Hayden and Hunter

Northern lights, live from our driveway.

Northern Lights visible from our driveway. Stunning displays of red, yellow, green, and blue hues dancing in the night sky.

Northern Lights visible from our driveway. Stunning displays of red, yellow, green, and blue hues dancing in the night sky.

Northern lights from our driveway tonight.

Hunter with laser-like focus on something in the woods.

That something (a deer) is looking back cautiously.

10 minutes after Hunter goes inside, the buck with asymmetrical antlers is brave enough to come out of the woods and look for fallen apples.

I think somebody is watching me.
#dogsofbluesky

Clearly he never took a firearm safety class.

Hayden and Hunter side-by-side gazing down the long driveway in anticipation of mom’s return.

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

It means stand in front of them until they give me a treat. The postal carrier and UPS guy know how this works. And they know that the full sized treats work the best; the mini ones are not acceptable.

Hayden nestled in the remaining shrubs near the front porch. Little Ava performed renewal pruning of one of the five shrubs in this grouping - the one just off camera to the left. Which means this is the best remaining ambush spot.

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

Hunter and Hayden hoping for dividends from the small human. Strategic placement at mealtimes is key to benefiting from the inevitable spills.

Hunter lying on the floor in the hall with the small human using him as a backrest.

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

Still a labragator, too.

If donors can pay for a White House ballroom, then they can afford higher taxes.

Our niece Little Ava sits nicely before going to the vet.

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

Totally mom. One of the seven signs of the apocalypse is her saying, “There’s too much cheese on this.”

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

Hayden lying on his back whining for belly scratches.

Mandatory tummy tax.
#dogsofbluesky

Hayden and Hunter lying in the grass surrounded by fallen leaves on a cool autumn day.

Helping dad with autumn yard cleanup is exhausting.
#dogsofbluesky

Bed bugs.

Mostly barking at critters in the woods. Probably one or more of deer, rabbits, raccoons, possums, or something. I’m a good boy and don’t go beyond the invisible fence boundary, but the newly run wire is farther into the long grass than it was before…

I’m just over here minding my own business.

Hunter covered in burrs from head to tail.

Hunter covered in burrs from head to tail

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

Hayden the British chocolate lab and Hunter the English cream golden retriever on the day that Hunter joined the family in 2020.

Hayden and Hunter, in October 2025, remain inseparable brothers.

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

Nice stick!

Hopefully the poop bags are empty…

Hayden, in January 2020, relaxing with his head resting on a stuffed animal (Horton of Dr. Seuss fame).

Hayden relaxing in October 2025.

How it started (me in January of 2020).

How it’s going (me now).

#dogsofbluesky
#throwbackthursday

Hunter and Hayden lying in the sun on the driveway and in the shade by the corner of the barn, respectively.

Two deer lying in the shade in the backyard.

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

Ava and her mom, Mabel, sharing a bowl of water.

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

Morning arthritis and allergy meds dose in a spoonful of peanut butter. Less painkiller and more joint relief plus fish oil at bed time.

Hayden in the arthritis express for the second half of a long walk. He walks as far as he can before getting a ride.

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

The buns were raptured.

Little Ava eating an apple from our orchard for breakfast before she departs on the next leg of her trip.

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