Asher

Girlfriend Troubles

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Ash

Oh I’m in big trouble now. Tess saw the bark from yesterday and she’s mad as a hornet.

Tess said the picture of her on the couch was awful. She thinks it makes her look fat.

Tess didn’t like me calling her a lazy border collie and my remark about losing her girlish figure put her over the edge.

Good grief. Don’t girlfriends have a sense of humor? In my guy brain I thought she’d see that I was teasing her because I like her so much. I wouldn’t tease some girl I didn’t like.

I quick asked dad how to get out of this mess. He laughed and said, “Ask your mom.”

So I asked mom and she laughed too. When I started towards Jack he looked the other way. Tess, of course, was not speaking to me.

Eventually Jack took pity on me and suggested I call some helpline. Now that’s going too far. I’m not paying a therapist because Tess took my teasing the wrong way.

I decided I’d better run the fence line to clear my head. Tess passed me in the yard and wouldn’t look at me. I thought about giving her a little nip on the butt like any good herding dog, but I figured that would just make things worse.

As Tess was going in the house I barked at her. “Hey Tess, I’m sorry.” She stopped and looked at me. “Really?” she said.

“Yeah, really,” I barked. “Tess, I was making fun of you because I know you so well. I love your silly self.”

Tess stood real still. I was afraid she was gonna cry. Then in a flash she gave me a full body slam. We started rolling around in the snow playing the mouth game. Tess made horrible growl sounds, but when she grabbed my neck she was real gentle.

When we were done playing rough, Tess kept me company running the fence line. On the way back to the house Tess grabbed my collar and gave it a yank. When we walked through the door she slammed me, just like she usually does.

I think Tess is over her mad. Next time I’m gonna think twice before I bark silly stuff about her. Gotta run!

 

 

 

 

Tess

Couch Potato

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Tess

When Tess came to Asherpark you couldn’t talk her into getting on the couch. Somebody must have taught her it was bad because she’d get real agitated if you asked her up.

After a few months she’d sneak on the couch when she thought mom wasn’t looking. When mom came into the room, Tess would jump off the couch and pretend it wasn’t her that left that white fur on the cushions.

Soon Tess got feeling more comfortable and invited her own self on the couch. Now you can’t keep her off.

Tess was crazy when we brought her home. She ran around in circles foaming at the mouth. She was one nervous nellie. She’s not so much fun now that she has calmed down.

She’ll still chase a goat when she can and I’m not sure I’d let her around the chickens. But mostly, she just wants to hang with her pack.

This is a picture of Tess right after she ate dinner. Notice her eyes are almost closed and she crossed her back paws. Sweet, huh?

Tess is kinda lazy for a border collie. She likes to watch me run the fence but she never joins in. Her favorite pastime is being a couch potato. I hope she doesn’t lose her girlish figure from all that nap time.

I gotta go. I don’t spend much time on the couch. Too much to do. Smells, barks, balls, swiping laundry. See ya!

Codie

Spirits

by  • 

Ash

I thought I saw a ghost. There was light and movement. My heart started racing. Not with fear but joy. Codie was back.

Without her fur it takes me a few seconds to recognize her. She has been gone from us nearly two years. Two long years.

She asked to see her spirit weight. I led her to the place where it sits. She admired it from afar and remarked on the brilliant scarlet center.

Codie’s spirit weight was a gift. We didn’t know about Marc Boutte, the wonderful glass artist who makes the Spirit Weights.

Right after Codie passed our friend asked Marc to honor Codie with a spirit weight. Marc was waiting for a tiny bit of Codie’s ashes. He would make a beautiful glass touchstone with her ashes in the center. Marc said it would be a comfort.

When the spirit weight arrived it had a beauty I cannot describe. Mom handled it with great reverence and put it where it would reflect the sun. Us mutts knew it had special meaning.

Codie's Spirit Weight

Codie thought the spirit weight was beautiful. She was pleased with the scarlet center. I told Codie mom chose that color because Codie was a princess. Codie laughed and said she already knew that but it was nice of me to tell her.

Codie said she couldn’t stay. I begged her to wait till mom came home but she said the time was not yet right. Codie reminded me that she chose me to bark for her. She told me to pay attention to my lessons and come when mom calls.

Then she was gone. I felt so lonely when she left. I ran to the gate and howled but Codie didn’t return. Oh how I wish she would have stayed longer. I have so many questions. I miss her so much. Codie! Codie please come back.