December 2014

Hello, fans!

Well, this month I turned 3.  What a family I have.  I love them so much!

The problem with December, though, is that my family is away hunting...  So I'm stuck at home alone.  But now that I'm an older pup, my grandma decided that she would try out letting me hang out with her and grandpa!  What an evening!  She made me dinner and a fire!  I could get used to that!

The month ends better, though.  My family will be off during the holiday break.  So I'll get to spend more time with them.  Meanwhile ...

Dad took me to work.  It must be "take your dog to work day."  He didn't tell me that his work was at a "vet tech" class, though!

The kids had fun trying to roll me over.  I gave them such a hard time!  Finally, they muzzled me to do it.  It's all right, though.  I know they were just practicing for future mean dogs.  I just had to give them a hard time.  They get to practice placing me in the kennel, too.

I get to have my ears cleaned and a bath; so, I'll smell good once we are all done.  And I even amused them by playing fetch!

...don't ask!

I'm back!

It's been a while since I've posted.  The life of a dog is so busy.  Eat, sleep, play, sleep...  Kids are back in school.  So, I theoretically have more time to write.  We'll see!

Today we have a little one in our house.  She is so cute and yummy.  Not that I would eat her, but lick for sure!  When she cries, I don't know what to do.  So I just cry with her.

The cat and I seem to be friends today, because we both just sit and stare.  I wish that Hannah would be more of a friend!  But for now we just don't know what to think!

Let's see ... what else has happened lately?  I've decided to participate in Family Worship night.  My family at least once a week considers something Bible based together.  I've joined in recently.  We're learning pretty neat stuff:

We know that Abraham sent his household manager to find a suitable wife for Isaac.  When the manager (most likely Eliezer) arrived at the city where Abraham's family lived, he prayed to Jehovah for guidance.  He said that whoever came and gave his camels and him water, this was who Jehovah had chosen as a wife.  Rebekah was the one who did this.  But did you know how many containers of water Rebekah carried?

There were 10 camels.  A camel will drink 30 gallons in 13 minutes according to National Geographic.  She drew water and provided those 10 camels water!  How many trips did she need to make!  See this site for details! 

I have new friends. My girls refer to them as "the puggles." They are cute little puppies.  Buddy plays with me, but Lucy is too shy yet. And I don't understand why when I bark, he runs and hides!  But they sure are cute! And their mom promises multiple visits!

For now, I will leave you with their cuteness:

Big Birds!

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but those crows are getting bigger I think!

Mom finally identified the hawk that has been hanging around.  She had help from Kate St. John.  You should check out her blog about birds and those Falcon's down at the Cathedral of Learning where Mom works.  Wow!

Anyway - back to our bird of prey.  That's a scary thought... but fortunately, I'm too big for him or her to be interested in me!  On Monday, January 20th, the whole family was off!  Mom and I were in the living room when we heard Dad come up the driveway.  Mom went to stand up and noticed a huge bird circling outside and then land in the trees.  She ran to get the camera and out the door.  Finally - the shot she was waiting for:

It's a red shouldered hawk.  According to Cornell University:

"Whether wheeling over a swamp forest or whistling plaintively from a riverine park, a Red-shouldered Hawk is typically a sign of tall woods and water. It’s one of our most distinctively marked common hawks, with barred reddish-peachy underparts and a strongly banded tail. In flight, translucent crescents near the wingtips help to identify the species at a distance. These forest hawks hunt prey ranging from mice to frogs and snakes."

Interestingly, the map shows that they normally summer here in PA.  Funny he or she stuck around.  There hasn't been a week that we haven't seen him or her fly over!

Check out the description of it from the Audubon:

"16-24" (41-61 cm). W. 3'4" (1 m). A large, long-winged hawk with white barring on dark wings, rusty shoulders, pale underparts barred with rust, and narrowly banded tail. In flight shows translucent area near tip of wing, visible from below. Young birds streaked below; best distinguished from young Red-tailed Hawks by somewhat smaller size, narrower tail, longer, narrower wings, and absence of white chest.  Voice:  Shrill scream, kee-yeeear, with a downward inflection."

So exciting to have our own bird of prey around...  Especially to get rid of those snakes!  Grandma would be happy!