Day 577

This is a happy Ranger! All four Goldens know the morning routine which starts with a bowl of kibble mixed with Blissful Belly. Next, Cheerios are shared and finally, peanut butter-filled bones polish off their breakfast. However, Lilly and Ranger get an added treat. When the humans are done with their cereal, the senior pups get to lick the remaining delights from the bowls. (I promise the bowls are washed and then run through the dishwasher! Cross my heart!)

Seeing my big boy snuggled up to his bowl reminded me of a wonderful family story about my Uncle Chuck. Living in Brainerd, he was known for his smile and kind demeanor. Everyone seemed to like this man and many friends would drop in to visit their home by the river. Always the jovial host, he seemed to love people surrounding him...until one family took it a step too far.

Every Sunday, a particular family would "drop in" about an hour or so before dinner. My Aunt Ruth would feel compelled to invite them to supper and they would always accept. She finally talked to my uncle and told him that this had been going on long enough. He smiled and said, "Don't worry...it will only happen one more time. I will take care of it."

The next Sunday, true to course, the family arrived and stayed long enough to get the invitation to stay for the meal. After the dinner was over, my uncle told everyone to keep visiting while he cleared the table. Taking the plates, he laid them out on the kitchen floor and proceeded to call the family dog. The pup was more than happy to clean all of the plates! When he had his last lick, my uncle stacked the dishes and placed them in the cupboard! The family watched with interest followed by horror as they thought about the many meals they had eaten off of those "dog-cleaned" plates! They never chose to eat another meal at my uncle's house!

If you are ever at my house, I promise that the plates go directly from the dishwasher into the cupboard...even if there is a "pre-wash cycle" for the breakfast bowls!