Doggie Tales

I've had a request - more stories and pictures of Maggie.  I am happy to be able to supply both!  

Maggie and the Boogey-dogs (aka coyotes).   

Last night, well this morning at 4:30am or so, the wild critters decided to come closer than we have heard them in the past.  At least it sounded that way to Maggie and to us.  The howling  was was loud and sounded as if the whole pack (there are 5) was parked in our new patio area. Maggie was on full alert - she woke Roger up (not me for a change) and paced and paced. Roger finally got up with her and sat with her in his lap for over half an hour while she shivered in her boots but had her ears up listening.  She finally calmed down and Rog got to come back to bed.  Maggie climbed in hers and buried her head under her afghan.  "If I can't see the boogey-dogs, they can't see me."   Hopefully it will be a quieter night tonight.

The Bridge Not Taken. 

  

It's a holiday weekend and the place is packed.  We would guess that week days the park is about 80% filled.  On a normal weekend, maybe 95%.  On long holiday weekends they do a whopping business at about 99 to 100% occupancy.  What it means to us is that the place is filled with kids on bikes, skates, roller blades, scooters, etc., running and screaming everywhere and wanting to pet the dog.  In addition the dog population increases exponentially making our usual route a bit stressful.   Our normal walk down to the office is through the campgrounds on the east side of three of the seven the lakes.  Roger likes to look at the RVs and we enjoy people watching as we make our way through the campgrounds.  On Saturdays we forego our long walk to avoid the increase in population and to take a break from our routine.  Yesterday and today we took an alternate route along the west side of the lake where there are no camp sites and we only meet walkers and some dogs.  We have to cross a metal bridge on this route and Maggie has decided she won't walk on it.  She sits down; I tug; she shrugs out of her harness; and she just refuses to move.   So, Roger has to carry her over the bridge.  It's crazy, but if we don't go that way we add quite a bit to the walk.  She is one willful, and spoiled, dog!

This alternate route along the back side of the lakes is along a dirt "road" with little vegetation and shade.  Today's view was of three different kinds of egrets all lined up along the lake looking for breakfast. There were about ten of them along the water's edge paying no heed to passers by - including Maggie. 

This route seems longer than our normal, although I can't see how it could be.  We all get more tired as we get closer to "home."  Maggie will find some cool grass and just plop her little self down with her back legs splayed like frogs' legs. When she is cooled off she hops up and moves on, but sometimes getting her up and moving again is a challenge. This morning I enjoyed the rest break, too! 

We have two propane tanks that supply our fuel for heat and cooking.  They are quite heavy when empty and very heavy when full.  Roger has to take them out of their compartments, lift the empty into the back of the truck, go get the tank filled, then reverse the process.  Lately he suffers with back strain afterward.  Cold nights determine how fast we go through a tank, but we probably fill one every 10 days or so.  We have discovered that a propane vendor fills tanks on site on Mondays - all you have to do is sign up at the office.  It's a few dollars more, but worth it!  Well, today we needed a refill so Roger left the door to the compartment open, taped payment inside, and we went off to the grocery store.  The guy came while we were gone, filled the tank, closed the door, and put our change in our door latch.  Now, what does this have to do with Maggie?  Well, recently I mentioned that she was getting very good about being left alone - no signs of separation anxiety?  Well, apparently she doesn't like someone messing around her house when no one is home.  We came home to find the dining room table (near the door where they guy put our change) was cleared off (placemats, salt/pepper/napkins/lamp).  Then we noticed that the hallway window, also overlooking the front door area, had the window blinds all crooked, but fortunately not broken.  Not sure what to do to prevent that kind of behavior as I am sure she was just protecting her house.  

The Maggster asking to play
her favorite game!

Had enough Maggie for the day?  I have, so will close for now and hope something happens in the next few days to write about!  Stay tuned.