It sure is chilly!

There was frost on the ground yesterday morning - it's so hard to believe that it's already getting cold enough for frost and snow on the mountaintops. I can't wait for Charlie to see snow for the first time.

I've been doing quite a bit of online work for classes and Charlie absolutely hates it when I'm on my computer for too long. He starts pawing at my hands and the keyboard, or he'll literally stand over me with his belly in front of the computer screen just looking at me like, uhmm, so, can you get off now and play? He's getting so big and he's really in to wrestling or playing chase in the house. It's hilarious to see him run around chasing his kong when I throw it on a wooden floor - he slips and slides all over the place! It's really cute, and I probably shouldn't laugh.

Although the weather changes have also stressed him out a bit (or perhaps it's something else) he was quite needy the other day - he army crawled his way under the covers and all the way up so he his head was on my pillow with me. He's been quite glued to my legs, too. Last night he was particularly whiney and whimpery- it started to stress me out a little because I couldn't figure out why he was so upset. I took him outside two or three times in case he had to go, nothing happened. He just kept sitting up and staring around and whining! He finally curled up next to me and settled down, but I wasn't sure what was going on. He seems fine this morning, just a little sleepy. His eating habits and digestive track is all in working order, so I think he was just a little anxious last night. Changes in the weather, there was a skunk hanging around outside, my schedule changed a bit this week... it could have been any number of things! Who knows, but at least he's fine now, as you can see.

Having him around makes it so difficult for me to go to work sometimes, or to class... when we're not outside or at the dog park, we lounge around on my futon couch and cuddle. And when you wake up and it's chilly and you're warm and you have a furry friend stretched out next to you, man oh man it is the worst thing in the world to have to leave that!


Staring contest. I won, he totally winked.

Heat Waaaave

IT'S.SO.HOT.

I'm sure everyone knows this, is saying this, is thinking this. But seriously, it really is. These heat indexes are just unbearable, and there is no wind.

And I was just reading today that over in Burlington this heat and lack of wind is causing some algae to grow and blossom at an exponential rate - this is not only bad for people to swim in (remember two years ago when everyone broke out in nasty rashes from swimming in Lake Champlain?), but also fatally toxic to dogs. About ten years a little over ten dogs died from swimming in water where this algae blossomed.

But, we're keeping up our spirits over here in lil' ole Peacham. I was out with little Charlie today and mom and I noticed that some light and some life is starting to sparkle in his little eyes! It's so wonderful. He was outside just trotting so proudly around the lawn, rolling around on the grass, playing fetch, exploring the garden. We have a vent where warm air blows out from the dryer and walked up to it and just stood their cocking his head side to side trying to figure out what it was!

It's almost like he finally knows he's home. He used to have those sad, sad eyes, and now he seems so joyful and puppy like! It makes training awful hard, but it's all worthwhile and it's all so worth it. Just to see him go from a silent, tired, listliss dog to a happy, curious pup is amazing! I did some research as well to determine his breed(s) and I am almost positive he is part husky part lab (well, we knew he was part lab). So he's very independent like a husky (and has those lighter stripes around his neck and shoulders that a husky would, as well as thicker fur and the curled tail) and a lover like a lab (and he's slowly becoming more curious and friendly, too).

Even just now he was racing around the house with his little kong and then his rope. I went downstairs to feed to my rats (we have to keep them down there in this heat - it's just too hot upstairs for those poor sweethearts) and Charlie raced down there after me and proceeded to RUN all over the place, and jump on and off the couch. He did that dog "LET'S PLAY LET'S PLAY!" thing where they get down on their front legs and jump whenever you move. It's so adorable - he's turning into quite the jumper, too!!


It's too hot mooommm! I needed to cool off...

Cuteness