Fleas!

     Five dogs, five baths!  Dawn Dish detergent kills fleas on contact.  While hubby is treating yard for fleas with whatever flavor of the month flea killer.  I  put dog bedding and whatever rags they use for tug of war in the washer to soak in bleach and vacuum the kitchen, computer room and porch (the only areas dogs are allowed. I empty vacuum of whatever creatures were lurking in crevices and put vacuum away.  I am already tired.
     I get out the doggie towels , close all avenues of escape and take a break.  I have 10 soulful eyes watching my every move.  The  four Lhasa apsos get baths in the kitchen sink.  Blondie at 65 pounds gets the shower in master bedroom.
     Petey, the alpha male in spite of his diminutive size gets to go first.  He hates baths the most and is a handful I rather face before I am exhausted.  Now Petey loves water.  He went into the lake after ducks at age eight weeks and about gave me a heart attack.  On the trip to Connecticut he took a dip at Kent Falls, amusing tourists as his fluffy coat spread out around his six month old body like a halo.  On the way home he swam in the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey but did not like the taste much.  He also swam in the Tarheels Creek in North Carolina.  He is forever taking surreptitious dips in the garden pond.  But he hates baths!  Go figure. He only ceases wiggling to be towel dried.
     Marshmallow or Happy Tail as she is better known because her little tail is always going is next.  I originally named her Marshmallow because she is all white.  But she rarely is all white as she loves to play in dirt. Now she is not happy.  She too hates the bath, she hates water period!  She insists on sharing her bath with me!  She splashes, squirms, tries to climb up onto counters, faucets, me!  After she is towel dried I need a break.
     Now for Bear.  He was originally Buttons because in his white face, his black eyes and nose looked like buttons.  But Lou did not find that masculine enough so because of his unruly mop, he became Bear.  He is not particularly happy about baths but does not want to disrespect his manly name so at least he stoically stands still.  Everyone got clipped yesterday except Blondie who has short hair.  The like being clipped about as much as they like baths except for Precious.
     Precious April Love has become Mama Dog. Not so much because she is Mama to Happy Tail & Bear or that she adopted Blondie who out weighs her by 50 pounds as her newest pup.But because Lou cannot remember her name.  But she is precious. By now Lou has finished spraying yard and porch so he gets to bathe Precious while I do Blondie.  Precious loves baths and haircuts.  She stands perfectly still and will even lie down in the bath.  She is easy for Lou to manage and easier on his back then bending over Blondie in the shower.  We both finish at the same time and since all is dry outside, the last two dogs do not need toweling and are allowed to just run out with the other three.  We all go down to sit on the dock while the last two dogs air dry in the sun.  Everyone of them falls asleep quickly. Surprisingly none of the dogs sported many fleas.  Hopefully we have gotten them under control after a two year struggle.
     It was hard work but both Lou and I are glad to have some time off from painting.  His back ( several herniated discs) and my artificial knee are acting up.  It is true when they  say 'Old age ain't for sissies.'