bobbing like a cork

Madison was pretty sneaky this weekend. She discovered the giant glass vase filled with corks. Corks marking special occasions, wonderful dinners, romantic vacations.

We started finding strange little brown chunks around the condo.

In an "aha" moment, Madison's foray into the cork jar was unveiled. She had been stealing and chewing corks.



The cork jug was moved out of reach, little bits of cork collected from corners and cracks, and Madison forgiven.

This morning, after taking the car to the dealer for service and transfering Madison to the loaner, H-Mom and Madison made it to the dog park. A bit late, but better later than not at all. Madison played for awhile, until an oversize hound-mix named "Duke" showed up, and H-Mom decided it was time to leave. Duke had attacked and slashed our friends little black Cocker Spaniel a few months ago, and that deserves a giant RED X, according to H-Mom.

So Madison headed over to the lake. She is no longer afraid of the water, running in, splashing, charging back to the shore, jumping into the chilly water, snapping at floating seeds and coconuts. Madison had a great time, and kept venturing a little deeper, floating for a minute before turning back to shore, then doing it again, a few feet further each time, swimming gracefully, gently, and then returning.



As her confidence grew, she ventured out a bit further. On one splashing adventure, Madison was swimming one moment and then just sank underwater, her whole head gently lapped over by the water. She seemed to sink like a torpedoed ship.

H-Mom's heart stopped. Yes, she would jump in to save the puppy, without hesitation. She caught her breath.

And then, Madison's head bobbed right back up, just like a little ... cork. And she swam calmly back to shore, clambered up to the sand and raced in a silly circle. Madison was highly entertained. The lake is wonderful.

Perhaps her cork supplements this weekend should be thanked.