Mr. Murphy and the Wheat Field

I wanted to share a funny story with you today. You have to understand that Murphy and Niles were raised initially as "city dogs". They had their leashes ( we call 'em "walkies" or "walky-walkies") So when I found our country home, the boys ( this was before the girls came ) were not so sure about this; Niles, in particular, when we first came to the house, looked at me like I was crazy. I tried to take them out of the minivan we had then (AKA the BTV; bulldog transport vehicle) and told them "come on". They both refused to leave the van; here's the "conversation": "Boys, come on you are home, we can go off-walky" Boys, " What, no walkies. are you trying to kill us" Me" No, really, it's okay!" Them" We only go off walky in the dog park, THIS is NOT the dogpark!" Me " No but this is now your own bully dog park"

After much hemming and hawing, they finally left the safety of the van, acting as if I were indeed plotting their demise. Niles walked around the front of the house and came running back to me. He did this several times; always looking up at me like" is okay, you sure is okay?" Murphy never left my side. He did go water a tree that was very close to me.

I took them out in the back; there is nothing but land as far as the eye can see. I love this. I have no one on either side of me for miles; there is a neighbor across the street kinda "catty-corner" I guess, but not right up on top of me. Then her son lives I guess about half a mile or so down from us to the west on the same side. So, we have ROOM to breathe. Over time, the boys morphed into "country dogs". They love their huge dog park!

Well, most of the land around my house is owned by the man that originally rented this house to me; later we bought it from him ( and not cause I like this house very much, but because of the land/space) This year, he planted wheat; and I think over by his dad's home some corn.

Mr. Murphy is pretty much the color of the wheat. From the time it began to shoot up, Murphy would go out and watch it, sniff and and yes, water and fertilize it! LOL. After a while, it got nice and tall. Murphy loved to go into it and hide from his mom; he would wander into it and be the big canine adventurer; seeking out new lands to explore! ( I think he watches too many of those nature shows with his dad) It became so thick I couldn't see him. I am overprotective of him, so I would chase him out.

He did not care for that; he would fuss and walk as slowly as possible! Bullies are very passive-aggressive at times; and they back talk a lot. He often was found eating on the wheat. YIKES! So on we went; Murphy hiding and me fussing at him to stay out of the wheat. I think he loved hiding from us and watching us secretly; I think he wants to be a canine spy!

You know what happens to all crops eventually; they HARVEST them. Oh no! Yup, they came one day and brought the big John Deere ( which the boys love!) and then it was gone. I took all the babies out that evening to play; Murphy made a beeline for his beloved wheat; then he SAW it; OH NO!!!!! MY WHEAT HAS BEEN STOLEN!!!

He gave me a look like I stole his wheat, I told him the farmers needed to take it; he was so upset he stomped right into the field and smelled every bit of the wheat bits that were left. And now, everyday, when we go out, he looks for his wheat to grow up again. I have explained to him that it probably won't grow up again this year, but Murphy has faith in his wheat. He often sits out there surveying " his land" and his field where the wheat once hid his secret bully doings. And he waits.