So when exactly do I get my cap & gown?

Greetings from the land of the Corona Virus!  Now, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure what that means.  I've put together little bits and pieces here and there,  from conversations I've overheard and the radio and television but I still have questions... so many questions.

 It sounds like a terrible thing and I don't doubt that for a minute, I've heard of folks being sick and even dying from it which is just too sad to even try to wrap my brain around but without trying to sound disrespectful, as a little black dog, I'm not really hating some of its aspects.

I've always been taught to look for the silver-lining in problems... like for instance, we don't have friends come to visit anymore at our house, but we get to go see Grandma almost every day and I love playing with her.  I especially love that she always pours me a bowl of filtered water when I get thirsty and my ball is always waiting in exactly the same spot.   She never gets tired of throwing it for me and when I'm really, really good, she has a bag of treats stashed and I know right where they are.

My Grandma!

Another benefit is that Mom has had a lot more time recently to spend  with me.  Sometimes we walk the lake, or the dike or head to the river and sometimes we take car rides to new destinations but the difference is, now we are never in a hurry! Even if it's just getting to spend more time napping on her lap, it makes me happy but... let me tell you about my very favorite new thing to do!

Up by the lake is this beautifully big building that Mom says is a high school named RA Long.  Turns out Mom went there many, many years ago and so did her grandson Easten. In fact, I've met a lot of lovely folks over the years who also went to school there. In front of the school it just so happens they have not one but two humongously big yards with luscious green grass and really tall trees.  Because of this virus thing, there aren't any kids going to school so it's become a very lonesome place.  Mom and I decided to visit it and let me tell you, that place rocks! Because it's such a large area, Mom can throw the ball really far and I get to run just as fast as I can to fetch it.  Just between you and me, Mom can't really throw worth a darn but with that green ball-throwing device, she looks like a superstar.  And then there are the squirrels, tons of them and they are so much fun to play with.  We pretend I'm chasing them, but I'm really not, it's just a game, and they run up and down the trees, teasing me, but not mean- like because remember, it's just a game.  I tried my best to run up the trees after them but for some reason I just can't seem to get a grip on the bark like they can.

There are also these really cool flowers that Mom says are called dandy-lions.  She told me all about how they are healthy and helpful to the bees but the part I like is how you can nudge them and make them blow all over.  I tried using my mouth but I just couldn't pucker my lips in the right way so I ended up just swatting them with my paw instead, same results and so cool.

Success!

I also have my very own private gardner that comes every so often and lets his very noisy horse-like monster eat the grass and make it short again.  Sometimes he kind of vacuums up all the leftovers that the monster leaves but sometimes he doesn't and that leads to one thing I'm not really crazy about... hairy balls.  Yup, my ball gets little grass hairs all over it and when I bring it back to Mom, it tickles my tongue something fierce.  Still trying to find the silver lining in that little problem.

So, I'm hoping this virus thing isn't getting you down, that you've been able to find some silver-linings too and that when this is all over and I've gone back to day-care, and you've all returned to your lives, you'll be able to look back over these past few months and realize that there were some good times too.  And... if this Corona continues much longer, my hope is that I too will be an RA Long graduate. :o)

Love & Licks, Stella

      

                    

Happy Birthday to me?

So... according to my mom, today is my birthday! I guess I'm three years old now, although I still  feel like a very young pup. If you believe the online charts and grafts, that makes me equal to about seventeen in people years.  Hummmm, that might explain a lot.  Turns out I've been a bit moody for the last few months, just kinda keeping to myself, sometimes even napping at the opposite end of the couch instead of always in moms lap.  I'm usually happy and excited to see what the day might hold but once or twice I've found myself feeling reflective, and just like time in my bed, left alone to chill.  Mom says she just chalks it up to me being a teenage girl, what the heck does she mean by that?

I'm so excited that today I share my birthday with the first day of Spring ~ how cool is that!  Spring is full of longer days for walks around the lake, dry skies to head towards Willow Grove to chase the birds or warmer weather to head to the beach.  I'm old enough now to know that following Spring is Summer, major whoop time!  I've heard whispers of some new adventures planned over the next few weeks and I can hardly wait.

My Auntie Joanski always said Spring pups were the best pups to adopt and I have no reason to disagree.  Now is like the PERFECT time to consider an addition to your family and if adoption isn't your thing, maybe fostering would be a better fit.  Thant's how I met my mom.  Either way, it can be a really wonderful experience that will make your heart swell right out of your chest ~Yes, I've watched The Grinch Stole Christmas movie too, maybe more than once.  He's kind of a scary dude!

Please help me celebrate my special day by doing one random act of kindness in my name.  Id love to hear back from you as to what your RAK ends up being.  The thought of being the reason for something nice happening just makes my heart well in a very Grinch-kinda-way.

Loves & Licks,
Stella

Life Lessons

During our morning walk today, I started thinking 'bout some life lessons I've learned along my journey through life.... then I thought, hummmm ,  maybe if I shared with you and you shared with me, we might all end up learning something new so let's give it a try!


: Squirrels are fun to chase, they can run fast and so can I, but not when I'm on a short leash.  Squirrels can run up trees, and I can't.  But I tried.

:  Dishwashers are like a treasure trove but you've got to catch it before someone closes its door.

: Lemons might  look like tennis balls but they sure don't taste or play the same.  Yuk!

: Sometimes the smartest thing to do is pretend you can't hear.



:  More people smile and say hi when its sunny outside.


:  Flowers smell so nice but don't bother the bees that are busy smelling them too.

:  Someone needs to make room freshner that smells like freshly cut hay.

:  Dog food and treats are really yummy but cat food... now that's a REAL treat!



: When I'm bored, I ring the bells on the back door, not because I need to go out but just to get Mom to put down her book and pay attention to me.

:  Car seats for pups are great for lifting you high enough to see out the window but also for when the car stops waaaay too fast.

:  Dogs don't give a rip about politics  Dogs are very smart.

: Sprinklers at the school track field are fun to play and run through but don't try that at the golf course.

:  Cats don't play fair... ever!



: I love my moms friends but some days I miss my dog buddies from day care so its nice when we meet new friends on our walks.  I'm not sure,  but I'm thinking one can never have too many friends.

:  Thunder and lightening aren't scary if you sleep right through it.

Tomorrow there will be more to learn so sweet dreams to everyone!

Loves & Licks,
Stella

A Magical Morning

Have you ever woken up on a beautiful morning and just needed an adventure?  Today was like that.  I'd have liked to have to have grown a pair of wings and soared to somewhere far away but alas, that was not to be.  I really hope and pray I grow up to be an eagle someday but right as of this moment, the odds don't seem to be in my favor.

After bearing witness to a pink and purple streaked sunrise, Mom and I got our walking attire on and headed out the door.  We headed to a lake that runs through our town, named after Sacajawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman who helped to guide and interpret for Lewis & Clark.  She traveled with their expedition thousands of miles, from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean.  I love the ocean and can only imagine what they must have thought the first time they saw it.

That's Sacajawea on the left.  I accidently peed on her foot.

Bad, bad pup!

   Our lake is called a sparkling jewel and even though I've seen it my entire life, in rain, snow and sunshine, I have never-ever seen it as beautiful as it was this morning.  The lavender smelled heavenly, the fountains sparkled and everyone we passed had a smile on their faces too.  I got to stop and visit with three other pups and one pups mom even had treats in her pocket that she shared with me!  Our lake has tons of big trees to leave p-mail messages on,  so of course I had to add a message or two of my own.  It's so nice that there are places to sit and enjoy the view, or cast a fishing pole.  You can sail your kayak, play on either of the two playgrounds or bring a picnic to enjoy.  There are a couple of islands to that you can visit although one, the Japanese Garden,  doesn't allow pups.  I keep hoping Mom will sneak me in because I'm just dying to see what's behind those magical doors but so far, no luck in getting smuggled in.  Maybe someday...

One of the fun parts of walking the lake is keeping my eyes ears and nose alert for other creatures and critters.  They are everywhere!  We almost always spot a couple of turtles sitting on logs sunning themselves and squirrels are so much fun to watch.  Most of the Lakes inhabitants are friendly but then there's the gang of geese, that's a whole different story!  Mom says the correct term is a gaggle of geese but I swear they are a gang and I'm sticking to my story.  These guys are tough and loud.  They scream at you and delight in chasing whatever crosses their path.  I do my darndest to stay clear of them.

Not this path please!

Gang Members

Lake Sacajawea was developed in 1924 and I'm already looking forward to its 100th birthday.  I hope there will be an amazing birthday celebration and I hope its dog friendly.  If you are ever in our town, I hope you will stop by and spend a little time enjoying it.  If you are already familiar with this little gem then I encourage you to visit often because I swear, it's different every time I come.

Today proved that you don't have to grow wings or go far to have an adventure. Here's to hoping you fill your day with special times too.

Loves & Licks, 

Stella

This girls got balls!

This weekend I'll be delivering #12!!!!    It all started about a year ago when I overheard a podcast my mom was listening to.  The subject being discussed was "spreading joy" and I really liked the thought of that.  I spent a couple of days thinking,  just how might a little black pup manage to make the world more joyful...  I thought of all the things that make me smile, that seemed like a good place to start.

Have I ever told you about my-very-favorite-balls-in- the- whole-wide-world?  Well, they are nothing short of fabulous!  First of all, they fit perfectly in my mouth and when I chew on them they make the  coolest squeaky sound.  They also have a hole that goes clear through them that allows the air to create a whistle when you throw them just right.  Best of all though, they GLOW!  Yup, seriously.  You can hold a flashlight up to them for a few seconds, place it next to a lamp or just sit it in the sun.  A glowing ball is extra special fun to play fetch with, especially in the dark. And so...


I decided I could make the world a little bit better by sharing my love of these amazing glow balls by surprising other dogs with a gift of one of their very own.  My mom helps me a little but it really is my project.  So far I've given eleven balls out and have the twelfth one ready to go.  Mom says that makes a dozen.  I just know that it makes me smile from ear to floppy ear.

If you know of a special pup that might enjoy one of my-very-favorite-balls-in-the-whole-wide-world, drop me a note and let me know and I'll add it to my list.  I get a small allowance each week if I've been really good so as you can imagine, it takes me a bit to save up for each order but it's a goal I believe in and enjoy.  Just one little ballsy black dog doing what she can to spread joy!

Loves & Licks,
Stella

Memorial Day Missive

Happy Memorial Day... although wishing that seems kinda strange to me since the day is about remembering those who died protecting us.  I think that's more about being sad and respectful but then there's a lot of things hoomuns do that I personally just don't get.

Like this...  I'm really hoping that someone can clue me in to the meaning of all these abandoned clothes.  In the last two days we have come across a pair of shoes neatly placed along the dikes path, a pair of socks at the schools track and a pair of pants outside the gates.  Did the rapture come and I got left?  If that's the case, heads up buttercup ... you got left too.

I've never seen my mom just take off her clothes and leave them laying about, at least not in public.  Now I'm not saying she never has, I've just never been witness to it.

Is there some kind of hidden message in these  pieces of clothing that I just haven't yet figured out?  Is the universe trying to tell me something?  Please feel free to clue me in.

In the meantime, please enjoy this sacred day in whatever manner you wish but somewhere int he back of your mind, remember about what today really signifies and remember too that not all who lost their lives were hoomans… some heroes walked on four legs.

Loves & Licks,

Stella

My very-favorite-ball-in-the-whole-wide-world

This is the story of my very-favorite-ball-in-the-whole-wide-world and a mean and evil sneaker wave. Have you heard of sneaker waves before?  Do you know how dangerous they are?  I'm two now so sure, I'd heard about sneaker waves once or twice before.  I fully understood that meant that you couldn't go in barefoot, that you needed to be wearing shoes to logically protect your feet.  I'd seen signs posted, warning folks about them and suggesting that you never-ever turn your back on them but I never once thought it could apply to me.  And so my story goes like this...

I have this favorite ball.  It's incredibly cool for so many reasons, like it has a hole in the center so when it's thrown just right, it whistles.  If you hold it in your mouth just right, it's great fun to chomp on and it charges up from light so that you can see it in the dark.  I love this ball and if I had my way, I'd pack it EVERYWHERE I go!  If you don't have one, I'm here to tell  you,   you need one.  Sooner better than later.

My mom and I walk in the sand along the river every morning, just before it gets light enough to see.  Mom believes it's good for our physical health and that watching the sun come up is good for our soul.  Who knows, she might be right, she is occasionally about other things.  Never before had she let me take my very-favorite-ball-in-the-whole-wide-world out to the sand with us but today I somehow convinced her.  It might have been because I'd been particularly cute this morning, or that I'd been such a good girl or it could have been because it's Tuesday, we'll just never know for sure but the ball and I hit the beach running.  Mom called ahead and warned me not to let it get close to the waters edge but by then I had the wind on my face, the sand between my toes and my very-favorite-ball-in-the-whole-wide-world in my mouth and I wasn't hearing a single word she said.

The ball, me and Mom were having a lovely stroll and I was having a blast showing off my ball to the seagulls and ducks along our route.  Everyone seemed most impressed.  After a bit my jaws were getting a little tired so I put my ball down just long enough to take a moments break and get a different hold on it when out of no where, along came one of those vicious, hateful sneaker waves and grabbed my very-favorite-ball-in the whole-wide-world right from between my front feet!  Mom was a ways ahead of us and didn't actually see it happen but when she glanced back and saw me at the waters edge, empty mouthed and gazing out into the waters, she quickly figured it out.  We checked the water and even grabbed a stick in hopes of spotting it and being able to help it back to shore but there was no sign of it at all.  Mom said it should float but nope, it was no where in sight.  We searched as long as we could and then it was time to head home.  Boy, was I depressed at the thought of never seeing my very-favorite-ball-in-the-whole-wide-world ever again.  How could I be expected to carry on?  I hung my head and started for the car, trailing as far behind Mom as I possibly could when all of a sudden I heard her yell my name.  There it was, just a foot or so from shore, bouncing along, carried much farther by the waters motion than we had expected.  Other than the bathtub, I am not much of a fan of large bodies of water but was doing my best to work up the courage to jump in when Mom just took a few steps into the river and snagged my ball for me.  That's my idea of a true hero!

 This story has a happy ending but also a moral... pay heed to those warnings and never ever trust those sneaker waves, whether you are wearing shoes or not!

Loves & Licks,

Stella