This is Bella, my new puppy and service dog in training. She is a 9 1/2 week old, Lab and totally awesome! The breeder, Jeana, did such a fabulous job preparing her for her trip from Oklahoma to Alaska.

As you know, we have sled dogs – Alaskan Huskies and Malamutes. I’ve been a musher for almost 30 years and have loved and been loved by many dogs. The majority have been born in the kennel and drew their last breaths here too. And of course there has been the occasional rescue and it’s been a joy to watch these frightened, abused creatures find their home here and a place on the team.

And then there was Caleb. I found him in a fish tank at a flea market. Yup, a fish tank. The lady selling him was sketchy and I couldn’t bear to see that sweet pup go back to wherever he had been born and so I went home that day with a puppy, when I had gone there for vegetables. He was that one-of-a-kind dog and my shadow for 10 years. He’s been gone 8 years, 6 months and 5 days. Even writing this paragraph hurts my heart. I believed there would never be another dog that could steal my heart and soul so completely, but now I am beginning to wonder.

Bella is her own girl. She is not a Caleb replacement but I think he may have had a paw in choosing her for me. Bella is very laid back and we have bonded quickly. My first indicator was her insistence on sitting on my head while I was on the couch. That isn’t going to work for long I don’t think. She follows me everywhere and sleeps on my feet. She is quick to learn and to please. Bella is also sassy and demanding. Water dish empty? Just toss it up in the air and let it clang on the floor. Hungry? Stare intently at human and bark in a tone that hurts the ears.

We finally had a break in our miserable, rainy weather and Bella “helped” me to do some gardening. Today’s mission was to transplant my ridiculous number of hot pepper plants into larger containers. Bella and I turned into a Laurel and Hardy skit. I lined up a few pots and filled one, gently patting down the dirt before moving on to the next one. When I got to the end I stood up, stretched out my back, turned around to view my work with satisfaction only to be met by adoring eyes and filthy paws. Bella had dug up the dirt from each pot. Yup that’s my helper!

Almost all of my pepper plants were transplanted, even with Bella’s help. Here’s the pepper greenhouse:

And this:

Forty=three hot pepper plants. Yup, 43. Also some basil, potatoes and corn. That doesn’t include the 10 large pepper plants in the house that will have their own little greenhouse tomorrow. It also doesn’t include the tray of plants I have for my friend Becky.

Hi, my name is Peg and I need an intervention.