thirty six

Meet our good dog Leroy.

He is affectionately called "Owie" by Ella. They're good buddies most of the time, unless either of them is out of sorts. He is a Kelpie, known for their hard work and limitless energy. Sounds like a cowboy's dream right? Actually, Leroy looks forward to quiet days at home with me and the girls. I hear he's a pretty hard worker when he's on the job and moving cows, he'd just prefer to be at home. He loves exploring on walks, chasing away any animals that might be in our 10 mile radius. He barks at birds, plays fetch for hours, and loves sharing snacks with Ella. The snacks he will not share are various animal bones and parts that he has scavenged and brought back home to rest in peace in our yard. (thank goodness he doesn't share those!)

He has been a great dog. We've had him since he was a pup and while he's been a handful at times, we love his company. He loves to give kisses and have his ears rubbed, but is frightened by our fat ringleader cat Tank and the rest of the feline brood. If you haven't met him yet, your shoes are probably dry, as he tends to give happy puddles when meeting someone new.

So what exactly is the meaning behind thirty six? Well, it's not his age. Not the number of treats Ella gave him today. Not how many birds he successfully chased out of our yard.

It is, however, the number of porcupine quills Spencer and I pulled out of his mouth last night.

Poor Leroy, those buggers are sharp! Life on the ranch provides never a dull moment.

(As of today, he is recovering just fine, swollen gums and all, and has hopefully learned his lesson. Maybe third time's a charm for him!)