Week Thirty-Three

Grace Week Thirty-Three

At 6:30, I got up and saw Grace curled up in the office beneath the window and next to the ottoman. She saw me but did not get up. Betsy and I went in to greet her. Grace responded with enthusiastic wags and kisses as we gave her tummy rubs. We wondered if she was tired from missing so much nap time yesterday.

Morning Adventure

We went outside at 6:55. Grace spent most of her time exploring the south woods and chewing and enthusiastically tearing apart various pieces of rotten wood. As she when through this process, I imagined how Grace might be just as easily ripping a fresh carcass into pieces. We headed on to the east woods. Grace saw a heavy woven fiberglass piece of material on the ground. It spooked her. I showed her it was not alive, and she settled down.

When the train started to approach, she perked up. When the whistle blew, she bolted, but the leash restrained her. We finished up the morning with a short trip to the west woods of this complex and then headed home. In the process, Grace found another stuffed toy and brought it home. Grace ate breakfast. Betsy invited her to the bed. She lay there for about a half hour. She then went out on the balcony lounge chair despite chilly 50 degree air temperature.

Home Alone

We left for church at 10:10. I told Grace “Bye-bye.” She knew we were leaving her and went to the office. When we returned home, Grace greeted us with enthusiastic wags and kisses. I gave her lunch, a doggie treat, the rest of yesterday’s milkshake, and a dental chew. At 1:30, we took her outside. I showed Betsy where the mother goose sat on her eggs. After we crossed Old Apex Road, I turned around and let Betsy walk her from there.

At 3:30, I relieved Betsy. Grace played with Olive, Ellie, and Sammi. The toy Grace found yesterday actually was found by Olive and left by Olive’s owner for Grace to find. Grace returned home at 4:45. Grace had her supper at 5:00. As she was finishing her supper, I left a bully stick for her in her toy box. Betsy and I left for church at 5:05.

When we returned at 8:10, Grace greeted us with wags and kisses. I took her outside for fifteen minutes. When we returned, Grace brought her new toy to me to use to play tug and fetch. We played for fifteen minutes. Grace went into the office to be with Betsy. At 9:00, she went on the balcony lounge chair. When I got up to let her in at 9:15, Grace promptly jumped up and curled up on my chair. By 9:45, she was breathing hard, fast asleep.

Food Radar

Boradors love to eat. I figured I get up and get a snack. As I opened some crackers, Grace’s radar kicked in. She awoke, bounded off of the loveseat, and came to the kitchen to give me that look. I gave her a cracker, the crumbs left inside the bag, and a doggie treat. She wanted more, but resigned herself to settle in under the dining room table at my feet. I went to bed at 10:00.

Monday

At 6:45, Grace jumped up on the bed. I tried to make room for her, but before I could, she was back on the floor. A moment later she stood with her hind legs on the floor and her front legs on my pillow. She was giving me a royal greeting, licking my face cheerfully. Betsy was dressed and wanted to take Grace out. They left at 6:55 and returned at 7:20.

Outing Number Two

Betsy said she planned to come back inside and for everyone to go back to bed. I was already up though when they returned. Grace came to me with a toy to play. I knew Grace needed more action. I got up and took her out at 7:30. Before long, we headed down towards Oxford Hunt and Bond Park.

Along the way, Grace likes to find choice sticks to chew. She found dry twig. It was fun snapping it with her teeth. Suddenly, something went wrong. She started making strange distressed movements with her mouth, tongue, and head. She started foaming at the mouth. I checked her mouth and airway. It looked okay. It seemed like she could breathe and was not choking, but I wasn’t sure.

Grace’s distress continued. I hit her behind her shoulders. Then, I checked her mouth again. There it was. On the roof of her mouth, the small twig piece about an eighth to a quarter inch diameter, was lodged against the roof her mouth secured between her upper molars on either side. I reached in with my finger and tried to hook it. On the second try, I pulled it out. The crisis was averted. Grace was back to normal. She went ahead as if nothing had happened but had no interest in sticks.

We proceeded through Oxford Hunt area to Bond Park. I let her off of the leash to chase a rabbit. When she went out of sight, I whistled, and Grace came back. Grace explored the woods and went down to the lake. She followed me back when it was time to return. She made it back home at 9:00, went out on the balcony lounge chair an took a nap.

Trip to the Land

We went out to the land at 10:00 to meet with the county concerning a well permit. At 10:30, we left and came back home. Grace rested as I worked on getting the car ready for our trip. At 11:45, Grace had her lunch. We then went back out to get the wheels rotated on the car. They told us it would take forty-five minutes.

Grace and I ran to my lot and ran through the neighborhood. Grace spotted the Guinea Hens. I let her off of the leash, hoping I could recall her. Grace tore after them and out of sight. I whistled. After about thirty seconds, Grace came running full speed. I gave her a treat. She continued running with me off of the leash. A couple of cars came through fairly fast, but Grace stayed clear of them.

When we made it back to my lot, We checked for the neighbor dog, Snoopy. Eventually, he came and the two played chase for about fifteen minutes. We then ran back to the car at 12:45. The work was done, so we drove home. Betsy and I went out separately at 1:45, leaving Grace alone.

When I returned at 4:45, Grace greeted me with her usual effervescence. I busied myself with various preparations while Grace became increasingly restless. She had her supper at 5:20. As I prepared my food, she came in expecting more. I gave her a chew stick and a doggie treat. At 6:30, we went outside, limiting our area to the south and immediate west woods. When we returned, Grace went to the lounge chair to grab her new toy that I washed. Shortly after, she came in, lay on the loveseat across from me, and fell asleep.

Tuesday

At 6:55 I took Grace outside. We met two new dogs. One was a pug and the other was like a Benji. Grace did her best to entice them to be friendly, but they were not particularly responsive. As we packed, Grace watched patiently as we packed. As I went down to take things to the car, she watched intently. She ate her breakfast at 8:00.

Travelling to Brevard

We finally left at 10:00. Grace slept in the back seat most of the way. We didn’t stop for anything until 2:00. Betsy fed Grace her lunch as I went into Cracker Barrel for takeout. We sat on the chairs in the porch and had a picnic lunch. We shared our fish, french fries, spiced apples and cornbread with Grace. She waited to be given food and heartily enjoyed it.

We made it to Brevard at 3:30. Grace stayed in the room with Betsy’s mom as we visited. Later we went out to the car to get her sock toy and her new toy. That kept Grace entertained. We left at 5:30 and went to visit Betsy’s dad. Grace roamed free in a fenced area. She really wanted us to keep her dad’s door open so she could freely keep an eye on us and go outside and play.

Mop Tug Toy

Grace had begun getting restless as often happens at that time of day. She would dig a small hole frantically and then race away and back to it, dig some more and repeat. She ended up getting some dirt on the sidewalk. There was no broom available, so I took an old mop and started sweeping the dirt away with that. Grace found the mop to be a really fun tug toy.

We made it to the Asheville Renaissance hotel at 8:00. Grace was in her element — navigating around grates with wide spaces, though automatic revolving doors, and up and down elevators. Grace made herself at home and seemed to remember the hotel and area. The room was smaller than before, but she exhibited none of the evidence of acting confined that she showed at the Holiday Inn Express. I took her out for the last time at 10:00. We returned at 10:15.

Grace fell asleep at 11:00 and was dreaming five minutes later. We followed her to dreamland.

Wednesday

Grace told us morning had arrived at 7:30. I took her out at 7:45. We walked around Thomas Wolfe’s house and down to the park. We returned to the hotel at 8:15. The hallway outside the conference room was being used to serve a large group a buffet breakfast. Grace seemed more interested in the people though rather than the food. She greeted the concierge before heading up the elevator. Grace charmed the people there by getting down in the crawl position to greet them.

New Toy Play

When we returned to the room, Grace had her breakfast. She wanted to play and grabbed her new toy. Betsy threw it a few times for her. Grace lay the toy next to Betsy in the bed. Suddenly she let out her normal (though very infrequent) bark. This was not the low bark she uses when she’s met with danger. Grace wanted Betsy to play with the toy. At 8:30 she jumped back up on the bed to primp and rest as we rested.

Walk in the Park

At 9:30, Grace was getting restless. I took her out to walk in the Asheville park area. We met a few people. One family with two children gave Grace some leftover milk out of a cup and let her clean out their strawberry yogurt container. Betsy joined us at 11:00. We returned home at 11:30. Betsy and I ate some breakfast. Grace wanted something. I gave her a dental chew. That satisfied her. She then lay on the floor and napped.

Travel and Munchies

At 11:30, Betsy took Grace to the car. I followed about fifteen minutes later. We climbed into the car and headed for Brevard. We ate some corn chips. Grace awakened from her nap behind the driver’s seat. She said she had the munches. We shared some chips with her. We stopped at Ingles Grocery. Betsy and I went in for a couple minutes.

Grace could have invaded the bag of chips, but she didn’t. When I returned a few minutes later, she was waiting patiently in the back seat. Grace went for a walk around the parking lot looking for things to eat. The people who met her commented on how happy and beautiful she is.

Bryan Center

At 2:00 we arrived at Bryan Center. Betsy brought her mom some Russell Stover chocolate. Grace really wanted a bite of one, but Betsy wouldn’t let her have any. Grace really warmed up to Betsy’s mom trying to find a morsel from the candy.

At 2:45, Grace went outside. We walked down through the cemetery. When we came back, we stopped by the car and Grace had a doggie treat. We picked up her new toy and her tug sock. Grace played a few minutes with the new toy and then followed Betsy around. At 3:30, she lay on the floor to rest.

Wendy’s and Tore’s

We left to visit Betsy’s dad at 4:00. We stopped at Wendy’s. They gave Grace a dog biscuit at the takeout window. I shared my hamburger, fries, and vanilla Frosty with Grace. Grace played chase with the little dog that comes with one of the workers. She wanted it to play tug with the mop, but it didn’t know that game. Grace also seemed to want to move to that dirt area, dig there, and sit there. I used the recall whistle to get her out of there. Betsy’s dad gave her pieces of chicken breast for reward.

Hotel Connections

Grace had her normal dinner at 5:00. Grace came inside and rested on the floor until we left at 7:30. When we returned to the hotel, Grace socialized with the hotel staff and people at the bar. A lady came up to us and asked about Grace. She was thrilled to learn that Grace was a Borador,  just like her dog. She said they had many of the same characteristics, but her dog was much larger.

When we went out for our final walk at 10:00, Grace brought in a stick. It started out being four feet long, but I broke it to a manageable size of about a foot. She wanted some cheese as she saw me eating some. When I started for a salad, she wanted that too. I gave her a dental chew instead. At 11:00, we all went to  bed.

Thursday

Grace awoke at 7:45. At 8:30, Grace ate her breakfast, then we went outside. We returned at 8:45. Grace watched as we packed to move on to the next destination. We checked out at 10:15 and headed for a bed and breakfast to check out for a future stay. We arrived there at 10:40. They had a couple of Golden Retrievers. Both were females. One was two years old. The other was much older. They were in a small fenced in area. They barked at Grace. Grace barked back.

Doggie Play

Grace went inside. They checked each other for a few minutes. Then Grace tried to play with the other dogs. The young one played chase and wrestling, but the older one snarled at Grace. That cooled things down for about five minutes. Eventually, Grace learned to limit her activity to the young one. They played chase and wrestling for about an hour. In the process, she learned to use a doggie door.

Asheville Socializing

We left and looked at a couple of houses. At noon, Grace had her lunch in the car. In one neighborhood we first met an Italian greyhound. Grace and that dog played for a few minutes. Down a few more doors, a Jack Russel on an electronic collar was very interested in playing. Grace played chase with that dog for about five minutes, but it was limited because I had to keep her on a leash.

Charming the Desk

We left there and travelled to Brevard. We stopped at the hotel to check out the room. I took Grace for a walk. When we came in, the desk attendants remembered her and said hello to Grace. Grace stretched up to the high counter with her front paws hooked on the top. Grace propped her head on the counter as the clerks petted her nose. After a while, they couldn’t resist and came around front to interact more intimately with her.

Sharing Meals

At 3:00, we stopped at Wendy’s. I ordered two hamburgers and two value French fries. When we arrived at Betsy’s dad’s place, Grace and I shared the Wendy’s food. She had the hungries. When she finished she went to visit Betsy’s dad. She hoped Boo-Boo wold be there, but she will have to wait until Friday. Betsy played fetch with Grace.

Dinner came at 5:30. Betsy’s dad shared some of his pork with Grace. We left to visit Betsy’s mom at 5:45. Grace saw a half-eaten package of cheese crackers on a rolling table. She jumped up for it, but left the crackers undisturbed. After fifteen minutes, Grace needed more stimulation. I took her outside and gave her a doggie treat.

Sundowning

We went for a walk. Grace spotted three dogs playing in a backyard. As she headed down, the owner said to stay away, because the dogs playing could attack her. We moved on. After thirty minutes, we stopped back at the car. I grabbed two toys and a thick dental chew. When we returned back to the room, Grace worked on her dental chew, which kept her occupied for about fifteen minutes.

We played tug and fetch with the sock toy for about ten minutes. Grace finally gave up at about 7:00 and stretched out on the floor. After fifteen minutes, Betsy encouraged Grace to jump up on the chair. She curled up in a tight ball and took a nap.

At 7:45, we left for the hotel. Betsy bought a burrito with chips. Betsy and I split the burrito, and Grace and I shared the corn chips. Grace jumped up on a bed, but we hadn’t put a protective sheet on it yet. I immediately told her “off” and “wait.” She responded immediately. After Betsy put out the sheet, she invited Grace on the covered bed. Grace curled up and rested. At 10:00, I took her out for the last time. We returned ten minutes later.. Grace went to bed. We followed at 11:15.

Friday

Grace slept through the night and stayed calm into the morning after she awoke. Even when I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, Grace understood it was not time to get up yet. The shades in the room seem to give her the illusion that perhaps it’s still dark. Also, it may be that since there are no friends waiting for her outside, she’s in less of a hurry to run out.

Hike in the Forest

At 9:00, we got up. Betsy took Grace outside. Five minutes later, I took Grace as Betsy ate her breakfast. Grace explored the grassy fields and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine. Grace returned to the room at 9:35. Betsy stayed with her as I ate my breakfast downstairs. We left to go for a hike at 10:15.

There’s a ranger station near the Holiday Inn. There we found a trail. It included steps and bridges. Some of the bridges had rabbit wire on the surface to aid in traction. Grace seemed to avoid the wire in favor of the smooth wood surface. I’m guessing that it might be uncomfortable for walking. When we reached a suspension bridge, Betsy was afraid while Grace was tentative. I told Betsy to look ahead rather than down. Grace crossed it cautiously but without trouble. Betsy made it despite her fears.

We headed down the trail along a clear, fast moving stream. I commented on how fresh and clean the water looked. I would not hesitate drinking from it. After our short half-hour walk, we returned to the ranger station. Betsy went in. Grace and I stayed outside because, pets were not allowed inside.

Bryan Center

At 11:00 we arrived to Tore’s Place where Betsy’s dad lives. We were hoping that Grace could play with Boo-Boo, but he was not going to be there until later in the day. Grace played tug and fetch with the old mop. At 11:40, Betsy’s dad was transported to Bryan Center to meet Betsy’s mom for lunch. At 11:50, Grace had her breakfast.

We then sat in the pleasant air and shade as Betsy’s parents ate lunch. Betsy took Grace for a walk at 12:30. By the time Grace returned, we were back in the room. Grace lay on the cool floor to rest, as we visited. At 2:10, Grace jumped up on the lounge chair and curled up there.

Back to Tore’s

At 3:15, started to whine. She needed to go outside and get moving again. I took her out as we headed to Tore’s Place next. Grace was looking for Boo-Boo, but he wasn’t there. I looked around in another building. Unfortunately, I did not know the exit code. We were trapped for about five minutes until a staff member came in and let us out.

Betsy went to get some supper. I played fetch and tug with Grace first with a tennis ball and then with the end of a rag mop. Boo-Boo arrived and Grace raced to meet him. Grace ran outside the gate, but I was able to recall her immediately with a whistle. I didn’t have a reward for her, but Betsy just arrived with the food, so I gave her a couple of French fries.

The food became more interesting to Grace. Boo-Boo moved on to somewhere else while Grace concentrated on getting her share of French fries and my hamburgers. At 5:00, Grace ate her regular supper with her usual zest. After dinner, she lay on the floor and rested.

Winding Down

We returned to the hotel at 6:30. Betsy gave her a doggie treat. I gave her some pieces of my apple. Grace then lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. Betsy invited Grace on the bed without the protective sheet. Grace resisted. I invited her on the bed with the sheet. She jumped up and curled up for a nap as Betsy watched television and I worked on the laptop.

At 9:30, Betsy took Grace outside. At 10:00, they returned. Grace wanted me to take her out to finish her business. She responded to me within one minute of being in the grass. We returned upstairs shortly thereafter. We went to bed at 11:20.

Saturday

At 7:30, I got up to use the bathroom and returned to bed. Grace was awake, but she lay there patiently. At 8:30, we both got up. Betsy took Grace outside. They returned fifteen minutes later. Again, Grace wanted me too take her to finish her business. As with the previous night, she completed her job within a minute or two of hitting the grass. We walked for twenty minutes as Betsy at her breakfast.

Saying Good-Byes

When we returned, Betsy took Grace and fed her breakfast in the room. I went downstairs to eat my breakfast. At 9:30, I returned upstairs. As we finished packing and loading, Grace became increasingly impatient. I gave her a dental chew and a doggie treat, but she really just wanted to get going.

We stopped a storage place at 10:00. At 10:15 we moved on to Bryan Center to say good-bye to Betsy’s mom. Grace gave her spirited farewell also. At 11:00, we stopped at Tore’s place to visit Betsy’s dad. Grace made one last foray with the mop tug toy before jumping up and saying good-bye to Betsy’s dad as he sat in a chair.

At 11:45 we stopped by Betsy’s brother’s house. There Grace walked a bit in the yard and responded to barks of neighboring dogs across the street. At 12:15 we headed back to storage. Grace had her lunch and then went into the storage building to watch Betsy. We left storage at 12:45. Grace and I sat in the back seat.

Trip Home

At 1:30, we stopped at the Wendy’s at Black Mountain. I ordered two Jr. Hamburgers Deluxe two value fries. Grace and I shared the meal. She politely waited for me to offer her the morsels that she would receive. At 1:45, we moved on. This time, Grace decided to curl up behind the passenger seat. That was where my feet were, so I move them up to the other side of the seat.

We stopped at a rest stop at 2:15. At 2:25, we returned to the car and headed on. This time, Grace decided to sleep on the seat with her head resting on my pillow. As the trip wore on, Grace moved to curl up completely on the pillow. She surely knows how to relax, sleep, and get comfortable.

Friends!

When we returned at 5:45, I brought Grace upstairs. Grace had her supper, but wanted more. I gave her a bully stick. Surprisingly, she ate only half of it. At 6:15, I finally finished unloading the car and took Grace outside. There she met Olive, Tucker, and Isabella. The problem was that Olive could not play because she had just been neutered.

After walking with Tucker and Isabella, Grace did her business. After we returned home at 6:55, Grace went out on the balcony lounge chair. It was as if she had missed being out on her perch and was making up for lost time. At 8:30, Grace saw some friends. Betsy took her outside. Grace struck out with friends and returned after 20 minutes and returned to the lounge chair.

At 10:00, she came inside and curled up in the chair. That’s where she was when I went to bed at 12:30 AM.

 

 

 

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