Happy Birthday, Moses!

In the first year of my life, lots of amazing things have happened, just a few of them are worth setting down for biographical posterity!
Let's see now, I think we'll start with those things which I wish had been mastered, and yet look forward to this coming year when they will be, for sure:
1. Swimming. I'm not 100% sure that this is an enjoyable passtime. Last year the river was so high and raging from all the rain, that it took all my courage to follow Sadie in to retrieve various sticks, and each time I ventured forth, my life (short, as it was) flashed before me. Mama Sally tried her level best to convince me that this was what I was supposed to love by going in with all her clothes on, but the resulting image was so alarming, that all of my worst fears were confirmed, and I ran from the river with my tail firmly tucked!
2. Come! Yes, well, there's a very good reason why this command hasn't yet been mastered. First of all, when I was little, we went to Obedience School. I loved it! I made lots of friends and was rewarded with delicious bits of something or other every time I did whatever it was that was asked of me. Later, we'd practice, and again the treats were forth-coming. Now, when I Sit!, Stay!, or Come!, okay, there's a pat on the head, or a 'Good boy!', but hey, where are the treats? I mean! So now, when Mama Sally calls me, I look at her and then sit down! I'm trying to teach her to remember the treats, and I believe she is beginning to understand! Boys, some humans are really hard to train!
Let's look at some things that have transpired in this first year: some good, some not so good (apparently!):
1. I'm a great retriever.
2. I like to nose around in the waste-paper baskets.
3. My favourite things to chew are loo-paper holders, gloves, socks, fat-wood, and paper towels with bacon drippings on them.
4. I do have a basket full of toys. These keep me occupied when the above aren't around.
5. I just adore to eat Sadie's poos! Mama Sally says O God and walks away, but Papa runs at me screaming, which only makes the game more fun! Sometimes, I'll run away, and he thinks he's fixed it, but then I sneak back and get the rest when he's far away!
6. It rarely happens, but when Mama Sally is sick, Sadie and I are allowed to lie on the bed and make her feel better. We get lots of treats during these times.
7. Sometimes, Sadie and I get to go to the Oasis Pet Resort and Spa. We get to play with lots of friends and get our pedicures, groomings and shampooings done. We like to spend a little time here, yet sometimes, we've had to stay a bit too long, and we miss our walks in the woods.
8. A rare treat is when Cooper and Cabot come to visit. They're urbanites and live in Burlington, but you'd never know it. They fall right into place up here in the Northeast Kingdom, especially when Cabot wears his orange collar!
All in all, it's been a pretty fantastic first year, and I think I shall go outside and chase a red squirrel to celebrate birthday #1!