Mommy's Day Off

July 31 did not start out very happy, but I am glad to report that it had a happy ending. The day started like all the other days. We got up at 5 a.m. and had breakfast and then Mommy got ready to walk us. I have two sisters. LuLu is a Rottweiler/Border Collie mix and Isabel Victoria (we call her Izzy most of the time) is a Jack Russell Terrier. Mommy always takes LuLu first, then me, and then Izzy.

 It was my turn and I was excited because I love going for walks with Mommy, especially when I have her all to myself. So out the door we went. I had a bounce to my step and my tail was wagging very fast. I was sniffing around while I was walking and all of a sudden I heard my mommy's voice. It was not a happy sound. In fact, she was growling. I couldn't believe it. What was wrong on such a beautiful day? "Come on, Ethel Frances! Hurry up, Ethel Frances! What's your problem, Ethel Frances?"

What is my problem? What was Mommy's problem? Unfortunately, I can't talk so I couldn't try to talk to Mommy and ask her these questions. Mommy acted grumpy the whole time. While we were walking, I was wondering if Mommy knew that she ruined my time with her.  The grumpier Mommy sounded, the more upset I got. I started thinking that Mommy was going to ruin my whole day!  Then I got kind of worried because Mommy loves going on walks with me. Maybe Mommy was grumpy because she was sick.

I started to tell LuLu and Izzy about the walk, but before I could, I heard Mommy's voice again. Sometimes Mommy talks to herself because it makes her feel better to say her problems out loud. I heard her say, "What a rotten way to start a day off. I don't have to go to work today, but I have to leave early in the morning anyway to take my car to get an oil change. Grrrrrrrrrr."

When I realized why Mommy was grumpy, I wanted to help her feel better. "Hmmm. What could I do?" I knew exactly what to do. I ran over to Mommy and did a little dance in front of her and wagged my tail as hard as I could." I knew Mommy would understand me even though I don't have words and I was right!

Mommy leaned down and hugged all 90 pounds of me. She hugged me and kissed and scratched my back. She said, "Thank you, Ethel Frances! You always make me feel good. I was grumpy because I have to take the car in early on my day off. I am not grumpy anymore because you showed me that I should be happy.  Now I realize how lucky I am to have a job and to have a day off. I will be home much earlier today than when I work. I will have the whole afternoon to be with you and LuLu and Izzy."

And that's exactly what happened. It is almost time for dinner now. Mommy got home a long time ago and she took us for walks and played with us.  We even took naps together! So my day today was a good one. I hope yours was, too.

Ditched Again?

Last Sunday, Mommy took me to visit my friends at the Home.  When we got to the door, I started sniffing around and wagging my tail as fast as it would go.  Mommy looked at me and smiled. "Ethel Frances, is Valentina here already?" she asked.  I can't talk so I couldn't say yes.

Instead, I started walking as fast as I could, remembering that I am not allowed to pull Mommy. We got in the elevator and my tail was wagging like crazy.  Mommy started laughing.  "Ethel Frances, I can tell from your tail that Valentina is here.  Isn't it great that you can tell me things even though you can't talk!"

We got off the elevator and went right to Sophie's (Anita's mommy) door.  Mommy knocked gently and I heard Anita (Valentina's mommy) say, "Come in."  Mommy opened the door and I pushed past her.  "Valentina, I'm here and I am so happy to see you."

"Ethel Frances!  I am happy, too.  I have been looking for you since we got here."  I can't talk to Mommy, but I can talk to Valentina.  We both speak Dog Language and we totally understand each other.  We started chasing each other, running circles around Sophie.  I like to bark when I play, but I try to remember that sometimes when I bark Valentina gets scared.  Anita said that since Valentina is a guide dog, she was taught not to bark. Isn't that interesting.

Valentina and I played while Anita, Sophie, and Mommy talked.  After a while, Valentina's' Daddy, Frank, showed up.  When it was time for Sophie to go eat lunch, it was time for the rest of us to go home.  Frank, Anita, Mommy, Valentina, and I all rode in the elevator together.  When we got outside, Frank said to Mommy, "I am going to take Valentina to go Potty.  I can take Ethel Frances, too."  Mommy said thank you to Frank because she has good manners and I trotted off with them.

At first I was happy to be going for a walk with Valentina and Frank.  Then I remembered something.  Last time Mommy gave my leash to someone, she left me with that person for a long time --four days!  I got scared and started to whine.  I love Valentina.  She is my best friend.  But I love my mommy more.  Was she ditching me again?  I took two steps back to give me room to pull and I pulled Frank has hard as I could.

I know I am not supposed to do that, but I just had to know if Mommy was ditching me or if she was waiting to take me home.  All of a sudden I heard Mommy call out, "Frank!  Just drop the leash before she hurts you."  Just when Frank dropped my leash, Mommy knelt down on the sidewalk.  I ran as fast as I could, right into her arms.  She threw her arms around me and gave me a tight hug and lots of kisses.  I kissed her whole face.

"Ethel Frances, I am sorry you were scared.  I bet you thought I was going to leave you again. Right?  I am sorry you were upset.  I love you so much and I just want you to be happy."

I wagged my tail and kissed Mommy's face again so she would know that I am happy and I love her, too!

They All Came Just to See Me!

Mommy and I left through the front door tonight for our evening walk.  I stopped at my collection of sticks and chose a medium sized one.  We started walking and I heard loud rock music.  I love music and I started wagging my tail to the beat.  Mommy looked at me with a look of amazement on her face.

"Ethel Frances," she said, "I had no idea that you know how to keep time to music.  Look at your tail!  I bet there is not another dog who can do that!  There is a live band playing at the shopping center right now.  Let's go over and hear it."

We went across the street and I saw the band.  There were lots of people sitting at tables and there were lots of little kids playing in water.  Everyone looked so happy.  While Mommy and I were walking around, people kept looking at me and smiling.  We saw my friend Winnie at a table with her mommy, Sara, and Sara's mommy.  Winnie and I were very happy to see each other.

Mommy sat down at the table.  Winnie is lucky because she is small enough to sit on Sara's lap and that's what she was doing.  I am way to big to sit on anyone's lap, so I stretched out on the floor.  The band was taking a break so I started paying attention to all of the people.

Everyone who walked by, stopped when they saw me.  They all said to Mommy, "Can I pet your dog?" Mommy always said yes and always told people that I am a very nice dog.  I felt happy for the attention and proud for what Mommy said about me.

When the band started playing again, I started wagging my tail to the beat of the music .  Mommy got excited and told Sara.   Since the music was loud, Mommy had to talk even louder, but while she was telling Sara about my tail, the music stopped.  All of the people near us heard Mommy.  Many of them came to see me.  The grownups wanted to watch my tail, but the kids just want to pet me.  They hugged me, too.  I loved all of the attention and love I was getting.

One little girl who was almost 2 years old, kept patting me and laying her head on my side.  She was so sweet and gentle.  When her parents said it was time to go, she looked right in my eyes and said, "Thank you, doggie!"  Isn't that so sweet!

Mommy wanted to show all the people how I can keep time to music with my tail, but the band didn't play again.  I know people went to the shopping center to hear the music, but I think they stayed there just to see me!  If they hadn't, wouldn't they have all gone home when the music stopped?

I love people, I love music, I love my family, and I love my life!

A Pole is a Great Big Stick

The other when Mommy and I were going for a walk, we left through the front door where I keep all of my sticks.  I chose one that was short and fat.  While we were walking, I started chewing on it. Mommy doesn't like when I do that.  She says eating sticks isn't good for me.

I didn't listen to Mommy.  The stick was soft and broke in half when I bit down on it.  I drew my eyebrows together and turned my head to the side.  Mommy knows that is what I do when I don't understand something.  She looked down at me and smiled.  "Ethel Frances, are you trying to understand what happened to your stick?"  I wagged my tail so Mommy would know she was right.

"We have been getting a lot of rain lately.  Your stick got very wet and soft.  That is why it broke and fell apart when you chewed it -- which you aren't supposed to do.  Let's see if we can find a better stick on our walk.  OK, honey?"

I wagged my tail again and we started walking.  We hadn't gone very far and I spotted a stick.  It was one of the biggest sticks I had ever seen.  I pulled gently on my leash so Mommy would come with me. That stick was so big and heavy that I could barely pick it up.  I struggled with it and finally lifted it up and started walking again.

Mommy was laughing.  "Ethel Frances, the only stick I ever saw that big was actually a tree! That stick is huge.  It is very smooth, too.  I think that it isn't really a stick.  It's a pole!"  I drew my eyebrows together again and looked up at Mommy.

"Is pole a new word for you?" she asked.  I wagged my tail.  "A pole is a great big stick."

What a wonderful day that was!  I walked with my mommy, found a big stick, and learned a new word.  I am one very happy dog!

Copyright © Marcia Miller and Ethel Frances Miller, 2012 - 2013, All Rights Reserved. 

Did Mommy Make Me Sick?

On the 4th of July, Mommy said, "Guess what, girls?  Today is the 4th of July.  I don't have to work today or tomorrow.  I am going to Pittsburgh and you will be staying with John and Heather.  Won't that be fun?"

I understood what Mommy said about not going to work because she doesn't work on Saturday and Sunday.  I didn't understand "Pittsburgh," though.  Mommy was busy putting clothes and other things in a black bag.  Then she did something very strange.  She got Izzy and her crate and left.  She came right back in empty handed.  Then she called LuLu and me.  She got our leashes and out the door we went. Instead of going for a walk, Mommy put us in the car.  Izzy was already in the back seat in her crate; LuLu was next to Izzy; and, I got in the front next to Mommy.

Mommy talked to us in the car.  She said, "Girls, I am going to Pittsburgh to visit my brother.  I am happy about spending time with my brother and his family, but I am sad about leaving you at the farm with John and Heather."

Wait a minute!  We're not going to Pittsburgh?  We have to stay at the farm without Mommy!  Why? Mommy answered as if I had asked the question aloud.  "My brother moved from a big house to a small apartment.  There is no room for you girls.  I feel bad about leaving you, but I think you will have fun without me."  Just then, we pulled into the driveway at the farm.  Heather came out and took us into the house, right after Mommy kissed  us good bye.  That was last Thursday.  We didn't see Mommy again until Sunday, when she finally picked us up and took us home.

And then I got sick.  My tummy hurt.  I won't tell you any of the details, but it was gross.  Mommy had to stay home from work one day because I was too sick to stay home alone.  She took me to Dr. Martof at the Flower Valley Veterinary Clinic and gave the doctor details of my sickness.

Was I ever surprised to hear what Dr. Martof said!  Mommy should have taken our food to John and Heather.  Giving us strange food could have upset my tummy.  The doctor went on to say that my tummy could also be upset just from being stressed out about Mommy leaving me.  Wow!  Mommy sure looked sad.  She got my medicine and we left.

As soon as we were in the parking lot, Mommy knelt down next to me and gave me a tight hug.  "Oh, Ethel Frances!  I am so sorry.  I guess I made you sick.  I can't say I won't leave you with John and Heather again because I am sure I will.  But I promise that I will take your food there.  Maybe if you have your own food, you will be OK.  I love you so much and I don't want you to get sick again."

I kissed Mommy from the bottom of her chin to the top of her head.  Even though I can't talk, Mommy understood that my kiss meant I forgave her and that I love her, too.

Ice Cream Photos for My Book--Not

Mommy has a lot of rules.  One of them is that my sisters and I are not allowed to take food from Mommy's dishes.  Last night I really thought Mommy lost her mind.  She gave my sisters and me dinner and then took me for a long walk.

When we got home, Mommy went to the freezer and took out some ice cream.  She loves ice cream and LuLu, Izzy, and I do, too.  Mommy always gives us some while she puts some in her cup.  Then she says, "OK, girls, I will give you one more and that's all."  She gives us one more taste and then puts the container away, sits down and eats her ice cream.

Last night Mommy took the ice cream out, gave some to my sisters and me, and put some in a cup.  She put the container away, but she didn't sit down.  She put Izzy in her crate, put the cup on a table, and picked up her camera.  Mommy said, "OK, Ethel Frances, go eat some ice cream."

What was Mommy saying?  Did I hear her correctly?  I looked at her, cocked my head to the side, and drew my eyebrows together.  Mommy looked at me and laughed.  "Oh, Ethel Frances.  I can see from your expression that you don't understand why I told you to eat from my cup.   You are such a good girl!  I need you to eat from my cup so I can take a picture for your book.  So it's OK, but just this time. OK?"

Was Mommy serious or was she testing me to see if I would obey the "don't take food from my dishes" rule?  I thought for a minute.  There is a story in my book about how I stole ice cream.   Hmmmm.  A test or a picture?   I stopped thinking and ran to the table.  I love ice cream and I didn't care if it was a test.

I ate it all so fast that Mommy hardly had time to pick up her camera.  By the time she was ready to snap the picture, the ice cream was gone and so was I.  If it was a test, I failed and I didn't want to wait around just to get in trouble.  If it wasn't a test, Mommy didn't have a chance to take a picture, and I didn't want to get in trouble for that either.  So I ran upstairs and licked the last few drops of ice cream off of my lips.

Hopefully, Mommy wasn't just testing me because that means she will have to try again to take a picture of me eating ice cream!  If I eat it too fast every time, Mommy will keep trying and I will have lots of opportunities to eat lots of ice cream.

Sometimes I am so smart that I amaze myself.

We Got Loose

Mommy took Izzy out to go potty and Izzy actually pooped outside for once.  Mommy brought her in, put her in the crate, and went back outside to pick up the poop.  LuLu was standing near the door.  I heard her whisper, "Ethel Frances!  Come here quick!  Look at the door."  I ran over to LuLu and she was standing by the door that Mommy hadn't closed all the way.

"LuLu, you know how to open doors.  Do it!  Let's go."  LuLu stood watching Mommy for a minute.  She said,  "OK, look.  Mommy has her back to the sidewalk.  Let's go now."  LuLu slipped her paw in the opening, pushed the door wide open, and out we went.

We ran up a hill to the sidewalk and saw a neighborhood Dachshund.  LuLu had never seen him because she doesn't like being outside, but I have seen him lots of times.  He is kind of nasty.  He barks his head off whenever he sees me.  I try to talk to him, but he isn't interested in being friends.  When he saw us, he started barking and screaming.  At first we just stood there looking at him, but we got tired of his barking at us.  We barked back.  We are much bigger than he is and so are our barks.  He got scared and his daddy picked him up and held him up in the air.

Suddenly, we heard Mommy calling us.  "Ethel Frances!  LuLu!  Where are you?  How did you get out?  Get back here right now.  Come!"  Then we saw her running towards us.  I looked at LuLu and said, "We better go home before we really get in trouble."  LuLu and I ran home.  Mommy was standing by the open door.  "Get in here right now."  LuLu ran right in the house.

 I looked at LuLu and Mommy and I ran away from them.  While I was running around, I was telling myself that it was OK to run away if I just stay close to the house.  I like to run and I know that it is dangerous to go in the street, so I don't.  I also know that it isn't safe to go with strangers, so I don't do that either.  While I was thinking, I realized that Mommy's voice was getting closer.  I could hear anger in it.  "Ethel Frances!  You get over here right now."  I put my head down and walked over to Mommy. Then with my head down, I looked up at Mommy.  She knows that is my "I'm sorry" look, but she wasn't ready to hear my apology.  She grabbed my collar and dragged me home.

After we were in the house, Mommy went back out and closed the door.  We could hear her say, "Is your dog OK?"  The man with the Dachshund answered, "Yes.  He is fine.  Your dogs didn't come anywhere near him."  Mommy said, "I am really sorry.  I didn't even know my dogs had gotten loose."

She came back in and looked at LuLu and me.  "How did you girls get out without my knowing?  You are pretty smart, aren't you.  You know you're not supposed to do that, right?  And you scared that poor, little Dachshund?"  Then Mommy looked at me and smiled.  "He's the one that is nasty to you Ethel Frances.  I guess he kind of deserved it."  I smiled back at Mommy and then she said, "But don't do it again.  OK? You could get hurt and that would make me sad because I love you so much."

LuLu and I were very happy that we can't talk.  We couldn't answer any of Mommy's questions.  We just stood there with our "I'm sorry" expression and waited to be forgiven.  And we were.  As  soon as Mommy finished talking she gave us hugs and kisses.