A 5-dog day

We have grandpuppies. They awakened us only twice during the night---once when one landed smack dab in the middle of the bed right after I'd just fallen asleep. Later, somebody barked at some things that must have been going bump in the night, but that didn't keep me from my Z's for long.

They're now downstairs in their "crib" waiting for someone to walk by and let them out. Neither Bill nor I are gonna do that cuz these grandpuppies know how to run really fast, and they don't know the area that well. So, we'll wait for Mom and Dad to get up to direct Todd and Brooke's morning relief session.

They're looking good. It's hard to tell that Brooke was such a sick puppy at Christmas time with the worst case of strangles the vet has ever seen. She looks great now, and we're so thankful that she has come back to her normal self.

It was a beautiful sight late yesterday afternoon watching the clump of four black-and-whites race through the snow-covered hay field, stopping from time to time to roll in the snow. While Border Collies frolicked nonstop, our mature Annie Dog stood as referee to the fast action. She seemed quite pleased that company had come.

Kea, however, was jealous. I kept telling her that those were her brother and sister, but she paid no heed. They were grabbing attention that normally belongs to her, and that was not a good thing in Kea's mind.

Meanwhile, Kiwi herded Brooke, keeping her away from whatever. Brooke seemed pretty submissive for a while, but then turned the tables on Kiwi, who didn't mind. In fact, she smiled a lot.

We came to the house, had dinner and handed out grandparently treats to grandpuppies from the table. We spoiled the dogs, letting them jump on the couches and lick our ears. We also let them lick the dessert plates once we finished our delicious Mennonite cherry pie and ice cream.

We did all the stuff that good grandparents are supposed to do and all the stuff that makes parents want to scream because they know they're gonna have to break a lot of new bad habits once the little darlings get home.

We know our station in this life that has literally gone to the dogs, and we're enjoying it.

We've got a full day of playing grandparents ahead, so I'm writing early this morning. I also have to be at the computer and the phone at 8:30 for an interview. Then, at 9 Harvey Lippert is coming to deliver some hay. And, then we may take them to the Nature Conservancy for a big run along the dikes in the Kootenai Valley northwest of Bonners Ferry.

Come to think of it, Harvey has a Border Collie. I wonder if he'll bring her with him. It could be a fun dog-filled day ahead. Lots of black and white and running all over.

Maybe I'll post some photos later. Happy Friday from Grandma Marianne