Starbucks Run

This morning I asked August to run to Starbucks and get me coffee. Edward, of course, immediately piped up that he wanted to go to and to, "Take Red Rocket." Emma and Maggie, of course, were not about to be left behind so they all bundled into the truck with Emma and Edward in the back and Daddy, Maggie, and Red Rocket in the front.

Dinner Date

Red Rocket supervises as Edward eats his macaroni and cheese.

The Knight and the Dachshund

One of Edward's favorite books is The Knight and the Dragon which tells the story of a rather clumsy knight and an equally inept dragon who decide they need to fight each other but make a mess of it and end up opening a BBQ restaurant together. This afternoon Edward and Red Rocket reinacted the book's narrative using a lawn sprinkler. They both ended up soaked and came together over a pile of towels in the pink rocker.

Video Game Rehab

Red Rocket has developed a sure-fire cure for Daddy's video game addiction: smother the player with kisses and leave him incapable of playing the game.

My Family Went to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and All I Got Was This Stupid Paper Hat

Eight Legs

To Red Rocket fans in the Indianapolis area: my sister Sarah has a friend who has had a job change and needs to find a new, loving home for her two dogs, Charlie and Emily. They are housebroken, crate-trained, spayed and neutered, have all their shots and they're cute to boot! (And as you can see from the attached photo, they both can smile for the camera!) If you're interested contact: mmletourneau@comcast.net

A Kiss for Sis

Red Rocket turns and gives Maggie a smooch as they head outside after dinner.

Case Number 07202009 Elves of the North Pole v. Red Rocket

Case Number: 07202009

Elves of the North Pole v. Red Rocket

Charge: Murder of Santa Claus Dog Toy

State charges that on or about July 20, 2009 one Red Rocket, dachshund, did willfully and intentionally unstuff and destroy a treasured relic of Christmas past, one Santa Claus dog toy. State further notes that the said defendant, Red Rocket, was caught red-pawed in the act and was immediately sentenced to confiscation of fluff.

Big Game Hunter

Inspired by all of the travel themed merchandise that Rebecca and I have been acquiring to decorate my new Associate Director's office, Red Rocket engages in a "big game hunt" photo shoot to provide the perfect picture for my desk at work. In his mind he is a big red lion tackling a large gazelle rather than a miniature dachshund chomping on a stuffed chipmunk.

Facebook Disaster

To those who have requested a "Friends of Red Rocket" Facebook page: I tried. I failed. My suspicions that Facebook and I would not be compatible partners were confirmed (multiple times.) I am content to blog...

Aftermath

In these photos Red Rocket is shown dealing with the aftermath of Aimee's birthday dinner party. The excitement of fine company and fine carob-dipped biscuits left him with a full tummy and a bout of exhaustion so he took to our bed and ensconced himself on top of a pile of down pillows. Later he had to endure a grooming to remove bits of sticky raspberry frosting from Aimee's birthday cake that somehow made their way onto his head.

Dinner Party

All of the dogs and cats look forward to my dinner parties. Sophie knows that if she gets up on the dining room table as I'm trying to set it she can get an extra meal as bribery to stay away from the china and crystal. In addition, all the four-legged members of the family know that if my friend Aimee is invited to the dinner that she will smuggle in contraband cat and dog treats in her purse. Tonight, in honor of meeting Red Rocket, Aimee splurged on carob-dibbed dog biscuits from Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates and Red Rocket spent an hour after dinner warming her lap in gratitude for this tummy-tempting gift!

Caught in the Rain

Late this morning Red Rocket was meandering in the yard and somehow discovered an ancient, gigantic rawhide bone that some former canine occupant had hidden in a safe place. He dragged this bone (about the same size as he is) up onto the deck by the back door and stood guard over it. However, a late morning rainstorm blew up before we realized he was still outside and he proudly endured the downpour in order to protect his prize. The photo shows Edward and I drying Red Rocket after we coaxed him inside. (Emma ended up with the bone!)

Bath Supervisor

Red Rocket supervises the bathing of a Spiderman doll during Edward's nightly bath.

Wrestling

Red Rocket loves to initiate wrestling matches with Maggie and he playfully chest bumps her and nips at her ears to get a response. These head-to-heads are short lived as Emma usually intervenes as if to say, "no roughhousing!"

Injecting Puppy Spirit

Bringing a puppy into a home occupied by two "middle aged" dogs always injects a youthful spirit into the environment. Tonight Emma caught the puppy spirit and joined in a game of tug-of-war with Red Rocket and then happily participated in a game of "chase around the table" with Edward and Red Rocket on the deck.

Fastest Dog in the (Mid)West

If we ever had to rename Red Rocket we might call him "Bolt." This would capture his fast running ability as well as reference the immense speed with which he consumes his meals. I don't think he chews, I doubt he tastes, and I know he worries that if he doesn't eat at warp speed the others will get his food (because he certainly attempts to invade theirs after he finishes!)

Dogapalooza

The people who live behind us have three dachshunds and our yards are divided by a chain link fence. This allows Red Rocket and Maggie to commune with other creatures of their breed on a regular basis. Usually, these conventions occur in the mid-morning when Maggie and Red Rocket hear Gabriel, Lexi and Odie barking. Our dogs charge the back door, jumping in anticipation. When they are released they race across the deck and into the yard where they congregate at the back fence and commence a running back and forth and barking ritual which we have dubbed "dogapalooza."

More Tug of War

Edward and Red Rocket participate in yet another game of tug-of-war. Red Rocket loves it and Edward giggled the whole time.

Passed the Baby Test

Red Rocket has passed the baby test with flying colors! He was sweet and tolerant offering lots of kisses.

Bathing Beauty

While visiting the backyard Red Rocket discovered something wonderfully smelly to roll in... He came inside and jumped into my lap and was immediately transported to the bathtub for his first bath at our house. He managed to jump out of the tub twice before we were even able to get the water running! Then, however, he resigned himself to his fate and after being scrubbed with sweet smelling shampoo by Daddy and Edward he was delivered to Mommy who rocked him in the chair wrapped in his bath towel while he dried off.

Reading Buddies

Edward loves to read to Red Rocket. This morning as I was getting dressed Red Rocket was on the bed and Edward came running in with a book. Red Rocket immediately moved to the side of the bed and settled in for a story!

In a Former Life

I'm convinced that in a former life Red Rocket was a mountain goat. He loves to scale staircases, furniture and piles of toys. The first few days he was with us he attempted to jump down from these heights but quickly discovered this was not a good idea. So, he has learned the art of a high-pitched whine which he employs when he wants us to come get him off the bed, off the table, or down the stairs. We're actually happy about this as it will protect both his back and his good leg.

Sunbather

Red Rocket enjoys a morning of sunbathing on the deck.

A Quiet Evening at Home

After a chaotic holiday weekend we all enjoyed being back at home. Red Rocket supervised the loading of the dinner dishes into the dishwasher then listened while Edward read him a bedtime story and finally fell asleep on Mom's shoulder.

Fourth of July Weekend

We headed to the Texas Hill Country for the 4th of July weekend and took the dogs with us. Red Rocket proved to be an excellent traveller who spent the 10 hour drive in any lap that was available. At Grandma and Grandpa's house Red Rocket was surrounded by four children under the age of 6 and he passed the kid test with flying colors often joining in their games (see the photo with Edward clinging to Daddy's right leg and Red Rocket tugging on his left! He loved playing tug-of-war with Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Dixie and, much to our dismay, loved rolling in the warm, dry grasses of the yard (liberally sprinkled with deer poop...)

Afternoon Nap

After an active morning of playing with the neighborhood kids Edward and Red Rocket crash on the couch together for an afternoon snooze.

Little Girls and a Little Dog

The dachshund I had as a little girl had the patience of a saint. She endured hours of being dressed up in doll clothes, wrapped in baby blankets and pushed in a stroller or rocked in a cradle. This afternoon a group of girls from the neighborhood came over to play with Edward but Red Rocket quickly became the focus of their attentions. They wrapped him in a baby blanket and put him down for a nap and he wagged his tail and licked their hands the whole time.

ANOTHER NO ACCIDENT DAY!

Two days in a row with no accidents in the house! Way to go Red Rocket!

He Snores

We love him, even though he snores...

Doggie Disney

Red Rocket basks in the domestic equivalent of DisneyWorld for dogs as he lays amongst a pile of stuffed dog toys and chomps on a beef-flavored chew stick. Since he's missing a front leg he can't grasp the chew stick between his paws so he props it against a stuffed turtle for support. He's a very intelligent dog who quickly and cleverly finds solutions to compensate for his missing leg.

His Spot on the Bed

When Emma and Maggie were adopted they both established their sleeping spots on our bed the first night and have slept in these places ever since. Red Rocket, however, is less decisive and has spent the last five nights experimenting with different locations on our bed. The first night he slept between us, on his back, head on the pillow. The second night he burrowed under the covers and curled up in the lower left corner of the bed by August's feet. Night three found him on top of the covers at the end of the bed on my side. On night four he slept on the upper right corner of the bed on the pillow next to my head. Last night he started on the lower right corner of the bed on top of my robe and then moved to the direct center of the bed where he lounged on his back. Will he find a permanent spot or is he a bed wanderer?

NO ACCIDENTS TODAY!

Tuesday, June 30th was Red Rocket's first full day without any accidents in the house!