First Strokes.........

On January 8th, my Mom and Dad took me to visit Dad's sister in Florida. From the frozen tundra here in Northern Illinois to a balmy 84 degrees. Wow, heavenly! I didn't like the grass in Florida. It was so deep and prickly, like maybe walking on a cactus. The neatest thing was I got to go swimming for the first time in my 4 year old life! I was a natural! Applause not necessary, please. I loved the heated pool and Dad carried me all around. It was so warm and nice, and then he put me out level and gave me a push and voila! I swam to the stairs at the end of the pool. Was that cool, or what. When we left to go back home it was 74 degrees at about 4 AM and the temp dropped steadily all the way home, and when we got back to the Chicago area it was 11. UGH! Now we have a foot of snow. Snow tastes neat. Dad says don't eat the yellow snow, but I knew that. Yellow snow is just for sniffing. Bye for now, Love, Daphne

I know I am really cute, because everyone tells me that ALL the time, but I couldn't figure out why every time I went out to go potty, my parents always go out with me. Didn't they trust me to do my business? Did they think I was going to run away from this wonderful place? I DON'T THINK SO! So what was it? Then, I heard dad tell mom to stay within a close distance from me when I was out because he had heard two OWLs talking to each other. Dad had looked up the hooting sound on something called "the internet" and said it was a GREAT HORNED OWL. I have never seen one, thank goodness! I guess they weigh 5 lbs., have a five foot wingspread, and catch prey up to 15 lbs. Since I weigh 9, I guess that is why they are worried. THEN, I heard them talking about something called a COYOTE! It's like a real meany that can climb fences up to 8' tall to get a cutey like me. And they don't just want to "Play." I'm glad my parents are so worried about my protection, and I certainly hope the parents of other small dogs don't take any chances with their loved one's safety either. Bye for now. Love and hundreds of kisses to all, Daphne