Mia trying to get to China

While taking one of our daily strolls through the vineyard to check on progress and attend to any issues, I noticed our dog Mia was missing. Nope – there she was, with her head down a hole in the vineyard. This is not an uncommon site, especially in the springtime. The little moles, voles, and critters who dig underground have babies this time of year and Mia can hear them and/or smell them and/or feel them in their subterranean tunnel homes. I hate to say this, but when our girl was younger, she loved to dig up the little varmint babies and toss them around. They were pink, blind and hairless. It can be so awful witnessing the wildness in your beloved house pet.

Now she still digs, but doesn’t dig deep enough or fast enough to catch anything anymore, thank goodness, but she still loves the chase.

The dirt is flying.

We adopted Mia from the Marin Humane Center in August ’05, and we think she’s probably a border collie mix.  She’s much smarter than we are, and she’s as soft as a chinchilla and as gentle as a lamb.  We got really, really lucky, and I also took her to many training classes, which she just loved.

Happy dog.

I love this dog with all my heart and obviously get a kick over pretty much anything she does.

Me and Mia moments away from her adoption.

My parents made the mistake of getting me a puppy when I was a baby, which for the sake of its safety was quickly given away. I started begging for a dog soon thereafter, and they got us Poppy, a poodle who we adored. She ran wild throughout our Madison, WI neighborhood and was, as was typical for the time – unspayed. (I will NEVER get over feeling guilt about all her many litters.) We kept one of her puppies and because poodles are black at birth, named him the only reasonable name possible – Blackie.

My siblings and I with our beloved childhood dog, Poppy.

Our next childhood dog was Choco. He grew up somewhat feral and free – like we did, and lived until the ripe age of 17.

Choco and me in Texas

I got Tara in September of 1984, right after returning from a year abroad in Italy. She saw me through the most turbulent years of my life.

Me and Tara.

In 1995, I met Tess when she was loose and ran into my house, looking for food.  I kept her and loved her from that day on.

Tess escorted us down the aisle moments after we were married.

I love dogs and hope to have them all the days of my life. Do you have dogs? Tell me your stories.

xo