Loaf

Lib has taken to referring to Maple as a "loaf of dog." You can imagine why -- she looks like a loaf. She is a long dog, and getting fatter by the day. Fat and happy. She is growling at us right now for not giving her enough attention.

Rebel Star Take a Chance

This is Chance, Christmas 2010. Mom and Dad got Chance in March 2009. He was born in November 2008, two months after JT and Natalie got married. Chance is a hilarious standard poodle. He's still a puppy in many ways (two and a half years old), very excitable and energetic. A true water-dog. I never thought I would like poodles until I actually spent time with Chance. Maple and Chance are best friends. Maple is a year older but they both still act like maniac puppies when around each other. They chase each other in the house and knock into furniture. They race around in broad circles in the back yard snapping at each other and wrestling.

Chance is bigger and tougher than Maple, and always ends up wearing her out, but Maple is a ferocious little devil when she wants to be, and sometimes when she is exhausted and Chance is still nipping at her and taunting her, she'll rejuvenate and go on the offensive with her famed alligator chomp.

I'm writing about Chance two years after he came into the family. I've been a bit remiss. But of course this blog didn't see any entries at all in 2009 -- the year we got married -- and 2010.

When we leave the country we'll leave Maple to stay with my parents for a time, and that means she and Chance will be together everyday for a month or more. If they don't destroy something valuable, or chase each other out of the neighborhood and get lost, I'll be happy. Maple is always sleepy for several days after playing with Chance. It's possible that after this long of a visit, Maple may be a permanently calmer and more lethargic dog. But I wouldn't count on it. Maple seems incapable of slowing. And same with Chance, which means this friendship will last a long time.

Short-Leg Solidarity

Maple met Lauren's dog Blossom at the park today for the first time. They acted like they've known each other for years! It's short-leg solidarity.

Walking Maple I

Toad Skin

The following is a transcript of a text message that I received from Matt while in Atlanta shopping for my sister's wedding dress:

11:55pm Friday August 22

Youda been horrified

maple brought inside old toad carcass

and would not give it up

then it tasted sour

she shook head

like with apple spray

Maple loves to eat dead animals. My first experience with this disgusting habit was in Hutchinson, at Mom and Dad's house. She came to Mom and I with a cardinal crushed between her teeth. I started beating her with her (now defunct) stuffed walrus that we had bought at Starbucks for her drive from Newalla to Austin. (I think it was a save-the-whales promotional event?) Turns out that the only thing that will come between Maple and a dead animal is Apple Sour. This is the miracle product that we use to keep Maple from biting hands, shoes, rugs...and from eating dead animals. It apparently mimics the defense mechanism that toads have developed.