Day Twenty Nine

Niamh showed me pictures of cows. They are very big. Maybe Emmet is right. Niamh said not to worry. Cows will be scared of me. Cows must not be very smart.

I get to sleep on Niamh's bed in the morning. She says I snore. Oh well.

Craig's arm is all healed. That is good. Looking at it made me embarrassed. He threw the Red Ball for me is morning. Then he went to work.

Zita says all the newspapers come tomorrow. The newspaper men are nice to me. They say they have dogs too. I don't bark at them anymore.

I will go for a car ride today if there is enough time. I am practicing being quiet. It is not as easy as you think.

Craig read me a story from one of his books. He has lots of books. In this story a lady's two dogs saved her from a man with a sword. I would do that. Those are good stories.

Niamh's cousins in Ireland have a dog. Her name is Tilly. Niamh says she has an accent. I don't have an accent.

Emmet's friends say that sometimes Emmet has an accent. I don't hear it. He always sounds just like Emmet to me. Emmet loves me because he chases me around and around. He hides on me and I have to find him. Emmet cheats and hides outside.

Zita says we are very silly and loud.

I am not as loud as Emmet's uncle Bill's motorcycle and they take him for rides.

Car ride did not go well. Second one was a bit better Zita said.

Day Twenty Eight

Niamh's ear is better. My kisses worked. She does not have to go to doctor. We are happy. She bought lots and lots and lots of clothes for her new school. They are all green. She has a top with dogs on it. That is nice.

I need a new collar Zita said. She said Santa might bring one for me. Santa is scary. He has horses with horns.

Zita said long long ago my job was to keep cows out of trouble. Cows have horns too. I have never seen a cow. That is sad.

Niamh said when I get good at car rides we can go to the farm down the road and I could meet a whole bunch of cows.  I will think about it.

Emmet says he was chased by killer cows in Ireland. Zita says he was not. She says they were just regular Irish cows. Emmet says that proved his point.

They laugh a lot at dinner. With all the laughter you would think they would drop more food. They don't. Oh well.

Craig says dogs are very scientific. We believe in gravity more than anything else in the world. I say gravity proves God loves dogs.

I chased Emmet around the house. He was so tired he had to stop for dinner.  I like chasing Emmet. Emmet gives me ice when I am hot. I am tired too.

Day Twenty Seven

Niamh and Zita went shopping far away. I did not go.  I have to practice my car rides. Some times I can get a bit loud. That is too bad.

 I would be a big help shopping. Especially at lunch.

Niamh's ear is still sore. Not enough kisses I guess. I will try harder next time.  She is going to the doctor again tomorrow I think.

The were frogs on the patio. I ignored them. They are silly things frogs.

Emmet is going to get new leather sofa's for his bedroom. Now I can get downstairs maybe Emmet will let me up on his sofas.

I can not get up on the living room sofa.  It looks very comfortable. Emmet's folds down. I think that is better.

Craig and I played throw the Red Ball many times today. He is not so good with his other arm I think.

I help Zita catch flys. I am good at it she says. This is good.

Day Twenty Six

Niamh's ear was so sore we had to get up in the middle of the night.

Zita and I took care of her.  I got her to lay on my kitchen bed and tickle my tummy until she felt better. Zita said I was brilliant. I was. Dogs are good at this.

Zita and I went for a long walk this morning. We went under the big bridge and along the canal. There is a lot of water in the canal. Lots of ducks asleep in the water. Emmet was right.

Emmet has a story he likes. In the story they say.."It is known.." I like that. Dogs are good at making people feel better.... It is known.

There are people walking to my corner with funny hats on. I barked at them.

I don't like hats. I can't see the face of people with hats. I don't like it if I can't see people's faces.  I don't know why but it is true.

Emmet has gone for his walk to the ice tea store. When he gets home he will give me ice cubes. He always does. I like that.

Day Twenty Five

Niamh came home last night. That is good. It makes my tail wag.

I ran around and around and slipped on the rug. I did not care. Emily and Cara are home too.

Zita found my Red Ball. I think we should buy more.

Zita went to the university and came home with even more books. This house has a lot of books. Books smell good. Old books smell very interesting.

Emmet shaved again. I don't know why. He went for a long walk. He likes long walks. That makes me happy. I will let him play with my Big Purple Ball if he wants. Emmet likes my Big Purple Ball. He hides it on me.

He does not hide it well. I always find it.

Too much rain to go out and sit on the patio.Oh well.

Niamh has an sore ear. That is too bad. I will lick it better. Dogs are good at that.

I am going out to help with the gardening. Zita says I am a big help. That is true.

They used to called me PoppyBigpaws.  Now that I am big my paws are small so they don't call me that any more.. That is too bad. I liked that name. Maybe I can get another extra name. A new one.  A short one. Long ones are confusing. Poppy the Brave would be nice.

Day Twenty Four

I changed my mind. I don't want to be a duck. Emmet told me ducks have to sleep outside and don't have their own beds. I would not like that.

My Red Ball went down the basement stairs. I had to play with the green ball. It does not taste as good.

Craig can not go downstairs. I can.

It is raining again. I like the rain. Frogs come out in the rain but they do not want to play. Too bad.

A man came to look at the furnace. I looked at it once. Did not look interesting. The room where Emmet and Niamh put everything is interesting but the man did not look there. Oh well. Too bad for him.

Day Twenty Three

Oh no. My favourite, and best tasting Red Ball has split in half. Now I only have one Red Ball.

Craig says we will have to introduce Red Ball rationing. That sounds bad. The stores have lots of balls but not allways Red Balls.

Craig says there is a world-wide Red Ball shortage. I blame the banks. I bet they are hiding all the Red Balls. Paul says they have not changed their spots. Who would use a spotty bank anyway?

Zita's bank is green. I have seen it in my car rides.

Zita took her car to the garage for tires so no car rides today.

Niamh's room is very clean and has a new long desk under her window. But there is no Niamh there to use it. That makes me sad.

Craig forgot to give me my breakfast this morning. Maybe his memory is going away.

He still can remember how to throw my Red Ball. The one that still bounces. That is good.

Emmet and his friends made dinner last night. They are very messy Zita says. They gave me cheese so I don't mind.

I have not seen squirrels for a while. Maybe they drowned. Maybe the Black dog with the White tail turned them into Zombies.

Emmet says that is possible. Emmet has armour. I saw it in his new bedroom. He is prepared. That makes me happy.

Emmet weighed me. I am 65 pounds.

It raining. I can not go out and play in the drain because I get too wet. Wish I was a duck.

Day Twenty Two

Got into big trouble.  Went to go to the car for a ride, but I ran and ate Maggie's food in her outside dish. Zita was annoyed so I ran into Maggie"s house and ate Ollie's food too. And then I was too embarrassed to come out. Zita called and called but she had to come and get me. No car ride.

Zita ignored me for ever. I was very sorry and sad. I followed her around and wagged my tail and everything but she would not talk to me. I got up on the bed and felt sorry. I  shouldn't have stolen their food. Maybe they will starve. That would be bad.

At lunch time Zita came in and said we should be friends and I was so happy I even forgot about not going in the car.

When Craig got home from his office Zita told him. But he threw my Red Ball anyway.  I saw Maggie and Ollie. They didn't starve. That is good.

There was a fire truck on my corner. Fire trucks are very loud. It went away. 

Zita moved the rug to give it to the garbage men. When it was gone I found my other Red Ball. That was good.

Garbage men are very brave. They are not scared of the big garbage cans with wheels. Those are the ones that try to eat you at night if you are not careful.

Got two flies today. Wish it was squirrels.

They are cleaning the house. I stayed in the bedroom. It is safer I think.

Emmet's friends are over. They laugh a lot. Laughing is good.

Day Twenty One

It is very nice out. I went for a car ride right after Zita's coffee. We should always do this. It takes a long time to finish coffee I think.

I like going downstairs. It is not scary anymore. They say it is too dangerous for me because I can't read and there are things down there that would make me sick. Sometimes I eat things I shouldn't. I don't know why.

I did not know I could not read.

Zita says dogs can hear and smell and see better than people so we don't need to read.

Maybe Niamh or Emily could teach me.  I might like to read. Niamh has a new light. It is on the ceiling.

Paul is going to bring something over so they can give Emmet a new light so he can read in bed.  I like to sleep in bed.  Emmet never sleeps. He gets up at night and makes dinner. But I am too sleepy to see if there is any for me.

I still can not find my other Red Ball. Maybe it is time is get a new one.

Emmet's Uncle Bill has a motorcycle. It is very loud. He hates squirrels too. He has a crossbow. That is good

Day Twenty

It is a very nice day not so hot. I have been sleeping on my rug outside the back door. Zita is downstairs throwing things out.

Emmet was up very late again. I thought they had solved all  the problems. Maybe more happened last night. It must be hard being having to fix everything every night.

I am wanted to go downstairs but I might get thrown out Emmet says.

Zita found treasures in some of boxes they forgot to open.  Old books. They were very excited. The books smelt of long ago.

Some of the smells I have never smelt before. It was confusing. I wonder about where those smells came from.  One book was from Craig's dad's airplane in the old war. It smelt sad.

Paul is coming over for dinner. To put up lights in Niamh's bedroom. She will be happy. She has been away along time.

Emmet is cooking dinner. That is good. Emmet drops things. That is better.

Day Nineteen

Lots of rain. I could not see my corner. Maybe it will drown the squirrels.

I can't go out and play in the rain because I get very wet and it takes two million towels to dry me.

Emmet did not go to bed until I got up to go out. He said he and Chris and Sava had solved all the problems of the world. That is good.

But they probably forgot some. Like the squirrels. Staying up too late does that.

They are going out for dinner. I hope they come back. I worry about that you know.  But Emmet is here. He never goes out except to the ice tea store. Or the Hintonburger. Or with uncle Bill. I think he is wise.

When Emmet was making his dinner I went downstairs. For the first time.

I may have slipped and slid down a bit. Niamh says not to disguise the truth. It is very scary down there. I think they should use the gate so I don't slip again.

Everyone is home. Except for Niamh. I miss her. Not enough noise.

Day Eighteen

It is very hot. Zita and I slept in. We went for our short walk on the streets with lots of trees. It is very hot. Maybe it will cook the squirrels.

Zita took lots of things out of the basement and put them on the front lawn and they were gone. I suspect the squirrels.

She even put Emmet's old bed out. Maybe we are not collecting beds.

I got into trouble. I was going to the car but I ran over and ate Maggie's dinner. It had cheese in it. Oh well..

Craig and I played Throw The Red Ball. His rules most of the time.

One of my Red Ball has been captured by the cardboard boxes by the back door.

There is a big rug there too. It smells like Emmet.

Emmet went for a walk to the ice tea store. Emmet likes ice tea.

I showed Zita how I could catch my tail even though it is only a bit of a tail. I got a treat. She must have forgotten about the cheese.

Went for a slow walk before dinner.

Day Seventeen

Went for a long walk this morning before it got too hot.

Met Jamie. Jamie says we can't talk as much anymore because his Lady is going to teach Emmet at the university and there are things we can not discuss. I was just going to tell him about Emmet's new top hat. It is confusing sometimes.

I have secrets I won't tell Jamie or he might get into trouble...

Emmet's uncle Bill is coming over with his truck so they can go to Ikea again. That Ikea must be very interesting. I never get to go.

Niamh is still away visiting.

It is too quiet here when she is gone. And nobody dances with me.

They moved all the books in the bookcase beside my bed. Then they put them all back in another bookcase that looks just the same. Maybe it is exercise.

I am going to have a nap.

They washed my Red Ball and it does not smell as nice. It is still the best ball.

Day Sixteen

Slept in. Niamh was not here so I forgot to get up.  I waited for her last night but Zita came in said she had gone away for a time. I  forgot.

I am not so good at time. I know there is breakfast time, go for a walk time, Craig comes home time, dinner time, take care of the house time, throw my Red Ball time, and it's time to go to bed time. That's enough times for me.

I know when it's Craig comes home time because Zita's phone makes a funny noise and I run to my watching window and his car is there. But sometimes I hear the noise but there is no car. It makes me sad.

Craig always throws my Red Ball for me when he gets home.

It will be good when he stays home. Maybe we can get another Red Ball.

Emmet wants my Big Purple Ball. He tries to take it from me so I hit him with it. If he really needs it we could share.

Abby came over last night. It is fun to play with Abby. She is big too. I don't have to be careful.

Sat on the patio until it got dark and watched all the dogs going to the pond. No one went swimming.

Zita said we needed a smaller rug in the living room where my watching window is. I hope it is soft.

Day Fifteen

Had a bath yesterday. They didn't forget. I don't like soap. It does not smell like me. I like the rinse.

I have my own blue pool for baths in the summer. I can splash a lot. I like splashing, and shaking. I can get Niamh, Emily and Cara wet very fast.

I have to wear my nose collar now because I pull too hard. It is better than "The It will choke me to Death Collar". But not much.

Emmet wears his top hat to bed Craig says. Maybe that's why they brought in those big beds. The hat is very tall.

Craig is very stubborn. He won't change the rules to Throw My Red Ball no matter how I try. He just goes in the house and says he can't throw the ball if I don't bring it to him. I know that.

A squirrel sat on my patio and stared at me. I was very upset and very loud. Zita came out and scared him away. Emmet should lend her a sword or a canon.

I know he has a canon hidden down there. A little one would be fine. It could take care of the racoons too. That would be good.

Niamh has gone with the twins to see her favourite movie. She will be gone for a while. That is sad.

They went to Ikea again and brought back another bed. I was right they are collecting them.

People are hard to understand. Tonight I will go out on the patio to smell the day when they have their coffee. That is good.