Coon Dog

Each year we have lived here we have seen more wild animals moving into the neighborhood. Over the last week, we have seen several foxes, deer, bullfrogs, turtles, a blue heron and for the first time in almost 21 years, raccoons.

Kilmer found the two baby raccoons first ... they were just outside the fence and he immediately made it clear that he did not want either of them to stop in for a visit. One of them ran along the outside of the fence to safety, the other decided to fight the big black mutt on the other side of the fence. Big mistake. Kilmer picked it up in his mouth and shook it a bit, then tossed it a few feet before he finally heeded our frantic yelled and stopped. The baby raccoon ran back through the fence, then climbed the outside of the fence and sat on the top of the highest picket where the two fences met. His sibling came back along the outside of the fence and climbed up to join it.

Once the sibling got up there, it stayed close by and protected the other, despite the frightening crowd of humans who came to see them.

We were worried that the little one tossed by the dog was injured, but we read on the internet to just leave baby coons alone and the mother would come back to get them after dark. So we did just that and this morning they were both gone. Way to go Momma Coon!

Ironically, on Saturday, my parents came down to visit for the day and brought Kilmer a cute little yellow stuffed chick that squeaked. After 5 minutes of adorable play with the toy, Kilmer proceeded to rip it apart with a vengeance, pulling out the insides and shaking it from side to side until all the fluff and both little squeakers were flying all over the porch.

We actually discussed this behavior and winced at the thought of how awful it would be if Kilmer actually had treated another living creature the same way. We're so thankful he let go of that sweet little raccoon.

Tenacious D(og)

You're probably sick of snow pictures, so here's some snow AND dog pictures. As you know, Kilmer the Mutt loves his backyard friend Pepper ... but did you know how much he loves her?

Check these out ...

Ohhhhh, that's so sweeeeeet!

Snow Dog

Every blog written by someone living on the east coast today will include snow ... here's mine featuring Kilmer the wimpy snow dog and Willie.

Yesterday morning, before the snow got so high, Kilmer ventured out without fear and enthusiastically ran to the fence and summoned his backyard buddy Pepper.

This morning, after the snow finally stopped at 20" deep, Kilmer again ventured out, but this time very reluctantly. He stuck his head deep into the snow, went about 5 feet, then turned around and came back in.

Worried about Kilmer's bladder and my floor, I enlisted Willie's help. He dug a path to the grass for the wimpy dog and worked hard to coax him out along the shoveled route.Despite Willie's valiant attempts, the dog refused to go beyond the path.

I suppose, if the snow came up to my belly, I'd stay out of it too!

And so, school is cancelled. The snow is beautiful. The cookies are yummy. The fire is warm. God gave all of us a day to remember the importance and love of family time.

And yet, Gary just declared with great enthusiasm that the sun was supposed to be out tomorrow.

I suppose enough is enough.

Back to reality.

A new morning routine for Kilmer the OCD Dog

As part of my summer routine, I got up, threw on grubby clothes (as if that's anything out of the norm) and walked my sweet mutt Kilmer around the neighborhood. Sometimes we'd walk for 30 minutes, sometimes for an hour. It was good for both of us.

Now that school has started, I have other things to do first thing in the morning, like watch hilarious TiVO-ed Craig Ferguson shows with Kayti. This new morning routine does not mean I don't walk the dog, it just means he has to wait 90 minutes until Kayti hops on the bus before we head out on our daily jaunt.

And yet, every morning for the last two weeks he has bounded down the steps, tapped his nose on his leash and started the bizarre yet endearing circle-jumping at the front door. Denied, he does the same thing when we get to the back door. Denied again he then tethers himself to my legs, staying no more than one foot away from me for 90 minutes. If I sit, his face is in my lap. If I stand, his butt is in my way. If I walk, he nearly kills me with every move.

Then, when Kayti leaves, his enthusiasm rises with each telltale going-for-a-walk sign he sees: She's putting on socks! She's putting on shoes! She's getting her cell phone! She's going to the bathroom! She's getting a poop bag! She's grabbing the leash! And then, he circle-jumps at the door, out the door, down the steps, and down the sidewalk until I say "Sit!" and on goes the leash. Finally.