Note to self: Do not drink regular iced tea after 5 PM again. Lest you again be up and wide awake until 4 AM.

That should tell you how today went. Or, at least, the morning. Didn't sleep in any later than normal, though.

Not with the cold little heeler's nose nudging my neck...

"Hey. Get up. We're hungry and she's done eating. We need more breakfast."

Really. That's exactly what she wanted.

The afternoon was pleasant, though. Picnic in the park with eldest son, his girlfriend, their corgi, and us and the heelers. Food being take-out from our local famous Mexican place. All was well, except for eldest son eating the extra chicken sopapilla that the wife ordered for the dogs.

We won't say anything about his girlfriend spending most of the picnic reading the Deathly Hallows. Really, we won't. Because we all know, when asked what she wanted to do all day, she answered, "Read my Harry Potter book."

And he set up this picnic anyway.

The corgi had great fun playing frisbee. And warping around the park and bushes when we didn't keep the frisbee flying enough.

Heelers are still less than happy with the puppy. Lots of nipping and feints on the walk over to the park, and back.

On her home turf, it is often hard to remember the masked heeler is blind, now. She negotiates so well. I've watched. She uses her feet to tell when she's reached sidewalk or grass. The entire run to the back yard is done by keeping her feet on flagstones.

But on unfamiliar ground, you are very soon aware you have a blind dog with you. Smacking her head I don't know how many times on the picnic table. Walking into trees and bushes alike. Heading straight for the street.

Her nose is still fine. Found a regurgitated quarter of a rabbit from half a block away. Downwind. Just caught the scent and slowly walked a beeline right to the slimy carcass.

But she had almost no fun in the park. Carefully wandering off to check new smells, but if we weren't making noise, she couldn't wander back.

As we prepared to leave, I made a last dash across the open lawn, a corgi and sighted heeler on my heels. The unsighted sister tentatively stepping a few yards into the sun.

Oookay. I should have worn my bell.

So, we made yet one more dash across the open space. Me shouting the masked heeler's name, and encouragement, and just plain gibberish all the way.

With a target to aim at, she trotted alongside the other two.

Wagging happily on the stroll back to the table.

The walk home was nerve wracking for her, weaving left and right like a drunk sailor, bumping into people and corgis alike because she couldn't walk a straight line, even on a leash.

Wife almost tripped on me when I suddenly veered left and guided and dragged the heelers to the trashcan by the post office. But just one or two whiffs, and suddenly I had a new dog on my hands. She knew exactly where we were.

And exactly how to get home.