
When it’s chilly, we like to sit outside, wrapped up in a light blanket. Sparky wants to watch the night for invaders. I like to cover us with the blanket, and tell him that we’re in a tent. Sparky plays along until I get it out of my system.

When it’s chilly, we like to sit outside, wrapped up in a light blanket. Sparky wants to watch the night for invaders. I like to cover us with the blanket, and tell him that we’re in a tent. Sparky plays along until I get it out of my system.

Sparkly hasn’t gotten a post in a while, so here he is just before lying down to sleep.
Since he is a free man with agency, Sparky can sleep where ever he wants. I like that he’s got a favorite spot on the couch, with a couple of pillows.
Sparky often looks somber and introspective at bedtime. He might be gloomy because we don’t goof around when we go out for the last whiz of the night. I don’t want him to think it’s play time. Or, maybe it’s because he can get night terrors, so isn’t eager to go back to the land of Nod. Or he doesn’t like the blue light.
Sparky is probably just hungry.
I always take a minute to sit with Sparky to let him know that he is a good boy.
Howling with Sparky is my favorite thing.

Poor SeƱor Piglet. Being naturally charming, he likes being around people for the attention and treats. Sparky had two social engagements today, and that has worn him out.

Sparky likes being on guard duty. If a man or animal came up, Sparky’s first move would be to make friends.

Now he is asleep at my feet, pumping out sulfurous egg farts.

Sparky takes umbrage at my assertion that he has been slacking. He says that while I was downstairs huffing paint fumes, he was forging for food in the snack pit.
Sparky goes on to suggest that if I need a distraction, we could go for a car ride. Maybe Giant Eagle would give us another rotisserie chicken.

I post these Sparky-watches-me-cut-the-grass photos too often, but it’s impressive that Sparky knows what to do. It’s completely counter to his natural instincts.
Sparky likes to sniff around, chase rabbits or talk to people. That’s what he does when we go outside. When I cut the grass, Sparky sits there watching me mow. He doesn’t lay down, wander off or get too close. It’s abnormal.
My working theory is that Sparky likes to be included and he knows that I have to cut the grass, so he isn’t going to do anything stupid to get booted off of the team.

I left Sparky in the truck as I ran into the grocery store real quick.
To be honest, Sparky was probably smiling at everybody who walked by, but I like to think he was waiting for me to come back.

We went to Menards to pick up a couple of pieces of aspen wood for the headboard. I was being nice by picking up a bag of dog treats for Sparky.
Sparky made gagging sounds and said, “thunder chicken chow? bleh!”
I guess a thunder chicken is a turkey. The irony is if that if Sparky found turkey shit in the woods, he’d probably slurp it up like a jello shot. Probably. He really likes goose shit.
These treats are from Blue Buffalo, so they aren’t cheap. Sparky is going to keep getting these until he comes around or refuses treats.
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