Back yard Buffet

What a day for discovery !
Waking up really frisky with the tail waving around, she is up at 6:30. Dad in shoes pants and a coat under his P.J. takes her out , like always, false alarm. Wonder why she does not want to do her business ? She sits shivering in the grass , still wet and covered with a light frost, listening to all the morning sounds.
The robins are watching the house if breakfast is coming. Gold finches still in the dark winter plumage, a towhee somewhere, the squirrels walking along the tall fence making a big detour, early crows, lot's of finches and who ever comes by to eat. Didn't see any blue jays for a while.

Dad serves a tremendous buffet for the backyard denizens. Sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, suet, shelled peanuts a 10 pound sack for 18 Dollars , sweet apples cut in half stuck on old forks, water of course, dried cranberries with sugar, peanut butter sandwiches cut in small bites.
Raisins were cheaper, but with a new doggie, and the danger with raisins, it is now sugared dried cranberries for the Robins.
In the evening the fox eats a big chunk of bison heart, not for human consumption or a beef kidney . We used to buy ground bison scraps, only for animal food. The meat packing plant mixes charcoal in it . The first time in the microwave, it started to smell and smoke, and a paper plate caught on fire.
After plenty of opportunities in the yard, Papa and Schatzi head straight back to bed. She picked the foot board as a favorite spot the first time she was put into our bed, and she still likes it there the best.
Our dachsies slept in a T- formation. Waldi between our pillows, Schnapps on a place lower and Fausti across by our feet. She also had an extra pillow for her head and slept elevated, because of a breathing problems.

For breakfast Schatzi showed more courage than yesterday. She clearly wants to eat. Carefully stretching half out of the basket she has to put her little feet on the floor. Nobody better be in the kitchen ! The " afraid of my food " routine is less scary today then yesterday. So courageous Schatzi keeping an eye on Dad, the toaster and the coffee maker, stepped out and finished her bowl.

Andy can pee and poo her the best. When they are in the yard, she learns to walk into the house, still on the long leash. She investigates the fox area, gets wrapped around the cloth line pole and panic again !. Safety is in the house now, hopefully not in a dark hiding place anymore. She walks through the door, still with encouragement and makes it.
She discovered the couch by herself. Up not a problem, but coming down fell flat on her face.
There are stairs too ! She is not quite sure how to tackle them, but she got where she wanted to go - safe in the basket.
Picking up the ancient raw hide piece that several doggie visitors enjoyed, and like a pro Schatzi gives it a few test chews. Nap time.

Dinner time worked even better than breakfast. Emmett and Andy walking back and forth - who cares ? Not me ! Not even waiting for a pause, out of her basket, eating, cleaning the bowl and done. Like she did this all her life.
It is dark now and longer than 10 hours that she peed the last time.
Andy will have to talk with her .