A Good But Busy Week

 

You can't tell by Walter's photo but the temps have droppd a little the past week but it's pretty hot and a little muggy by late afternoon when the sun is out of view and we all head out to the patio. This past week was really busy with some things going on in the background. It was still a good week. Positive COVID cases in this town have dropped to 39 as of yesterday after a high of 81 just a month or so ago. I keep forgetting my mask when I go out but do have one in each vehicle.

The new Blogger has decided to act weird today by the way it loaded the images, where everything is left align. Then it will not move the image to center when I click on the icon after highlighting the image. Makes it harder, longer and more frustrating to blog. Heidi is looking better than ever. A very soft healthy coat and a little more energy since her surgery a month ago. She has gone on our daily walks but even though we take them early in the morning we have had to shorten them due to the heat. The tongues of Heidi and Stella determine how far the walk is ... plus their pace.

Stella has decided this summer it's better to sleep inside with the AC on than outside after digging the stones away to get down to the cooler Arizona dirt. Sleeping is her majory activity anymore when she is able to. Walter keeps her pretty busy playing of most of the time defending herself from his tactics.  He keeps her with the workout program.

Still beautiful to wake up to. We are up at the crack of dawn and by the time the hounds are finished eating, their food bowls cleaned and my coffee is made ... the skies have lit up for another day. 

By late afternoon it is getting ready for a short rain somewhere. Maybe here maybe not but it looks like Bisbee was getting this afternoon showers a few days ago. The monsoons are getting rid of the deficit we had in total rain this year. 

By about 5pm or so the hounds are out for the night while I watch the Red's baseball games on tv. By the sounds of Walter's snoring and how deep Heidi and Stella sleep you would think they have been running around all day. Nothing out of the ordinary routine for them. Heidi sleeps back on her bed in the dark bedroom but will come out for water and trips outside on her own. These two sleep right there until the middle of the night where they venture into the bedroom while I am sleeping.

The cool tile is always a relief for them after a session of wrestling some running and a lot of chewing on each other. 

Friday I introduced my '64 VW Panel van to The Diner. I had my usual order but the cup of hot chili seemed hotter than ever. I did notice a few more cut up jalipanoes in there. I fought off the urge for a siesta late afternoon but it was tough and just one job of a retiree. They continue to sit people every other booth or table but the place is nowhere near as full as it use to be any time of day or night. It use to be packed anytime I went there to eat, not anymore.

The other morning I saw this as she mentioned something about breakfast or maybe they saw her making breakfast. That are all eating the mush of kibble and water similar to a smoothie. She said last night that all ten puppies are going out the doggie door on their own and very few mistakes in their sleeping area. In this case he will follow the other hounds and I down the hallway, around the corner and outside when they wake up or with me when he wakes me up in the middle of the night to go out. Walter did not do that and has slept through the night since the first day I brought him home. My pup is in the center of the photo with his nose pointing toward the food.

That is a huge litter is bigger than normal. I've never heard of a basset hound litter having 10 puppies. My pup is in the "10 o'clock" position on the circle of pups. There are a lot of pretty puppies there. A lot of the black color will change to brown like Heidi and the mahoganies will lighten up in color.

Last night I heard my email notification and saw that I had recieved the weekly update of all 10 pups. She takes three photos each. Who would ever think this pup is at the front of everything and in a video just last week was seen trying to chew the leg off of his sister. He was shaking his head trying to tear off the leg. He might give Walter a run for his money when they start playing, yet Walter is much bigger being 5 months older by the time this one walks in the house.

I have explained in recent post why I am buying him now and not later. This will be my 3rd time in 33 years that I have had a combination of 4 hounds. I'm counting Walter as a hound although he isn't by breed but his nose is just as active smashed up against his face. Four is a bit much but I am planning for the future so to speak.

As you'll see nothing was much different Sunday, morning nor afternoon while I was on the computer.

That sure does look like a tongue sticking out over there. Or maybe it's in the normal position but his nose/mouth is too short.  :)

Probably his favorite of his sleeping positions.

A rope bone always makes a good pillow.

He likes cottage cheese but it's not too much fun when  you have to chase the bowl to do it.

She had what was left of the cottage cheese first, then the bowl was given to Walter. Heidi ??? Sleeping in back.

Another successful week here in the "Wild West".

New Competition For Walter

With Sunday having a lot of what's in the photo, our activities didn't change much. A lot of food, siesta's, some baseball on tv, more food with the night ending with a tv show. Today was entirely different and back to normal. Lots of sunshine, and it was perfect to take Heidi and Stella out for a walk, returning  by 7:30am. While on our walk I could see that many of the business are not open. Traffic is almost non-existent where normally at that time of day we would have people pulling in to their place of work while we walked by their buildings. Heidi had a little hop in her step today and she loves giving her nose a workout as I let her set the pace for all of us as she sniffs every square inch ... I keep my eyes out for snakes or spiders along the way.

I've known for the past few weeks I was going to have to retire what was left of the cow hooves I bought back in April when I picked up Walter. They were way too small for Stella although she liked chewing on them. Too much of a chance for that to slide off her teeth down to her stomach. For Walter it was getting close because he could fit the hoof into his mouth and I couldn't see it. So this morning it was time to head to Pet Smart, put on my mask and head inside to buy a couple of chews.

I did a little research on Dentley's Natural Chews, looking for reviews on the internet and then customer reviews on Amazon. Nothing I found told me I shouldn't buy them. I bought a large one for Stella and a smaller but good size for Walter. Oh ... theses photos are from Sunday ... they enjoy sleeping.

When I unwrapped and gave Stella's hers, she headed straight for the backyard not caring it was already 91°. She didn't stay out there long chewing on it before she came back inside the cool house, leaving the bone in the yard. I later walked out to bring it inside.

Walter was in heaven with the new chew. I didn't see him for the rest of the morning ... that is until he decided that he needed both Stella's and his. I made sure in my research that these did not smell bad nor stained the carpet.

Walter was so happy that he would prance through the house with most of it sticking out of the side of his mouth. Heidi had sniffed each one but had no interest in anything more than checking them out.

He loves his new bone. Needless to day, those few cow hooves I had left were thrown away.

Stella did and didn't like hers. She did not lay down and chew nonstop like I expected. Her teeth are so worn down from her past attempts of escaping the chain link outdoor kennel one of the previous owners kept her in ... she doesn't have a lot of teeth left for a bone this size. That's my guess.

Of course once Walter saw Stella lay down and was chewing on something he sprinted from his bone across the living room to take Stella's bone. I knew when I bought these that they would want both bones or at least the bone that the other dog was chewing. No matter how many times I separated them and the bones ... Walter was back to take both of them.

After a short lecture, as if he understood what I was saying ... he decided he didn't want either bone.  There you see Walter in his bulldog pouting pose.

The pouting didn't last long before Walter was back at it ... trying to take Stella's bone away from her. Stella has never been a fighter and will walk away before she gets into a fight over a bone. If she is really interested she would have stay near and figured out a way to get it back. Today, she just wasn't that interested.

So I picked up the bone and waved for Stella to follow me. Off to the computer room we went closing the door behind us. There she was able to chew on her bone without Walter trying to take it from her. I could hear him outside the door listening to Stella chew on the bone he wanted with his bone just a few rooms away.

As soon as Stella was finished, Walter rushed in grabbed the bone and ran back to the living room. I don't think I have ever seen him spend this much time chewing anything so it was obviously a good purchase.

When you spend hours chewing, those new adult teeth and jaws must get tired. It was just in time for a siesta before lunch.

I heard snoring over the tv and looked down at my feet ... this is Walter having his after lunch siesta ... it's hard being a bulldog.

Sunday morning I received the weekly email showing updated photos of the new puppy and his 9 littermates. This week she took three photos apiece with the second face shot zoomed in. With most of his body being solid mahogany he looks a lot like Winston did at that age. All of the black you see will turn to mahogany as he grows.

After seeing two videos of him playing with his four brothers and five sisters, it's no wonder he looks a little tired in this photo. I wonder if he had just woke up. That is his 4 week old photo. As you can see he is getting a good start on those typical basset hound long toenails.

I am going to see if/when I can make another trip over to see him. He will be coming home around August 26th and that is when I'll tell you his name. From those same videos that were on their Facebook account, it looks like he will not be intimidated by Walter nor will be pushed aside. Walter will have a huge weight advantage and will mash him playing sometimes but what I mean is I see no signs of the new puppy backing down when the play gets a little intense.

I almost forgot ... while I went to PetSmart I decided to leave Stella and Walter out to roam the house. I wasn't going to be gone long. I hate leaving them penned up. I shut the computer room door and the bike room door just to make sure Walter could stay out of trouble. He likes to drag things out that are not his. I am not sure how long I was gone, 15 minutes? but came home to a normal house. Walter was panting as if he had been playing the whole time I was gone.

With the afternoon monsoons, and thunder ... it was another good day in the "Wild West".

A Fast Paced Saturday

Saturday was showing some promise early in the morning. We needed to get some things done before the forecast of rain at 2pm. A Reds game had been moved up to 10:10am MT to beat their rain scheduled later tonight. Motivation disappeared as we all took a short late morning siesta before the game. Then things starting going downhill soon after. The game as postponed in Detroit, our rain never showed up and was being pushed out further in the afternoon on my hourly weather app. So there isn't a lot to do when it's too hot outside. As you will see, Walter found the optimum sleep position for the loudest snores.

It was still a very good day in the "Wild West".

Walter's Game Of Cow Hoof

Walter got a little overconfident tonight while I was watching the Reds game. He had a cow hoof and started tormenting a sleeping Stella by laying the hoof on her foot then picking it up when she woke up and raised her head. This went to for a while until Stella decided she might be able to get that favorite toy of hers if she stood up. Of course Stella had not chewed any bone, antler or hoof for years ... until Walter showed up. So Walter kept dropping it on her foot, then picking it up when Stella reached for it. I think you will like some of Walter's expressions in these photos.

A fine example of bulldog puppy quickness, not only picked it off of Stella's nose but was able to move it out of reach inside his mouth.

Walter swung his head so hard to keep the hoof away from Stella that he lost control of it as it slid across the tile floor. Stella didn't move ... she had a plan.

Much like a batter waiting for his pitch to knock the ball out of the park, Stella waited for her move. She had observed Walter's overconfidence and knew when in a split second she could steal the hoof.

Just as Stella raised her head, moving the hoof that is too small for her to chew, to the back of her mouth where her strongest teeth are ... Walter seems to be looking at me for some help, maybe I could come to the rescue and take it from Stella and give it back to him. I just sat on the watch watching the "hoof game" as well as the Reds game.

So it was Stella's turn to torment Walter. She would lay her mouth on top of Walter's face or head while she chewed the hoof. Walter was now on the offense determined to get his hoof back.

A gallant effort using his jumping ability, bulldog quickness and body control. Stella would just raise her mouth a little higher just out of reach of the leaping bulldog puppy.

They stopped like Sadie and Stella use to, for thinking and analyzing what the next move would be of their opponent. I could still hear Stella's teeth mashing the hoof in back of her mouth. Her jaws are strong enough that she can break these hooves into pieces depending what the brand name is. When that happens, all those pieces are thrown in the trash.

Is that a little begging I see from Walter? The pup that is always in control and running the show.

After Stella let him know he wasn't getting the cow hoof back, Walter walked slowly toward the kitchen, turned to take one last look at Stella and literally plopped down on the cold tile and was out within seconds. He never just lays down anywhere ... he just falls into the spot he wants to sleep.

I was back on my bike this morning early for as short easy 20 mile ride with a route that is fairly flat but really nothing is flat around here when it comes to bicycling. It was good to get back riding. I have gained some weight from not riding. My pulse rate was much higher of course with this easy pace ride. That will go down the more miles I get under me. I returned a little before 9am and that 87° felt like a 100°. So the plan for tomorrow is to leave around 6:15am, an hour earlier than this morning.

Nothing much after that. A load of laundry and then three hours in different calls with Directv in my attempt to get my payment for MLB Extra Innings refunded back to me as per their letter April 24th. I finally found someone that understand what I was asking and that MLB Extra Innings was NOT a *&#($&*@ MOVIE !!!!! I have never been a fan of outsourced customer service half way around the world.

By that time it was time for baseball and a nice fresh skinless chicken breast I bought at the butcher counter instead of the packaged chicken I normally buy. So much more taste in those meats, chicken, shrimp and salmon from the meat counter wrapped fresh instead of packaged.

Heidi was very active today but I didn't get any photos. It's always good to see her running around the house or laying outside and enjoying the sun and heat.

A light short rain late this afternoon here in the "Wild West" ... unexpected showers.

I see that Blogger is still making changes to their new version. It's an entirely different process adding more than one label. When I checked the photo sizes via the HTML screen I saw there was no way of changing that size from s600 to s1600 because all the photos were automatically loaded at s1280. So you should see some sharper images on any blogs you read that are on the Blogger platform. They will eventually get it sorted out but I swear not one of those programmers have a blog on blogger, or anywhere for that matter.