Dear Gavin,

I went exploring in the driveway today. Papa plowed the snow with that big blade on the front of his tractor. It was cool, cause I could walk and not sink down in the snow. But where are Gramma's flowers? And the grass?

Emmy was very cautious. She just watched me and Oscar while we ran. Gramma had to put down the camera because we were running down the driveway ........... we got in trouble. Emmy didn't.

Oscar stopped to lift his leg and pee on some globs of dirty snow. He said he was marking the territory to warn those bobcats not to come near our house.

Then he sniffed it to make sure he did a good job. Gramma says this is a disgusting habit he has.

I tasted the snow. It tastes just like water! Very cold water.

Are you playing in the snow today? I hope you remember to wear your gloves and hat. I have a fur coat to keep me warm! I miss you and wish that you were here to play with me.

Love, Wall-E

Lots of Snow

Dear Gavin,

Is it snowing in Minnesota? It is snowing here in Missouri. Can you see me in the picture Gramma took while it was snowing in the back yard? Gramma says that I am in my element if I want to remain hidden from any predators. I didn't even ask what that word meant. I just ran out into the snow to play. I ran and I ran. It was exhilarating, my boy. I pushed my nose under the snow and tried to find some of the toys I had left in the yard. I jumped into the air and landed in the snow. I had a great time. Oscar was a party pooper, though. He would not chase me and when I ran around him and jumped on him he growled a warning. Emmy simply laid low when I ran near her and finally Gramma scolded me for not leaving her alone. They are old, you know.

Can you see me? You can see Oscar because he is black. I am white, just like the snow and you have to look very carefully to find me.

Do you see Oscar growling at me? Not very nice if you ask me. After we came inside, Gramma told me what that word she used meant. She told me that a predator would have a hard time finding me in the snow, but that Emmy and Oscar would be easy prey. A predator would be another animal looking for food ......... like those bobcats. She told me that some predators are birds! I chase birds all the time. I will admit that I have never caught one and don't really know what I would do with one if I caught it. I have heard stories about that cat that lives on our front porch. Emmy told me that she has seen feathers and that cat has actually eaten the bird! I guess that would mean that the cat is a predator, too. Gramma explained that their are very large birds that like to eat meat and that they are so strong they can swoop down and pick up rabbits with their claws and carry them away! they are called hawks and eagles and owls.

Is there anything that Gramma does not know? I don't think there is! There is one thing that I know. I know that you are my best boy and that I am missing you tonight. I am going to bed now and dream of playing with you this summer. Don't forget to tell your mom that you must come and stay here with me.

I love you! Your sleepy dog, Wall-E

I Must Be Bored

Dear Gavin,

It was so good to hear your voice last night. Yes, I heard you calling my name on Gramma's phone! It always make me feel better to hear you. And, let me tell you, I needed to hear you last night! I heard Gramma tell you about my shenanigans of yesterday. You heard her side and now I will share my side with you.........


Gramma was in her sewing room doing whatever it is she does in there. Us dogs are not allowed in there. She calls it the dog-free zone. It is true that Oscar likes to mark everything he sees with a little squirt of pee and Gramma objects to this practice; but I do not do that! Why should Emmy and I be punished? Anyway, we all wanted her to come back into the house and sit with us, so we started howling. Howling is great fun, let me tell you! Oscar starts us off. He has a great howl and Emmy can howl good, too. I am just learning and my howl is kind of high pitched (Gramma calls it "yelpy" and annoying). Gramma came in and told us to cut it out and that she did not want to hear any more!


Oscar and Emmy stopped right away and snuggled together on the sofa. I was restless and decided to investigate all the fun looking stuff that Gramma had on that table in front of the sofa. She sometimes sews on those sock monkey things in here. There was this red ball with things sticking in it and I wanted to play with it. Oscar opened one eye and said, " I suggest you stop right now and get off the table." I hate it when he tells me what to do, who does he think he is? I grabbed that red ball in my mouth and got down.


Those things in it were sharp and some of them stuck in my lips! I did not let go, no, I did not. I shook it with all my might and those sharp things flew out everywhere. I kept picking it up and shaking it until there was nothing left sticking out. I had planned to rip this thing apart after I finished chasing it. I tried to get Oscar to join in, but he warned me that my game would not end well. I played anyway. I would pick it up with my mouth and the toss it and kick it and chase it. I was having a fine time, yes, I was. And then......... we heard Gramma coming.


I tried to act normal. Gramma was heading to the sofa and she sat down next to Emmy. She reached to pull Emmy closer and one of those sticky things stuck in Gramma's hand! Uh-oh! Gramma stood up and saw all the mess I had made and said, "Who did this? Wall-E!" How did she know? She always knows. Why didn't I listen to Oscar? Gramma cleaned up the mess and she was not happy, no, she was not. She was scolding me the whole time and Emmy and Oscar were looking at me smugly (that means that they knew I was in trouble and that they were glad that it was me and not them). Finally she picked me up and said she had to check my mouth. She told me that red ball was really a pin-cushion and that I could have been seriously hurt. I didn't have any pins in my mouth and there was no blood, so she put me down and told me to go to my kennel and stay there until she called me.


After that I got to hear your voice. I heard Gramma tell you that I had been a bad boy and ask you what she should do with me. She won't give me to another family, will she? I do not think I would like that and I promise to be a good boy from now on. I did not try to run from her when she said we all smelled like dogs and would have to get a bath last night. I stood quietly in the tub and let her wash my fur and didn't even try to bite her hands. See, I can be good!


That is my side of the story and I hope that you will not hold this against me when I go to live with you and your mom. Gramma has said that she does not know if she can let me go. She says that you will have to get another dog to keep me company. She says I am very social and like the company of Oscar and Emmy. I will tell you a secret......... I think she loves me and does not want me to leave!


I will tell you another secret......... I really love her, too. But.......you are my boy and will always hold the biggest part of my heart! I hope that you are being a good boy and that you will come and stay with me for awhile as soon as school is out.


Your faithful dog, Wall-E

Sleeping

Dear Gavin,

Is it cold at your house? It is very cold here. When Gramma gets out of the bed in the morning I like to take the covers and rearrange them around me and go back to sleep. It is all snuggly and warm and Papa is still asleep. We like to give Gramma some alone time so that she can read her blogs (blogs are stories that people write on the computer, Gramma says that I have a blog, too; she is wrong. I write letters.....to you, right?). The real reason that Papa and I like to stay in bed is because it is warm in the bed. Gramma can get the fire going good while we are warm. Pretty smart, huh?
Okay, I am up! Stop with the camera already!

Hey, Papa, are you coming? Gramma says it is time to rise and shine ......... whatever that is supposed to mean. I can rise, that means get up .......... but how do I shine? Why does she say these things? Emmy says that she means to be happy and Oscar says that she means to be brave. I am so confused. Do you know what she means?

So, I have some news for you. I have more followers! I was very surprised to know that there are other animals writing on the computer! Gramma helped me find some and I am learning about other dogs and their lives! It is very exciting to read their blogs and they are reading my letters to you and they are leaving comments!!


I must go now and read some of my friends. Don't worry, though, you will always be my very best friend. I hope my new friends have boys like you to love! Gramma says that if I am good today we can call you on the phone and I can listen to your voice! I still do not know how this happens, that your voice can come out of that tiny little phone..................


Never forget that you are my boy and I love you!


Your dog, Wall-E

Dear Gavin,

I think I might be tired of winter. Gramma says that she is. Every day is the same as the night. It is cold and dreary. I can't go out to play. The ground is wet and it squishes between my toes. It is cold. I can't sit on the ground............ well I tried it and I got all muddy and then Gramma gave me a bath. You know how I feel about baths! I hate baths. I confess that I did like the warm water Gramma used to wash me with and it was fun to chase Oscar and Emmy. Hey! They didn't have to take a bath!

Remember that I told you about the bobcats? It has been really foggy here at night. That is what Gramma called it. All I know is that it was hard to see very far even with that big light in the back yard. We went outside to go pee-pee before bed and Gramma couldn't see us very well. She called for us to come in, but Emmy didn't come to her. I came in and Oscar came in, but Emmy didn't come. Gramma called her name again and again, but she did not come. This was not good, no it was not! First of all, it is never good to not come when Gramma calls you. And second of all, Gramma sounded scared. She was scared because she could not see Emmy and there are bobcats in our woods. So Gramma went outside in her slippers and got her slippers wet and muddy and Emmy was in trouble. She brought Emmy in and scolded her. Then she looked at the mess on the floor from her slippers and she was mad about that. She was really crabby when we went to bed. She told Papa that her feet were cold and that he would be the one to take us out in the middle of the night. He didn't, though, Gramma did. She always wakes up when we want to go out.

Gramma told us that her arthritis was hurting. I asked Oscar what that meant and he told me that Gramma's bones were hurting. Emmy said that Oscar was wrong. Emmy said that Gramma's joints were hurting. I was so confused. I know what bones are. They are yummy treats, right? Well, after Gramma stopped laughing, she explained that I have bones in my body and she has bones in her body. She held my arm and showed me where my bones were. Then she showed me where two bones come together. That is called a joint. We have joints so that we can move. Gramma's joints are sick. When the weather is cold and wet her joints hurt more. She takes medicine, but they still bother her. Now I know what arthritis is. Emmy says that she knows about it because her back has it where she broke it when she was a young dog. Gee, I hope I don't get it, don't you?

Well, my boy, this is all that I can put in your letter today. Gramma's joints are hurting and she says that she is going to the kitchen to wash the dishes. She says that the hot water feels good. Gramma is a funny lady, don't you think? I hope that you are having a fun day at kindergarten and that you will come see me soon. Don't forget that you are my boy and I love you!

Your dog, Wall-E

Dear Gavin,
I have been so busy chewing up all the toys that Gramma brought back from when she went to see you. I am still a little upset that I did not get to go! I was all ready to jump into Gramma's suitcase, but she filled it full of so much stuff that I would have been totally squished!


I have something exciting to tell you about. I wish that Gramma had pictures....... But it would be dangerous for her to take them. That is what Oscar told me, anyway. We have bobcats in our woods!!!! A whole family!! With babies!!!


I heard Papa talking about these bobcats and I thought that maybe we had another cat and his name was Bob. But then Papa told us that these are a kind of wild animal. They have very sharp claws and teeth and they are carnivores. That means that they are meat eaters. I like to eat meat myself, so I was wondering why this was a bad thing. I asked Gramma and she told me that I should stay in my yard and very close to her while I am outside because the meat they like to eat is small animals. What is she talking about? Meat is that stuff that Gramma cooks and it smells yummy and she gives me a little taste and then I beg for more, right?


Oh my boy, you should sit down while I tell you this. These bobcats and other animals like them like to eat their meat raw, that means they don't cook it........ And that is not all, either. These bobcat creatures like to kill their meat.... and..... I am the kind of meat they like to eat!!!!! This is just wrong, I think. I have only gone out three times today and then I did my business very fast and came right back in. I did not run in circles through the snow like I wanted to, no, I did not!


Oscar tells me that he is not afraid of any bobcat and that he will take all the time he needs to and will not be rushed. I noticed that he came in as quick as Emmy and I, though. He said that was just a coincidence. I did not know what that meant, but Gramma told me that is when two separate events happen at the same time for no reason. He is wrong, I know the reason, he is scared! I will tell you how I know this.


When Aunt Debbie was here this weekend, that cat, Smokey (she used to be Spooky, but Aunt Debbie changed her name) came into the house. We were all amazed because no matter how we have tried to invite her in, she will not enter the house. Well, it seems that while we were gone on our trip, Smokey came inside to be with Aunt Debbie. But that is not what I wanted to tell you about. I wanted to tell you that while Smokey was inside Emmy and I were quite content to share our space with her and we did for awhile. All of a sudden Oscar realized that there was a cat in our midst and started chasing her and barking at her. Emmy and I thought it looked like fun, so we joined in. We used to play this game with that other snobby cat and he would leap up onto something that we could not reach and taunt us with his long tail. Well, Smokey decided to fight back and she clawed Oscar! I heard him cry and then he wouldn't come out from under the table. Gramma picked him up and checked him over to see if he was bleeding, but he was okay. I think that he is scared of this bobcat, don't you?



Gramma says that Oscar is all bark and no bite when it comes to cats. Why does she say these things? Is she trying to confuse me? When I looked at her she knew I was confused so she told me it was false bravado..... like that helped with my confusion. Where does she find all these words? Emmy says that it just means that Oscar acts like he is brave, but he really isn't. All I can say is that he is a really good actor. He might win an Oscar for his performance! Hahaha, I made a joke!



Gramma says that it is time to go outside for the night night pee-pee time and then we are going to bed. I bet you are getting ready to go to bed, too. Sleep well and know that I am a very cautious creature and that Gramma will keep me safe from the dreaded bobcat. There are traps out to capture them and one has already been trapped and is gone. Don't forget that you are my boy and that I want you to be careful, too! I love you.


Your careful dog,
Wall-E

Snoopy....The Cat

Dear Gavin,

We met Granddaddy's cat. His name is Snoopy. I do not like his cat! Come to think of it, I have not met a cat I like. Cats have really sharp claws. They hide these claws and you cannot see them until they release them from the hiding place in their paws. This is an unfair advantage as far as I am concerned! Advantage is a new word for you and me...... let us see what it means.

The dictionary says.......a factor or circumstance of benefit to its possessor. That means that the cat's claws are good for him to fight other animals who might think he can't fight.




Look at Emmy. She is so tiny and so sweet. She actually likes to meet new people and animals. The only time she would ever fight is if you try to take her food, then she will show her teeth and growl. But when she met this cat called Snoopy she was wagging her tail and sniffing a friendly little sniff. That mean cat pulled out his claws and swatted Emmy in the head! Can you believe it. I was shocked. No way was I getting near that cat!

Now Oscar was really upset. You see, Emmy is his wife-dog and he does not like anyone bothering her...... not even me. While we were outside at Granddaddy's house he saw Snoopy on the porch and warned him that he would get him if he got out of that silly harness Gramma was making him wear. Snoopy ran over to Aunt Glenda's yard and hid!

Well, he tried to hide, but Gramma found him with her trusty camera.

Look at Granddaddy petting that mean cat! This is just wrong, don't you agree?

I will be staying away from cats and I suggest that you do, too! I love you, my boy.

Your faithful dog,

Wall-E