Christmas Eve food preparation has begun. If we’re lucky, we might get a dividend. #dogsofbluesky

Bookending the week. One of us is ready to attack the week ahead. The other wants to nap. #dogsofbluesky

Just enough, but not too much. It was 65 degrees F warmer today than last Saturday. -20 to 45. Impressive. #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava mugging for the camera at hunting boot camp. Teacher says she is the smartest little cookie. She isn’t so little any more. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Hosting thanksgiving is exhausting. Little Ava is still at hunting boot camp so we did not get to see her. Perhaps at Christmas. #dogsofbluesky

Northern lights, live from our driveway.

Northern lights from our driveway tonight.

I think somebody is watching me. #dogsofbluesky

We will be the first to spot mom when she comes home. #dogsofbluesky

I lie in wait quietly, camouflaged carefully to surprise unsuspecting package delivery people as they approach. #dogsofbluesky

The little human stayed with us over the weekend. Sometimes we got dividends. Sometimes we were pillows. #dogsofbluesky

Our niece Little Ava had her 6 month vet checkup this morning. She’s not so little any more. She now weighs 49.7 pounds and has lost all her puppy teeth. #dogsofbluesky

There’s a critter in there somewhere. Not sure what it is , but I’m sure it’s there. And I’m never wrong. #dogsofbluesky

Mandatory tummy tax. #dogsofbluesky

Helping dad with autumn yard cleanup is exhausting. #dogsofbluesky

So this happened. I got to spend lots of quality time with mom and dad, up close and personal. #dogsofbluesky

Persistent attacks. Always. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava assists Hunter with a stick and stretches her legs on a road trip break. She’s passing through on her way home after a hunting trip to the Dakotas. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Five years ago today, Hunter came to live with us forever. He came with several intestinal parasites and severe Lyme disease. He’s all better now and we are both living our best lives together. #dogsofbluesky

How it started (me in January of 2020). How it’s going (me now). #dogsofbluesky #throwbackthursday

We are out front enjoying a lovely autumn afternoon. Little did we know that the intruders were napping in the back. #dogsofbluesky

Ava at 20 weeks old is almost as big as her mom, Mabel. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Porcupine peanut butter as my daily post-breakfast palate cleanser. I get a bedtime one, too. Vet lady has made some adjustments after my last visit, so I have some new meds and adjusted dosages to help my arthritis and allergies. Still on the shots for both twice a month. #dogsofbluesky

And she’s off at 5am to the Dakotas for her first hunting trip. She’s eating one of the apples from our orchard for breakfast. Mabel, her bio mom, will be on the trip. Every time we see her she’s more legs. At some point she’s going to be taller than us, we think. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

It took an hour for Little Ava to pause long enough for us to get these photos. She’s just here for the night to rest at the midpoint of the journey to the waterfowl hunting grounds. She’s not trained yet so is just going along for fun, not for work. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

At 1pm the first Wednesday of every month, I do my part to make sure the severe weather siren test is heard by everyone within earshot.

Great minds think alike. We’ve finished our breakfast and are waiting for mom and dad to make theirs so we can watch the football game in Dublin. #dogsofbluesky

No one at our house got raptured yesterday. We’re off to the vet for Hayden’s follow up appointment. We’ll see if anyone got raptured there and report back. #dogsofbluesky

The final game of bitey face before Ava leaves after spending a weekend with us. Hard to say if we will see her again before thanksgiving or not. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava will be 19 weeks old tomorrow and does her first water retrieve. 83F pool water is a good introduction. The water when she goes duck/goose hunting will be a little cooler… #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava has discovered the rugs by the pool. The rugs have been out in the weather for several years and were beginning to reach the end of their useful life. That process has been accelerated slightly. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava has come for another weekend visit. She and Hunter play a morning game of bitey face while Hayden rests inside the house. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Waiting patiently for mom to prepare our breakfast. We get to go to the office with her today. And little Ava returns tonight for another weekend. #dogsofbluesky

Helping dad rest after the weekend with Ava. I love the taste of his ear in the morning; it tastes like… victory. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns #tongueouttuesday

Now that little Ava has gone home we rest to prepare for her return next weekend. We are traumatized by her persistent attacks and have each others’ backs. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava is learning to come when called. She’s all legs and ears and is cute as can be. #LittleAvaRetuns #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava has gone back home after a fun but exhausting weekend. We have a few days to rest before she comes back next weekend. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava has discovered the joy of craft ice balls. Highly recommended by uncles who need a break and puppies who are teething. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Compare and contrast the American lab with her long delicate tail and the British lab with his short powerful otter-like tail. Just before the British lab has had it with the continual games of bitey face. Yup, the fun has ended. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

“Grandpa’s Garden” - still life, by little Ava #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Mom distracts all of us by being the world’s largest squeaky toy. Ava has learned that Hunter is in charge, so she shows deference whenever he’s nearby. In contrast, Hayden is often a willing participant, so she goes in hot on him at the end of the video. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

It’s all fun and games until someone bites too hard. It’s a good thing it’s fall and these perennials are done blooming for the year. They might be done for the year entirely. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava is much taller than last time she was here. She’s learning that uncle Hunter isn’t always up for a game of bitey face. Uncle Hayden is receptive most of the time. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava, who will be 18 weeks old on Sunday, getting dropped off for a weekend with her doggo uncles. Let the chaos begin! #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava comes to visit for the weekend tomorrow. Will she be the cute little puppy or a little fiend? Or both? Only time will tell. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

New blockade tactic today. Help mom get ready and prevent her from leaving the bathroom. Paws crossed. #dogsofbluesky

Riding in style in the Arthritis Express on #tongueouttuesday

Yesterday’s blockade tactic did not work. We’re trying a variation of one from last week. Blocking the way to the garage, along with the pantry and the fridge, ought to do it. The emotional appeal doesn’t hurt. #dogsofbluesky

New blockade tactic for the start of the week. If we prevent mom from leaving the bedroom, perhaps we have a better chance. #dogsofbluesky

Is the weekend here yet? #dogsofbluesky