Spring is here! Kind of...

Except for the wee bit of snow we had yesterday afternoon, and the cool temperatures, um, spring is definitely on it's way! Luckily we had a snow-free afternoon out at the homestead. Sometimes I'm glad we're in a low-snow zone!

This is what things looked like this weekend:

Ah, the scungy ponds are back!


Goodbye trail...



George is the first one in the ponds when they thaw. Moments after this, my little trouble-maker, Lucy came and rested in the pond. A few minutes later I noticed about five PORCUPINE quills on her nose!!! We had just been running around the meadow and were briefly in the trees as I was checking out the trails, since I'm specifically NOT taking them on loose summer walks, but good ol' Lucy is an expert at sneakily disappearing. I have no idea how she found a porky that quick, but I'm glad that either a) she was smart enough to NOT attack it (doubtful, considering her past...) or b) that the porcupine was faster than her. Now I have extra incentive to get more fencing up!

Ball-time has resumed - you can see the Yappy Ripper, the Ever Observant Ivy and Subdued Sage here awaiting the throw. I need to find a new ball that can withstand the trauma these yahoos put it through. Any suggestions?? Our glow ball was the best - lasted almost ONE year! Can't find another one though...



Ripper is SO freakin' happy all the time. I swear if you konked him on the head with a 2x4 his expression would NOT change. (I haven't tried it, I swear)


Ivy dances around and torments Sage - typical brother/sister relationship. She's so freakin' cute, even if she is slightly psychotic. Ray's hand is healing nicely by the way... :)

This is normal Loki:


And this is his impression of Santa's Little Helper" (The Simpson's dog)

(tongue hanging off to the side, eyes slightly crossed, dopey look on face, etc... see below for reference)



The new game in the yard: "Chase the dog on the other side of the fence!"

Look at them stretch out - man they go FAST!!! That is Ivy and Esther.

I have to say, this game was originally MY idea - but Ivy and Sage caught on really fast and started it right away. They pretty much just run up and down the fence, on the outside, tormenting Pooh Bear!, Esther and Loki. You can see the three in hot pursuit!

The funniest thing is that they can do it for HOURS! And they come out of it totally exhausted!!

Muddy Pooh Bear!

This is how one (or all, actually) of our conversations go:

Pooh Bear: (bounce, bounce on Stacie's legs) PLEEEEASE pet me!!! (as she runs around, chases other dogs, jumps on Ripper's head, comes back)
Stacie: I just did, like two seconds ago (if I ignore her maybe she'll go away for 5 seconds)
Pooh Bear: I know! But here's an idea - pet me again! (jumps on Rippers head again, screeches while sprinting across the yard, finds me again) Maybe you didn't hear me last time, or maybe I forgot to ask, but PET ME!!!!!
Stacie: I don't want to spoil you with too much attention, or make the other dogs jealous y'know...
Pooh Bear: What other dogs?!?! *SCREEEEECHHHHHHH!!!!!* (as she chases Esther across the yard)
Stacie: *sigh* It's all about the Pooh Bear...
Pooh Bear: Pet me! *wiggle wiggle* (runs to jump on Loki's head, hey she likes variety!)




More fence chasing. Holy crap I love this game. I don't have to do a thing, except drink my beer while sitting down and supervising. Maybe next weekend I'll have a nap out there.


Esther and her hoarse little bark kills me. That's her in front with PB and Loki in behind. Ivy and Sage seem to love inciting the chase on the other side of the fence. They are over there because Ivy likes chewing on Pooh Bears and Esthers. She tells me they're quite tasty. :)