Willow Tales: Finally, Spring Is In The Air
The Adventures of a Carolina Dog
Spring … Finally.
It’s been a while since my last post, but I wanted to give an update on my idyllic life as the only Carolina Dog in a mixed pack:
If you want to know what a Carolina Dog actually is, you can read the inaugural post I wrote for this series: Willow Tales: Introduction - Ancient Origins.
So, here’s a brief intro and update on the others:
Elli, is our resident Boxador. She is fourteen years old now. She gets around pretty good, but has slowed down a bit. She knows there are just things she can’t do any more.
Eating, however, is not one of those things. Let me tell you, she can wolf down a meal in seconds. And Heaven help those of us who gets in the way. I learned that one the painfully hard way.
When I first joined this pack, Elli welcomed me with open paws. I was like the puppy she never had. She doesn’t hear too well now and gets a little cranky with me because I love to chew on her ears. But I still love her.
Beau is a mix of who knows what. I think chow, Irish setter, and some sort of herder type. G’Mama said he used to herd her piano student’s cars when they would drive up to the house.
He’s also fourteen and definitely a cantankerous old soul. Especially, when he’s off his meds. He snarls and snaps at me when I try to play with him.
Polly is a long-haired dachshund. I like to think of her as my Nemesis - all playfully, of course. She spars pretty good, but since I’ve become part of this pack, I’ve outgrown her four times over, so sometimes, Pops says she needs a break and puts one of us in our crates.
Pops and G’Mama are the best ever. I’ve got Pops wrapped around my paw for sure. He even let’s me jump up on the bed when he’s on it. Elli told me that’s a first for him. None of them have ever been allow to do that. He tells me how much he loves me every day. Polly gets really jealous. I just give her a playful bark and paw my snout at her.
Now, G’Mama is something else. She makes me “toe the line” more than Pops. But, she has been good at teaching me commands and how to behave. And, I know when I obey, I get lots of “Good-Girl” treats. So it’s all good. Sometimes, though, I really do need a lot of discipline. Pops says I have too much energy. He calls me a “Wild Willowful”.
Now that it’s warm most of the time, we can take our walks down by the Beaver Pond almost every day. Believe or not, the Beaver tree I wrote about not too long ago, is still standing. Looks like the beavers suspended operations until it warmed up. But, they have really dammed up the pond. The other day we heard one slapping his tail on the water to alert other beavers that we were there. Sounded like gun shots. It scared me.
The blooming trees and plants in our yard are beautiful, but the pollen is thick and it is getting all over me. Elli, normal black and beautiful, looks like she is turning yellow. And lately, the smoke from the wildfires has been thick, almost like a fog covering the sunset. I sure hope they get them under control soon. Such beautiful country.
Pops said that in a week or so, we will be heading back to our favorite getaway - Edisto. It’s so peaceful there. I even got to see an Armadillo on one of our walks. Pops said to stay away from them because they carry leprosy, whatever that is. And then We’re off to Texas in May to visit my cousins Tom Tom and Frasier and their pack. In June, it’s back to Mississippi to greet a new human in my cousin Moose’s (he’s a cat for crying out loud) pack. So, J.T. will have a sister now. Moose will probably just still hang out on top of the fridge or a corner in the garage. Yep, I’m sure I will have lot’s of travels and stories to tell. I can’t wait.
I cannot believe I am nine months old now and weigh over 50lbs. I used to be Polly’s size. She probably wonders what happened as much as me.
My sister, Cherokee (we call her Okee) recently moved a lot closer to us, so we get to play almost everyday now. She may be a lot smaller than me, but she’s a feisty one for sure. Wears me out.
Well, that’s it for now. I hope to get another story out soon. Maybe I’ll write about the sheep across the road, or Romeo, our neighbor’s horse who hangs out with his pal, Donkey and the cows down the road.
Well, until then …
Face Licks to All,
Willow
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