Now if you have read my previous stories, you know how much I love to do landscaping and you know how much I love my dirt. You can imagine my feelings when Dave decided to plant a vegetable garden using half of my dirt patch (no negotiations, no compensation, he just took half of my dirt……half of the area he gave me so I wouldn’t dig up the rest of his yard…….I’m told that countries go to war over such invasions…….). Not only did he take my dirt, he put a four foot wood fence around it too. It was like having the Wall of Berlin right in my own patch of dirt. This simply would not do.

My first plan of attack was simple enough…….dig under the fence, pull out all of the green beans, tomato plants, etc., and proceed to just frolic in the dirt. What a fun filled day. Well, the fun ended when Dave got home. I was once again banished to the garage but I was tired anyway (lots of work and lots of play in reclaiming my dirt) and I just slept on the mat.

The next weekend Dave took down the fence and I marched triumphantly around the yard. Victory was mine (or so I thought). Dave came home later that afternoon with something called a ditch digger and dug a two foot deep trench around his old vegetable garden. Something was definitely up. Would you believe that he built a cinderblock wall four feet high (with an additional two feet underground)? Now it really looked like the Berlin Wall! And to make matters worse he taunted me by saying….”lets see you get in there now.” Those were fighting words.

It took me awhile (three weeks and numerous attempts….hurt my paws and nose once) but I finally figured out how to get into that garden. A bucket turned upside down makes a darn good stepping stool and there I stood in the garden. Time to get to work on reclaiming my dirt! I carefully chose my first victim, bit into it and…….YUMMY! This plant was a lot tastier than any I had ever destroyed before and I figured out that the tasty part was this red bulb thing (I found out later that it was a strawberry and I have loved them ever since). Well, I tried a few more and decided that I should probably try out some of the other delicacies (maybe this garden thing wasn’t so bad after all). I ate a few round things (I think they are called tomatoes) and a few green things (beans?), and dug up a few things called radishes (didn’t like them at all) and then I came to a bunch of really small plants that smelled really, really good (this was Dave’s herb garden). A word to the wise to all of you puppies who are planning to feast in the garden………beware of things called chilies or hot peppers! They are extremely hot and burn just as much coming out as they do in your mouth!

GASP! I had to get water but I was trapped. I couldn’t jump out of the garden (there was no bucket in sight...guess I didn't plan on my escape very well) and it felt like I had swallowed a burning match………..and then it hit me. Drip system! I immediately started digging but there was no pipes to be found (YIKES) but then noticed the faucet Dave installed in the corner. Now I am usually an expert at turning these things on but my mouth was on fire and I was panicking and I just couldn’t get the darn thing on………what was I going to do? Well, luckily the faucet was high enough above the ground to allow me to use it as a step. I was finally free and drinking like a fish at my water bowl.

Dave came home and, as usual, inspected the garden. I was already to go to the garage when Dave muttered something about bugs, birds, and cats munching on his veggies (he should have known that it wasn’t a cat or bird……I am a dog after all and wouldn’t let one of those things in my dirt). I just sat by the door and grinned. In fact I grinned all evening…….. (bugs and cats…..ha……I was home free and could dine on strawberries (YUM) and tomatoes to my heart’s content)………well, smiling all evening until I got really sick from eating those hot pepper things. I was soooooooo miserable and Dave figured out why.

Now I help Dave garden and he always gives me a few strawberries or a tomato or two (that’s the deal we made for using part of my dirt……..). Maybe we’ll plant some blueberries next spring (I haven’t tried any myself yet but they sound delicious). Take care -Sheena