Belle of the Ball and Edna Update

Edna the 13 year old great dane was having a good morning today. I love to see her actually running and frolicking outside with the border collies instead of just following them around sedately while appearing to proclaim to any who will listen, "I am one hundred and fifty years old, be sure to tell me I'm a good dog and that I'm beautiful". She had the whole day to rest in the house yesterday since I was in Denver teaching about tack fitting, and I think the rest has done her some good. I also think her hips feel better for having lost some weight. When I called her this morning to come in for breakfast after we did the horses, she came RUNNING from around the back of the house, big doggy grin on her face with happy ears lifted high, dog lips flapping in the wind, and tail swinging like a propeller from the back end.

Belle the border collie went swimming this evening in the marsh and pond.  It is a bit of a haven for lost objects, and in the past dogs have brought all kinds of things out of the water.  Some of the notable findings have been crawdads (one clipped my hound dog on the nose, she yelped and dropped it, and it hopped back into the water), fish, muskrat hunting, all kinds of fun can be had in the pond.  This evening, however, Belle came trotting back from the far end of the pasture, sopping wet and smelling like a swamp thing, with a satisfied expression on her black and white face.  She was toting a basketball.

On Memorial day, Dane Edna had a full day...  She got a bath in the morning, which she LOVED.  It was with the hose outside, but she shut her eyes and leaned into the scrub, especially around her neck.  Once she was dry I brushed her really thoroughly, and she got doggy goosebumps with the hair on her back raising up as she swayed for just the right scratch.  Then we went with Miles (also washed and brushed) and Owen to Wellington for the church barbeque.  Miles stole at least 3 cookies and a hot dog, directly out of the hands of short unsuspecting children.  One child actually searched under the picnic blanket looking for her cookie not realizing Miles had pilfered it.  Edna, in contrast, very politely asked for watermelon and hamburgers by sitting at strangers' feet and giving them her doe eyes.  She didn't get any, but it was worth a try.  Because of her appealing size some of the less well attended children acted like they were considering riding her, but after I chastised them they settled for patting her and telling her what a good girl she was.  She's pretty tired, she came right into the house to sleep, forgoing helping me with the evening feeding.  It's ok, though, Miles rocketed around the place helping me in her stead.  Happy Memorial Day!