We were the lucky winners of a month with Suzie and Chad's Jersey!
I think they called it dog-sitting, but the kind of experience that comes to mind with that word really doesn't describe our weeks of adventure with this sweet pup.
Jersey had barely settled in when we decided to invite a crowd to our house. Many of Andy's friends, who've stayed close from childhood through high school and college, were within 30 miles of each other for the first time since our wedding! Vaughn (we hadn't seen for 2 years) down from Alaska, Nick (we hadn't seen for 3 years) over from his busy life in western Washington, Garrett and Phil up from Lewiston, Dylan just out from Pullman. They gathered at our place for games and some serious catching up. Being the people-dog Jersey is, she absolutely loved all the company, and they were quite fond of her too! It was sooooo good to see them together again - reminiscing old stories, and sharing new ones. Here, Vaughn is telling the dramatic story of his sheep hunt in Alaska earlier this Fall while trying to plan his next pool shot:
Just days later, that crazy wind came whipping through here, and Miss Jersey got to put up with us learning how to survive happily without electricity.
As soon as that adventure was over, our backyard was transformed into a winter wonderland. Surprisingly, this Portland pup loved the fluffy white stuff she rarely sees.
The only trouble was, her squeaky toy froze so solid after being out in the snow that she couldn't chew on it! So she'd come in, tired from playing, and have to work at getting her toy satisfactorily squishy again.
New snow came day after day, and she never tired of it. I think she actually looked forward to the shoveling chore each morning and evening! Maybe because she got to hide her toy in freshly piled snow over and over, instead of doing the work...
In the midst of the endless snow, we had another gathering at our place. We'd already seen how good Jersey was with stranger company, but this time we had two other dogs in attendance. And, one of them was Aunt Donna's Peaches, a toy poodle puppy, weighing in at a whoppin' two pounds of nervous energy.
They played so well together!
Besides being the main event at our gatherings, Jersey got to be involved in all the little parts of our day-to-day. A few times, Andy took her to work for the day, and she got to experience my office for an afternoon as well. She passed the time watching Main Street traffic go by.
I'm afraid our home office just didn't compare to the bring-your-dog-to-work days in the big city. Most evenings found us working on projects in the office with Jerseypup bored and snoozing at our feet, or sprawled out directly behind our chairs...'guarding' her favorite ball.
It's no wonder she's so possessive. Every chance we got, we'd snatch her toys for countless games of hide-n-seek....
...or to make sure she still remembered the new trick we taught her (to wait when you throw the toy until you give her permission to retrieve it). She's a smart one!
The morning Suzie was coming to take Jersey home again, we brought home our Christmas tree. Jersey hadn't been around one before, so we didn't know what kind of reaction to expect. She apparently liked the taste of freshly cut fir...
...but once it was in the house and glowing with ornaments and lights, she frankly could care less about it!
We bid farewell Sunday morning, and I have to admit I just caught myself checking to make sure she's not behind my office chair before I roll back.
Suzie and Chad - you can bring Miss Jersey anytime you come! But, don't be surprised if she's a traitor.
That girl sure is fond of the Andyman!
Who wouldn't be? ;)
