Ticky ticks

Ticky ticks is what I call ticks. I tend to add a "y" on the first word and double the first word when I talk to Keller.

"Do you want a treatie treat?"
"Want to go for a walkie walk?"
"Where's the squirrely squirrel?"
"Did you farty fart? You're a farty fart."

Etc.

Anyway. Where was I....oh yes. The first tick of the season got pulled off Keller. A nice wood tick. Early April...sounds about right! I know exactly where it came from, too: the dog park. I found it while giving her a bath (because she reeked like dead fish from the lake...and there are dead fish in there...I know because she found one today) and I thought it was a stubborn mud spot on her face. Wrong! Pulling ticks off doesn't gross me out anymore. It used to majorly. But I taped it up and set it aside for Dave to see, and now I can't remember where I put it...

Faily fail.

Keller shares her love in strange ways

My dog misses me during the day. Nonnie snapped these pictures yesterday and today. Keller's done this before - she'll pull out a shoe or two and either get the hankering to gnaw on it or to just...sleep by it. So that's what she did yesterday and today she decided to pull out my scarf...my slipper...my shoe....and then downstairs...she went through our laundry basket...and pulled out many of the fine undergarments in there.

I love her. This speaks mountains to me of her love for me (and hubby). Thanks to Ann for taking these pictures. :)

It was a bit cool today, but the sun was out, so Dave and I took an anxious dog for some exercise for the day. The Bloomington Dog Park continues to be an evolving mud hole...in spots. Tis the season. :) Keller, somehow, has become very well aware of where she's stepping - she hesitates before jumping over mud. I think she finally knows that if she gets dirty, it's BATH TIME!

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Hugs to Keller

Keller has not had the most fun week, but neither have mom or dad. If she could have come to the visitation, Broadway Pizza gathering, funeral, burial, and afterwards gatherings, she would have been much happier, because she would have gotten sooo much loving and probably a lot of food..oh, Keller pup.

Her daily fun this past week has been limited to playing with Nonnie and Papa and being on nightly deer patrol. That involves looking out the back windows, waiting for the 6-12 deer that prance through each evening, then whining forever for us to let her out to go play with them or something. But she has been out walking and running with me this week, which was good for her and good for me - helped clear my mind - except, for some weird reason - "On Eagle's Wings", which we sang at the funeral on Wednesday, kept repeating through my head during our run on Thursday. Haunting and peaceful at the same time.

Anyway, I'm grateful for Ann and Stu being around to help take care of her - and us - this past week. On the 24th, we celebrated 2 years of Keller being with us. We love you, baby girl. Thanks for bringing so much joy into our lives and making us smile, even during the tough times.

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Keller was no stranger to uncle Tyler. Here she is with him at Bob, Trudy, and Beth's last winter. At this specific point of the night, Keller was trying to steal Bob's cigar. I don't know what that means, but I love this picture. After we all graduated from college, we still managed to get together, usually at Bob's, since they lived in Minnetonka and it was a good meeting place for all of us. We had so many get-togethers that involved wine, hummus, cheese, beers, and for the guys, cigars. And many late nights where Keller outdid us all with her energy. :)

If Keller knew that Tyler had unexpectedly passed yesterday, she too, would be extremely saddened. Part of me tells me that she knows, however.

Keller's hobby

Keller has a hobby of staring out the window. She loves it and will stand or sit by the window for a looooooong time. She looks for squirrels and you know when she finds one because she starts whining. And there is a very high squirrel population around here. With the bond out back, there are also many geese, birds, ducks, and the daily parade of 6 deer right through the backyard. Nonnie and papa's window will need a good wipe down from snot goo when we leave!

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Little stinkers

We have a guest! Santi spent last night and today with us, and will again tonight before Seth picks him up tomorrow early am. We went to the dog park in Burnsville and these two went CRAZY. Thankfully, it wasn't as muddy as it was sloppy wet - and they both had their fair share of fun rolling in it, trampling through it, and were stinkin' wet when we were done. Both are now passed out, content, clean paws and all. :)