Sassy Is Still Training Me

 

As I told Ranger Bob today, Sassy taught this old dog (me) a new trick. For 10 years she has always gone to the treat room, the bathroom, for a treat and a stay while no one else was in the house. 

Yesterday, I got a Pup-eroni out and said, "Time for the treat room, Sassy." She did not budge. I walked over to her spot on the bed and hustled her off. I herded her toward the treat room and she dodged me to go back to the bed.

She has made a big deal about jumping up on the bed, even with the legs off to make it shorter and easier. Several tries normally end up with a lot of celebratory "Woofs!" However, she just walked up to the bed and hopped onto it. No drama queen business - she meant it.

The clincher was this - she turned her ears backward to show that was her last word. I first experienced that with Sacky, who was 100% Cattle Dog, not 50% like Sassy. When I told Sacky that I would not throw her toy (a squeaking foot) unless she brought it all the way back to my hands, she turned her ears back the same way. After making some agonized noises, leading up to a shudder and a Whoop!, Sacky delivered the toy into my hands. 

But Sacky could be immovable at times. So this was Sassy the Cattle Dog and German Shepherd, laying down the gauntlet, here I sit, I can do no other. I said, "OK girl, leave everything alone." She did, and I gave her a second chance today. No problems.

Sassy rounds up our neighbors' two dogs, Atlas and Alaska, puppies known for their size and mischief. Sassy found Atlas in our yard again, and we began herding the puppy back to her home. The dad came out and said, "We heard you calling Atlas and I said - not again!"

Atlas was repeating her prancing around in circles as we moved toward home base. We had some laughs over the two dogs' behavior, so the owner said, "I'll get Alaska." With Atlas in the yard, Alaska came bounding out of the house, licking my hand, asking Sassy for chase, coming back, jumping up for a kiss on my face. So much fun! Time magazine, not good for anything now, once labeled dogs The Eighth Wonder of the World.

 We were included in Sassy's photo-shoot. Ranger Bob got his own 10 x 14 fancy framed photo. Sassy explodes in joy when he phones or knocks on the door. 

Their Teaching Program - A Cardinal Visits Our Home

Sassy is staring me down, knowing I will drink some pour-over coffee before I take her out for a walk. Sometimes the look is triumphant, grinning "I know you will go outside soon." The afternoon look starts at 3 PM, which is prime time for Ranger Bob to be around. Then she lifts her head and lets go with piercing, heart-breaking howls. 

"What's wrong with Sassy?" Mrs. Ichabod asks.

"It's Bob time, 3 PM." I answer. The scramble to the front door is inspiring.

Alaska has become a regular. He escapes routinely and often waits at our door for an escort back home. Sassy and Alaska played tag a little at Bob's, and Alaska was glad to go back home, across the street from Bob's. I called through their semi-open front door, "Does anyone want a large, black puppy?" 

Some evolutionists should study how dogs of all breeds and various locations play the tag game. It starts with a duck down and then a jump to the left or right. That is repeated for "Let's play tag." Sassy played the more advanced version, the "Kill Game," with her two mates at home. One dog would play victim, the other a killer attacking up and down the victim's body - no harm done. Then they would switch and do the same, making lots of noise and racing in and out the doggie door. In South Bend, far from home, Sassy played the whole game with new dogs. If humans look or pay attention, the game stops.

The Cardinal Is Married!

Squirrels will come up to the kitchen window and wonder - with their sad, orphaned eyes - when the next meal is coming. All the animals can tell if food is on the barrels and window ledges. Recently a female cardinal stopped on one barrel to search in obvious, beseeching ways, for food. She paced around, looking for food that was not there.

That must be the cardinal version for "Get some fresh snacks at the store. I'm hungry." Typical male. So she goes out, looks, and solicits. Bob says, "Indians consider cardinals good luck, so it is special if you always have them in your yard." 

To win and keep their approval, I have

• Five feeding areas in the backyard
• Two baths in the front and two in the backyard
• Berry plants, bushes, and Poke weeds
• Wild strawberries on the ground
• Rough areas where many creatures meet, greet, and procreate.

Sassy set up a defense perimeter when the Moline 66 ladies had lunch and Mrs. Ichabod attended. Sassy celebrates her great moments by barking happily.

Alaska's Energy

Great Pyranees

Sassy and I learned to calm barking, fenced dogs by asking, "Who's a good dog?" They stop as if wondering, "How do they know me?" I point at the dogs and say, "YOU are a good dog." Barking stops.

Today, Alaska - a Great Pyrenees - was at her fence, so Sassy went over to say hello and play a little tag, with each dog on its own side. Suddenly, Alaska was bounding toward me, as if defeating the physical barrier of the fence with special powers. 

Imagine puppy energy, puppy playfulness, and full-sized dog strength. Alaska played with me, Sassy barking in happiness or jealousy, until one owner came out. She was already frustrated with this giant puppy chewing off his rope. For now, the fence was useless.

Skinny-Bo was like that next door, but he was normal size with a high energy and mischief level. When I blocked Bo's frontal attacks, he ran full speed at me and collided with my back. But after a time, I saw down and talked to him and petted him. He was starving for affection, like many dogs which are bought for cuteness and not given the companionship they crave.

I graded three classes today. Covid sent everyone online, and suddenly each institution needed trained online teachers and supervisors. But I would rather see the masks and capricious fake laws go away.

I am working to finish the Walther book, then garden photos, then the book on Bible texts and translations.

 The Wind in the Willows is often called the best adult children's book, but Nesbit is even better.

Nesbit's "children's books" are read regularly by famous authors. They are in a world of their own, and she had a terrible life.

Sassy Visits Alaska

A short time ago, Sassy met Alaska, who is part Grand Pyranees, (aka Great Pyranees). Alaska is just a puppy but will some day weigh as much as a sports car. 

Sassy always alerts when Alaska is in the front yard. This morning we were surprised to find Alaska romping around the front yard and loping over to see us. Sassy was irritated by Alaska getting some attention and then wanting to play with her.

I looked and saw the backyard gate wide open. I walked over to it and ordered Alaska back inside. He ran toward me, ran back to Sassy, and then ran back into the yard. I held the gate and gestured sternly.

One owner emerged and wondered where her dog was. I replayed the script, but wondered why they thought a king-sized puppy would stay inside an unlocked backyard.

Military Gardening Group Convenes To Enjoy Cool Evening and Sassy

 Sassy had all her shots and remains in great health.

The Military Gardening Group met yesterday for pour-over coffee with cane sugar, pour-over with whipped cream and Ghiardelli chocolate, and pour-over with sugar, chocolate, and whipped cream. Tis a fussy group.

They arrived with 25 bags of shredded cyprus wood mulch, which will protect and feed the roses through the autumn and winter.

Mrs. Ichabod joined Ranger Bob, PFC, and me to enjoy the cool breezes, hummingbirds, and yellow jackets. Bob gets rather excited when he spots a nest, because they love him as much he loathes them.

The shy roses were starting to bloom, three Veterans Honor and two purple roses. More are sending up their new shoots for additional buds and blooms.

Sassy sat in the garden facing us. Her opening is to bark orders at Bob until he has given her Milk Bones and fiber crackers. Sometimes he starts with a tirade about her being spoiled, overfed, and "nothing but a chow hound," a term used for Army recruits who specialize in eating food. She grins during the speech because it always ends with food - and everyone cheering Bob for being so tough.

I told a Sassy story while she was facing us. At the end, Bob said, "Look at Sassy's face!" She was beaming about her many virtues being described and praised. Often, after a morning walk, Mrs. I says, "Any new Sassy stories?" Sassy listens as I tell how she teases Pat and Bob about kissing one, or the other, or both. Sassy clearly loves to play pranks and get laughs.

After the audience and food, Sassy walked beyond the driveway to guard us and keep an eye on the children playing in the street. She is always alert for danger and anything new or unusual.

Our vet tech neighbors drove by to ask about us taking on their pine needles. We have been doing that for years. Their kids and friends bring them over in the fall. I cut roses for people, pointing out that each snip means more roses will bloom faster, with the energy no longer going to the current flowers.

Like the cardboard, newsprint, leaves, and wood mulch, nothing remains of the pine needles except the biological replacements as they are broken down. The soil is noticeably higher than it was 10 years ago. The garden often feels like a big soft mattress, because the organic matter holds on to so much moisture.

Sassy Balks at a Little Sprinkle, So I Pruned

Sassy loves her morning walk, so I should have been aware of her lethargy as I put on my shade hat and shoes. Hmm, the driveway was damp.

I felt a light mist falling and turned around to see "Nope" in Sassy's eyes. Snow and ice are fine with her, but not rain. She has her own internal weather station. On one walk, when she usually wanted to turn around at Pat and John's, she headed home.

The sky did not seem threatening to me, because it is often overcast - clouds without rain, like the OJ salesmen. We got home and a tremendous thunderclap made us jump. Sassy knew.

Sassy stayed inside. Her funniest look is at the door, with me ahead of her on the driveway, with that "I am staying on the porch look." Being inside is even better when it is hot or rainy.

I was geared up for some pruning, so I grabbed the rose shears and began. I aimed at the finished Joe Pye blooms, which were turning to seed and the finished Bee Balm blooms (say that fast, three times).

I piled up the cuttings to use as mulch around some new roses. They inhibit grassy weed growth. That is the Ruth Stout method - use weeds to prevent weeds while feeding the soil. If the weeds look predatory and aggressive, I put the cut ones in the Blackberry patch. The only weeds growing out from that patch are the Hog Peanuts, a soil enhancer that cannot be pulled out by humans.

The doughty little Clethra creates an atmosphere of sweet spice.

Pruning also opens up the Clethra shrubs to more air. They are doughty little plants,about 5 feet tall, always looking 100% healthy, never begging for water or rain. With more space around it, the Clethra will exude more sweet cinnamon fragrance as the one and only Cinnabon tree.

 "Resist the beginning." I introduced Sassy to Frosty Paws. Every night she looks into my face and licks her jaws dramatically. It is a lot of fun to see her various expressions as I promise to get some - boredom, joy, exultant, smug. 

When Did Garbage Day Become Such a Challenge?

 "Thunder? Again?"

We had far too much rain already when garbage day arrived. Due to early morning pickups, we favor Thursday hauling of the barrels, this time both garbage and recycle.

The only problem was the newest torrential rain  - and Mrs. Ichabod's growing resistance to the barrels taking a shortcut through the kitchen and living room. I explained how that decreased the risk of losing my shoes in the soft clay mud of the backyard. But truth can harden hearts.

Sassy and I plotted our moves. First, she needed a long walk for her exercise and explorations. Nothing calms her more than a walk where she gets to meet a few friends. That went went when one neighbor called her by name and stopped to pet her. Sassy sat down for her petting time and beamed with pleasure.

 Sassy loves her neighborhood friends.

Sassy went inside to her perch on the bed, and I opened the garage door for rescue and recovery.The rain had stopped but the backyard was almost completely underwater. Years of mulch kept the Hosta area relatively dry, high ground in the swamp. However, I found a snag in the ooze and almost did a belly-flop in the mud.

I took only one barrel out of our yard. Recycling could wait. I pulled the barrel over into the moving position, where floats or skids would have been better than little wheels. Both feet sank into the Hosta garden, pushing down layers of leaves, wood mulch, and debris from the storms. "They will find me in May and be so sorry no one did anything about backyard lakes and the pull of soft, soaking mud," I imagined.

I kept the barrel moving and reached solid mud, which is much better than slippery, almost bottomless mud. The barrel reached the curb, and so did both shoes.

In the garage I lowered the door and changed to dry clothes. One reader, who knew of my garbage day plans, said, "I hope the garage is attached to your house."

Soon another cloudburst came down like the end of a long, parched drought - only there was no drought, no dancing in the rain for me.

I fixed chicken breast and buttered Brussels sprouts for supper. We now have almonds and walnuts for low-carb dessert.

Pour-over coffee is a necessity in this weather. Ranger Bob comes over and asks if I have had my coffee for the day. "No, I need some right now." All four of us have been out on the front porch together, Sassy guarding our perimeter. Coffee in the shade on a pleasant afternoon is a great luxury.

Sassy the Visitor

On morning walks, Sassy visits Pat whenever she is out. Pat even comes out in the cold to see Sassy. Today, Pat's son was visiting from Tucson, so the three of us watched Sassy scour the yard for treats. She found a roast bone and settled down for a long session. Pat was pleased to have her son there and Sassy enjoying the bone.

That reminded me of the 50th reunion of the Moline High School class of 1966. We took Sassy along and had two goals - we would see Toby McGriff in the nursing home, first of all, and Guy Johnson when he had time.

Toby's nursing home welcomed dogs, and Sassy soaked up the love from everyone. In fact, so many wheelchairs gathered around Sassy that all traffic stopped and we had to break up the traffic jam.

At Toby's room we could see he was in bad shape. Our memories went back to junior high band, starting with John Deere and ending with MHS. The same people come together for band, even for summer marching band practice, so we had years to compare band directors, baton twirlers, and band trips. Toby loved seeing Sassy. The Moline High 66ers went to Augustana in a large group, so Christina felt very much at home with the Moliners at Augie and the overlapping friendships. It was very hard to leave Toby - we all felt the sadness, no time for chipper denials. Toby passed on to eternal life not long after.

 Toby and I had stories way back in time.

Our other goal was to see Guy Johnson, whom we met at Lago's for the 45th. Our friendship went back to Garfield Grade School (now a condo) and comic books. I bought all the Classics Illustrated, even ordering them from the publisher, and gathered DC comics by the pound.

We sat outside and below the motel, near the river, visiting with Guy. He brought his dog who came over to me for petting and compliments. Sassy felt left out and tried some sharing, only to be growled away. She stood back, hurt, for a time - until Guy fussed over her. Then both dogs beamed as we all talked.

 Guy Johnson - outside of Lagomarcino's. His group asked for suggestions for their reunion. The '66 imperial reunion committee considered suggestions lèse-majesté.

Skinny-Bo Gets Owned by Sassy

 Sassy is used to being in charge.

Mrs. Gardener's dog next door always wears the "Let's play" look on his face. He escaped the first time with Chuckie and came back on his own, bouncing around me at Ranger Bob's house.

The second time I reported him missing, Mrs. Gardener opened the door. In mid-phrase about how I lost her dog, Skinny showed up. His formal name is Bo, so I call him Skinny-Bo now. I think he loves his nickname. He acted as if he was just joking, disappearing on me.

I began pulling their garbage barrels out some time ago, because Mr. Gardener had a bad heart. After his death I continued because it is easy to do and his widow is rather tiny.

Yesterday I walked over to the gate to give Skinny-Bo a little time and attention. He enjoyed it so much that he pushed the gate open and tore out at top speed. Every time he raced back toward the gate he took a hard left and headed into our garden. This lasted a few minutes.

I put Sassy inside before this, but I got her outdoors for the next  task. I said, "Get Skinny-Bo." They are mutually jealous, so in no time Sassy assumed her command position. Bo came back and tried to kiss up to her. Sassy barked loudly in his face. Repeat. Bo was gradually becoming contrite.

Sassy has a way with other dogs. She is in charge and they know it. Soon I had Bo in his yard, the gate secure against his energy and trickery.

Mrs. Ichabod was not sympathetic. "How did the gate open up? You didn't get near it and tempt that rascal?" I had to confess 5% of the blame.

Sassy got a thorough petting for her help and plenty of praise. She enjoyed the rewards and collect some food treats.

The repairman found out how much Sassy enjoys dog-lovers. She detected his dog on his clothing and stayed around him. We had some minor leakage that created some warped drywall in the kitchen. He cut that away and repaired it. When he was done with the drywall, I asked, "Have you seen our kitty?" He said, "No, I haven't." I said, "Did you look in the hole before you sealed it up?" He began thinking... So I said, "We don't have a cat. I couldn't resist."

He had so much water damage to deal with that his final work was delayed several weeks. I am sure he will look for the pet cat from now on.

Hummingbirds Love Our Gardens and Feeders

Tiny birds and tiny beneficial insects love tiny compound flowers.

Army Ranger Bob did something special for us recently. When he learned I had a hummingbird feeder set up in our kitchen window, he said, "I have something."

He brought over a bird feeder stand and a metal table, both newly painted in Chevrolet orange. He poked the stand into the garden, near the porch. I filled the new feeder he brought over, and I hung it on the pole. The next day, our front yard visitor was sipping at the feeder. Soon two were fighting over it. Memo to self - get another feeder.

So now we sit on the front porch, in the shade, with Sassy the Wonder-Dog getting the most treats possible from Bob. Then she stretches out on the porch, in the shade, and listens to Bob talk about cars, planes, jets, tanks, self-defense, and the Navy.

We drink pour-over coffee and debate who has spoiled Sassy the most. She simply looks at him in adoration when Bob speaks. She also puts him through his paces, showing him a cocked front leg that says, "Tummy rub time." If he flags in his interest, she paws the air for more attention.

Mrs. I comes out on the porch to enjoy the roses and wildlife.

The Aircraft Carrier - aka - Ichaboat - Has Been Sold

I often had Sassy wait for me in the driver's seat, which made her look like my chauffeur to amused observers.

Someone needed a car, and we were at the point where repairs would be a burden. Ranger Bob did all he could in fixing things up.

It was a fun day, because three people came - the lady who would buy it and two relatives who loved cars. They favor Lincoln Town Cars and our 1994 model is the Executive, often used to make stretch limos. We called it the limo, but Bob named it "The Aircraft Carrier."

The men took it out for a drive, which included Interstate 49. They loved the car, especially when they saw the Chilton Repair Manual inside - a gift for them. They knew what to do, which was a relief for me. Rock Auto Parts and do-it-yourself makes an older car a bargain.

Our only major repair in 10 years was the AC unit. Other than that, we had batteries, tires, the usual repairs. An insurance check from a hailstorm (minor little pings on the surface) gave us the money for some life-extending repairs. I wanted two more years out of the car and got four more.

 Sassy was the star of the dog park when we were both younger.

Sassy had the key seat for ordering at McDonalds, since only the back window on that side worked. I had to shout out her window, and she poked her nose close to the speaker. I would order my sandwich, then Chris', then after "anything else?" - a vanilla ice cream cone. Sassy would bark her happy bark, which begins with a piercing, overjoyed yelp.

Next, paying for the food meant a lively conversation with the cashier, often joined by two staffers laughing and saying hello to her. Sassy often let go with a series of barks.

The food window got her the biggest smiles. The cone was handed to me like a gold medal. We began sharing cones in Phoenix, when she was 10 years younger. There she tapped my shoulder if I did not hand over her part soon enough. In the Lincoln, she raked the back of the leather seat to make noise.

Sassy Heard the Admonition - Make No Small Plans. The Legs as Motivators

She heard "Treats!"
Sassy is the cyber-pet for many blog fans.

Sassy uses her legs as powerful communication devices. One is her levels of urgency when she on the bed and I am resting or reading:

1. Very gentle, steady pressure - duties await.
2. Light swat at my leg - you know what is coming up.
3. Single scrape across the kneecap - I mean it now.
4. Double scrape, kneecap, vigorous - No more stalling. This is when I tell Chris to watch for the triple-scrape, which does not hurt.
5. Sassy makes a surprised noise about my reluctance and drags her claws across my kneecap three times, faster and harder than before.

At this point I burst into laughter, because she has worked up to the ultimate, you-cannot-ignore-this signal. She enjoys the laughter because she is a clown who wants to entertain us and anyone else who is observing her.

She has more tricks. One is the scrape in the air. That began as scraping the antique table, which made a lot of noise with her claws. I did not see where the odd noise came from, and it happened only when I was concentrating. Finally I caught her and glared at her. She withdrew looking very guilty. The next time I laughed and she realized the joke. From that time on, a scrape on the table was done with a big grin. "Am I smart and funny too?" We moved a metal table to that place and the noise was very strange. I repeated my fierce look. She paused, grinned, and did it again.

Now there is a narrow shelf in the same place. She cannot easily reach it, so she reaches up in the air and scrapes the imaginary table, grinning. "Oh my, Sassy. What do you want? Crunchies? A walk? Frosty Paws? Lovey time?"

She may answer by being happy and energetic, or by slumping on the bed as if she is burdened by thick-headed staff. Normally, lovey time means she will not come to us but looks defiant. "Do I have to draaaag you?" She looks frightened at the thought. I reach out and touch her gently then say, "Move move." She jumps up and moves several inches. "Oh Sassy, you moochy pooch. You can move." She grins, moves close between and flops down.

The ideal lovey is when she comes up on her own, lays her front paw on Chris, grins, and listens to praise and encouragement. Once she has her quota from Chris, Sassy lays the same paw on me - it is my turn. I talk about her popularity in the neighborhood and the McDonalds staff loving her. That done, with some petting, she goes to her place and falls asleep.

Sassy the CyberPet - Fun, Drama, Protection, Fanbase

This is the expression most people see with Sassy,
and "Treats!" will also elicit this response.

Sassy has quite a fan club in Springdale. She is well known at Lowe's, where she loves to shop in the garden department. She enjoys trips to Walmart, which often end with driving through McDonald's next door. She has barked into the mike, but also may hold her peace for the cashier or the second window, where her cone is delivered. Yesterday, the cone was delivered with a big smile and a bow by one of her fans on the crew.

We have shared cones for 10 years. I get the first part, and Sassy reminds me when her part is due. I get taps on the shoulder to remind me of my need to share with her. Not one tap, but three taps. At home, the reminders are, in order of urgency:

1. The first gentle tap on the knee
2. Two gentle scrapes across the knee
3. Two energetic scrapes accompanied by her arrogant German Shepherd scowl. I ask Chris to watch as Sassy escalates the warnings on the bed. Naturally I am laughing as they worsen.

Sassy was amused by the photographer getting on the floor.

As her foster mother warned, Sassy is a talker, with a wide range of vocal cues, barks, moans, friendly growls, and songs. Consequently, we talk to her all day and have lots of conversations, which include her pop up ear alerts, smirks, arrogant German Shepherd scowls, grins, and kisses of all types. Her communication vocabulary seems endless. One kiss on the cheek is reserved for the dog park and a few other delights. Her warning warble is used outside the vet's office, but not every time. She sings with me or may just bark - very loudly.

Ranger Bob and our granddaughter get the loudest, most agonized greetings. A stranger would think Sassy is being tortured. Everyone else gets standard barks.

The talking part comes from her Cattle Dog heritage, and they tend to sing too. Cattle Dogs can be painfully shy and one-person dogs, but Sassy adopts everyone she sees, allowing for the unenlightened to not welcome her. She no longer expects every single person to adore her, but most see her gentle face and start warming to her at once. Sassy sniffs for dog traces on their feet and legs and knows when she has a fan almost immediately.

The loud conversations are hilarious. On walks through the neighborhood, everyone talks to Sassy. People sit in front of their homes and expect friends to drop by for a minute or even to "set a spell." Sassy will settle down and guard the property, constantly scanning it for any new activity, from a squirrel nearby to a person a half block away. Then she gets up and barks.

"Are you in a hurry?"
Bark!
"Do you have an appointment soon?"
Bark! Bark!
"Let's go then."
Bark-bark-bark!

Ranger Bob, an Army veteran, gets the full treatment: the agonized greeting, begging for dog treats, rolling over for a tummy rub, and resting nearby on the floor and listening. We often use the computer to order car parts (for our fleet of old cars) or to research an item - Social Security, taxes, car repair videos, and Command Cody's music.

Today we were walking past the big field where her friends have coffee in front of their home most mornings. Instead, the wife was leaving in her car, but stopped and opened the door to talk to Sassy. Sassy came over for hugs and praise, and the lady was all lit up with smiles.

When another morning friend sits with us, she says, "How about some love, Sassy?" Then Sassy will kiss her hand.

Sassy Signals

Sassy has a number of ways to tell us what she wants. I taught her to tell us when it involves food.

At 6 AM she was awake, so I did a hand clap to have her come closer and be petted.

Two light claps mean she should do what I ask. She licked her mouth instead - she wanted food.

Clap, clap. "Move, move."

She licked her mouth again. I had no doubts - she would not move when hungry for breakfast crunchies. I really laughed the second time. She inched up part-way, which meant some partial concession, conditional, as if expecting food to follow - and it did, after some petting.

Recently I tried out bird sounds on her. She smiled a little, amused. Then I used my turkey call, which was louder. Her smile grew.

She ignores the bird-feeder now. I filled the platform feed with corn this time, and the squirrels sat in that to reach the sunflowers above in the hanging feeder. Sassy is unimpressed with squirrels, unless they are nearby on a walk.

Most little dogs are ignored on our walks. She decided to visit three, surprising me. She went over to the chain-link fence. They began licking each other's noses, which shows trust. They enjoyed her visit so much that they began to fall over each other to reach her.

Pat and John - June Allyson Eyes

 Sassy interpreted by Norma Boeckler
and Photofunia.

When Sassy and I walk each morning, we often pass John and Pat's home. I have known them for four years, from walking by, stopping to talk, but we know them a lot better now.

Today I learned that John was a veteran. He washes dishes for extra money. Their running joke with me is that I drove by without waving to them. People use their front porches and lawns to socialize in this area, instead of hiding in the backyard. They barbecue in the front yard and may even leave food in the grass for animals. Sassy counts on that for snacks.

From the beginning, John learned Sassy's name and called it out when we were near. His wife Pat got to know us too. This is what I hear when we stop and sit a while. "You drove right by and never looked over to see us. We were sitting on the porch. Good thing it wasn't raining or you would have drowned, your nose was stuck up in the air."

To thwart this teasing I began to slow down, roll down my window, and wave, even when no one seemed to be home. My wife joined in the drive-bys and waved too. One day, she said, "Let's get out so I can meet them." I parked and we crossed the street. We had a good time talking.

I thought we were doing well with driving, slowing down, and waving. Sassy and I always stopped if one or both of them were sitting outside. Sometimes they eat their cereal outside in the warm weather, and look for us.

But no, I was not doing all I could. John said, "You were on 40th and we were waving at you when you were fixin' to turn on Elm Springs. We honked and you never saw us."

 June Allyson

I said with some emphasis, "My job is to drive safely, not to wave at all my friends." They both laughed. When Pat laughs, her eyes shut completely, which is very charming. June Allyson said she could never pose right for the still photographers, because her eyes became slits. Otherwise she was bug-eyed trying to keep them open. One of my classmates does the same thing, and a camera cannot capture it the right way. Fifty years after graduation she was still laughing the same way, just like Pat, just like June Allyson.

June Allyson had beautiful eyes,
which disappeared proportionately to her smiles.

Sassy shows us when she is completely at home. She sits down and watches the whole area. If anything new is happening, her ears perk up and her eyes focus on the new interest. If things are calm, she slowly adjusts here position, rotating slowly around to cover all angles.

"Sassy is guarding us so we can relax." That would last a certain amount of time. Since this was at the end of a long walk, she liked to do this while catching her breath and cooling off. Once completely rested she gave a short bark in her alert sitting position, as she does elsewhere.

"Do you have an appointment somewhere, Sassy?"

Bark! Bark!

"Are we keeping you?"

Bark!

"Should we be going?"

Bark! Bark! Bark! She gets up on all three legs and leads me forward.

"Have to go. Sassy has an appointment." Each time I shake hands with John and Pat as I leave. If they have kidded me about waving, I take off my Tilley hat and wave it at them as I leave. Pat grins until her eyes close completely.

Sassy Helps Deflect a Ticket on the Way Back from Moline

 "Officer, I was only looking around for a place to stop."

We were getting close to Arkansas when we decided to stop and fill up in Nevada, Missouri.

We got off I-49 one exit early and thought we might connect to Nevada  (Ne-vay-da to us locals) on the old highway. The streets were almost deserted - with an emphasis on almost. Soon a police car lit up behind us and stopped us.

I could only roll down Sassy's window because mine froze up weeks ago. So I began talking to the officer about our search for gasoline. He checked out my pristine driving record (no arrests) and came back without his writing pad. Good news so far.

He was very friendly and asked if he could pet Sassy. I am sure Sassy was giving him those loving eyes she uses on everyone. He petted her a while and said, "I will drive you to the nearest gas station. Follow me."

He took us north on I-49 a mile, the south on I-49, then into Nevada to the gas station, doing a U-turn and driving away, waving.

Singing Our Song


Sassy signals her need to stop with a high-pitched sound, not loud, but distinctive and lasting.

We answered by saying we were close and not to worry. Sassy's Cattle Dog style chattering began with certain mutterings mixed with high-pitched sounds.

Only four or five minutes to Ne-vay-da,
Please don't get wet on the seat
Mama will cry from the mess you make
Please wait longer for goodness sake...
(45 Minutes from Broadway)

Sassy sang and murmured along with me. My mother had us write variations in poems. At the end of her life, after a broken hip, she composed poems on the fly as we wheeled her through the nursing home where she was recovering. The staff was stunned, because she used a poetic meter and rhymed everything as she rolled along.

This is Sassy's response to being in trouble.
"No one could possibly be upset with me."

Sassy Does Iberia Bank - Again. Her Triumphant Return

One of Sassy's favorite errands was making a deposit - and withdrawal - from Iberia Bank. I would deposit a check and she would withdraw a treat - or several.

Mary loved Sassy so much that we could count on three treats each time. One new teller jumped when I had Sassy bark into the speaker. He thought that was so funny that Sassy got three treats from him too.

But Iberia decided to close our branch, as they did in Bella Vista, and send us to Robinson. Mary was retired and very sad about that, missing Sassy as well. We saw her at Walmart and she said, "I am out of retirement, working at the Robinson branch."

I said, "We will stop by and see you."

The mailman said hello to Sassy as we left.

When I told Sassy we had an errand at Iberia, she jumped up. She loves the post office, Iberia, and Walmart. When we approached the bank, Sassy began barking. Mary said she was just talking about Sassy to the other teller as we drove up. Sassy sat and barked into the mike. The other teller spilled the small treats, which was funny by itself. No, I did not laugh.

We had a conversation about ice cream treats for dogs at Walmart. Frost Pups or something like that. Sassy got one large treat and a bunch of small ones.  Mary was so happy to see her favorite dog again, and it was a great experience for Sassy and me.

As we drove home, Sassy made it clear that she knew about the little treats. The big one vanished fast, of course. I passed a few small ones to her on the way home, only 6 miles.

Rainwater and Rain
I was not convinced of heavy rain today, so I watered front and back. The barrels were ready to empty so I poured them on favorite and on needy plants.

Our friend wants some Bee Balm starts, so I took a paintbucket of rainwater to the largest Bee Balm. Seven bumblebees were working the bush over as I approached. My idea is to pump up the plant with rainwater and soften the soil for a root division. Then our friend can have a much better start than a slip or cutting.

Bee Balm comes in various colors and growth habits,
from invasive to clumping.
This one has a large plant and grows a large, impressive clump.
Algae has far more than 340,000 species,
and the government has a collection of them.

Sassy and I Garden Together - She Wonders Why I Water Before a Thunderstorm

Sassy's missing leg makes her appealing to children and adults.
She loves to talk, using various growls and yips to manage my life.

Almost Eden said his dog tends to get underfoot when he works, but Sassy normally picks a place where she can watch in the shade and supervise. She enjoyed digging with me near the front porch. Once an area is opened up, she sniffs it and sometimes tests it with her paw. She ended up under my arms as I planted some new arrivals. I was stretched out on my stomach and she was beneath my arms, not quite in the way, enjoying the closeness.

We have an unspoken agreement now that afternoon walks are around the cul-de-sac, which is shaded late in the day. Six is a good time in the morning for a cool walk around the neighborhood, and six a great time to walk around our street in the early evening.

Sassy lets me water the new roses at the end of the day, even if rain is predicted. Yesterday she thought I was being too tedious, so she barked to go in, waiting just inside on the cool floor. She likes to be outside for a time with me, but not too long in the heat and humidity.

We had definite rain predicted, and I saw lightning blinking north of us later that evening. Why water? The new roses have to leaf out, and they dry out too much in the breezes and bright sunlight. If they have moistened canes and roots, the rain will be working on healthy rather than stressed roses.

Sometimes Sassy flushes out rabbits. I told one neighbor there is a rabbit for every yard. He said, "No, a rabbit you see and 12 you don't see - in every yard." We watched an adult hop away last night.

Rugosa roses are known for their hips,
ragged leaves, tolerance of shade and dryness.

Rugusa Roses
I have been using rain-barrel water to get the Rugosa roses going. They showed life as soon as I soaked them overnight, before planting. Now three of the five have those ragged green leaves popping out.

The Hosta plants I bought with those roses were tiny. I soaked them too, now they are growing well in the shade of the house, amid Wild Strawberry plants.

I obtained some Willow bushes for a screen - from Almost Eden. He said, "I can see why you want to screen the view" as he looked at the view toward the West. Willows also tolerate shade and dryness, but they all needed a boost before the rain came. Once again, Sassy said "Enough of this," and barked to go inside.

Beautyberries feed birds at the end of the season.

Last Year's Bushes Flowering
Last year I bought samples of various plants from Almost Eden. I saw very little from them last year. They either had too much rain or too little, and their roots were not fully established in the soil. Many perennial plants do a lot of root growth in the fall and winter, and ours was perfect for that, with various mulches decomposing into the soil to feed the plant growth.

I planted a number of little Bee Balm varieties. My reward was seeing a hummingbird sipping from one (1) flower last summer. I wondered how Bee Balm could call itself a mint - where was the pervasive growth through the roots? I found out this spring when the red ones showed up like relatives and friends after a PowerBall win.

A tiny Bee Balm all last year, planted among the roses on the fence, grew to a large bush and flowered with purple frilly blooms, smelling like a jar of Vicks Vapo-rub. I cut some for the altar flowers. A few of them overpowered the rose fragrance, so I can see why various creatures are attracted to them.

White Profusion Butterfly Bush

Plant Them Where They Will Be Seen
I have learned to try plants in the places where I will always see them, even if the placement seems to be wrong at the time.

I tried out a few plants in one sunny but neglected area, in the West corner of the yard. Nothing grew well there and one Butterfly Bush barely stayed alive. Since then I have learned that Butterfly Bushes are rather fussy, so it almost finished off a Bonnie, destined to be 12 feet tall. I transplanted the midget bush to where it could be watched and watered from the rain-barrel. At first it wilted, as these flimsy plants tend to do. I used some logs to hold it up straight and gave it daily doses of liquid fertilizer (rain). Now the plant is established and ready to join its giant White Profusion partner.

I thought the White Profusion would be fun to watch in bloom from the  bedroom window, thinking it would be six feet tall or so. Instead, the plant is nine (9) feet tall and reaching upwards. One reward was seeing a pair of Chickadees land on the platform feeder, move to the Jackson EZ Bird Swing, and rest in the large Butterfly Bush. Each one sang "Chicka-dee-dee-dee," so I filled two feeders for them.

Ministers would be a lot better at their jobs if they gardened and fed birds. Most of Jesus' parables concern His own Creation, which is fitting. He used examples that everyone could picture and see in their own work - wild flowers quickly blooming, the lowly sparrow, sheep, sowing seed, the harvest, the seed that grows while we sleep, the early and late rains essential for growing food.

Learning often means unlearning. We are immersed in business talk and ministers easily pick that up from our culture and the Tony Robbins of Church Growth. They talk about their vision, reaching critical mass, and numbers. Tis strange how I feed them my numbers, like 4.7 million total views - and it only makes them angry.

Ministers and laity need to lay aside those business bromides and pick up the language of the Word. Wear a rubber band on the wrist (sales tactic) and snap it hard when mentioning SAM goals (Specific, Achievable, Measurable). Snap! Bad habit. Instead, speak of the efficacy of the Word and trusting in the Means of Grace.

Holy Mother Sect is perfect. Snap! Jesus did not die on the cross and rise from the dead to let people make their own institutions the Gospel. Faith in the Creating Word or faith in the manufactured organization? That is easily answered from examples outside, from the birds who start the day cheerfully without knowing where their next meal is, from the plants that germinate, grow, flower, and fruit to feed Creation and beautify our lives.

Matthew 6

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Doves are very good at gleaning seed from the feeders or the ground below.
Messy birds and careless squirrels keep doves in business.