When Cats Train a Puppy...

When it comes to puppy training, my cats are the model of inconsistency.

Leslie rubs up against the puppy and tilts her head so the puppy can lick her ears.

Dewey Kitty runs, enticing Niki, the pup, to chase.

Louie parades in front of the pup, then jumps to a counter, a chest of drawers, a table where he can stare at the pup, who stares back at him.

Trick gives all kind of mixed signals.

He says, "Come hither," then grabs a back leg and gnaws on it.

The only thing the cats do consistently is bring the pup gifts. Each morning, when she goes outside to potty, Niki finds a half-eaten bird or mouse, left by the cats.

I'm Going to Miss Them

The toads spent the warmer months startling me.

When I reached to pull a weed, I caught sight of a toad eyeballing me.

One staked out the geranium as his home and hunkered under the leaves as I watered the plants in the morning.

Others liked the gravel and bugs in the barn. One insisted on sitting in the doorway, and I learned to look for it before entering the barn.

Others lived under trees and hopped into the air when I approached with the mower.

I've never seen so many toads as I have this year.

And now, on this first day of all, they're still surprising me. When I went to fill the outdoor pets' water bowl, this guy glared at me. Had I interrupted his bath or swim?

When do you hibernate for winter? And where do you go?

And, will you come back next spring?

And Now for a Name...

Meet the new pup!

She came into this world the day before our sweet Mickey left it.

For the past few years, I've been admiring her mama work sheep. What this little girl will do on sheep won't be known for a while.

In the meantime, she learn about manners and farm life.

But first, we have to come up with a name.

She came with the name of Nickie... and I go back and forth about whether to keep it.

I'm up for suggestions...

(I think Raven is happy to have some young blood on the farm, but is looking forward to her growing up a little so they can play).

A New Addition

Sixteen years ago, my husband planted these pine trees by our house.

As he planted, Rambles, our first dog -- a Border collie puppy, followed behind him, pulling up each seedling.

He eventually planted and re-planted the trees. And, they grew and grew.

Rambles eventually grew up too and turned into a fun dog and great companion.

And, I learned a little about Border collies and puppies.

The Border collies that followed -- Jack (deceased), Tag, Caeli, Mickey (deceased) and Raven -- all came to our household as adults dogs.

That changes this weekend when I bring a Border collie pup home. I hope I've learned a little about dog training and Border collies in the past 16 years.

I'm not planting trees this fall.