Mabel + Boys = FUN!

I know I've mentioned before that the one thing Mabel most covets would be a boy of her very own. Preferrably in the 8 - 12 range. She has an unreal fascination with boys this age.

I blame this on my Godson. When Mabel was a pup, my Godson was about that age and he would stop by every day after school. He usually brought a few friends with him. I'm certain this was the seed of my girl's obsession.

It grew even more when my childhood best friend came to visit for a month with her husband and three kids. The two boys were 8 and 12. The younger one was Mabel's constant pal. And she made a big impression on him...he named his dog Mabel Lou (or Mabel Too or Mabel Lite as the grownups call her)!

It was a couple of boys that taught Mabel how to enjoy the ocean.

But I've mostly marveled at her boy behavior alone...I've never had a witness...until this week. Two boys were swimming in the creek and Mabel was instantly in love! And the BFF was there to catch it all on video.

I had oral surgery that day and wanted a short and easy walk. That was not to be! Mabel played and ran and nipped at her boys and so I did what I always do when I want her to come on. I left her. Now this will make her stop chasing a deer or a coyote but leave boys??? NO. FREAKING. WAY!

I walked all the way to the car with Bart and Barb before I realized I was going back in for Mabel! So much for easy! Only I got to the end of the levee where I left her and there were no boys and NO MABEL! I heard them down river and took off downstream.

I finally caught up to them about a quarter mile down where I found them and Mabel, their mom and TWO MORE BOYS! No wonder she wouldn't come!

I caught her and started to the car. We made it three steps before she froze and looked longingly at her boys. It was the LONGEST hike to the car EVER! Every three steps, Mabel stopped. She would hear them and stop. Finally I got her to take 10 steps before stopping. The whole way back, I know she was trying to figure out how to get back to them!

I plead my case to her:

• I bet they have a dog tied up in the yard.
• I bet they don't give their dogs marrow bones. 
• They don't come to the creek every day.
• They don't have a queen sized bed. 
• They don't know the recipe to Mabel Lou stew.
• They certainly don't drive a Jeep (perfect vehicle for Mabel's weird greyhound legs!).

No matter what I said...she just kept crying for them. It's hard to know the dog you love and adore would ditch you in a second for a 12 year old boy!

Here's the video the BFF made... I just adore how Mabel's tail will catch the water and create water lassos all around her (2:41).

The BFF likes to set her videos to music. The song "She" is one of my favorites. (Elvis Costello Knotting Hill Soundtrack)

Duckpdate

I thought I would update the duck story.

They stayed so long in the pool on Friday I was really afraid they had moved in. I took this pic from my office window Friday afternoon. See Mr. Duck marching around like he owns the joint??

 

I went outside later and they were gone. I checked again for eggs and found none.

After reading Snow's comments about duck poop and starting to find some really big piles... I decided to not be such a hospitable hostess. Yesterday morning when they landed in the pool, I went out and shooed them which did nothing. So I got the pool brush. Mrs. Duck flew into my neighbor's tree. Mr. Duck flew to my roof and marched around up there, fussing at me the whole time. Mrs. Duck got mad at him and flew over him circling and calling to him and he finally flew off with her. 

After telling my pool guy ('tilla's dad) about this, he reassured me I'm doing the right thing. He says that baby ducks cannot survive in a pool. The chemicals will kill them. He regularly fishes out entire families of duckings from his clients pools. 

Still, I'm betting this is going to be a daily process for a while.

Unexpected Tenants

OK, Times are hard. I confess I have considered taking on boarders. But imagine my surprise at finding out someone had moved in already!

I was downright shocked to find this guy swimming in the pool  this morning!

I confess I've let my pool go over the winter. It cut my electric bill in half and it was too cold to allow algae to grow. But as our spring winds have started up...blowing ash off the mountain, I realized I had holes in my filters. The pool has been off for a week waiting for the new filters to arrive....hence the "swamp look."

I took a few pictures getting closer and closer and finally, I couldn't keep Miss Mabel out of her yard any longer. She was quite anxious to see what had me so excited.

As Mabel and I both got closer, I was certain Mr. Duck would leave. As I navigated the edge of the pool, I heard flapping and started fussing at myself for missing his departure. I was even more shocked to find Mrs. Duck flying out of the brush near the pool to protect her mate from Mabel!

She landed with quite a splash and swam straight to Mister! Both kept a wary eye on Mabel. (They don't know how much she hates the deep pool!)

We checked the brush for eggs...none. Then we left them to enjoy their swim. They are still there now!

Red Tennis Balls!

Mabel Lou here. Back  when Mom was working the crazy hours on the sporting good m'cercial, I told you she promised she'd be coming home for good with tennis balls... My most favorite thing in the world is tennis balls! Well, she came home with a purse full!!! I got to dig through her purse and pick my favorite and I picked red!

These were taken her first night home!

Bart's New Do

My bestie's best boy, Barticus Farticus, gets dog allergies something awful in the spring.

Bart attacking the evil itch monster!

So his mom took him to get a new do. But his back was so sensitive, he ended up with a slightly crooked mohawk - which makes him think he's one cool dude.

 

I like it because he no longer blends in with all the shrub in the creek! 

He feels much better but - the evil itch monster still lurks: