Summer time and the living is, well fun!

Hot weather is great! Everything smells, there is something to roll in everywhere! And there is so much hunting to do. I have to patrol the cabin grounds and that includes the lake. My work is never done. From early in the morning when the birds start singing and tweeting while the ducks quack and splash, to the muskrat swimming under the dock, chipmunks and squirrels. Then I have to dodge the giant, hairy mosquitos, huge horseflies and deer flies too! There are other big bugs with great big eyes, long bodies and two sets of wings. They eat the other ones. My people have taken up a curious thing, they get in the lake and throw things to each other. Togo loves to swim out and grab the ball. They also throw perfectly good food out to the enemies, the ducks! Work with me here guys! Then they got me to jump in off the dock, the water isn't co cold any more. I thought I smelled great, I found a slimy fish on the beach and I thought my people would want to know about it. Next thing I know they are pouring shampoo on me washing it all off. I went to a lot of work to smell that way, they just don't appreciate the right things in life. They also put me in a little thing called a rowboat and I could look into the water and see fish! Yikes, no wonder I need to power lounge on the dock and bask in the hot sun! I can see far, far away, sitting on the dock feels like doggie heaven now!

City Dog, Country Dog

My really big sister, Lilli, returned from college so now I get more pets, hugs and kisses. She spent a lot of time sleeping and hanging around the house so that was good for me and my brothers! We took lots of great walks around Cedar Lake and down by the Mississippi. One day when I was at the doggie park I got to be in a TV show about dogs for kids at Children's Hospitol. My Mom talks a lot so they were happy to talk to her about doggies. Aunt Beverly came to visit us for a few days from Cleveland and she went on a walk with us. I got more pets and hugs! Every morning in the city my Mom props the back door open and I can run in and out. I like to lie in the warm sun until it gets too hot then I go in and get a drink of water. I touch noses with the doggies next door, Buddy and Blue the pugs and Lola too. One night Mom took us all over to Pam's next door and we got to play together while Mom talked to Pam. It was a fun as the doggie park. Pam has a really nice porch and when we got tired we could lie next to them on a couch. Quincy and I like to wrestle and chase each other in and out of the house. Mom, Lilli and Jim just laugh at us. I like the city!

Then it was time to go north again. It was really dry in the city and there were no bugs. We drove and drove. Lilli went with us this time so I looked forward to more hugs and snugs. When we finally got there, Mom opened the car door and mosquitos surrounded us, it was kind of damp. It was chilly and cloudy. As the night wore on it got more windy and colder. At least there was no snow this time! We got to see Mary Lou and Pepper again. Mary Lou has been catching lots of chipmunks at her place. We went for a walk, Mary Lou taught me that I should chase ducks, and there are lots of them. But I have to swim out in the deep water. I jumped off a dock, the water was still cold and deep, so I swam for shore. Those ducks are lots faster in the water than me! Besides there are lots of things to explore and hunt in the woods like rabbits and deer. We get to see them when Mom is driving, Quincy and I sit in the front seat with our front paws on the dashboard and look for deer. We almost always see them! Now if I could just get one! Mom, Lilli and Charlie worked in the woods around the cabin and then had some big bonfires. One night Mom cooked the dinner over the fire, everybody liked it! Today it is raining and Lilli has to go home to the city but we have to stay here. We will drive her half way and meet Jim, then we turn around and come on back. There is a parade this weekend in Bigfork, I wonder if Mom will let me be in it? That could be the next chapter!