Experimenting Through Life: The Chore Swap

Meet our 2 year old dog, Holly. Holly is the reason for almost 75% of our chores. 2 Januarys ago, we adopted this very precious dog when she was just a few months old and our house has never been the same. Before Holly I cleaned the whole house only once a week. Now? We have to dust the house at least twice a week, sweep the floors at least 5 days a week, mop the floors AT LEAST twice a week, vacuum the couches and rugs every other day, and pick up muddy messes, coconuts, and other random debris a few times a week. She is a beautiful beasty mess, as much beast as she is beauty.

We (or I should say, I) had all the intentions in the world to train her to stay off of the couches and beds, but look at her? She is impossible to say "no" to. Our older dog, AL, does not shed, so, we let him on the couch. Holly, in the otherhand, sheds what seems like 3 coats of fur a day. Training Holly to stay off the couch would have meant that she was the only member of our family not allowed on our couches. This felt wrong...discriminatory almost. She looked so sad when we would demand she return to HER spot on the...floor. She would look up at us with those eyes and no one could turn her away. I thought, for sure, when I divided the "Holly" labor amongst everyone, they would be inspired to renew the "off the couch and beds" training. No such luck. This family will vacuum five times a day for her, we will mop up the mud-art she tracks through the house, we will pick up coconuts and twigs and branches and palm fronds, and you name it. We love our little beast just as much as we love her beauty. The rest is a photographic ode to Holly. A few pictures tell you all you need to know. Enjoy!

The Guilty Holly, "What? You don't like the mud footprint art I made for you?"

Holly still stares at us when she first hops on the couch, as if to say, "I'm going to sit here, okay?"

Holly and her BDFF, Best Doggie Friend Forever, AL-dog. He was the bad influence who showed her how to lay on the couch and the beds.

Holly does not let a good rainstorm go to waste. The minute the rain begins, Holly makes a mad dash to take full advantage. This is what she looks like on most summer days in South Florida. Oh, what fun it is to clean up after her on a rainy day.

She loves to chase all things that fly: butterflies, dragonflies, or birds. This can entertain her for hours. So happy she has yet to catch anything. I will not look forward to cleaning up any "gifts".

Jungle Holly. Lizards beware. This is where she likes to gather her mud for the mud art.

Splashing in rain puddles before she makes her way back in the house.

Chasing lizards and butterflies and making mud-art and rain dancing is very hard work. This is Holly. Sleeping at the end of my bed. Yes, my side, of course.