A mid-week tale about last Sunday morning

Hooray for morning coffee!

I woke up early and let the puppies out last Sunday morning.  And then, because I was so ready for coffee, I got the grinder out and readied the beans and started the water.

These days, coffee is simply wonderful to me in the mornings.

I went upstairs and prepared the pet food and fed everyone, and after they all ate and the puppies were playing outside in the yard I finally got my coffee ready.  It had to steep for four minutes in the french press, so I let the puppies in and they scooted to the bedroom to lay down for another little nap.  Mr. Bryant wasn't up yet, so I got my coffee cup ready and took my book into the bedroom, planning to sit in bed and read a bit.

This is what I found when I got there.

Mr. Bryant, Bella, and Jack (Oh My!)

So I took my book and sat in the kitchen at the table in the sunshine, and smiled a bit while I read and sipped.

Jack and Bella

The puppies are 7 months and 6 months old now and still quite a handful.  They walk beautifully as a general rule, but it is really time for us to start advanced training.  We are planning our timeline.

Charlie and George come to play sometimes, and Bella and Jack absolutely love it.  The boys run around yelling and having the dogs chase them, and the puppies chase them sweetly.  George can tell Bella to sit and she sits right down.  There is lots of screeching in the yard while they are playing, and excitement as the boys run.  Little brother Henry runs around with a big grin throwing balls and the puppies chase them as well.  Excellent exercise and just what we need to help our big little puppies get quite tired out. 

This weekend we walked up to Thomas Street Tavern with them to have lunch.  We all like the walk and the visiting at the Tavern exposes the pups to lots of different things - noises and people, mostly.  It is about a six or seven block walk and we were all hot by the time we got there. We sat on the back patio in the shade and had drinks and lunch.  I had a Turkey Reuben and a Tanqueray and Tonic.  Mr. Bryant had the Tuna Melt and a Bloody Mary.  The puppies munched on french fries and chewed ice cubes from their collapsible water dish.  Bella was fascinated with the group playing corn hole - she wanted to chase the bags.  Jack Junior loved everybody, and if french fries were involved he was very attentive.  Before walking home we went to Common Market and got a Coke, a Pellegrino for the walk home - and Bella and Jack got two puppy treats from the treat jar on the bar.  When we got home they took naps in the shade.  Then, just for fun, we tried for a portrait.

They still have a hard time sitting still for a picture - mostly Jack - but we got one after a lots of very funny off-shots and many many many treats.  :)

Hot Dogs

Two Hot Dogs :)

It is still spring here, and we have had a slew of beautiful days when the windows have been open and we have had a fabulous cross breeze through the house.  I treasure those days because it always seems like we have very few of them.  When we first moved to the south we lived in a 200 year old farmhouse.  The ceilings were 10 feet high in every room, and there were plenty of windows.  No air conditioning though.  We just had to get used to the heat and the humidity.  We purchased fans and put them in the windows, running them most of the day.  The evenings were always a delight as coolness came across the lake to blow soft breezes through the house.  When I would lay in bed I was reminded of growing up, and the sounds of the birds and insects at dusk when I would lay down by the window.  Somehow, our sheepdog managed to survive many of those hot hot summers.  The country seemed cooler then.

Jack Junior

Bella

We are already beyond that now, though.  The weeks went by so quickly - and the air conditioning is already a critical need.  The puppies have gone from delighted with the yard and never wanting to come in to really never wanting to be out - especially not in the middle of the day.  We are already past the long walks in the sunshine - they would rather wait until the end of the day or better yet, walk first thing in the morning.  They see a little bit sad about it - and it is early yet.  Mr. Bryant says he will buy them a swimming pool to soak in.

Max consoling Jack as he rests on the cool kitchen tiles

Treats All Around!

When Mr. Bryant calls from the kitchen, it's cookie time.  It might be for a home-made biscuit, it might be for a prepackaged treat, it might be for a graham cracker, or it might be mini-marshmallows.  One can never be sure just what goodie Mr. Bryant may produce - and so you see in our house, no one takes any chances.  :)

Two Leonbergers and Just One Ball

We have two of everything in the house now. But it doesn't matter.
We have two identical dog toys of every type.
No matter what we do, whatever one puppy has, that is what the other puppy wants. It reminds me so much of having little children I can't even tell you.


But funnier. Much much funnier.


In any case, we gave up on the two toys idea. And purchased a single, little crocheted ball.


As you might imagine, this is now the very most favorite toy in the house.

Puppy Update

Bella is five months old

These two can be just too much sometimes. I thought I would get some pictures in the living room the other day. You can see what I mean about them both coming to get in my face when I have the camera. Mr. Bryant took the camera from me and grabbed these shots.

Jack can't figure out why the leather of the ottoman is so slippery, and keeps falling off each time he tries to get on my lap.

They are both such sweet puppies - but they can take over the chair AND the ottoman with no difficulty!

A full lap!

Wordless Wednesday Puppy Portrait - 3/2/2011

Carabella Mia, 5 months
BlackJack Fitzgerald Jr, 4 months