Day Twenty - Saturday AM/PM

It's time to get out and pick up the leaves. There's a carpet of them so thick in the back yard, I can't see any grass. Maybe I could just put sod down in the spring and start all over again? I think very seriously about hiring a lawn service, as it seems all my neighbors have done. Their yards are carpets of lush, leaf-free greenery. The last time I mowed the lawn, I almost broke my ankle when I stepped into a hole after skidding in a pile of goo hidden in the tall grass. I can't take a chance and expose anyone else to the hazards associated with my back yard. So, I get the leaf blower out - it's electric, so I have to watch where I drag the cord. The resident four have heard this noise at least once before - Hunter doesn't quite know what to make of it, and Georgia is ready to attack this THING that seems to be attached to me. I get a huge pile of leaves together in a matter of 10 minutes or so. It takes less time for the dogs to scatter the pile. We go through this several times while I am working the pile to the corner of the yard, where the compost heap is. After 2 hours, I've got half the back yard cleared. The Belle and the resident four plus one have lost interest in the leaf clearing operation, and have turned to other amusements.

Now Potsy and Hunter are arguing about something. Make no mistake. Potsy is the dominant dog. He will tell you that HE is Mr. Alpha. We will tell you that he is Mr. Grumpypants, the resident Wusstocrat. He barks and growls a good game, but in reality, he's afraid of his own shadow. He has Hunter fooled by the end of their conversation, and he's trying hard to get Georgia to fall into line, but she sees through him - she sidles up to him and licks his ear, and he's putty. They go off and play in the back yard together, chasing each other all around Dog House Mountain. Buddy joins in, and Buster, the Fun Police, can't stand this. He runs after them, climbing up DHM, barking all the way. The second time he does this, I hear a crack. He jumps off and runs. Part of DHM is broken, but it's fairly easily repaired. I get the hammer and nails and fix it. Meanwhile, Pam is out front bagging the pile of leaves our neighbor created when he cleared our yard. We like this neighbor. I went out to help her after I finished with the repairs to DHM. We had enough leaves to fill 21 bags, with more to collect, and more to fall. I hope there's a nice weekend between now and Thanksgiving so I can get the rest of the back yard cleared. We come inside, and let the dogs in. Georgia disappears. We look EVERYWHERE for her. As it turns out, one of Georgia's favorite places to nap when she's not in her crate is on the bottom shelf of the coffee table. I put the extra couch pillows there, and she sleeps up against them. I spent 15 minutes looking all over the yard and the house for her until I heard a satisfied puppy snore coming from under the table.