Fall Is So Delightful

Good Evening Everyone,

I am so pleased to report that Fall is here! I just love this time of year. I suffer all summer in the heat with my thick coat. It is such a relief when Fall arrives and the temperature cools off. And we have had a most wonderful event transpire recently! Miss Jacque is taking us for walks in the mornings and evenings. I can not even begin to express my joy and excitement for being outdoors. Miss Jacque and Mr Bob have provided us with a wonderful fenced backyard and easy access in and out. But there is nothing like the wonderful freedom of walking through the neighborhood.

It took Miss Jacque some time to find the right leash and collar for me. I am embarrassed to say that my body is of strange proportions and none of the halters she had would work for me. But she has finally found a leash/collar combination that works quite well. I am also pleased that Miss Mollee and I are able to walk together. Honestly, just watching Miss Mollee enjoy herself on these walks is entertainment unto itself. She sniffs at everything and boldly charges out in front to explore what is around the next corner.

The other evening she walked right by a cat and never noticed it. I didn't say anything to her because I was afraid it might scare her. When we passed back by there on the the way back, she finally saw it and stopped in her tracks. She got low to the ground and sniffed and sniffed and sniffed. It was quite funny. She asked me, "Ivan, is that doggie thingy what smells so weird?? What IS that??" I tried to tell her it was a cat. But evidently Miss Mollee has never seen a cat before so she was a bit confused.

So far Miss Jacque has not been able to coax Mr Rudy in joining us in our walking. He is not submissive to the leash and collar. He wants to go outside with us but doesn't want to wear the collar and leash. Thankfully Miss Jacque refuses to take him outside without them. But I feel bad for him and his fears because after we leave and close the door, I can hear him calling after us, "Take me toooooo!" But he won't get to go until he is willing to wear the collar and leash.

After our walks we have enjoyed coming home to get cookies and water. And then, best of all, we have been able to jump up in bed and take a long nap with Mr Bob. He is not always home so I appreciate every moment I get to sleep next to him. He creates such wonderful warmth with his big body. And he's nicely furry, too. Mollee and I enjoy napping with Mr. Bob.

I look forward to enjoying more of the Fall weather on our walks and can't wait to watch Miss Mollee discover all the great things in the neighborhood.

Have a good evening!

Ivy

Hey! Guess What???

... like Mommie has started the most fun game ... it is super duper cool ... and like, I am so happy about the new game ... 'cause, like, I get to go outside and stuff ... oh yeah, and like, Mommie puts the ropes on me and Ivan and takes us outside and stuff ... and like, then we get to walk all around and sniff everything and see everything ... it is so way cool ... and like, the other day when we were out sniffing ... like, I saw this furry doggie like thing but it wasn't a doggie but I haven't seen anything like it before ... but it was super cool ... and like it smelled weird ... oh yeah, and Ivan wasn't scared of it at all ... Ivan is so cool ... and oh yeah ... like the rat is afraid to go outside with us ... 'cause like, I think he's afraid he'll get eaten by the weird smelly thing ... and like, he's such a coward because, like, when Mommie gets the ropes out in the evening ... like, the rat goes and hides under the bed and stuff ... and like, he's so afraid ... I think it's funny but Ivan kinda thinks it is sad and she says, "Poor Mr. Rudy is afraid of the outside." ... but like, I know he's really just too stupid to know what to do with the ropes and all ... but whatever ... so, like, when we come back ... Ivan and I are so tired that we go sleepy right then ... 'cause like, there's always room in the bed with Big Daddy ... and like, he's always in the bed ... so that's cool .... oh yeah, and I think my paw hurts ... like, it feels all rubbery and stuff .... but that's ok ... I can't wait to go walking in the ropes again tomorrow!

I, Myself, Have Recovered

Et is with mucho pleasure dat I, myself, can inform you dat I, myself, have recovered from de bite of de firey ant. Finally myself's paw has reduced it's swollenness and gone back to regular size. I, myself, am continuing myself's schedule of rest and relaxations as et is not known if firey ant bites return if too much work is accomplished. So I, myself, will take no chances.

Meanwhile, Senora Mommie continues dragging de remainder of de pack along de roadside and through de village in de evenings. She has started applying de torture devices after supper and takes de Little Green Vine and my beloved puta from de casa for extended ambling in de village. I, myself, am not mucho happy to be strapped into de torture devices so, I, myself, am attempting to avoid dis misery. But I see Senora Mommie smiling at me and dangling de devices she wants to utilize on myself and I continue to elude her by sneaking to my secret lair under de sleeping platform. Here I, myself, will stay to evade capture and subsequent village dragging spectacle.

Adios

Poor Mr Rudy!

Good Evening Everyone,

I am so sorry to report that poor little Mr Rudy got bitten today by a fire ant. I understand this is the second time this has happened. Evidently the last time he got bitten on the lip and, according to Miss Jacque, he had a terrible week during which all parts of his little body were swelling up as the ant poison was working it's way out of his system. Thankfully, Miss Jacque took him to the VET last time and got medicine and instructions on how to take care of him. We are so fortunate that she is so knowledgeable about these kinds of things.

Actually it was Mr Bob who first discovered Mr Rudy was injured. As soon as Miss Jacque saw it she knew what to do. She gave Mr Rudy some medicine and spent some time loving on him. I thought it was so cute that she was trying to make sure Mr Rudy took his medicine by disguising it in a piece of cheese. And she was so thoughtful of our feelings because she gave Miss Mollee and me a piece of cheese as well (it didn't have medicine in it though).

All evening Miss Jacque and Mr Bob have watched Mr Rudy very carefully for any sign of distress or worsening. And later this evening they fixed a small foot bath for Mr Rudy so he could soak his paw in some Epsom Salts in hopes that it would help draw out the poison. I was proud of his sad little self as he sat on the table and allowed Mr Bob and Miss Jacque to minister to him. Please, everyone, let's all say a prayer that Mr Rudy recovers from this fire ant bite quickly and without too much pain.

Have a good evening,

Ivy

P.S. I am sorry to report that Betsy (my little purple and white cow toy given to me by Miss Jacque last weekend) has not survived. This past Friday while I was outside enjoying the sunshine, Miss Mollee "adopted" little Betsy. And one nibble led to another and the next thing I knew I saw Betsy laying on the living room floor beside a huge pile of stuffing. Alas, I have lost my toy. But I am sure Miss Jacque will get me a new one soon. Poor, poor, Betsy ...

Hey! Guess What??!!

... like while the rat and Ivan and me were out in the backyard ... ummm ... the rat ... he like was playing around the red dirty blob ... and like, he started yelping and stuff ... and like, I didn't know what he was doing but I ran over there ... and like, he was dancing around on three paws because he said like, "Help me! Help me! I, myself will surely die!" ... and like, I saw that he was shaking one of those mean bugs off his paw ... so, like, ummm ... I guess he got bit by it or something ... 'cause like, after some time passed his paw was growing bigger and bigger and bigger ... and, oh yeah, so like Big Daddy noticed something was wrong with the rat's paw ... I tried to lick it and make it better and stuff ... but he wouldn't let me ... and then like Big Daddy and Mommie were inspecting it ... oh yeah and guess what?! ... we all got to eat cheese and cookies ... and like they were so good ... but Big Daddy and Mommie kept loving on the rat because of his paw ... and like, then they stuck his paw in some smelly waters ... and then we got more cheese!! ... so like that was cool ... but now I'm afraid they're gonna stick my paw in the smelly water ... and like, I don't want any part of that! ... so like, I went to hide in the bed ... but I hope the rat's paw stops growing because if it keeps this up ... ummm ... I think maybe, like, it'll explode!

I, Myself, Am Injured

Oh, et was a sad day at de casa. I, myself, am in mucho pain from de injury I, myself, have sustained from de firey ant in de backyard. While I, myself, was on patrol and seeking to protect de casa from intruders, I, myself, stopped to sniff at a high mound of dirt. Little did I, myself, know but that dis high mound of dirt contained de mucho dangerous firey ants! Before I, myself, could escaped, one of de little firey ants had bitten my paw. De injury was de bite right between myself's toes, of all places! Damn those firey ants and their accuracy! Now I, myself, am watching my paw swell to larger sizes. Et is painful to me. Et is very painful. I, myself, know nothing to be done for et although Senora Mommie and Senior Roberto are attempting to help me to feels better. They have fed me mucho amounts of cheese this evening. Although et is tasty, I, myself, do not understand how et will help. But I, myself, will continue to eat et.

Adios