"Morning has broken."

The clock’s projected time on the ceiling reads 7:10 am. The cats are prancing back and forth on the bed waiting for their morning sustenance. The dogs are running around with their legs crossed, their back teeth are floating and their eyes are turning yellow. Guess I better get up and let them out. I hoist myself out of bed and fumble around in the darkness to find my phone. I find it, turn on the flashlight function, and stumble into the bathroom to take care of my business then head to the bedroom door.

We have taken to locking some of the cats out of the bedroom at night so they aren’t running on the bed. The kittens are now around 8 months and nighttime is frolic time. Unfortunately, they don’t just frolic, they run full bore across the bed trampling us the entire night. This way they can leap and we can sleep. Once I open the bedroom door they are waiting to enter. It doesn’t last long, I grab the cat food scoop and open the food container.

I look up and approx. 16 eyes bore into me and the cats have turned momentarily into their carnivorous ancestors, drool dripping from their fangs as they wait, I had better hurry. When the cat food slides off the scoop and enters the bowls, you can almost hear a song running through their heads “Oh, what a beautiful morning………” as they lick the drool from their lips. I’ve got their number!

Meanwhile the dogs have been spazzing by the door trying not to pee before they get outside. OMG it has to be at least an hour since I got up and I am torturing them out of spite. I open the front door to let them out on the patio. Tristan, the cavalier/cocker mix, runs to the closest grass he can find and squats. He doesn’t do the male leg lift. I think he was born the wrong sex, he has mothered and cared for every animal I introduced to the house.

Waiting in the wings for Tristan to finish is Petey, Mr Growelnbark, the Pomeranian. Petey has little man syndrome, he waits for Tristan to finish, then pompously struts over to the spot and lifts his leg to pee in the same spot. He is “top” pee Pomeranian who struts proudly away once he has accomplished his ritual for the day. Now he can chase leaves!

As this drama is unfolding, Kailey, the keeshond, has wandered into the yard, taken care of her business, checked the perimeter, and settled down to be the yard watch dog. She is pretty casual about her watch dog duties. At first glance, she looks like she is napping, but she is the master of deception. If even one unusual scent or sound enters the yard, she is immediately at attention – her eyes open. Can’t give away the fact that she is ferocious. She lies still, assessing the danger. Realizing the threat is nonexistent, her eyes close. Kailey the guard dog has saved us once again and all is right with the world. She has earned a well-deserved rest!!