This is the winter of our discontent

From Winter 2010

Yes, Folks, this has become the winter of our discontent. The picture above shows Mom with a background of snow on the roof and the screen. IT"S COLD even for the rugged Labrador Retriever. I'm cold and I have an extra layer of fur. Poor Coco has a sparse fur by comparison and therefore she shivers a lot more than I do. Cold, Cold Cold! ugh!!

Another thing is that the old man has seen fit to keep us from the pool because he claims the water is too cold for us. Does the daft old fellow not realize that we were bred to retrieve ducks from the ice rimmed ponds for hunters. Does he not realize that we are LABRADOR retrievers and our heritage goes back to Labrador and Newfoundland? We had a few warm days and the pool water warmed up enough that "he who plays God" allowed us to use the pool. Cold water or not, using the pool is Divine.

I have to admit that it was nice to get back in the pool, Coco, but to be honest it was still a bit cold. About the Labs bred to chase ducks in the freezing water of the north, remember, I'm a California girl, bred to roam the beaches of Malibu and San Diego. Icy water is not my choice, so I think the old man was probably correct in sparing my fine body the ravages of icy cold water. Besides, I'm more of a lady, I WALK down the steps and swim around the pool. You are out of control, running and jumping in the pool to chase a ball. Doing that would get my head wet.

You're missing half the fun of having a pool. Leaping far into the pool makes me come alive!!!! This is especially true when we get to use the pool so seldom now.

We sure don't have the access that we used to have. But you have to admit that this wintry weather has had a negative effect on the folks. We don't get to use the pool, but then they seldom feel like going out in the cold to play fetch. Running back and forth really warms me up, but they just stay in one place and toss the ball. They should be running with us, that would warm them up.

The fat old guy running with us?????? Are you serious???? He'd have an attack or something and we'd have to drag him back to the house. Well, we're into February and this cold weather can't last forever. I wish it was over just so the old man would cheer up. He acts like he's never going to see warm weather again and all too soon he'll be complaining about the heat.

Yes, he may complain about the heat, but at least we get to use the pool every day and that's a real nice way to cool off. Perhaps we will soon got from our winter of discontent to our spring of renewed optimism.

There is that possibility. Another thing is that usually, the spring of renewed optimism leads to a trip north to escape the worst heat of summer. I could use a change of scenery.

Me, too, Coco . Later!

19 Degrees, was it really 19 Degrees???

I think that Coco and I set a new record for going out, doing our business, and getting back indoors. I know that I'm a Labrador Retriever and I'm supposed to LOVE the cold. And, yes, I've seen videos of Labs jumping into ice-ringed ponds to retrieve a duck that some jerk shot. WELL, NOT THIS LAB!!!!! If the old man should ever try duck hunting, he'd better be ready to jump in himself. I won't go in freezing water and as a mater of fact, I don't want to be near someone shooting a gun.

You complain, and you have an undercoat of fine hair that I don't have. Most every day we go out, I'm the first one back, scratching on the door to come in. Sometime later, I hear you"woof" and they let you in. I couldn't help notice that as I was scratching this morning, you were already howling to get in. How in the world do Labs in Newfoundland and Labrador survive? The only way I could survive is to lay beside the stove and pee in the house. Cold, ice, and snow should have no connection to me.

I've got a solution, but I don't know how many times it will work. We always wait for one of the folks to get up, feed us, and let us out. What if we get up a little earlier, and if it's very cold, we'll just have a little "accident" in the living room. I think a spot over in the corner by the front window would be a good spot and it would take longer for them to find it.

I know that you don't think of me as being the smart one of the two of us, but to me, that is totally ridiculous. First of all, when they find out, and they will, who do you think they'll blame? Molly, nope, she has gone. The pups, no, they are also gone. Therefore there's only you and me. Second what can they do? Do you remember that cage that they had for the puppies? Well, I remember it for the first day or two I was here. It's OK with the door open, but I wouldn't want to have to live here with the door latched all the time I'm inside.

You're right! You're right! You're right! I don't know what I was thinking. Even a Lab as smart as I can have a lapse now and then. I have another idea. Who says we have to run all the way to the back fence to do business? On these cold days I think I'll just run around to the side of the house. That's only 50 feet or so. If I hurry, I can probably run around the corner, go, and get back to the door before it closes.

Well, you do what you have to. I'm going to behave and settle for a lot of petting and scratching when I return. You make it sound so bleak, but when we return, we generally get a spot on Dad's bed. We get our heads scratched and our bellies rubbed, and then we're warm, and cozy. And, we don't have to fetch ducks or grouse or rabbits. We just lay around and eat and sleep. Ahhhh, the mere idea of all this is making me sleepy.

Return to Normal

Well folks, life at the Tempesta residence is returning to normal since Brooks was picked up this afternoon. What this means in a nut shell is a few things. The gates in the doorways have been taken down. We don't have to hide in the computer room or bedroom to escape the little guys. But most of all, it means that ALL the attention given to the pets is given to me and Coco. NO SHARING!!!!

I can't complain about a lack of attention. You were a little bit gruff at times and when you growl, the folks don't like to get down with you. I'm so laid back that they fall all over me, even when they had all those puppies. Brooks was the only puppy that we really got to play with and he was starting to grow on me, once he stopped trying to nurse. That was the big disadvantage to looking like his mother.

OK, I'll admit that it felt good to have him tailing us up to the woods. It reminded me of the times we'd venture up in the woods with his Mom. Of course, bowling him over during play was a big ego booster, if the folks didn't catch us.

Ah, yes, I did get yelled at a few times for treating him too roughly. Hey, if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch. Isn't that what they say?

Yes, Coco, that's what they say, but it really doesn't apply here. He was just a little tyke trying to keep up with us. Have you forgotten what it's like to have the energy and enthusiasm of a puppy.

All of this is just so much chatter. I'll tell you what's on my mind. Our times in the swimming pool have been few and far between since the puppies arrived. Now that Brooks is gone, I'm waiting for the pool to be open to us a lot more often, and I mean A LOT MORE OFTEN!!! A few hours every day at least.

We will have to see what happens. I sauntered out to the family room, intending to take a quick nap on Brooks' bed, only to find out that it's already gone. Not everything about getting back to normal is positive. Just like when Freckles was here, when she got a cookie, we got a cookie. And when Brooks got a cookie, we got a cookie. You are going to have to hone your begging skills or we're going to waste away to nothing.

You called her Freckles, her name is now Molly, did you forget?

Yes, it was just a slip of the tongue. I know her name is Molly......... Molly. Molly. Molly. I've got it now.

Oops, gotta run, it's suppertime.......suppertime.......suppertime........

Labrador Psychology 101

Coco and I are cracking up over the events of the last couple of days. The puppies are starting to go to their new homes and the old man has been crowing about the smaller amount of poop that will be produced. with three puppies gone he expected the "puppy output" to diminish by about a third. Hold on while I try to control myself, I'm laughing so much.

Yeah, that was what the old man thought. However, he didn't take the ingenuity of the lab pups into consideration. They knew that some of the mini pack was being moved to new quarters and figured that maybe it was because they were not "producing" enough. So.......they got together and decided that if they really tried, they could increase "output" by 50 to 60 percent. The result was that the amount of poop that had to be cleaned up this morning was about the same, or a little more, as before.

And......it's a riot watching the old man trying to scoop up the mess with all the pups clawing at his hands and stepping in the poop. I think it's a good thing that we Labs don't understand those words. A lot of this is working in our favor because I think that they appreciate us older, house broken dogs a lot more.

You all should be here to watch the show. I have to surpress my howling with glee as I'm sure it will only drive the old man berserk!

Life After Freckles

Hello from Jodie. Things are starting to get back to normal now that Freckles has moved to her new home. I think Freckles is going to be fine. The people who took her away were VERY friendly to me and Coco and you just know that people like that are fine. Of course, Coco and I are not shy about greeting guests, but some take it better than others.

Yup, everyone knows I'm a licker. It's something I've always done and I probably always will. Some people don't like it but Frank and Olive didn't mind a bit and I really like that in people. We had a good thing going with Freckles. She was an excellent pack member and she was fun to be with. Another good thing is that she had a deep, loud bark and when she wanted a cookie, she let the folks know. They were very free with the cookies while she was here, trying to fatten her up a bit. Well, when she got a cookie, we got a cookie. Nice, huh?

I have to admit that I may have added a few ounces while Freckles was here. I did notice that her dish always held more food than mine and Coco's, but that was because she was eating for nine, at least at first. I also noticed that the cookie train has slowed down quit a bit since Freckles left, but I'll not complain. Coco and I both hope to see Freckles again one day.

That, sounds good to me. We still have the puppies and all that goes with them. Most of the time we're separated so we don't get a good chance to play. When we do, they are a bit uncoordinated so we can't run too much. With all the canine bodies around here, the folks have been pretty good about giving us our normal share of attention. Horning in from time to time to make sure works too.

That's all for now from four legged duo at this address.

I Guess this is Good bye!!!

Today is my last day with my foster folks, Helen and Paul. It is with mixed emotions that I say good bye to my eight beautiful pups, my great friends, Jodie and Coco, and the folks that made this all possible.

From Freckles Blog 2

I will miss Helen and her attention and how she showed me how to play ball. We had some good times together and I'm sad.

From Freckles Blog 2

So, in a little while I'll be going home with Olive and Frank. I met them a couple of weeks ago and they seem like really nice people. I won't have Jodie and Coco, but I'll be getting ALL the attention there, with no other dogs or puppies to share in the affection.

The last few months have been very rough on me, but the last few weeks have been grand and I look forward to this new chapter in my life. I will do my best to make Olive and Frank very proud of me.

Bye to all,

Freckles

WOW!!! What a day!

What a day I had yesterday!!!! I heard Paul and Helen talking about taking me somewhere to have me tutored. Oh! Great! I thought. A young lady like me could use a little self improvement. Perhaps I was heading for obedience training, though they would be the first to admit that I’m a VERY obedient girl. Training to be a hunting dog??? I didn’t know.

So Paul got me in the car and we headed out, only to head up at the place that pokes and probes and gives me needles. What’s up, Doc? Perhaps I should say “What’s up, Vet?” Anyway, it wasn’t too bad at first as I met Diesel, a very handsome Boxer. Then, some lady came out and took my leash from Paul and led me out back.

More needles and soon my head was spinning. Then I slept, and slept, and slept. When I awoke sometime later I had the WORST hangover. Ugh. As time went on I gradually woke up more and more, but was still a bit “drunk” when Paul picked me up later in the day. I think I was glad to see him, but I’m not sure I showed it because I was still somewhat groggy. He took me home and I was glad to be there, but I was STILL not myself. I was afraid to lie down because I thought I’d never get back up, so I very slowly paced back and forth. That was quite a feat when you consider that I was walking like a drunken sailor. They offered me food and drink, but I couldn’t take anything. Finally, I did go to my bed and slept like a rock. I awoke my old self, famished and thirsty. Helen gave me food and drink and now I’m feeling quite good. I have a pinch in my tummy from time to time, but not too bad.


Helen and Paul were talking about my puppies and mentioned that when they get to their forever home they would also have to be tutored. At least that’s what I thought they said. At any rate, I’m having another great day at the Tempesta household with my puppies and my two BFF (Best Friends Forever), Jodie and Coco. More later.

Freckles.