The Face of a Mouser

Guinness caught a mouse last week. I think she was as surprised as we were. She was very interested in a tarp out back at the cabin and when we moved it a mouse ran out. She grabbed it and we immediately told her to drop it, which she did. It didn't move and my SO tossed it into the woods. He said it was alive. Guinness was rewarded profusely.

I feel bad for the furry little things, but we really don't want them in the house. After the mouse incident Guinness was sniffing along the wall to the kitchen and acting very interested. We set traps there for the first time and found them full when we got back.

As a true mountain woman I realize that mice can be a problem if not kept under control. Our terrier is now an official working dog and living up to her Irish farmdog heritage.

Rainy Day Puppy

Have I mentioned that Guinness hates clothes? We live in Southern California so, unless there's a blizzard in Big Bear, she really doesn't need them often. It's been drizzling all weekend so I deemed it time to break out her raincoat. Usually she runs and hides when I take it out, but I think she wanted a walk bad enough to tolerate it.

I'm not really that lady who dresses up her dog, but the rain makes her fur/hair really curly and matted so I was glad I had the raincoat in the closet.

Normally she'll just stand there, not moving, playing doggie statue. Today she was willing to work with me, although she's doing a good statue in this picture.

Winter Adventure for Guinness

Guinness has never encountered deep snow. Thursday morning we were able to get in the back yard and she was up to her neck in snow. She likes the snow but hates her snowsuit so I let her play. I must say it was fun to watch her trying to figure out what the white stuff was. She usually goes nose first and that didn't change in the snow.

Her fur is so fine that little snowballs accumulate after a very short time in the powder. Short of a full body snowsuit, for which she would never forgive me, there's not much to be done. What do snowy weather wheaten owners do? She hid from from the inevitable bath.

She helped me dig out after the storms, and much preferred to be running free without the much hated snow suit.

Guinness Likes the Snow

Guinness is with me in the mountains this week. Last November when there was a foot of snow she came back from a walk with snowballs all over her, especially her tummy. These things were not easy to brush off and necessitated putting her in the tub to melt them off.

Kenai's Corner in the Village had snowsuits that covered the tummy area so I talked myself into getting one for her. This is her first winter in the mountains. For some reason she is not terribly thankful for the extra protection from the elements and gives me a look and is all draggy-tailed. I tried reasoning with her but she still hates clothes. I let her out after this picture without the snowsuit and she romped and enjoyed the snow much more. It's still easier to take off the suit than those snowballs so she'll just have to deal.

Surfer Chick

We took Guinness to a secluded beach and let her run. She was curious about the motion of the ocean and was surprisingly cautious. Her favorite part was just running and running along the tideline. We thought that since she loves the moving water of the hose so much that she'd go crazy. I think it's a bit bigger so she didn't know what to make of it.


She was very dirty and happy by the end of the trip.

The Park Bench Cafe

We took Guinness the wheaten on another trip to Orange County and visited Potter and his humans. Potter had a special request to have brunch at a restaurant called The Park Bench Cafe in Huntington Beach. This is a special eatery that caters to canines. The plastic tables are all outside and judging from the number of dogs it's a very popular spot. There's a little lake where puppy enjoyed looking longingly at the ducks.



We were there on a perfect day. Dog watching was especially fun because there were all kinds enjoying the menu and the park.

Water bowls are even furnished. They have a human menu and a doggie menu that included hot diggety dogs, hamburger and even kibble for the dog who doesn't eat people food. Guinness wasn't sure what to do with a whole basket of hot dog pieces so we wound up feeding them to her a piece at a time - no she's not spoiled! Potter had no such misgivings and gobbled his hamburger brunch right down.