Between Walks

I continue to test the waters with Hootie...what's a dog to do when they aren't outside? 

I use my cuteness to try sitting at the window seat while I hunt.  

Who doesn't like a nice cushy place to rest their tush?  

Look who is awake from their winter rest.

Someday I will catch that little chipmunk...I can just tell!  

~W

My Favorite Thing...Hunting!

A good hunter never limits his field.  

Clues are everywhere.   

One must look high...

...and low.  

Sometimes a good hunter needs to follow his nose.  

BINGO!  

I found a mouse under the snow!  

I found a dead Carolina Chickadee over the hill!  

And this morning I found...an opossum!  

I tested whether it was playing opossum by hitting it with my paw.  

I even picked it up and flipped it around with my mouth.  

A good hunter is NEVER afraid of getting dirty, or snowy!  

~W

When You Give a Dog...

a Hole to Dig in...

he's gonna need a bath!  

Okay, so Hootie and I have this little trust issue going on too.  

I want to run.  

She doesn't want me to runaway.  

***

She will barely let me off the leash!  

***

For several days in a row last week, she was letting me run around the backyard with the retractable leash out to it's fullest.  Kind of a pain as it bounced around after me.  I would freeze up thinking that bulky part was going to hit me.  Finally, she switched to the short leash.  That is easier to run with...if I don't step on it!  It's not a lot of fun chocking myself!  

***

By Saturday I had her convinced she should prove to DH that I am worthy of being unleashed!  After our morning walk, she proudly unhooked me and walked around the yard.  Well, I did stay nearby for awhile.  I couldn't help myself though.  DH was watching through the window.  Hootie was being all smuggish and I thought I'd just see how far she'd let me go.  I kept 30 or so feet away from her, not daring to go back towards the house.  Needless to say, once she caught up with me (which I totally gave in and dropped on my side so she could come near) she wasn't too happy.  Then she had to go home and say, "You were right" to DH.  

***

My point is, when you see these pictures of me bouncing about and having fun, note the leash I get to drag with me.  I guess I need to keep reminding myself this family is a keeper and they are kind of possessive of me.  Could be worse I suppose.  

Hootie found this great patch of burr-free grass for me to run in.  

It was awesome!!!  I was about done running when I smelled something and had to investigate...

Hootie didn't let me dig long enough for my liking.  I never did find what I was looking for either.  On the walk home Hootie mentioned something about the reason we went to the grassy area was so I could keep relatively clean and NOT need another bath.   

It was a fun walk!  :)

~W

My First Check Up and Playing in the Snow, Again!

Yesterday I had a check up at the vet.  My new family has been trying to fatten me up since I was about 10 pounds under weight when they adopted me.  They are feeding me well here and I have gained four pounds in the past two months.  I LOVE to go out and hunt!  Hootie takes her camera and hunts too.  

Today the kids had a 2 hour delay to their start of the school day.  Hootie and I got to go out early for our big walk since she didn't have to go to school herself!  First we saw this group of deer. 

The snow last night was resting on every branch....

...and leaf.  This is a holly bush.  

Later, on our walk, I saw more deer lying in the woods.  

The streams were still flowing too.

Here's the Chief of the woods...  

...hail to the Chief!

~W

An Average Walk...

Can you identify these?  

I see lots, and the animals it belongs to, on my walks. 

*****

Some times I am hot on the trail of raccoons... 

...but their scent doesn't stay on one side of the stream!  

The water was a bit deeper than I expected.  

I ended up getting a bath when I got home.  

Oh well, I DID find the raccoon roost!  

~W

Last Sunday...

DH read the comics on Sunday and then told Hootie this one was all about her and me!  

For Better or Worse Comics by Lynn Johnston

*****

Just a week before this comic I was next door at Gma & Gpa's.  

The Girl was snuggled up on the couch so I tested the waters by climbing up with her.  

BINGO!

They all thought I was SO cute!

Grandparents are great as next door neighbors.    

Then I came home and decided to try this out again...

Hootie was asleep when I tried this, 

so the Girl and DH took my picture 

for her to see the next morning.

  

BUSTED!  

She doesn't like it when I'm on this couch.  

I even tried my puppy-dog eyes on her! 

 The good news is there's a couch downstairs I can climb on!  

*****

BTW, When Hootie does go out... :)

~W

My First Thanksgiving...2009

Shortly after my new clan rescued me from the animal pokie, they took a 14 hour road trip, through the night to the east coast to celebrate Thanksgiving with their extended family.  I got to go too!  The oldest teen (the boy) was at the wheel for awhile...

...while we traveled, I slept.  

DH drove through the night...we had to get off the main highway due to a rock slide and went through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  There were lots of light displays, but I was a little unsure about all this so I slept some more.  

At about 6 am the next morning we arrived at the beach.  Hootie and the girl took me for a walk in the fog.  It was so different than anything I'd ever been in.  Soft on my feet, a little wet and lots of other people who would pop out of the fog.  

There were a lot of birds around.  It was so fun to watch them when I was outside...

...or inside!  

I played with the cousin and the girl.  

I rested after my numerous long walks.  

I hunted the birds...

...and hunted the birds...

...and hunted the birds!

Oooo!  More birds across the water!  

Must get the birds!!!

Time for a little swim...to get the birds!  

Oops, short leash! 

The cousin and the boy walk with me.  

Hootie takes me out to see the sunrise.  

And we find more birds!  

The little ones are so tempting!  

Hootie thought I'd like to see this porpoise below...but I didn't care about it!  

They do jump and splash, but they aren't the birds!  

More bird-watching walks with the boy.  

The worst part of this trip was that I needed a few baths.  For Hootie's first time as a bath giver, she did an okay job.  

I can't wait to go to the beach again with them!  

~W