

Recently, Sage has decided to be more puppy. Mad dogs around the yard, mad dogs at the park, mad dogs inside. She picks up tug toys and shoves them in Annie's face, with the predictable result. It's really great to see. She seems happy to go on her walk, excited near water, and particularly thrilled at meal time.

All this is good.

Murphy's day.

Ah, To Be So Young

Annie is a child. I keep reminding myself...yesterday morning she wanted to roll. Like Murphy, she loves getting on her back, legs in the air, and rolling back and forth. No, not on something stinky, just the shear pleasure, I think, of rolling in grass.

So, we stopped on our run. The grass banked up a hill. Annie ran to the top of the hill and rolled down. Then did it three times before I finally decided we needed to finish our run (read: I needed coffee).

But boy, was it cute and funny. Like kids rolling down hills. Labs are not that much different from kids and Annie is as close as they come.

Murphy's day.

Autumn Pleasures

One of my favorite things to do in Autumn is fish. Haven't been out much this season, but Annie is looking forward to it. She has become quite the fishing dog, trying to find bugs, looking for sticks.

But there is just something about being outside, on a river, in the cool sun, looking at the Poplars and Willows turn color.

Can't wait.

Murphy's day

Stepping Up

You know, I worried about Sage after Murphy died. She adored Murph. For awhile I thought we'd become old and quiet together. She'd follow me around the house, not letting me out of sight, but just being quiet.

But now, now she has stepped up. She's the older sister, showing Annie how life is lived, but also just being a wonderful friend for me. I think she is healing from a tough tough year.

Murphy's day.

The Lab's Football

Not a good weekend for many teams loved by this family. The UW Huskies, Cal Bears, Seahawks. But the labs did just fine. Annie went out for some long passes and seemed to enjoy being tackled by Sage. We're in a re-building year, having lost our best wide retriever, Murphy, but I think everyone is pleased with the progress.

Murphy's day.

Open Your Eyes

As far as I can tell, Annie knows one speed: fast forward. I am not sure when she re-charges or sleeps. Maybe when she is standing still?

So unlike Maggie, my niece's dog...

Murphy's day.

Football Weather

Weather has turned. On Tuesday evening, there was thunder then it poured. I took the girls to a ball field, trying to squeeze them in between kids and their soccer practices, hucking out tennis balls for Annie to chase. But they also had a lot of indoor play, or, er, practice for their football team.

We're getting better, or what do they say, this team is "re-building." It seems we have a little problem with who gets the ball. Not that much different from the pros!

Murphy's day.