“What is that on my bed?”

“It is a new toy for your Birthday.”

“This is very nice. Has a strawberry finish.”

“You can taste strawberry?”

“Yes, and vanilla cream cheese frosting with sprinkles.”

“I’m amazed you can get all that out of a toy.”

“You have to have an imagination, though.”

“Ah. That is a good point.”

“Like you have to imagine this candle is peppermint.”

“Okay. It certainly looks that way.”

“Of course, the way this is made, you can’t really chew it off.”

“Looks like you are giving it a good try, though.”

“You have to pretend to snuff out the flame.”

“Did you make a wish?”

“Yeah that we go out and play.”

“You going to take the cake with you?”

“Sure. It’s new. It will never leave my side.”

“Or fifteen minutes which ever comes first.”

I see you are having an after-breakfast play session with Bee Mine.”

“Yes, Bee Mine and I have a standing date.”

“It is so nice to have a friend like Bee Mine.”

“I’m telling you, Dad, I wouldn’t know what to do without Bee Mine.”

“What makes Bee Mine so special.”

“She is always ready to play and listens to my troubles without judgment.”

“Troubles? What troubles do you have?”

“You may be the last person on Earth who should ask that question.”

“What do you mean I should be the last?”

“Well, I hate to say it, but you may not cause trouble, but you might be a carrier.”

“A carrier. What does that mean?”

“Like right now. I need to get to your other side for a nap.”

“All you have to do is crawl over me.”

“And push you out of the way. Very troublesome.”

“Looks like you managed.”

Mom’s going to exercise. Say goodbye, and I need some breakfast.”

“Here are more troubles. Will she come back?”

“Of course, she’ll be back. Why so close, chum?”

“Well, when one of you is gone, I need some comfort.”

“Or the hope of getting something out of my cereal bowl?”

“Now that you mention it, there is a certain attraction to it.”

“You have had your breakfast.”

“If you could spare a flake, it would go a long way to easing my troubled mind.”

“It’s still raining.”

“Yes, that is true, but it’s supposed to stop later.”

“How much later?”

“Let’s see. It looks like, after one o’clock, it will be light. You can go out then.”

“Paaallleeze. After one, I’ll have died from terminal boredom.”

“Oh, come on. You have enough toys to last several days. Go get the hedgehog burrow toy.”

“Okay, here it is. I already pulled out one of the little hedgehogs.”

“So there are two more. Get them out, too.”

“That’s one. No use hiding hedgehog. You gotta come out.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“I think a little tooth work is better than talking.”

“I have to agree.”

“Ha, so there it is. The last hedgehog.”

“You did it. Now go chase the burrow.”

“Nice throw, Dad. Under the couch for a degree of difficulty of 11 on a ten scale.”

“Sorry about that, but taking photos and throwing are not compatable actions.”

“Have no fear. The puma is here. Got the burrow from its burrow.”

“Good joke. Where are you going to take it?”

“Back to you, of course. You need the tossing practice.”

“You want the hedgehogs back in the toy?”

“I think an empty toy is enough of a challenge for you today.”

“Very funny.”

“So what’s going on here?”

“We are putting the legs back on the couches.”

“Okay. Why are you doing that?”

“You are well enough to use your stairs to get up on them.”

“That’s great. How about jumping off?”

“Oh no, no, no. No jumping off. Use the stairs.”

“You guys keep working. I need to do my Yogi. Downward facing dog.”

“Your form is excellent.”

“Upward facing dog.”

“Oh, come on. Not even close.”

“Yeah, you’re right. How’s this?”

“Much better.”

“I was so busy with Yogi I missed the entrance of the fuzzy white.”

“It looked like you were into it for sure.”

“What’s this white thing?”

“A device to keep you out of the dog house.”

“I get it. It protects the white fuzzy carpet. ”

“Right. Keeps us both out of trouble.”

“Sure feels good to be back to normal.”

“I see you have tried making a nest on both couches and made yourself comfortable.”

“Sure have. Wanna get that light?”

“Wait, don’t we need my leash and harness?”

“Nope, today is the day you are allowed in the yard with no leash.”

“Wow, this is different. Going down the stairs with no support.”

“I thought you would like it.”

“I do, but it feels different. There is no one leading.”

“That’s true. You are on your own.”

“Well then, see ya.”

“You go girl.”

“Hey. What’s this?”

“It is a fence. It’s there, so you won’t run onto the rocks.”

“Gee, is the turf all I get to explore?”

“No, you can go into the rock area.”

“How do I do that with a fence blocking the way.”

“You ask the friendly gatekeeper to open a gate for you.”

“Now that’s handy. I hope you will always be here to open it.”

“Don’t worry. There is always one of us to wait on you hand and foot.”

“I like hearing that. There are some neat scents out here on the patio.”

“Well, enjoy them.”

“Of course, with the damp and all, it may be time to go in.”

“It is up to you. I’ll stay as long as you want.”

Well, Dad. Part of being free is being able to decide when to go.”

“I’ll give you that.”

“Not exactly my optimum conditions. No sun and drizzle.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Let’s head for the barn.”

“You sound like a barn sour pony.”

“Well, all I know is there are snuggles inside.”

“Did you enjoy your freedom?”

“I can’t tell you how good it felt to feel the wind in my hair.

“That is music to my ears.”

“Hey, Dad. Where did the fence go?”

“Well, the doctor said you can move around the house.

“so that means I can walk anywhere I want?'”

“That’s right. You have free rein.”

“Rein? What does that mean?”

“It’s a term in horse riding. It means you are free to go where you want to go.”

“How about these ugly runners. Can we pick them up now?”

“No, they have to stay for another week.”

“The leash. Do I still have to have a leash in our yard?”

“Yes, that’s another item we must use for a week.”

“How about the height of the couches? Are they going back to normal?”

“We want to wait a while on that. You are doing so well we don’t want you jumping off the couch.”

“We had stairs. Maybe we could put those back.”

“Oh yeah and you would promise to use them each time, right?”

“Well, I would try to use them each time.”

“Let us be the judge as to when we raise the couches. We also want to put back the white carpet at the same time.”

“That is a smile maker. I love that carpet. So fuzzy.”

“It won’t be long. Till then, enjoy your freedom in your house.”

“You know it’s cold out here.”

“For heaven’s sake, you have your cougar sweater on.”

“We Texas pups aren’t used to this below-freezing weather.”

“It is 43 degrees F (6 C). Hardly freezing.”

“I think I hear some deer breathing.”

“You can actually do that?”

“Well, no. Had you going though, didn’t I?”

“I guess you did. I never know how extensive your animal skills are.”

“I do think there are some deer out here. I can almost smell them.”

“You kidding me again?”

“Heck no. Over in those trees, I think they are gathering.”

“Let’s go over there and maybe catch a glimpse.”

“Okay, we don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Believe me, I wouldn’t want anyone to know you were stalking decorations.”

“I still say there are some over there.”

“I think it is time for dinner.”

“Okay. There’s that too.”

“I’m just going into the backyard. Why the leash?

“We need to protect your leg in case you have a wild moment.”

“A wild moment? Haven’t had one of those in weeks.”

“Yes, and we must keep it like that until the end of January.”

“I don’t know, but visiting the backyard with a chaperone is not the same.”

“It won’t be forever. Just think how far you’ve come.”

“Yeah, well, at least I’m walking better. Those leaves back there need some attention.”

“You are walking better. I know about the leaves. They will be done tomorrow.

“Maybe we can take a quick sunbath. The sun is warm.”

“That’s the spirit. You want to lay on the lounges?”

“Um, no. The sun isn’t that warm. We need a geophysical boost.”

“A geophysical boost? What’s that?”

“Black rocks and exposed groundcover where Mom pulled a plant.”

“Oh, I get it. The rock absorbs the heat, and so it’s warmer there.”

“I have to wonder sometimes what they taught you in college.”

“I may have missed the class where they covered how to get warmer outside.”

“I think you guys have lost some of the skills necessary to survive out here. Too many comforts.”

“Says the dog who never wants for a thing.”

“Yeah, but I still keep my instincts sharp.”

“Like chasing things til you blow out a ligament?”

“Okay, there’s that. Let’s go in. It’s a little chilly.