I’m taking a day off from thinking about complicated issues and hard stuff, at least for the most part. I did do some brainstorming this afternoon with my friend Martha as a result of our spiritual life crises. That was good for us both!
It’s been a bit more relaxing than usual around here, so we’ve been hanging out with our precious canines. I’m relieved to say that they are all getting along really well. The worst behavior issue is that Vlassic has been avoiding the family room ever since Penney arrived and lashed out at him when he wanted to share a lap with her.
I think that’s getting better, though, because they have all been in my den on the couch playing away (I had intended to take a nap, but instead I took pictures of the smaller dogs all playing together indoors).
I even caught them sharing a couch together just now. First time I’ve ever seen that!
Health
Vlassic’s lump from last week has slowly been diminishing, which has been a relief. He never slowed down or acted like it hurt, so we didn’t rush him to the vet. Mandi’s little dachshund had experienced the same thing last year, too, so I waited.
Cuteness
I’ve been enjoying the dogs as they all (minus Alfred) sleep on us at various parts of the day. Vlassic and Carlton like to form little circles inside my legs.
Harvey likes to drape himself across Lee, which Penney would be doing in the photo if Harvey wasn’t already there. She’s still quite the cuddlebug, but does separate from humans more than she did, especially if her buddy Carlton is around.
In other areas, Harvey has really calmed down in the last few months and isn’t as growly and grouchy. He likes to find new places to sleep, like the dog bed in the den. What? An actual dog bed for sleeping? Yes, they like the one Lee Ann and Russ gave us.
Carlton was a little stand-offish for a while, but he now wants to sit with me and follow me everywhere I go again. He especially loves to have his neck stroked under his chin. His fur has such an odd texture, too, so I enjoy petting him. He’s not soft like Penney or sleek like Vlassic. He has texture. I even think it looks cool up close.
Alfred
And speaking of coats, oh Alfred. We keep getting him de-burred and he keeps re-rolling. And to top it off, he’s started swimming in the cattle tank. That doesn’t exactly clean him off; rather it adds some essence of cow patty to his already large-dog-fur stink.
Of course, he loves to rub on us and ask rather insistently to be petted. I just wash my hands when I’m finished plucking tufts of hair and burrs off him. It’s what makes him a tough and macho guardian.
There you go, dog fans, an update on all our buddies. I’ll maybe do a book report next. That requires thinking.
