At about 5:00, Grace made her way up near my pillow. We slept that way until 5:45, when she jumped down to the floor beside me. At 6:45, she stood up and was ready to go. We left for Borador Park at 7:55. A few minutes after we arrived, Olivia and Rascal joined us. They played for a few minutes, which was significant for Olivia. They hung around for fifteen minutes before leaving.
Morning Play
Five minutes later, Abby came in. She was very playful. Grace and Abby had a good time chasing one another for about thirty minutes. After the other dogs left, we left also. I had to get back home. so by 8:10 we were back. Grace went out on the balcony for ten minutes before coming in. She had her breakfast and antibiotic before curling up in the living room chair.
Royal Greeting
At 9:15, we left her home alone as we went to church. At 12:30, we returned home. I greeted Grace with treats, and she greeted me with kisses. We went outside for a half hour while Betsy made lunch. Grace tried three times to take me to Grace beach, but Betsy wanted to hold off on that until mid-afternoon. When we returned, Grace went into her dog bed while Betsy and I ate lunch.
Playful Puppy
When I finished, I gave Grace fish for tricks. After that, Grace wanted more. I gave her lunch followed by a doggie treat. After finishing, Grace grouched. I played shortstop with her for ten minutes. Then, Grace went out on the balcony while she waited for her trip to the beach. After ten minutes, Grace succumbed to the heat, came in, and lay on the foyer floor against the front door.
Betsy and Grace left for Borador Park. They made an appointment to meet up and play with Daniel, a nine-year-old from church. They had a great time playing. When they returned at 4:35, I called Grace to the bathroom for a bath. She came obediently. When Betsy finished bathing her, Grace went out on the balcony. She spotted some friends in Borador Park, but we didn’t take her. I joined her on the balcony at 5:00.
At 5:30 Grace had her supper and we sat down for ours. Grace brought her giraffe toy to play fetch. I told her, “No.” Betsy told her to get a ball. She went to the toy box and pulled out a tennis ball. This is a milestone. We played until 5:50. I then went out on the balcony. Grace joined me.
At 8:30, I spotted someone in Borador Park and took Grace out. We met a new friend which was a nice two-year-old Corgi. Grace and the Corgi played for forty-five minutes. When the Corgi left, Abby came. Grace and Abby wrestled and chased playfully. They had a great time. At 9:40, we all left. At 9:50, we made it home and Grace went out on the balcony. At 10:25, Grace came inside, took a drink and went to bed. I joined her there at 10:30.
Monday
At 5:55, Grace got up. At 6:00, she whined. I got up. We went to Borador Park at 6:10. About ten minutes later, Olivia and Rascal showed up. They stayed for fifteen minutes before they had to leave. We saw Zeke pass by twice, but he didn’t come in. Grace also spotted Abby, but she also stayed away. Finally, at 7:45, Sadie came. Grace and Sadie did their usual high-energy chasing, wrestling, and roughhousing. At 8:05, Sadie left. After Grace caught her breath, Grace left also.
“Come On, Grace”
As we circled around, she saw Sadie on her balcony. Grace stopped at Borador Park. I told her we had to go. She lay in the grass a few more times before we finally made it home. At 8:15, she came home and went directly to the balcony. I put her breakfast out for her when she finally decides to come in.
Good Eater
At 10:00, the heat was too much for her. Grace came in and parked herself on the loveseat panting. By 10:20, she had eaten her food and pill and moved to her sofa. At 12:20, I began making my brunch. Boradors are good eaters. That’s another really nice thing about them. They’re not finicky. I kept an eye on her as she perked up and did the same with me from the sofa.
Beach Danger
At the opportune time, old Grace got down from the sofa and came into the kitchen. I gave her lunch followed by a doggie treat. After lunch, she returned to the sofa. At 2:25, we went to Grace Beach. Grace played her usual fetch in the water. I saw a foot-long snake in the water. When I moved, it turned and swam away. I allowed Grace off the leash until we made it back to the apartment grounds. She did fairly well.
Nervous Shower
At 4:00, when we returned home, Grace had a shower. She came immediately when called and reluctantly went into the shower once the water was up to temperature. I think if I bathed her for a few times in a row, Grace would be fine. After her shower, she went to the balcony. I gave her a nearly empty ice cream container to lick out. After she finished, Grace had a dental chew.
Strange Visitor
About ten minutes later, a painter put his ladder up against the balcony rails. I brought the lounge chair and our other things inside. Grace stayed out there a few more minutes before returning inside. They must have just looked things over though.
Calabash Treat
At 5:20, Betsy returned with a fish and shrimp dinner from the Farmer’s Market. Grace came over expectantly waiting for her share. We fed her from the table as if we were at a restaurant. At 5:40, I gave her her regular supper and to my surprise, she went right to it and finished it all along with her pill. After supper, Grace returned to the sofa to nap with occasional trips to the balcony to check Borador Park for friends.
Friends
At 8:00, she spotted friends. We rushed to the park and met Olivia and Rascal. Olivia had a new toy. Grace grabbed it. The toy captured her attention most of the night. Abby came about 8:20. Grace and Abby chased some, but Grace lacked energy or the desire to play like she did other times with Abby. Olivia actually is warming up to play but has a very long way to go.
On the way home, Grace said hello to Lucy and Bogie. Olivia’s owner told me to take the toy home for the night. When I got home, I tried to wash the slime off of it. I finally wrapped it up and put it in a plastic bag. Grace went out on the balcony at 9:30 and returned to the sofa at 9:40 when I went to bed.
Tuesday
Grace came to bed after I fell asleep. She seemed to be awake a fair amount of the night but was quiet and still — except for a few minutes of primping. Grace got up at 5:55 and whimpered a couple of minutes later. We left for Borador Park at 6:05.
Morning Friends
The weather was a bit chilly. I wondered when I would have to start wearing a jacket. At around 7:00, Olivia and Rascal came to join her. Olivia continues to warm up to Grace. After fifteen minutes, they left. At 7:50, Sadie came. Grace and Sadie did their usual high-energy playtime — running, wrestling, and roughhouse. At 8:05, Sadie left. Grace waited to catch her breath and left at 8:10.
Nap Time
When we returned at 8:20, Grace went to the balcony. She saw something different and started to bark at it at 8:45. Grace came inside and parked herself on the living room chair. At 9:05, she had her breakfast and her pill. After breakfast, she went to her sofa for her morning nap. At 11:00, after checking out the balcony window, Grace moved to the sofa for more napping.
False Alarm
At 12:30, as I made my lunch. Grace perked up. She had her lunch followed by some doggie treats and went out to the balcony. At 1:00, she spotted activity at Borador Park. We whisked our way there only to learn the dog inside the fence was not friendly (a boxer). I finally made it home with Grace at 1:20. She lay at my feet in the living room floor cooling it and napping. After about a half hour, she moved back to her sofa for more serious napping.
Crazy Fun
At 3:30, Betsy took Grace to Grace Beach. When they returned at 5:20, Grace had her shower and supper. After supper, Grace went out on the balcony and saw Sadie in Borador Park. We rushed down to meet her. They started their usual playing routine. After five minutes, Olivia and Rascal came in, followed by Abby. Next came Otis and finally Zeke. Things became crazy with Otis there, and his owner took him home. The rest of the dogs stuck around and played about forty minutes. As usual, Grace was the last to leave.
Out of Sorts
At 6:30, we returned home. Grace did more of her delay tactics on returning home. It’s starting to get annoying. When she returned home, Grace went directly to the balcony lounge chair to relax and watch the action. We ate supper. At 7:55, she came in and gently chewed on her throw rug. After ten minutes she grouched at me and then jumped up on the sofa. At 8:15, I remembered that I had saved some fish from supper for her. We did tricks for treats. When she finished, she pulled out a bully stick and started chewing on it. Perhaps she was wanting a dental chew when she grouched.
At 8:30, I took Grace outside. She returned at 8:40. I turned out the lights, but she didn’t want to give up. Finally, at 9:00, she hopped up on her sofa and stretched out for sleep. Grace joined me when Betsy came to bed later.
Wednesday
Grace jumped off of the bed at 6:10. I got up and went with her to the balcony to hold her off for a few minutes. At 6:30, we left for Borador Park. As Grace arrived, Olivia and Rascal had just come in. Olivia started removing the stuffing from her soft toy. Her owner threw it away. They played for fifteen minutes.
Morning Friends
Grace played alone and with me until Sadie arrived at 7:45. Grace and Sadie ran, wrestled and roughhoused. Ten minutes later, Abby arrived to make it a threesome. At 8:00, Sadie left. Abby left a few minutes later and Beckham came in. He still had his medical collar on. Grace tried to play with him, but he wasn’t interested. At 8:10, Grace left.
We returned home at 8:20. Grace went immediately to the balcony as I prepared her breakfast and her pill. At 9:15, Betsy let her inside. At 9:30, Grace ate her breakfast and jumped up on the living room chair for her morning snooze.
Old Stomping Ground
At 10:15, we left to go to Salem Pond Park. When we arrived, we saw landscape workers clearing brush. We had to keep Grace on the leash. She alternately ran with me a lap and stayed with Betsy a lap. I didn’t let her in the pond. I did bring some water for her to drink though.
When I finished my running at 11:00, we headed on to storage. Grace immediately took her position at the floor by the air conditioning outlet to cool off. I directed the maximum cool air her direction. When we reached storage, we left the engine running so Grace could stay cool in the car while Betsy looked for something.
Dull Day
When we returned home at 12:20, Grace went to the balcony. At 1:05, Grace came inside and jumped up on the living room chair. After I showed her lunch. She at that and then lay by the balcony doors to take a nap.
At 5:00, I took Grace out for 5 minutes. When she returned, I gave her supper and her pill. After my supper we did tricks for chicken. Betsy and I left Grace home alone at 5:30. When we returned at 9:00, Grace was very excited to see me an greeted me with wags and kisses. We went to Borador Park where Grace met Otis. They played until 10:00. Before bed, Grace had two doggie treats. She jumped up in bed at 10:30. I joined her there a few minutes later.
Thursday
At 6:20, I got up and got ready to take Grace to Borador Park. Grace was lying on the floor next to the bed — motionless. Although Olivia and Rascal were at the park when we left, by the time we made it there at 6:40, they had left. It was a rather lonely time, but Grace seemed contented enough. Zeke passed by a couple times. Another dog said hello through the fence but could not stay.
Sadie to the Rescue
At 7:50, Sadie came in. Grace and Sadie did some of their high-energy play but were more restrained than usual. Sadie left at 8:10 and Grace followed. When we returned at 8:20, she went out on the balcony. I prepared her breakfast and pill. At 9:30, Grace came inside, ate her breakfast and napped on the sofa. When I made my breakfast at 10:40, Grace perked up. I gave her a doggie treat. She followed that with shortstop play. At 11:00, she went back out on the balcony.
Water Fun
At 11:15, I left for an appointment. Grace had her lunch and then napped until 2:15. Betsy took her to Grace Beach. When Grace returned at 3:30, she went to the balcony. When I called her inside for a bath, she came obediently and got into the shower reluctantly. After her shower, she went back out on the balcony.
Greeting a Visitor
At 4:15, my brother came by to sign a document. Grace came in and wanted to give him the royal greeting. He couldn’t accept too much affection because he was still dressed for work. After he left an hour later, Betsy gave Grace her dinner and a pill. She now has two quarter-inch hairless bumps on her left rear foot. Betsy says they are actually receding.
Evening Play
Grace played shortstop for about twenty minutes. After I ate, Grace did tricks for chicken scraps out on the balcony. Grace came in at 7:15 and shredded a doggie treat box. After finishing the box, Grace moved on to the bully stick.
At 7:45, Grace spotted Olivia and Rascal at Borador Park. When we arrived, little Lucy was there also. Grace and Olivia played for a few minutes before Abby showed up. A few minutes later, Sadie joined in. The intense dog play went on for about fifteen minutes. It was great fun. All of the dogs left at 8:20. Grace stayed until 8:30 to catch her breath. We went toward the main entrance and met up with Beckham.
Spooked
Grace was spooked by seeing just a glimpse of a strange creature. Beckham still has his collar on. They tried to remove it, but when he began licking off the scabs on his feet they determined he needed to put it on and keep it on a few more days.
When we returned at 9:15, Grace got up on the sofa. As I prepared for bed, Grace knew the routine and moved to the bed ahead of me. At 9:45, I followed Grace to bed.
Friday
At 6:00, I awoke. Grace and I got up. I let Grace out on the balcony. She stayed there a few minutes before asking to come in. I went out, hoping she would wait out there with me. The balcony door was open, so she lay on a throw rug inside the door and daintily chewed on it while we waited for some dog park action. At 6:30, we went out to Borador Park. The trash truck showed up with a loud back-up beeper. Grace and I left the park for a few minutes until the noise stopped.
Odd Girl Out
Ten minutes after we returned, Olivia and Rascal. came to join Grace. Olivia joined in with Grace playing fetch just a bit. Sadie came in early at 7:20. Grace and Sadie played until 7:40. They enjoyed wrestling, chasing and roughhouse but did not have quite the zest as usual. Reggie and Abby joined Grace next. Abby and Reggie went at it continuously for about ten or fifteen minutes. Grace was the odd girl out. She tried her best to entice the two with the rope and ball. She barked at them and tried to join in the wrestling match, but the other two just concentrated on each other. I felt bad for Grace because she just wanted to play.
Recharging
When we returned home at 8:25, Grace went out on the balcony. At 9:30, she came in and passed out on her sofa. I went running and returned at 10:15. Grace had her breakfast and pill at 10:30 and returned to the sofa. At 1:00, as I prepared my food, Grace perked back up. She happily ate her lunch and moved to the entrance to wait for her afternoon trip to Grace Beach.
Evening Out, Grace Home Alone
At 3:20, Betsy took Grace out for a walk. Grace met Beckham at Borador Park and pulled his collar off. When Betsy and Grace returned at 4:30, Grace greeted me with wags and kisses. We were going out for dinner, so I went downstairs to vacuum the car. It took two cycles with the vacuum machine to do a reasonable job just in the cab. The dog hair was no problem on the leather seats, but it stuck like glue to the carpet.
When I returned at 5:25, Betsy’s brother was there. Grace enjoys company, so I’m sure she greeted him as she did my brother Thursday. As I prepared to leave, Betsy gave Grace her supper but skipped her pill. We left Grace home alone at 5:40. I thought of Grace often as we at our leisurely meal and dessert. As 8:00 came and left, I knew she would miss her favorite evening doggie romp in Borador Park.
Excited Greeting
At 9:25, we returned home. Betsy went upstairs to get Grace as Betsy’s brother and I talked downstairs. Betsy said Grace was asleep on the bed when she arrived. Grace raced down to see me and gave me a royal greeting with feverish wags and kisses. It was as if I had just returned from a war deployment with the military. We went to the dog park for a few minutes and walked Grace as she enjoyed lots of sniffing. We returned home and together went to bed at 10:10. I noticed Grace had a toy puppy on the bed. I suppose she took it with her to keep her company and sleep with her while we were gone.
Saturday
Around 5:30, Grace had perked up. As I moved my hand toward her, she greeted it with kisses and then moved up my arm. I noticed tucked tight against her tummy was a puppy toy. It was wet now. She obviously had been tending to it earlier.
Morning Watch
At 6:05, Grace got up and went to the office ottoman to look outside. ten minutes later, she came into the living room. We went out on the balcony — I in the lounge chair and Grace on the floor by my side. Grace watched quietly. At 6:30, she briefly went inside and returned. Then she saw Olivia in the dog park. We raced down, but alas they were gone before we made it there.
Less Active Friends
At 7:15, Lucy and Bogie stopped by. Grace and Lucy played some, but they really did not click. After forty-five minutes, they left. I took Grace for a five-minute walk and we returned. Thirty minutes later, Chloe came in. While Grace greeted her with excitement, there wasn’t not much interaction after that. Chloe left ten minutes later. We finally returned at 9:10 and I went running.
Resting Up
When I returned, Grace was on the balcony. She asked to come in at 10:00 and lay on her sofa. At 10:30, Grace had her breakfast and her antibiotic pill and returned to the sofa. It was mostly cloudy outside so at 11:00, Grace returned to the balcony and curled up on the lounge chair. By 11:20, the sun became to strong and Grace came in and jumped back up on the sofa.
Friends
At 12:30, Grace had her lunch and went first to her new bed before going back up on the sofa. At 3:15, Grace went back to the balcony and at 3:30, she whined to tell us that friends were in Borador Park. Grace raced to meet her friends: Sadie, Zeke, Olivia, and Rascal. They played for fifteen minutes, but the sun came out and left all dogs panting from heat. Grace although very excited during the brief playtime, retreated to beneath the bench.
Sack O’ Potatoes
Everyone left at once. Grace followed but proceeded to park herself at each shady spot in the grass along the way. This is getting pretty annoying. I finally picked her up and carried her part of the way until she got the message. When we returned at 4:00, Grace went to her water dish. It was empty so I filled it. She just drank a little and proceeded out on the balcony until 4:50.
Hot Afternoon
Betsy took Grace out for a walk down on the Greenway to the Wessex neighborhood and back. When they returned an hour later, Grace was panting, but went out on the balcony to look for friends. At 6:00, she saw Abby running playfully in the Borador Park. Grace was torn. She wanted to go play but was sort of hot. Eventually, she decided to go. We went, but Grace did not have quite the spunk she had earlier.
Abby drank two bowls of water. Grace and Abby played some, but the heat took the steam out of the meeting. When we came home at 6:45, Grace had her supper as we ate ours. When I finished, she did tricks for chicken. After a doggie treat and dental chew Grace checked out the rainy balcony and then got into her bed where she fell fast asleep.
By 8:15, Grace was getting cabin fever. The rain had kept friends away. She decided it was time for shortstop. We played for an hour. Then Grace entertained herself with a bully stick before asking to go outside. We left at 9?35. When we returned at 9:45, Grace went to bed.