Making Dreams Come True!

I did it!

I finally got the pinecone off the tree!

In our background, there is a nice everygreen tree that grows tiny pinecones in the summertime. It's a young tree, so it is not very big. It's just my size!

I like to go to the tree and play Tug with the branches! I do this every day, unless it is raining and then I can't even play outside at all!

I really like the smell of the pinecones, and I so wanted to eat one just to see if they taste as good as they smell. Did you know that pinecones are really stuck to branches? They are very hard to get off and eat! I tried getting a pinecone every day with no luck.

But one day, I decided it was the day to yank a pinecone off the branch. I went over to the tree and told it that I really wanted to get a pinecone and eat it. So I started pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling. One time I pulled so hard I fell onto my back! But mom kept cheering me on and then I knew I couldn't ever stop.

I wanted that pinecone. I set my sights on the moment I would I taste it in my mouth. So I kept pulling. And pulling. And pulling. And then....guess what? The pinecone popped off the tree and landed right in the middle of my mouth! I was jubilant at my success! I did it! I finally got that pinecone off and right in my mouth! I dreamed of this day and it was exciting in real life as it was in my dreams! Hooray for pinecones! Hooray for branches! Hooray for trees!

And the pinecone tasted even better than it smelled!

Thought for you humans:
What fills you with so much passion that you cannot give up until you have accomplished something? Who cheers you on?

Trick or Treat Day

It's Trick or Treat Day at my house!

I was all excited for the day because anytime my mom says, "Treat!?!," I get so excited I can't even sit down! Mom said all kinds of trick or treaters would come to my house! I even put on my new Green Bay Packers shirt to get all dressed up because all the trick or treaters get dressed up. Mom said I looked so very handsome in my Packers shirt.

And then, the doorbell started ringing. Trick or treaters came to my door and loudly proclaimed, "Trick or Treat!" I was ready to show them a trick, like "shake" or even "go get it" so I could get a treat.

Imagine my shock when mom gave the trick or treaters pencils and pencil sharpeners as treats. (What would they do with pencils and pencil sharpeners? Treats are supposed to be food things!) All these trick or treaters came to my house to get treats for themselves, not to give me treats! Kids came to my door all afternoon and they had heaps and heaps and heaps of treats in their buckets and bags--all for them! No one gave me one treat. I was so sad.

I thought trick or treat was for me to show off all the things I can do and then get a treat!

I think Trick or Treat Day is a rip-off.

Maybe they should have a Trick or Treat Day just for dogs.

Thought for you Humans:
What  has caught you by surprise lately?

Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

One of my favorite things to do in mom's garden is to leap as high as I can into a bed of big impatiens flowers. Those flowers are very pretty--they are purple, red, pink, and white. I love to jump into them because they smell good and feel soft when I land on them.

The other day I pounced right into the flowers and then I pounced right back out! I couldn't enjoy the good smells or the softness of the flowers because something either bit me or stung me really bad! It hurt so much that I cried and howled and tried to run away from the pain but the pain kept following me and it wouldn't stop.

Mom picked me up and tried to make me feel better, but nothing took the pain away. Mom decided I needed an emergency visit to the Dog Doctor. I cried and howled the whole time mom drove me there; she made the sound of the ambulance. But when I got to the Dog Doctor, I stopped crying and howling and started wagging my tail. I couldn't let all those nice people at the Dog Doctor hear me in so much pain!

But they knew just what to do and, after some medicine and ice on my sting/bite, I got to go home.

I'm feeling better now.

Thought for You Humans:
Once in awhile, on our own life journeys, there are bites and stings along the way. But it's up to us to figure out how handle those bites and stings. Do you give up and never enjoy life again? Do you let other people or pets take care of you when you are in pain? Do you even let others know you are in pain? How do you go about living once you feel better?

Taking the High Road

I took the high road today.

Mom and I went for a wonderful walk to Hobb's Woods. It was a particularly a good-smelling walk because of all the rain from last night. The birds were all singing, and the chipmunks were, well, chipping away.

At the woods, there is a point where I must decide which path to take. The low path takes us really close to the creek. And the creek was higher today than usual which means the frogs would be out in full force and we all know how much I love to chase frogs.

The high path takes us through the woods and up and down hills. We get an extra workout because of all the hills. Plus, the birds were so happily singing and the ground just smelled so good.

In making such a decision, it means that I get to enjoy a lot of good things and it also means that I will have to give up some things.

So I chose the high path. I knew I would give up splashing in the creek, chasing frogs, and getting my paws all grubby. But the high path offered me its own treasures--running up and down hills, finding sticks to nibble upon, birds to chase. What a great day for such an adventure!

I chose the high road and I found my happiness!

Thought for you humans:
When have you had to make a decision whether to take the high road or the low road? When have you chosen to take the high road by being true to yourself and to your moral system? When have you taken the low road and forgot who you really are in favor of the status quo or making yourself look good? Is it easier to take the high road or the low road?

An Open Letter to all Birds

Dear Birds,

Hello! My name is Thunder, and I am a puppy. Because I am a puppy, I like to sniff things, run fast, and chew on everything. But most of all, I like to chase. I chase trucks, cars, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, children, mom, squirrels, bunnies, and frogs.

I also like to chase birds.

I chase you birds because that is what I am supposed to do as a puppy. I don't want to catch you or even eat you. I just want a good game of chase. When I chase, the wind whistles through my ears and my nose. You have no idea what kinds of smells I encounter when I chase. Ah, a puppy's delight!

I want to smell the way you birds smell when your fly. I want to hear your wings flapping in the air. You are so lucky you have wings and can fly. I try flapping my four legs when I jump off the chair in my attempt to fly, but so far, I just flop to the ground. I can't fly, but I sure can chase.

So, please, birds, don't be scared when I try to chase you. Don't sit on rooftops squawking at me or talking about me behind my back. Please don't spread unkind rumors to the other birds that I am out to chase them and eat them.

I mean no harm. I just love to chase. And you love to fly. I think we can make great partners.

Love,
Thunder, the Dog.

Thought for you humans:
When have you felt unfairly judged? When do you unfairly judge others? When have you felt your motives were misunderstood?

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Hobb's Woods is my most absolute favorite place in the world. (Actually, my food dish is my most favorite place.) Hobb's Woods is filled with all kinds of smelly things, like flowers and dead animals. I can run around there without a leash, as long as I stay on the trails. There is a wonderful creek there, too. I love to splash around in the creek and get my paws cooled off and slather my whole body full of mud. The best part is when I chase frogs from the rocks into the creek.

That's how I slid in between two rocks and got stuck and mom had to pull me out. I saw a darling little frog nestled on the rock and I just had to chase it, but the frog hopped away so fast! I ran faster on the rocks to get the frog, but my paws slid on the rocks and I fell in between two of them. My two front paws were up on a rock and my two back paws were hanging in the water. I started to shake because I got a little scared of what happened. But then mom came and dragged me out.

You could say that I was stuck between a rock and a hard place at Hobb's Woods!

Thought for you humans:
When was the last time you were stuck between a rock and a hard place? What decision did you need to make but had a hard time figuring out what to do? How did you make your decision? Were you happy with it, or did you change your mind? Did you have someone help make your decision?

Finding My Bark-Voice

Mom says I found my bark-voice! I always knew my bark-voice was somewhere within me, and now I feel confident enough to let it out!

My bark-voice comes out in three ways:

Woof!
This means that something has caught my attention, like a sudden noise or something that is unfamiliar to me. I will Woof! when I see a dog across the street when I am taking a walk with mom or when I see an ant on the ground.  I will also Woof! when I am playing with any of my dog-friends as a way to get their attention!

Bark!
This means, "Mom! Come quick!" or "Mom! I'm still waiting for my treat!" or "Mom! Give me a boost onto the couch!" or "Mom! I can't get the ball out from under the table!" or "Mom! Open the car door so I can jump in!" or "Mom! Let me onto your bed!" or "Mom! I've got to go outside! Hurry!"

BarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBark
This is my urgent, warning voice. I will use this bark-voice when the garbage truck wakes me up or when Ellie, my neighbor dog-friend, is outside or when a motorcycle drives by the house or when bicyclists pedal by or when the sump pump goes off and water comes out of the hose when I have my nose stuck inside it or when our neighbors are mowing their lawns. Mom says I have to be careful using this bark-voice because I tend to overuse it and it's hard for me to settle down once I get going.

I'm glad I found my bark-voice and can let it out.There are just some things about which I must speak up and be heard!

Thought for you humans:
Have you found your voice yet? What is your voice? About what are you so passionate that you must speak up and not remain silent? How do you get others to listen to you?