Boundaries

Hi Mom,

I’m doing well, but an issue that I hoped would resolve itself has come to fruition and it is one that I must bring to your attention. The lady is obsessed with recording my every move! I know I’m adorable, but come on! What is this? A documentary?

I was barely awake when the bright light of the camera's flash shone in my eyes.

The following videos tell the story far better than mere words can. I don't care to elaborate on today's most wounding intrusion. Suffice it to say that it occurred on my first walk. Mercifully, the lady deleted the video of my requisite poop preparation. Nonetheless, I can still feel the sting of humiliation.

That said, I must shoulder some responsibility. When you’re as beautiful as I am, there are likely to be consequences. Therefore I resolve to take one for the team and bask in her admiration and attention for a few more days.

In the meantime, perhaps you can have a talk with her about boundaries! I know I can count on you Mom. 

I trust that you will enjoy viewing these videos far more than I did participating in them.

Love,

Maggie 😘❤️🐾

Maggie The Cat

Lady's Note: Although she earned the above title in the most adorable way (Stay Tuned!), Maggie is in fact, a dog. Specifically, a mini dachshund. Weighing in at an impressive eight pounds, she is fifteen years old, blind in one eye, and partially deaf, Given all of that, I appreciated her mom's concerns about leaving her. However, I soon discovered that no one had explained to Maggie that her age and deficits should slow her down. She was clearly having none of our silly human perceptions.

Dear Mom,

I am writing to assure you of my well being, because I think you may be worried. After you left, I did sniff around and look for you. I was sad, but felt better after the lady told me that you would be back soon.

After that, I jumped up on the couch with her and we snuggled for a bit. She promised to watch after me until you return. (Huge sigh of relief.)

Then I helped the lady put up her Christmas tree! 🎄 And by help, I mean supervised. And by supervised, I mean napped.

Please try not to worry about me. I suspect that the lady is already quite fond of me as evidenced by the number of photos and videos she has taken.

Love,

Maggie🐾💓

The Wolf

Here at the Lady’s Camp, I have a strict friendly-dog only policy. All breeds, sizes and ages are welcome. If they are friendly, my doors, my arms and my heart are open and I prepare for their arrival with gleeful anticipation.  

Last week was the first time a vicious dog came to the camp. This was not just any mean dog. This dog was a wolf! One whom I expected, but did not invite! As I prepared for his arrival, my anticipation was anything but gleeful.

A few of the humans, who bring my regular boarders, tell me that their dogs know when they are close to The Lady’s Camp and show their excitement by happily wagging their tails. One pup’s dad even tells me that she smiles. 

Though I don’t possess the keen senses of those pups, I only had to hear his menacing growl, to know the wolf was almost here. When he crept closer, he bared his teeth, snarled, snapped at me, and filled me with bone-chilling dread. 

Unlike other dogs who come to stay with me, he was neither welcome on the couch nor bed. Not so much as an open door awaited him.

During his first evening at camp, I watched him ravage my woods. Through the night he kept me awake as he howled relentlessly. He huffed and he puffed and tried to blow my house down. This big bad wolf was fierce enough to split a giant oak in half. 

And before the sun rose the next morning, he brought down several more old and towering trees with such vengeance that they demolished breaker boxes, pulled down electrical wires and took out my power. 

The wolf’s hunger and wrath were so powerful, that when he moved on to new hunting grounds, he left devastation in his wake. 

Though the wolf did not stay long, I won't soon forget his name. And I hope to never again encounter him or others from his pack. He was a monster. Yet unlike the stuff of nightmares and the Brothers Grimm, Ian was very, very real.

In spite of the wolf's rage, the heavens smiled upon The Lady's Camp. The power is on, pups are scheduled and well-being is restored. In the aftermath of the monster wolf, I am grateful that my only pain was inconvenience. Yet, my heart aches for all of his victims; especially those who's lives the wolf destroyed during his savage rampage.

Lighting Strike!

Dear Family,

Last night I met the nice little girl next door and her boy dog Otis. The lady told me that I was allowed to meet Otis because even though I am not fixed, he is. I'm confused. Am I broken? Was he? Color me baffled.

Today, I am a dog of a different color because what began as a light rain, quickly devolved into very loud and scary thunderstorm. Here's how it went down.

We were headed out for a walk when it started to drizzle. Figuring, that a little rain wouldn’t hurt us, we soldiered on. Just as the lady opened the patio door the first clap of thunder boomed in our ears. Retreat! 

She immediately let me inside the house and stayed on the patio to remove her boots. Seconds later, when the lady walked into the house, I was nowhere to be found! 

She scooped me up and placed me next to the couch, while she grabbed a small towel to wrap around me. Then Boom! This one was loud and close. And faster than you can say panic, I sprang into the lady's lap.

We later discovered that lightning struck a tree close to the lady's house. This pic is part of the cracked branch that fell into driveway. Trust me! This storm would cause any giant of a dog to seek refuge.

After the booms sounded further away, I calmed a little and grabbed the magic puppy's pen to write to you as I nestled securely between the lady and a pillow. 

It’s been over an hour and I am still here. Over an hour and she is still next to me, scratching behind my ears and gently petting my head. I may never move. In fact, tomorrow when you come to get me, you may find me in this very spot.

Although the lady is sad that I'm leaving, she tells me that she's happy for me to reunite with you. I guess I’m just that easy to love.

I can’t wait to see you tomorrow!. You will find me right here!

Love, 

Ginger 🐾💓

Thunderstorm Vests

GI Ginger

My Dear Family,

The lady just called me GI Ginger. Despite her tender tone, she did not bestow this moniker upon me due my outstanding patrolling skills. Thus begins my sad story.

Last night, I had to go out several times and I didn’t always make it in time. I'm not gonna lie. It was rough.

But I swear. It was not my fault! I am a dog. I will eat whatever you feed me. Or whatever I find on the floor, or on the ground, or under a rock. The blame belongs to the lady.

Nevertheless, it was humiliating. I felt like some pathetic poopy puppy. And though it was her fault, I was embarrassed that the lady had to clean up after me. 😳 But she told me that she cares only about me and not some inconsequential little mess. 

I must be cuter than I thought.

Stomach issues aside, I am ok and have just finished a nice walk in the yard. It’s still pretty hot, but there is a cool breeze under the shade of the patio where I will settle in for a bit. I am determined to earn a GI status that I can take pride in. Therefore, I have taken up my post and will hence forth be on bear patrol! 

As you can see, I remain a giant among dogs! 

Love,

Ginger 🐾❤️

We Were Surrounded!

Dear Family,

This is my chair! It’s a very special bear watching chair, because from this vantage point I can guard the entire yard.

In fact, last night I heard the bear, but by the time the lady put her boots and took me out, the yard was predator-free. I can only conclude that my ferocious bark scared the big bear before I could investigate. But all was not lost, because I did pee. 😇 

I made the lady very happy this morning because I gifted her with kisses as soon as I woke up, and that was not even the most exciting part of the day!

Mere moments after my post breakfast walk, just as the lady and I stepped inside the patio it happened! Without warning, two of the biggest trucks that I have ever seen appeared in the yard!

The first truck stopped right in front of the patio! The second one stopped on the other side. We were surrounded! 😳

Initially, I was wide-eyed and speechless.  Then two big men got out of the trucks and spoke to the lady. That was when I found my voice and unleashed my most intimidating barks! She warned them that I was a killer, and you won’t believe what happened next!

They laughed. 🤬 

So as not to prolong my humiliation, the lady took me inside the house and told me not to worry because they were just here to do yard-work.  However, I was NOT deterred and from inside the house I barked louder and longer. I'm sure by then they were no longer laughing!

Is your beach as exciting as the Lady’s Camp?

Love,

Ginger 🐾😘

The Empty Bowl

Hello Dear Family,

You see the empty bowl? Yep. That's my work! I inhaled every bit my dinner. Granted, it was served a bit late, but the lady told me that late dining is what one does when one is abroad. 

I have to admit that I was taken aback until she explained that abroad means out of one’s country. What a relief. I have been called Ginger, little girl, pretty girl, good girl, good dog and a number of endearing nicknames, but nothing so crass as a broad!

Aside from this little snafu, the lady is making me quite comfortable. She has shared a couple of doggy blankets with me, a chew toy and even got me some biscuits to munch on. She breaks them into very small pieces and only lets me have them when she can keep a close eye on me.  Does she think I’m a puppy?

It’s very hot here today, so aside from a couple of walks, we have been couch surfing. Netflix and naps! I’m livin’ the dream!

Oh! I have to run! It's time for my evening patrol of the lady's yard. I hope I see another bear!

Love,

Ginger 🐾❤️