This box turtle has been a frequent summer visitor to the front porch of the farmhouse the last two summers — and we’ve been watching for it this year and wondering if it survived the winter. Its cracked, battered shell makes it easily recognizable. The grown dogs recognized it and paid no attention as it [...]

I realized that the puppies are six weeks old now, and I’ve been hoarding all that puppy goodness to myself. I apologize. That was so selfish of me. To make up for it, I’ll introduce you to the gang and tell you a little about each. Some general information first:

7 puppies total, including two females [...]

Their eyes are wide open, and they’ve found their voices. They bark. They whine. They growl as they awkwardly wrestle and try to pounce. They haven’t much finesse yet, but they’re cute while they practice playing. They still spend a lot of time sleeping, too.
Notice how intensely both pups [...]

Hippo’s the one on the right. He’s the largest male, the largest altogether of the litter. He was the first to open his eyes, and he’s usually the first one headed for mama when she enters the room. The little female pup next to him has the sweetest face, and if she’s [...]

Same puppy as pictured here, but twice the size now. I wish I’d weighed them all that first day, just for curiosity’s sake, and so I could say with statistical authority, ‘yes, it’s a proven fact. They’ve doubled in weight.’ Oh well. You’ll just have to trust me.
We’ve been [...]

The genius husband swiped the largest pup of the litter for a while and let it nap on his belly. Puppies make such sweet, happy sounds when they’re warm and comfy. Mama Dinah’s beginning to relax a bit and spent some time helping us outdoors with chores. She even found the [...]

All 7 puppies in a pile, sleeping . . . Mama Dinah’s outside, taking care of business.Notice the white tipped tail on the puppy below. I love those white tips, and most of this litter has that marking.
The brown one in the pair below has markings like its grand-dam, who was Bebe’s littermate. [...]

At last count, there were seven. The rest are tucked against her belly, dozing and enjoying a bit of milk.

I think she’s finished. I hope she’s finished. I’ll take more photos later. Right now, I hate to risk waking them.

Every dog I’ve ever had learned about skunks the hard way — and in its own time. Dinah, the current young one, reached her time a few nights ago. She’s the black dog on the right, below.

I hadn’t been asleep long when the brouhaha began the first night. I awakened to the faint, but distinctive [...]

Dinah – age 9 weeks – taking a break from helping me around the house to subdue a wild, unruly old hair band. She’s an American Working Farmcollie from the same line as our Bebe. She’s met all the livestock and exhibits a healthy respect for cranky pregnant cows and geese. Bebe’s [...]