Smooch is standing next to a rotting bale of straw that has been in that very spot for eight years.
Poking out of that bale of straw is a plastic steer head, used for roping practice.
It, too, has not moved, nor been used, for the past eight years.
We've been bumping into the straw bale with the steer head all this time,
but I never bothered to move it until yesterday...
...when Smooch alerted me to a possible lizard/mouse/snake somewhere inside the bale.
Erring on the side of caution, I removed Smooch to the house
before removing the bale to the compost heap and thought nothing more of it ...
until a few hours later when I let Smooch back outside and all hell broke loose.
From the decibel level of her barking, I figured at least 10 rattlesnakes
or a half-dozen serial killers with automatic weapons had appeared in her yard.
But no. She was barking at the plastic steer head,
which I had stuck in the hay stack for lack of a better place.
Smooch: EVILEVILSONOFBITCHGETOUTOFMYYARDRIGHTNOWDOYOUHEARME?
Me: Smooch, calm down. It's the same steer head that we've been tripping over for eight years.
Smooch: We're all gonna die!
Me: No, we're not.
As soon as I moved the steer head down to Smooch's level where she could get a good sniff,
she stopped barking and completely lost interest, turning her attention to something that smelled better.
I went back in the house, shaking my head but smiling, too, knowing that nothing gets past my bodyguard.
I went back in the house, shaking my head but smiling, too, knowing that nothing gets past my bodyguard.
It's a good thing. We never want to discourage the protection instinct in our furry friends. One day, it may make the difference!
ReplyDeleteSmooch was not amused eh! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to say that I love Smooch very much.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. :-)
DeleteNothing like a good sniff to verify the threat level :) !
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, maybe a short plastic cow is less threatening than a GIANT plastic cow taking over the hay wall.
Will you be hand-grazing some of the herd to reduce the undergrowth in the yard? It looks like all the rain has given the grass and weeds quite a boost.
M in NC
(who needs to mow, but it has been too muggy -- so the grass can keep growing until better weather).
The weed whacker will be hauled out again this weekend. sigh.
Deletecan't type, ROFL... you go Smooch the wonder dog....
ReplyDeleteSmooch is always on the job, always alert. She is such a wonderful dog! All of your animals are priceless. BA SP
ReplyDeleteUuuu You get it Smooch! Try painting it wacky and see if she what's to attach it again, LOL.
ReplyDeleteWow, Smooch has got some serious hackles going on there. She's not taking any crap from that plastic steer head. Love that she is such a goodie. Good Smooch.
ReplyDeleteNow on another note.....do you mean that I am going to be stuck with all these straw bales for years and years....the garden experiment was a bust and now......hmmmmm, wonder what I can creatively do with these bales? Got any suggestions?
Bummer about that straw bale garden. My only suggestion is to move them before the 8-year expiration date. The strings are pretty useless at that point.
DeleteI could tell by her language that Smooch was dead serious !!!!!!! Gotta love her!!!
ReplyDeleteI love a good watch dog. Smooch was born to be a ranch dog.
ReplyDeleteHilarious! What a good girl
ReplyDeleteHilarious. Never a dull moment on the 7MSN 4 sure.
ReplyDeleteLOL My CoCo, 1.5 YO French Bulldog, barks at anything that's out of place or new. After she makes sure we're not being invaded, she settles down. :)
ReplyDeleteMy parents' old dog used to bark at the garbage cans when they went to the end of the driveway every. single. week. I can imagine rounding a corner to see that alien-colored steer head might give me a start, too.
ReplyDeleteSmooch is one tough security guard. I wouldn't want to get caught by her.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, wondered how long that bale had been there. Smooch is one smart girl!
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope she got a treat for her good work.
ReplyDeleteYay, Smoochi-poo to the rescue! Find those intruders! Top ranch security! Woo hoo!
ReplyDelete