smart chickies

The new tenants stopped by yesterday, and we had the pleasure of sharing blackberries from the bush. I swear they ripened between morning and mid-afternoon. While we were chatting and snacking around the bush, Blackie came to investigate. She figured out that we were eating and worked on getting to the ripe berries. No wonder they were all there, ripening! The chickens had not caught on. Later I saw Blackie and the other chickens working on the berries. So far they have not jumped up to the top. They eat the unripe ones low down.

Paul picked up Mona yesterday afternoon. He left rather suddenly and I already miss Mona. It's funny how conditioned it is: I tickle Kayleigh and expect to be jumped on and licked. Nope, nothing. No dog. We fly out on the red eye tonight.

see you later, aligator

I gave Mona a good brushing today, and it was nice. She likes it, but then gets tired of it and wanders away. I had to call her back twice, but I produced a huge amount of hair. I am sure she feels better in this hot weather. Plus, the contact is nice, especially right before I leave her for over a week. She's beautiful and glowing.

I'll be out of town and not posting, so I am going to leave a few photos from my berry patch. I can't believe the berries are still there and not eaten by birds. I watered them for the first time today. I was skeptical that they would ripen, but today I wanted to help them out.

"Thunder and lightening, the Gods take revenge..."

Mona is pretty upset about the thunder storms. I was awakened at 6 am because it was so loud, just rolling on and on with sharp cracks here and there. I knew she was hiding in her cage, poor girl. I am pleased that she is using her cage again, after ceding it to Daphne for a year. It was just a day or two before she went in it, but when Daf was here Mona never went in it at all. When Mona was a pup and first heard thunder, she was inconsolable. She looked at me as if to say, "Don't you lie to me and say it's okay. You can't save me from that out there!"

Anyway, when the thunder is not going, Mona is still tentative because it could start up again. Plus, it is Independence Day. Hopefully this new neighborhood will be quieter than our last one, where the fire crackers started in May and went through September.

I took her to the lake yesterday so at least she had some fun before these days when she'll be staying in more. I met this great woman who was promoting fabbseattle.com, Families Against Breed Bans. I saw a poster in my neighborhood and was excited that we have that kind of vibe here. She's pretty serious-- she staked out and caught a couple vandals who were trying to deface the sign. Glad to meet her! I want to get more connected with right-on dog people in the north end. I sure miss Family Dog, but it's a relief not to drive so far weekly.

Just in case anyone is reading, don't forget to confine your dogs for July 4th!