Sunday Morning Sleep In

Sunday morning the alarm clock went off, I got up, used the bathroom, and then decided to curl back up in bed since it was chilly here and I didn't have to get moving for church right away.  I'm on vacation now, after all, and I ought to be able to enjoy a little bit of slacking.  Mr. Taleteller had already gotten up and let the dogs out, so I had the bedroom to myself.  I crawled back under the warm covers and curled up.

Then, I started thinking about how excited I am about going on our trip this week.  There are people and dogs there that we've met through Facebook, Greyhound forums and blogs that we'll be meeting there.  I started wondering how Bunny would behave while we're there.  Next, I started thinking about all the things I still have to do before our friend and her Greyhound arrive Tuesday night.  I have to pack for me, pack for Bunny and get the house straightened up.  Anyway, my mind was running a million miles a minute, so I really wasn't dozing off.

Mr. Taleteller came back in the bedroom a little bit later.  He said that he had a headache and was going to try to rest for a little bit.  He crawled back under the covers on his side, and I leaned over to kiss him good morning.  The next thing I knew, a tongue the size of a nice ribeye steak had smacked me in the eye.  Then, when I opened my mouth to protest, I nearly lost a tonsil.  The hairy Greyhound had decided to join us.  Upon seeing that Bunny's usual spot up between us near the pillows was vacant, Morgan plopped down, pinning me to the pillow by the shoulders as she proceeded to give me a German facial.  I heard Mr. Taleteller sputtering something about "Why do I always get the butt?" as she continued her ministrations.  After a few minutes, she was satisfied that my skin was glowing and she flopped over, then hopped up and decided to do a quick patrol.

Bunny then came sauntering into the bedroom.  She hopped up on the bed, and I lifted the quilt, so she curled up beneath it up against me.  I love that.  It's like a living heating pad against sore back muscles and she is a first class snuggler.  Just don't move, or she will suck your spot away from you.  She likes to be completely covered up, too.  Morgan came back to bed, and Mr. Taleteller scooted over towards Bunny and me and made room for Morgan on his side of the bed.  She hopped up, gazed at him for a minute with that playful look in her eye and then when he relaxed, she hopped over him and landed right on Bunny.  Bunny released her inner hellhound and told Morgan in no uncertain terms that a princess of her stature does not appreciate being pounced on while she's relaxing in bed with her mom.  So, Morgan retreated to the foot of the bed and curled up around my husband's legs, Bunny compromised and slept with her nose poking out of the quilt and we all started to relax again.

Enter Blueberry, who decided she might join us.  There was plenty of room for her on the bed.  She whined for a minute, got Morgan to jump up off the bed, walked over to sniff Mr. Taleteller for a few minutes, and then decided that stretching out on the couch by herself was more to her liking.  Morgan jumped back onto the bed, we reminded her not to walk on Bunny and all settled back in again.

Suddenly Lilac realized that we weren't out in the living room with her after she'd gotten everyone up for turn out.  She was wearing her jammies, since there's quite a chill in the air and we thought she'd sleep better and be more comfortable.  Okay, we thought she'd let us sleep more, if we kept her comfortable.  Anyhow, she barked once in the living room, then came into the bedroom to bark at us and let us know her ears were cold.  I spoke to her quietly and she came over to my side of the bed.  I loved on her for a little bit, and thought about picking her up and putting her on the bed, but I knew that would just make her mad and result in more stomping on the bed before she huffed off to the living room to bark at the fan for not being turned on.  Instead, I petted her until her ears were warm and she sauntered back to her favorite bed in the living room and drifted back off to dreamland where she no doubt made a tasty rabbit stew.

I tried to move back over after loving on Lilac, but Bunny had fallen off my hip and into my spot by then.  After trying to delude myself that I could get back into my spot and be warm and comfortable for about ten minutes, Lilac let out another bark in the living room.  So, I got up and got my clothes and headed for the shower so I could get up and keep her company. 

How on Earth did I ever manage to get by before we had dogs?

Bunny wanted to mention something this morning, too, so I am now giving the keyboard over to her.

Bunny here with a quick message.

Our friends, Bully and Nelson, are having a costume contest on their blog.  I'd love it if you voted for me, but really, just drop in and vote for the costume you think is the best!  The voting is open through Wednesday.  The pictures will give you a nice smile for Monday morning! 

Also, my friend Padfoot started a blog this weekend.  If you'd like to stop in and say hello to him, I'm sure his tail would do helicopters.  He's one nice hound!

A Tale of Two Saturdays

Saturday morning means different things to different members of our family.  For me, it's a chance to finally catch up on some much-needed rest.  For Mr. Taleteller and Morgan, it means off to obedience class.  The Greyhounds think it means a chance to enjoy the living room in peace and quiet.

It's pretty quiet and laid back here until Mr. Taleteller and Morgan return from their trip.  Lilac usually stays in her spot by the fan.  Blueberry runs into the kitchen, gets Morgan excited like she's going to play, then runs into the crate where Morgan can't get her.  Bunny cautiously approaches Morgan and they share a sniff fest.  I can just hear the two of them having their little catch up chat.

Bunny:  Where have you been?  What did you do?  Who's that dog I smell on you?

Morgan:  Dad and I went to class.  There were several other dogs there!

Bunny:  Oh, of course!  Trained monkey school!  How did it go?

Morgan:  What?  There weren't any monkeys.  It was just dogs and people.  I had to demonstrate the recall for all of them.

Bunny:  After you graduate from class, Dad makes jokes about you being a trained monkey.  My advice is to only be obedient for Mom.  I am glad that it went well, though!

Morgan:  Really?  No!  He wouldn't!  He even took me to the dog bakery after it was over.

Bunny:  You went SHOPPING?!  DAAAAAAD!

Mr. Taleteller:  I got treats for everyone!  Look, here are a couple of toys I got, too!

Bunny:  Okay, one for me, one for you!

Morgan:  Good deal!  Say, what did you do this morning?

Bunny:  Oh, Mom and I had a great session of "rub my belly" followed by a long snuggle on the couch!  It was a perfect morning!

Morgan:  Mine, too!

It seems that Saturday mornings are perfect for everybody, since you get to do what you love!  It's something to carry you through when Monday morning arrives way too early!

The Princess Puppy and the Pea

When we had Treat, she slept on the bed with us and that was okay, although a bit uncomfortable at times. We sort of made up our minds that after we lost her, we wouldn't have any more dogs sleeping on the bed. Our others didn't seem to have an interest in it. Once in a while Blueberry would get up there with us, but it was unusual for her to sleep all night there. So, we decided that it was alright if she got up there with us, but we weren't going to encourage her.

A month later, Bunny came to our house. She didn't get the memo about cute, adorable little puppies sleeping on the floor. Oh no! That very first night, she hopped right up on our bed and curled up right beside me. I was smitten. My husband was smitten. So, from the get go, the princess had her king-sized bed to sleep on. On occasion, she will sleep on a dog bed on the floor -- usually during the summer when it gets hot. Most of the time, however, she sleeps on the bed with us. Truth be told, if the door were open, she'd probably sleep in there all day, too.



Her habit of sleeping on the bed has instilled certain routines for us, however. A remarkable phenomenon happens when Bunny gets on to the bed. At the vet's office, the scale says she weighs 50.8 pounds, however, after she lays down on our bed, she suddenly weighs around five hundred pounds. Trying to move her over is an exercise in complete futility. So, generally, one of us goes to bed first, and gets comfortable, while piling a few pillows on the other side of the bed so the other person can have a space, while Bunny curls up in the center.

This sounds simple enough, I know. Yet somehow, when Bunny lays down, she always manages to be sideways, her little behind curled up in the middle of the space where your back should be. We're not talking about even a little sliver of space left over that you can cling to here, we're talking about just enough space so that Bunny's tail doesn't fall off the edge of the bed. On nights when I come to bed last, I walk in a few minutes after my husband and the hounds have turned in for the evening and generally find that my husband has misjudged how much space I actually require on my side of the bed, or that Bunny has rearranged the pillows in her favor. Amazingly enough, she manages to fall into a deep slumber in a matter of mere moments after curling up on the bed. This results in me arriving at the bed and the following conversation ensuing.

Me: Bunny, scoot over, I need to get into the bed!

Bunny: (ear twitches)

Me: I know you are not asleep yet!

Bunny : (burrows nose under husband's side of the blankets)

Me: Bunny! I'll still snuggle with you, but you have to let me get into the bed!

Bunny: (lays very still)

Husband: Bunny, I know you're not asleep! You were just pawing me to pet you! Now scoot over!

Bunny: (cracking open one golden eye) Sooooooo sleepy...

Me: You faker! Move over!

Husband: Bunny, move over and let her in the bed!

Bunny: (large yawn, followed by the nose burrowing even deeper into the blankets)

Husband: Alright Bunny! Look out!

At this point, my husband begins moving his hand under the covers, which always gets some kind of reaction from Bunny. Sometimes she pounces on it. Sometimes it's the evil eye. Then there are other times when she pretends indifference, but that never lasts for long. At bedtime, however, there's another reaction.

Bunny: (suddenly alert) What are you doing?!

Husband: I'm going to move you over.

Bunny: You wouldn't dare! You know how hard the wrinkles in the blanket are on my sensitive skin!

Husband: Well, you've left us no choice.

Bunny: But I'm so sleepy! (exaggerated puppy yawn)

Me: Alight, fine, I'll do it!

Bunny: (leaping up) Okay! Okay! Sheesh! You people!

At this point, Bunny does stand up, and I get under the covers as quickly as possible. No sooner do I lay down than Bunny curls up against me as close as she can get. At least she's forgiving!

Bunny's Perfect Morning

I had an appointment Friday at the eye doctor, so I was off work that day. It wasn't particularly early in the morning, so I had the luxury of sleeping in. As my husband was getting ready to leave for work, he asked Bunny if she wanted to come back to bed. This is one of her all time favorite activities. If she could come back to bed with me every morning after turn out and breakfast, her world would be darned near perfect. So, of course, he only had to ask her the question once. Bunny leaped on the opportunity, literally. There's nothing subtle or sneaky about her return to the bed. Cessnas have quieter, softer landings than Bunny lands on the bed. It's amazing that such a little dog can pack so much of a punch. She takes off from the living room doorway, launches herself into full flight mode and then circles as she lands on the bed cum runway with a run that ends in tiptoes by the time she reaches the area near my head. Still, it was a rainy Friday morning and I was exhausted from the return to school. It was not difficult to nod back off to sleep as the puppy settled in and curled up by my side.

Soon, however, she began to want just a little more. It wasn't enough that we were touching. She wanted it to be a certain kind of touching. I heard her little whisper in my ear as she blew air through her nose to see if I was really asleep.

Bunny: Mom, are you asleep?

Me: Yes, I am. That's why my eyes are closed.

Bunny (wiggling a little closer): Could you just, maybe, put your hand on me?

Me: Sure! Now go to sleep.

Bunny (a few minutes later, rubbing her head along my arm, which has become her pillow) : Do you think you could just rub my neck for a minute? It's my favorite spot and it's so itchy right now!

Me: I'm trying to sleep!

Bunny: I'll do most of the work, just put your hand right here on my neck.

Me: Whatever! Now let me sleep...

Bunny (wiggling and rolling to her back): Oh, this is the life! You know what would be even better? It would be better if your hand was resting on my tummy.

Me: I'm tired! I don't want to scratch your tummy right now.

Bunny (sticking her nose up beside my ear): I love you!

Me: You're lucky you're so cute! (I begin to rub her tummy, but drift back off to sleep.)

Bunny: Why are you stopping?

Me: I wasn't stopping, I was just resting my hand for a minute.

Bunny: It's been a minute already!

Me: Pushiness really isn't so cute, you know!

Bunny: You've left me no other options!

Me: Can't we just snuggle and rest for a while?

Bunny: I am!

Me: I meant both of us resting -- at the same time.

Bunny: Have I mentioned that being here alone, just the two of us, is my very favorite?

Me: Yes, I think you might have...

Bunny (rolling over again): This is the life!

Me: Yes it is!

Half an hour later, the neighbor kids begin slamming the door and yelling at the top of their voices outside the bedroom window and I give up getting any more sleep. I give Bunny one last belly scratch and a kiss on the nose. Then I roll out of bed.

Bunny: Where are you going? What are you doing? Can't you just come back to bed?

Me: I have to get up sometime.

Bunny: Oh, look, the couch is empty! Let's curl up there with some yogurt!

That's nice, too, but nothing beats an extra hour of sleep on a rainy Friday morning!