New Adventures !!

 I have seen Dad watch something called Baseball on TV all summer long.  Sometimes inside the house and sometimes outside on the deck but on Labor Day we got to go watch a game at the ball park.  I had my first ride in the car in the back instead of on the floor of the car.  Liked that much better since I could see out the windows.
The team is called the Storm Chasers but they didn't chase after a storm just a round ball.  They even hit it with a stick.  I had to be on my best behavior with my working vest on.  At first we sat down and watched then walked around.  You could walk around the whole field.  Lots of people stopped and talked to Mom and Dad but Mom said I was working and could not be petted.   We stopped to get treats - Mom got a BIG ice cream but my treats were the same old ones I always get but at least I got treats.  Didn't have to do any commands to get them either.

When we got home Miss M came over and I was sooooo happy to see her.  Since she is in school now I don't get to see her as much.  Mom was upset with me since I got sooo excited it took about 10 minutes to get settled down before we were on our way to Miss M's grandma's.  First we played in the lake.  Miss M had been trying to teach me to jump off the boat ramp so this time I surprised her and jumped and jumped.   I think it took her about 10 minutes to settle down.  I am not the only one who gets excited.


The rest of the week was not that exciting.  It was kind of the same old - same old day to day activities.  Went for our daily bike ride and practiced commands.  I don't understand why Avalon doesn't have to practice ??  We went to the grocery store and Home Depot. Milo was going to come over and swim and play in the lake but it rained so missed that.  However - the weekend came and time for FOOTBALL again.  I am learning to be a HUSKER puppy !!
Husker Saturday started before the game with picking veggies.  Mom made a really good smelling brunch but it wasn't for me or Avalon.  We watched the game outside on the TV.  Mom and Dad had something called a Bloody Mary. I was not allowed to have one.  You have to be 21 to drink them and I am still in my terrible two's as my Mom says.  Avalon doesn't like them so she was Ok just drinking out of her water bowl.  Mom and Dad brought our bowls outside so if we were thirsty we had something to drink.  It was a fun time outside and the HUSKERS won the game.


Milo and her sister came over to swim again.  We have soooo much fun playing fetch in the water.  I heard Milo's Mom say Milo was acting like a terrible teen.  Wonder if that is like being in your terrible two's ??  like Mom says I am ?

You would not believe who I got to see !!! Mom got a phone call saying my sister WHEELS was coming out to the lake and wanted to see me.  We have not seen each other since we left KSDS INC. when we were just puppies at 8 weeks old.

 I  was sooo excited and told Avalon about Wheels and KSDS Inc.  It was hard to remember everything since I was just a little one at the time.  Finally Wheels and her sister Buttercup showed up at the house and we were all off to the tennis courts to run and play.  We played, chased balls and practiced some commands.  After we were worn out we went back to Wheel's house and took pictures.  I think it was a little challenging to get all of us to look at the camera at the same time because everyone kept saying "sit, stay, look"  Buttercup finally told me and Wheels to stop acting up and stay in place - she was getting tried of staying in her place.  I sure hope Wheels and Bettercup come again to play and Wheels will come with us for training outings.  Milo too.

Miss M surprised me later in the week and came over to play.  We went back over to the tennis courts and played basketball.  I think Miss M was practicing because I heard the grown ups taking about a basketball tournament.  I have never gotten to play with a basketball and it sure was fun.  Miss M kept trying to throw it up in the air and get it in this basket ?  I thought that was kind of funny but she sure was happy when the ball made it in.  Later we went over to Miss M grandma's house and practiced commands.  Even a new one - roll over.  Miss K let Mom read a paper she did for school while we were there.

Saturday Husker Football came around again.  I stayed close to Avalon during the game.  Dad was pacing around the house and standing in front of the TV during the whole game.  Dad would frighten me when the Huskers would score and he would jump and yell till his voice sounded funny.  Glad they won so Dad could relax.  We spent more time outside after the game watching football on the deck. It was dark when we came in.

The next day Grandma T came and picked Mom and me up so we could go surprise Miss M at her basketball tournament.  When we got there Miss M was playing so I  visited with Miss K and her Mom.  When the game was over Miss M saw us and came running over.  A lot of her friends from school were there so we got to visit and play with them until Miss M's next game.   There were lots of people there and basketballs flying all over the place and I had to try hard not to run on the court and try to play too.  When the game was over we went outside and over to the church/school carnival.  I had a treat I have NEVER had before.  It was called a snow cone and it was blue like my vest.  Miss M and all of us walked around and a lot of Miss M's friends came over to talk to us.  Miss M let them pet me but told them that the next time I will officially be working and when I am working I can not be distracted.  I really liked being petted though so that is not going to be fun.

We spent a long time there so I was sleepy when I got back home. I took a short nap and when I woke up Dad was home and said "lets go swim".  Avalon and I ran out the back door and beat everyone down to the beach.  Dad threw the toys for us and we jumped off the boat dock and would bring them back to him just to do it again and again.  I love swimming with my sister and Dad.  Mom came down a couple of times but she was up in the kitchen making pear butter.  It really smelled nice when we came back in.

Finally I just have to tell you about someone I met at the church/school carnival.  He is a priest and the only other person I have met who dresses in black just like me.  I thought he might understand puppy talk since he communicates with some powerful people but it was not the case.   He was very nice though and talked to Miss M about puppy raising. I think I might get to meet him again - I heard them talking about the Blessing of the Animals is coming soon and I should come for the Blessing. I would like that.

St. Columbkille Parish 

Mom said I am a STAR ?

 The long awaited story - at least that is what Mom says - was in the Omaha World Herald newspaper. I can't believe Miss M and I were on the front page then again on the Living section.  I remember Mom telling me when we went to the Airport that I needed to be on my best behavior and I was.  I remember there were soooo many people there and I tried very hard to stay focused and listen to Miss M and Mom.  Maggie, the reporter was really nice and the photographer was nice too.  He never asked me to sit/stay like Mom does. Later,  Mom and me went to Hy-Vee and bought up a whole bunch of papers so we could send them to KSDS Inc.  We even had a nice gentleman stop and ask me if I was the puppy in the paper.  Mom had to answer for me though.  Here is the link to the story but I am not sure if it will work ?  Just click on it.

Sit, stay, serve: Puppies in training to be assistance dogs put skills to the test at Eppley | Live Well Nebraska | omaha.com

Later in the week Maggie our reporter called and asked Mom and me if we wanted to be on the World Herald radio station program called "The Bottom Line." A person named Mike'l is the host.  Mom said yes but it sure was a challenging day.  Much more so for Mom than me since I just follow her lead.

Good thing we left the house early because we got stuck behind a slow moving dump truck, missed the turn for the World Herald building, parked and did not have any $ for the meter, went to the wrong entrance at first and then Mom forgot our special treat basket for Maggie and had to run back to the car to get it.  Mom bought special treats for me so I could have something to do while they were on the radio - I couldn't be on the radio because no one understands puppy talk. They were not the hard treats Mom usually buys and that I never get so I was really excited !!!!!  I had a VERY hard time controlling myself because the treats were so good and I kept jumping on Katie one of the newspapers editors. Katie was nice about it though and she didn't say anything to Mom.
Mom was nervous to be live on the radio but she sounded like she always does.  She talked to them about Guide/Service  puppies in training and Guide/Service Dogs who go to their forever homes.  I was a little embarrassed that Mom said I was in my terrible two's but I guess I am and that is the truth.  When we were getting ready to leave another nice gentleman came up to us and asked if I was the puppy in the paper.  I told him yes and he understood ?  He told us his wife has a medical alert service puppy at home so they understand puppy talk.  How cool is that !!!  When we got home Mom went over to Grandma T's house and listened to the show.  Grandma T had recorded it.

 Mom and Grandma T have been up to that thing they call canning again. Sometimes the house smells soooo nice and at other times an icky vinegar smell.  I usually have to stay in the mud room when they are canning because they are cutting up hot peppers and since I walk around with my nose to the kitchen floor they are afraid I will eat one.  I don't understand why Avalon gets to stay out but she does and that is not fair.  Avalon told me she ate a hot pepper once and she learned her lesson the hard way so that is why.

Mom did some harvesting with Miss M and Miss K.  They stopped over last weekend.  I really miss them and was so happy to see them.  Dad did some canning for the first time yesterday.  Canned some tomatoes and roasted some others.  I could tell he was a newbe since he kept asking Mom what to do.  They canned most of the afternoon but this time I got to stay out in the kitchen with them.  No hot peppers were getting cut up but today I think I heard Mom say they were canning hot peppers so I kind of know where I will be today.

 When Miss M and Miss K were here we played in the lake for a long time.  Miss M showed me how to jump off of the boat dock and I sometimes did and sometimes didn't.  They seemed sooo excited when I did and even filmed it.  Now I am a movie star too.  Avalon loves to jump off of the dock so I watched her jump but she is way out in the deep water and I am too scared to jump there.  Maybe when I get older ?  She is 5 to she is a big girl.

That evening after they left Mom and me went to something called a Luau.  We were not planning on going - Mom and Dad were really busy all day - but Mom thought we would bike over for a bit so I could do some training on being around loud music and lots of people.  The music was loud but I had a lot of fun meeting some new people and playing in the sand. I told Mom Avalon would have liked to come and she told me she has been to a luau before and enjoyed it too.  Mom said she even danced with my two legged sister ?  That sounds funny since we have four legs and my grown up sister has two.

 Miss C stopped over to the house.  I have sure missed her but she is busy with sports and now school has started.  I signed a paper confirming she worked with me over the summer so she could take it to school and tell them about me.  I don't think I will get to see Miss C much anymore or at least until next summer.  Maybe if I can find her email address I will send her a message.  I am learning more and more about the computer and how it works - I just need to find the address book.

Not many training trips the last two weeks.  Mom has been busy helping my Grandma K move into her new home.  Mom said once all of the boxes are unpacked I can come over and see her new place.  Mom said there are two therapy puppies there. We have been going to the outdoor mall and working on commands but Mom doesn't give me treats all the time like Miss M does.  I need to work on that with her.  Great weekend walks with Mom and Dad and they have been extra long ones since Avalon and I have had to spend more time in the mud room with Mom gone so much during the day.

 Something happened yesterday that I have heard Dad talk about since I came here to live.  He was soooooo excited that -

HUSKER BIG RED FOOTBALL IS HERE !!! 

 He introduced me to LITTLE RED before we went on our weekend walk yesterday.  This guy started out in a little box and then kept growing and growing.  He grows faster the I do.

                                                                        

GO BIG RED - I am now a forever Husker Puppy