Pip in a bow

I am just not the kind of person who puts a bow on her dog, but today Pip has one, so this may be your last look at Pip in a bow.

Baby's first haircut

Stephanie, Pip, and Felicia at From Top Knots to Tails

Pip didn't really need a haircut yet, but I wanted to see how she did with a professional groomer. One of my facebook friends, Stephanie, works at a place called From Top Knots to Tails, and I decided to try it out.

Pip was apparently a very good little girl. I don't know how long the bow will last, but my mother-in-law got SUCH a kick out of it that I'll probably leave it on for a day or two.

Ain't she pretty?

Baby's first weekend without Mommy

I had to go to Kansas last weekend for the Wings 'N Wetlands birding festival. I left early Thursday morning and didn't get home until Monday night, leaving Pip at home with Russ, Tom, and my mother-in-law Helen. By all accounts, Pip was very "mopey" for the first two days, but did great and it was a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to bond with her without me being there--when I'm anywhere near, Pip sticks to me like glue. Tom said that she ran to the door to our garage when she heard the car arrive, and the moment she heard my voice, started quivering and wagging. She was SO happy to see me. Perhaps even as happy as I was to see her!

Pip goes to Goose Pond

Pip got a kick out of running along in the grass after being cooped up in the car so much of the weekend.

I had to drive to Chicago this past weekend for a very sad event--one of my dearest relatives, my Aunt Marilyn, died last week, and the funeral was on Saturday. Pip was wonderful company in the car. We stopped at Goose Pond on the way down Friday, but didn't get there until sunset, so it was too dim for photos. But on the way back up on Sunday morning, it was lovely. Pip was fascinated with a Red-winged Blackbird on Prairie Lane, and with one Tree Swallow that sat on a bench. Pip does seem to realize that if we move toward birds, they fly away, so she stayed close while we watched him.

I haven't had much time to get out birding with her, so her lifelist is only at 78 after our trip, and #78 was actually at home when we got here Sunday afternoon--an American Tree Sparrow. We're still missing some shockingly easy species, such as White-throated Sparrow, so if I have a chance to focus with her, her list should start growing by leaps and bounds.

At first the swallow gave us a long, hard stare.

After being reasonably certain we'd stay put, the swallow checked out other things.

Pip visits KUMD

I went into KUMD today so Lisa Johnson could record an interview with me regarding my new book, Into the Nest. The interview will air on her book segment on Thursday morning. Pip is excellent at being quiet when her mommy is blathering about birds or books, so she came into the studio with me.

They had trouble getting a level for Pip, so you'll probably not hear her on the finished interview, but she strongly recommends my book, in particular because Marie Read did such a splendid job as the main photographer and the photo editor.

Pip approves of my new book!

Ring my chimes!

Pip has a tiny little whine, which she uses when she has to go outside, but I'm not always in the same room to hear. So she now has a somewhat louder way of letting me know when she wants to go out. She is very consistent about ringing her chimes when she has to relieve herself, but has also learned that I instantly take her out no matter what, so she also uses the technique when she wants to go out and play.

Pip loves cat food--even their empty dishes!