Bug and Ben

Poor Ben just can't get a break lately. No sooner does he settle into his beloved sunbeam or under my desk for a nap, than he has almost instantaneous company. Baby Bug is relentless in her quest to snuggle the little beast, and since he is notoriously zoomy and tends to bite (playfully) when he is awake, she has taken on a new approach, which (as you can see) is working out rather well for her. Not so well for Ben. It's a dog's life.

Sofa Sleeper

Konked out watching Blues Clues. Have you ever seen anything so adorable? I have a feeling she'll be all pins and needles when she wakes up - "asleep" in more ways than one.

Rrrrr....woof.

I won't mention any names, but someone is becoming quite the Guardian of the Front Porch. (Basically, he loves a sunbeam, and when he goes out in the morning, he just loves to come back and sit in the sun on the porch, watching the world go by, and threatening the occasional neighbor or squirrel with a quiet, slow, and not what I would call menacing "Rrrrr........woof.... (dramaticpause) .........rrrrrrrrr...........woof."

I try not to laugh, because he has quite the throaty little growl for a puppy, and one day when he is full grown I'm sure it will be enough to make anyone pause and think twice. But for now, it's just the most adorable little puppy "woof" I've ever heard. At 15 weeks, he is anything but scary, and were there any doubt in your mind as you approached aforementioned porch that you had anything to fear from said Guardian, I would venture a guess that all doubt would be alleviated after the second "woof," when the Scary Guardian tucked his tail and ran for the house sideways, so he could keep one eye on you in case he needed to issue any further scary "woofs." Which are just that much more terrifying after he bumps into the door jam because he was running sideways so he could keep one hairy eyeball on you, his cowering prey.

Latest Catch...

85 lbs., 6'5" long (we weighed and measured him this time.) He's a Blacktip, caught off the Florida coast. They are known jumpers - the first time Jesse tried to gaff the shark, he broke the gaff handle, circled around, and jumped almost into the boat trying to bite him. Missed his head by a foot. (I'll take "Things That Suck, Alex, for $500...)

Big Ben

I think the little beast has sunbeam-induced narcolepsy! He never makes it through a sunbeam awake.

He was 13 weeks on Friday, and at the vet a week ago he was about 36 lbs. He has started barking at neighbors, etc., and I must say for a 3 month old puppy he has a pretty commanding bark, already. Jesse has been out of town for a couple of days and Ben has taken to sleeping under the desk (where I have spent most of my time the last month working on the website.) I even put an old throw blanket under there for him. The problem is, he isn't going to fit under there for much longer, and it's already getting uncomfortable for him. I've noticed him circling under there a couple of times and then coming out and "flumping" against the front of the desk instead, between me and the door.

I continue to be encouraged by his progress with training. He has been going to the door on his own whenever he wants to go out, and he hasn't had an accident in the house in quite some time, (except the other night after his bath, after I dried him off he went straight out into the hallway and widdled on the carpet - I think he was peeved at me.) That was an isolated incident though, and for the most part he is getting the hang of the whole house training thing. I can't wait to start teaching him some simple commands (sit, come, etc.) I am going to take your advice, Mom, and look around for a bell I can hang on the doorknob that he can ring when he wants out. Great idea.

Big Fish

Jesse caught a monster! Over 8 lbs, we weighed it. The world record is 6 lbs. No kidding. We ate him, he was delicious! :)