Smooch versus the squirrel

My houseguests and I spent Saturday at Morning Bray Farm. 

After many happy hours of cute overload, we returned to the 7MSN around dinner time.

Smooch had spent the day guarding the ranch from the confines of her yard and was very happy to welcome us home.

She couldn't wait to tell us about her exciting afternoon.

Smooch: Great big squirrel! Ran behind the bench!

I knocked off the cushions! I moved the bench!

I caught the squirrel! See? I left him for you right there!

I didn't eat him. Aren't I a good dog? Where's my cookie?

Smooch's snout was swollen and had what appeared to be several claw marks, 

which the squirrel likely made while trying to escape from Smooch's clenched teeth.

Smooch had never gotten into this kind of trouble so I wasn't sure what to do,

but squirting the wounds with Vetricyn seemed like a good place to start, followed by a call to the weekend emergency vet, who told me that squirrel bites generally aren't that dangerous and I could probably wait until Monday to take Smooch to her regular vet, which I did. She will be on antibiotics for awhile to stave off any abcesses, but she'll be good as new...

...except perhaps for a scar or two on her lovely face. 

I'm amazed by how much better her wounds look after just a few days.

It will take Smooch much longer to recover from having houseguests than having an encounter with a squirrel. 

All that extra love and attention has worn her out – in a good way. 

Not your average playdate

The donkeys from Morning Bray Farm were supposed to come over for a playdate on Sunday, but sometimes some things don't go the way you plan. George and Alan received their spring vaccinations Friday night, and both had adverse reactions. We all agreed they didn't need the excitement that five extra donkeys would bring. They're both okay now, so please don't worry. But instead of a playdate with a bunch of donkeys playing in the pasture, we had a playdate with a bunch of alleged adults.

How many margaritas does it take to fly a kite?

We'll just say "more than one."

Lucy: These people are clueless. I'd better help Danni.

Lucy: I'll hold the string while you go get the chips, ok?

It is impossible to fly a kite without smiling. 

It is also impossible for some people to fly a kite without executing stylish dance moves.

And it is also impossible to get the kite and the kite flyer in the same picture. I need a wider lens.

Hank: I wish she would sit back down and feed me pretzels.

Hank: If she smiles any bigger, she's going to hurt herself.

Hank: Go fly a kite.

Lucy and the boys may not have had as much fun at this playdate as they usually do,

but the adults made up for it.

You know the playdate is over when the kite crashes into a pile of poop.

Checking fence usually isn't this much fun

It's important to give the ranch hands a break from the chores every now and then...

...but happy hour doesn't last long.

The chores continue well into the night. Here my ranch hands are chauffering me around while
I test the electric fence (the indicator lights on the fence tester are much easier to see in the dark).

But the ranch hands are looking a little bored.

They seem to be up to something. What could it be?

The ranch hands brought glow-in-the-dark toys to amuse themselves.

Lucy and the boys weren't laughing as much as we were. Where's their sense of humor?

Live from the pasture, it's Saturday night! Par-tee!

George: Let's just pretend we don't know them.

Smooch wins again

Danni: I think Smooch wants to come in.

Smooch: Ya think?

Under ordinary circumstances, Smooch does not jump up on the outdoor table to peer inside the window.

These are not ordinary circumstances.

Jane: Maybe if we hide our faces she won't see us.

Smooch: Don't try and fight it...I'm irresistable.

Who doesn't like a good surprise now and then?

My houseguests arrived today. One of them didn't know the other one was coming and it was a good surprise.

Danni and JaneK will be here until Monday. It remains to be seen if we will ever leave the sunroom.

Smooch is in seventh heaven with a new toy...

...and a new friend.

George wants a piece of the action

George: Since when are you two so buddy buddy?

Hank: Since the weather got warm and we started itching to get rid of all this extra hair.

George: Don't forget me over here. I'm itchy, too!

Lucy: You just wait your turn. You know damned well you'll be the center of attention all weekend,

stickin' your butt in everybody's hands begging for scratches.

Did somebody say playdate? Perhaps some company for the weekend? 

You didn't think I've been doing all this spring cleaning for the hell of it, did you?

All of which is to say, my five-day staycation starts today, and I couldn't be more excited.

I'll continue to post pictures, just not on my self-imposed 6:00 a.m. eastern time daily schedule.

I can do whatever I want, whenever I want...I'm on vacation!

Alan dyes his hair

Me: What's Alan doing?

George: Dying his hair.

George: He's going for a more mature look...

...with a little gray around the edges.

Alan: Gray ... it's the new black, in case you haven't heard. 

Johnny and June

The new barn cats are still holed up in the feed room, getting acclimated to their new home before I let them roam the ranch. 

I haven't seen much of their personalities so it's hard to say if Johnny and June will be the right names, but that's what I'm calling them. 

Johnny Cash Cat knows the hand who feeds him. He comes out of hiding and lets me pet him

whenever he hears the magical sound of cat food rattling in his bowl. 

I try to engage him in play...

...but he doesn't see the point. He has more in common with Henri, le Chat Noir than Maru.

June Carter Cash Cat remains a total enigma. She never emerges from her hiding place when I'm present.

Every time I'm in the feed room, I stick my head between the feed bin and the wall to make sure she's still there.

I say hello, she stares up at me and says "you again?" and we repeat this exercise at least eight times a day.

Sometimes I stick my camera in the 6" wide space where I'd normally stick my head.

I press the shutter and hope for the best.

Even out of focus, her eyes are beautiful.

June: You again?

The spring cleaning ain't over 'til the dog gets washed

My house is so clean, it squeaks. Two weekends of spring cleaning and the finish line
was finally in sight late Sunday afternoon. There was only one thing left to scrub: Smooch.

First we had to furminate.

Smooch: That thing works pretty good.

Much to my delight, Smooch is a seasonal shedder, unlike my beloved yellow labs who shedded non-stop year-round.

However, when Smooch does shed, she doesn't hold back.

I'm sharing this picture for the sole purpose of showing off my sparkling clean windows.

Someone besides me has to see them before the next dust storm tomorrow when they're all dirty again.

Washing windows out here is almost as pointless as washing the truck or the dog,

but I do it at least once a year regardless, for blog fodder if nothing else.

Who knew the light in the shower could be so nice? 

Smooch, we might have to do photo shoots in here more often.

Smooch: Please tell me you're not serious.

I dried Smooch as best I could with a towel, hoping she wouldn't do the whole shake-rattle-and-roll thing. 

I can be so naive sometimes.

Smooch: How much trouble am I in?

Me: I needed to wash that quilt anyway.