Catching Up With An Old(er) Friend

Jasper came over to visit the Ricardos last week.

It had been a while since the 3 of them had seen eachother, but like old friends, they didn't seem to skip a beat.  They picked up where they had left off last time!

 

Ricky is still just in love with Jasper.  Lucy is too, but Ricky is to the point of almost being obnoxious!  But Jasper is so sweet and patient with him.  Because, c'mon!  Everybody likes a little guy who looks up to him!

My Landscapist

The heat has been killing plants around here left and right.  With temperatures over 100 for well over a month, what would we expect, really?
Ricky volunteered to ride up to the Home Depot Nursery and help me pick out something with a little color that might be able to tolerate another couple of months of hell-like temperatures.

"I'll help you find something!"

The pickings were pretty slim.  Most plants and flowers looked a little sad and wilty.  But Ricky and I agreed that the Lantana looked pretty good.   We'll see how it does and keep you posted....

Ruff

Woof!

A few weeks ago, Lucy went a little nuts barking at a neighbor that came walking toward us.  The lady had very long gray hair and tons of tattoos.  As she approached, Lucy barked with a new voice I had never heard her use before.  It was a deep, growly, I'm-not-so-sure-about-you-Lady! bark.  I felt a little embarrassed and thought maybe Lucy just held a prejudice against old hippies.

But then, she used that same voice to bark at my 80-something-year-old, non-hippie-looking neighbor, Louise.  Louise replied back, "Oh, you just don't like me."  And I felt so bad.  I'm not sure why Lucy barked at Louise.

And then this morning, Lucy barked that way at another neighbor lady.  This lady wasn't 80 years old, or heavily tattooed. This neighbor, Lisa, is a rescue dog lady so she did all the right things... She didn't look at Lucy as she barked, but instead kind of ignored her.  She gradually sat down in the grass near Lucy.  And she gave her some kibble.  Within a few minutes, all the barking had stopped and Lucy was laying on her back getting a belly rub.

But not all people are going to be so patient with Lucy.  And I don't want her to be the kind of dog that barks at people!

I've done so much socializing with both her and Ricky.  For months, we went on daily field trips so that they could be around and experience all types of peoples, animals, noises, etc.  And they've done so well, that I have to admit, this past month I've slacked off.  It's just been so hot that other than our walks in the mornings and evenings, we stay inside at home.

I started thinking about it today though, and decided I need to resume those field trips.

So as soon as Lucy and I returned from our walk, we got in the car and headed to our dog-friendly bookstore, Half Priced Books.

I was a little worried that Lucy might act like a lunatic and bark at the customers if anyone approached her.  But fortunately, I was wrong!  She did a great job...

First, she remembered her door manners!

As we walked around the store, several people told her she was pretty and pet her on the head and she was calm and friendly.  I rewarded with with kibbles and her favorite thing of all, belly rubs!

Lucy even got to go to her favorite section of the bookstore...

I still don't know what these barking incidents she's had are all about...Why she carries on like that to certain people and not others.  But I know we can work it out.  I just have to keep getting her around lots of different people and places, I think.

Forevermore and More

Although I've also posted this song on my KerriArista.com site, I wanted to put it up here at PuppyTracks also.  Lucy had her song posted a couple of weeks ago here, to it only fair and balanced that Ricky have his day as well!

Probably my favorite thing about Ricky is the way he looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes of his.  And it's true what the first line of the song says, "Well the way you look at me is just the way I look at you"-  He looks at me like he just thinks I'm the greatest thing around.  And if I'm right about that, well, the feeling is very mutual!

Well the way you look at me is just the way I look at you
No one's ever seen thru me quite the way you do
You know my secrets and I'll keep yours
And I'll love you forever more and more

It was put into your path and you were put in mine
It wasn't a coincidence but it was just the perfect time
Now your in my story and I'm in yours
And I'll be yours forever more and more

Now you walk beside me down the road until our journey's end
They'll be twists and turns and bumps and swerves but both of us can bend
You know the path to my heart and I know yours
And I'll love you forever more and more

Swimming Lessons

I got to take care of my neighbor friend's pool and sweet doggy, Opie, last week.

Our friend, Opie!

The Ricardos helped me, and as their reward, they got to do a little swimming.  Or should I just say floating.  They're both a little timid about swimming just yet, so Fermin and I would hold them up and they would just float around.

I snapped these pictures during one of their many dips in the water.

 

We may have to get Ricky some swim goggles!

 

A Quiet Moment

peace

Okay, well there aren't a lot of quiet moments around here when the Ricardos are together, but occasionally, it happens.  And here is a photo to document that!  Of course, within minutes of  snapping this photo, the never ending wrestling match had resumed.

I walk and train Lucy and Ricky separately.  Same goes for field trips.  And lots of time just hanging in the house- one's crated and resting while the other is following me around being my little shadow.

But they also get time together each day.  But only about a total of an hour.  (I know that's hard to believe, but if you lived in the house with these two, it would make sense--- Trust me!)When they get out in the back yard, it becomes a race track.  And the bushes, an obstacle course.  They also do lots of wrestling.  Although they wear each other out pretty quickly, they haven't ever figured out (yet) how to rest when the other is near.

Some day, we'll all spend loads of time all together, but for now, there's lots of separation.  I can't wait until some day comes.  I walk them each a couple times a day for about 30 minutes a piece.  I'll have so much more time if and when we can ever do those walks all together!  And I did get them as a pair so they would have a buddy to spend their days with, after all!

But I know this first year or so, they have to learn good manners.  So although it feels like a bit of a pain the way I'm going about it, I know in the long run, it's going to pay off!

...and the quiet moment is just about over.

Lucy's Song!

I'm currently involved in a challenge of writing 50 songs in 90 days.  Of course there are lots of songs being written about how smitten I am with my pups.  This one is about Lucy-- Expect to hear another one soon about Ricky!

This one's called "I'm in Love With Lucy".

She wakes up with a smile on every day
She sees the fun in every little thing
The sun it shines a little brighter because I get to walk beside her now.

I'm in love with Lucy, and I know that she loves me
I'm in love with Lucy

Her happiness is rubbing off on me
Her love's contagious and bit me like a flea
All my days they just seem better ever since the day I met her- wow!

I'm in love with Lucy, and I know that she loves me
I'm in love with Lucy

I'm in love with Lucy, and I know that she loves me
I'm in love with Lucy