Seven-month pupdate: Big Boy

Woody is taller than Lily now ... and leggier, with a more wiry build.

Make way for ducklings!

I recently signed on as a volunteer at Tri-State Bird Rescue, "a non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve excellence in the rehabilitation of injured, orphaned, and oiled native wild birds, with the goal of returning healthy birds to their natural environment." Today was my first hands-on working session. This morning's caseload included 214 birds and at this time, many of these are babies: birds who have become orphaned or otherwise separated from nest and parents. During my shift I took care of four groups of baby birds, mostly robins and bluejays, feeding them on a regular schedule and cleaning their pens about halfway through my shift.

During the morning meeting, the supervisor mentioned they had two domestic ducks who were ready for a home. I made her an offer she couldn't refuse: large pond, 8 domestic ducks already on premises, experience raising ducks from day-old, etc. etc. Yep, they came home with me. They're about 3 weeks old, very cute and fluffy. After a few minutes by the pond, we decided they weren't quite ready for the big wide world yet. We set up their habitat in an enclosed, shady area on the property. They have water, shelter, and about 100 square feet to wander around in.

Oh yes ... they also have a guard dog.

Buying Local: June 7

• Milk and eggs from Sunset View Pastures, as usual
• Broccoli, buttercrunch lettuce, and peas from Briar Hollow Farms. This Amish farm market is only about a mile from home. They have the best corn on the planet, usually available by early July. Because I tend to associate them only with corn, I'd almost forgotten about their potential for other veggies! I'm glad I stopped by.

Six-month pupdate: the effect of puppy teeth on a tug toy

Once upon a time, a family had a chocolate lab who turned five years old and received a large, sturdy "tug toy" to commemorate the occasion. A few days later, a puppy joined the family and assumed the tug toy belonged to him.

The puppy grew, and the tug "grew" with him ... sort of:

The five-year-old lab immediately placed herself directly in front of the camera lens, and asked me to make it clear that she has not lost her talent for chewing, either:

P.S. The lower-left corner of that last photo features some of Woody's earlier work ...