Sometimes daddy doesn’t remember to turn in to my store and we end up not visiting. Today I did a good job reminding him to slow down and make the blinking noise so everyone knows we’re on the way. I may have had to get a little vocal, no barking, just my usual singing so he wouldn’t forget.
If it was up to me I would park up front and race in quick. Daddy always parks far away and checks the trees first. Today we had to check the whole parking lot for some reason. Then we had to do a lot of ‘check it out’ work on the spring garden supplies. I’m not sure why I had to supervise so much. Sometimes I had to lay down and wait. But all the people were over at the magic doors.
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wow there were a lot of pallets. For some reason we had to check out each one. As you can imagine, it took far too long.
Up by the doors there were lots of families going in and out. I was busy watching them but we kept having to interrupt that and check bags of dirt and cow business. I know that smell from the farm. Let’s just say it something you don’t forget.
Eventually there was only 1 big stack of straw bales between us and the magic door. I remember straw. I helped mommy put straw on the garden a while back. She was going way too slow so I decided to get a big mouth-full and … yikes. How can something be so pokey and tasteless. I tried to chomp it a bit but that only made things worse. Apparently once straw gets in your mouth it just sort of stays there. Running doesn’t help – but that’s another story. I don’t help mommy with straw any more.
Back to the magic door – one of my favorite things. You just run up to it and it swings open. It’s fast – it’s magic. I don’t know just how fast because daddy doesn’t let me zoom up like I want to. He doesn’t like to play with the magic door like I do.
Once inside we had to take a quick turn and walk through the clothing bushes. So many of them. They used to be at a different part of our store. All about the same size but with lots of different clothes hanging on them. I was ready to lead the way of course, except we kept having to go a different way than I was leading. No bother, I’m super good at changing directions. Even on the floor with no rug. I’m good at the clothing bushes cuz I can see under the hanging things and notice boots and legs way off in front of us.
I remember when the bushes used to be at the other side of the store. I didn’t like that at all. There was a scary man there, daddy called the man “Ikan” – we was guarding one of those cardboard shelf things next to a long bush. I brushed his hand but it was really stiff and then he ignored me and wouldn’t move, even though I barked at him. We left him quickly and I haven’t seen him since. The bushes are better on this side of the store without Ikan around.
They also moved the snacks. Now they have some snacks in boxes for me on the bottom row. That is super convenient, although daddy didn’t seem happy about that.
Then I had to wait behind some tables while people looked at the peeps behind the garden fencing. I really wanted to see the peeps, but I guess we didn’t have time. I know I could clear that fence.
We turned a corner instead and there was this really small dog – he was walking his person through the store too. he only came up to my ankle. After sniffing hello, he started talking and I just looked back at daddy.
Then we got caught up in a long line of people waiting to have their pictures taken with a really, really big rabbit. He was on that bench where I met the big man in the furry hat last Christmas. All the kids were wagging and happy about the big rabbit. We had to keep moving.
Then daddy was looking at stuff we’re gonna do this spring. I like his part of my store. It smells like motors and oil. Projects – one of my favorite words. That’s when we do the big stuff around the house and the yard. We usually do the big stuff for mommy so it’s sort of special that daddy helps me with things. One time we had to move the trash cans – I got the lids and that went really well.
Projects this time of the year when the snow is almost gone are the best. There’s usually a lot of sticks and the ground smells so good when everything is muddy. Daddy and the people there were all talking about projects. And they kept saying “still” so I just waited.
I’m super good at waiting. Maybe one of the best. I know that because daddy always tells me “good girl” after. I’m also super good at greeting people – and especially at noticing people who need to be greeted. I’m even better at the spring up to say hello move. I know I’m better at that because sometimes daddy doesn’t even notice people who need to be greeted. We’re a good team daddy and me, because I make up for things like that when he misses them.
Then when we left the store, we had to check the parking lot again, and then go back in. Magic door, twice! This is a great day.
All in all it was a great trip except for the new person at the counter. Usually they know to give me my cookie when I put my paws up on that screen daddy taps before we leave. Today there was a new person there who came around to see me in the isle. I think daddy was talking to her as we got to that part, my mind was all about the peanut butter cookie smell I picked up early.
Having her greet me would have been nice, but it was confusing. I could smell she had the cookie but she wouldn’t let me have it. I looked back at daddy but he didn’t seem interested. Finally I just gave up and sat down to figure things out – just then she gave me the cookie! I guess I gave up too soon.
I had a big drink at the car – perfect to finish off the cookie. And then I had a really good nap when I got home. I wonder if we’ll start projects tonight.
A Walk With Me 