Laying on his side...big black and hairy, he sleeps. Peacefully unaware of all around him and his big floppy lips bubble with each snore. Like on old man snoozing in his old wooden chair on the front porch somewhere, he hasn't a care in the world. Flies buzzing around him go unnoticed. The warm summer sun beats down on his furry body, warming his bones and making him cozy. Occasionally his big black front paws kick and twitch as he dreams of rabbits to chase, and rivers to forde. And all is right in his little world.

Kimi casually struts past him, looking down at him as she bounces by. He snores once, and one ear twitches. She stops and looks down at him, watching the flies, as they lazily buzz his lips. She looks up at me, her eyes dancing with delight as they catch mine. Oh KIMI! You do like to live dangerously don't you? I KNEW by the look on her devilish little face the wheels were 'a turning in there and she was about to live on the wild side for a change! Quietly her little face goes back closer to the big old black muzzle of Brigs. Slowly her tiny little mouth opens just a fraction. And as her eyes rolled back to watch mine again, I giggled under my breath as I watched her oh-so- delicately "plunk" at a long tight nose whisker still attached to his sleeping nose.

"TOIWNK" went the whisker, and Kimi wisely jumped backwards out of the way quickly, as Brigs lurched to his feet, blinking sleepily. Looking around him thru sleep hazed eyes, he spotted Kimi, right where she had jumped, with her little behind in the air and chest on the ground, tail a wagging for all it's worth. Kimi was sporting that infamous grim of hers and as Brig's eyes began to clear and focus, they widened even more by her sudden and sharp "YIP!" as she laughed into his face.

Yawning widely, a loud "GRUMPPHH!" coming out on the end of it, Brigs shook his huge head to clear it of any remaining cobwebs of sleep. As he shook his head his thick upper lips went "whap whap whap" as they flopped. Kimi stood back and laughed another "YIP!" at the noise he could make. Trying his best to not look at what he has always considered to be a pest at worst, and best to be ignored, Brigs moved to walk past her without looking her way. Our Kimi wouldn't stand for that at all.

As Brigs walked past her in search of a safer, more comfy spot in which to sun himself once more, Kimi began her bouncing tirade at his tail. One can almost hear the springs in her feet as she bounces up and down. 'BOING' 'BOING' 'BOING' she goes as she follows him across the yard. Finally successful in grabbing a hold of this furry tail she holds on tightly with her tiny teeth. Brigs barely notices the added weight hanging behind him and keeps making his way thru the back yard to find himself a shaded spot. Sliding her back feet thru the grass as best she can, Kimi hangs on for dear life and gets to go for a ride. Somewhat like a young child tries when someone drags a blanket across the floor. Coming to his own 'perfect place' to while away the last rays of the day, Brigs lays down with a large loud groan, as though wishing the world (and Kimi ) would all just float away on the gentle afternoon breeze.

Kimi drops his tail for a second and moves around to his face, where she stares intently at this lazy dropey face. Refusing to open his eyes, although I am sure he knew by instinct that she was there, Brigs rumbled a half snore, half snort thru his nose and kicked one back foot restlessly. Kimi let out a loud "YIP!" right in his face, but still he never gave notice to her presense. Kimi dropped her face a little closer to his and once......twice....she prodded him with her nose. I am still not sure if she did this to test how deeply he was sleeping or to just find yet one more way to pester him. Like a little sister would to her bigger brother. Just because she can.

Deciding he was sound asleep, therefore 'safe", she tippy-toed her way back to his tail. Carefully leaning down to pick it up gently between her teeth, one would almost think she was a thief, trying to steal off with his tail quickly, so as not to be noticed. Not so! As soon as Kimi had his tail in her mouth, she gave me a quick glance, yipped around this mouth full of fur so it sounded something like "YIFFFF!" and then she backed up a step...one more step...and then...leaning her weight into it, Kimi gave his tail one HUGE, MIGHTY, YANK!

Brigs head shot up! Startled he whipped it around to peer behind him, yet all he saw was......Kimi....laying there innocently in the grass behind him, looking around like she too was confused as to what his problem was. Just for dramatic effect I am sure, she even managed to blink sleepily once or twice. Yet if you looked closely enough, you could see just the hint of a slight grin forming. That's it! I knew it then..this was a devil child!!

Brigs looked at Kimi once more and she managed a yawn...a quite convincing yawn at that. Oh my little star actress! Deciding it must have been a bug or..something...he laid his head back down, licked his lips once, settled his chin a little more firmly into the grass and closed his eyes. Kimi waited for a few seconds. Slowly her head lifted to peek over his sleeping back. Her ears perked, eyes bright with mischieviousness, she slowly rose to her feet. Step by quiet step she creeped around behind him. Kimi leaned her tiny nose closer to his tail, closer...closer...then opening more lips than mouth , she quietly pick it up again. I had a hard time containing my mirth as I sat in my swing watching this display of puppish behavior. Carefully, and oh so slowly, she backed up a step....two steps...then upon reaching the end of his tail, she turned her head to one side as if in slow motion. Knowing she was up to something, even I was surprised when she suddenly lunged forward in a dead run! With his tail in her mouth!

Brigs jumped to his feet faster than a dog so big should be able to and twisted quickly to find his tail. Imagine his surprise when he DID finally spot his tail, only to find KIMI hanging from it! My sides heaved with laughter as I watched Brigs turning in circles to catch Kimi and rid her from his tail, only to have her hang on as though her life depended on it as she swung loosely from side to side as Brigs twisted and turned! Even from where I sat chuckling, I could hear Kimi's breathy laughter coming from her. Brigs however was NOT so amused! Now before you worry, Newfoundlands are extremely well adjusted, even tempered and tolerant dogs. I did not fear for Kimi's safety. I did however take pity on Brigs and ordered Kimi to let him go. She did so and landed with a poofy thump in the grass. Brigs turned to give her an evil glare and "HURUMPPHED" in her face. As his breath blew past her face at this, Kimi flipped her face up and yipped her joy.

Brigs turned away and lumbered over to be nearer to me, to the safety of mommy, you understand. Kimi flopped her head down in the grass, her grin as big as it has ever been. Indolently scratching at the ground, she pretended not to notice Brigs or where he had gone. She did at least give him time to settle himself once more, before planning her next strategic attack. Brigs stretched himself out full length in the grass at my feet and laid his hard head on my foot. Slowly his eyes closed once more as he shuffled his head back and forth across the top of my foot. His breathing evened out and his body began to relax as his summer afternoon nap began to claim him once again. Having a sixth sense of sorts in knowing just when Brigs has been claimed by the Sandman again, she rose to her feet. Looking around her as if to see who might be watching, her pink tongue snaked out of her grinning mouth and curled upward.

Kimi somehow knew a direct line would not be the best way to approach him this time, so she took the long way around the yard to reach his tail again. Uh...Kimi..I hate to tell you this..but there is a saying that goes. "the third times a charm". Basically it means you are pushing your luck young lady! Sniffing at some of the flowers, she cruised around the opposite side of the tree. Poking fun at the chirping crickets with her nose, Kimi spent a few seconds trying to unlodge them from the rocks they hid beneath. And all the while her busy little mind plotted and planned. You could see it in the shine of her eyes. Strolling along past the tree, she kept her nose to the ground, but her dark eyes never left Brigs 'sleeping' form.

After spending a few extra minutes to reach him, Kimi slowly edged her way toward his tail once again. Her body tense, she watched him carefully for signs of "life''. Confidant her large hairy 'brother' was asleep once again she reached in quickly to grab his tail. This time Brigs was ready for her! Up shot his head, and whipping it around before she even had time to react, he left out a HUGELY loud and resounding "WOOF!". This came out with so much force, the hair on her face was actually blown backwards like she was standing in a wind tunnel! Startled beyond belief, Kimi jumped backwards so fast she triped her front feet over her back feet and over she went! Rolling quickly to her feet, her ears standing straight up, as I am sure some of the hair on the back of her neck must have been too, Kimi had a look of shock to her. Laughing at her, I scooped her up and told her she had been warned. By me and her big brother.

Kimi rubbed her soft face against mine and laughed into my ear. I knew the little imp wasn't thru yet, but I also knew Brigs had had about enough. No matter how tolerant, one can expect a big brother to put up with only so much before losing his ultimate "cool". I carried Kimi to the house, knowing full well as soon as she had another chance she would be right back at this game of "grab the tail".

After all it was Kimi I learned this lesson from. "Giving up when it seems hopeless means someone else gets the brass ring."

walk in beauty Kristi & Kimi