7th – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Right on time, the guest of honor dashed into Grandma’s house wearing her party hat. Lupe has always celebrated her birthdays at Grandma’s, and wasn’t about to break with tradition. Good things always happen to her here, and there was no sense in taking any chances on her big day.

Let the festivities begin! The party animal has arrived! Lupe felt fully up to the task of being pampered.

Of course, Grandma was the first to greet Lupe and welcome her to her home.

The 7 year old birthday girl looks forward to being adored.

Most years the only guests at Lupe’s birthday party are Grandma, Grandma’s 3-legged cat Butterfly, and SPHP. This year was different. Mush was here, too!

Grandma, Mush and Lupe all together. Quite a crowd for a Lupe birthday, but Loop could handle the additional lovin’. American Dingoes are instinctive experts at both giving and receiving love.

Mush and Loop. This was Mush’s first Lupe birthday experience ever.

In 2016, SPHP had baked Lupe a birthday cake for her 6th birthday. It had turned out pretty well, especially considering SPHP’s general level of culinary skills. This year, though, it was time for a step up. For the first time ever, Lupe had a store-bought birthday cake. It was decorated with colored sprinkles and pink, purple, and yellow balloons made of whipped cream icing.

Lupe’s first ever store bought birthday cake, complete with a clever message appropriate for the occasion.

No birthday party for a 7 year old girl is complete without presents! SPHP had brought 4 wrapped presents for Loop. What was inside? Lupe was dying to know, but she couldn’t open them quite yet.

Lupe with her birthday cake and presents from SPHP on either side of her. She was enjoying the moment, eagerly awaiting permission to dig in!

Next came the scary part about birthdays – all those dangerous flaming candles! Lupe tried to be calm, but it took all her bravery and a command to sit right there from SPHP to avoid fleeing the scorching bonfire her birthday cake had become.

Lupe was very brave and managed to sit next to 7 frightening flaming candles on her birthday cake long enough for Grandma, Mush & SPHP to sing “Happy Birthday” to her.

Mush blew out Lupe’s birthday candles for her to end the terror. The only bad part was that Mush only blew 6 out on her first try. She used a 2nd breath to blow out the 7th candle. Did that mean Lupe’s birthday wish wouldn’t come true? The Carolina Dog certainly hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but what was done was done.

Anyway, now that the scary part was over, it was time for presents! Mush helped Lupe open them. The first present was an instant hit – a T-bone steak from SPHP.

Mush helped Lupe open her presents. The first one was a T-bone steak from SPHP.

At least one wish Lupe had on her 7th birthday came true. She got a T-bone steak!

Next came a new Kong squeaker ball.

Lupe’s 2nd present was a new Kong squeaker ball. Loop loves squeaker balls!

The 3rd present turned out to be a bag of Purina Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerky Tenders. Even though Grandma was already broiling her T-bone steak for her, Lupe decided maybe she should have a chicken jerky tender as an appetizer. Not that there was a thing wrong with her appetite, you understand. The jerky tender vanished in nothing flat.

The Purina Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerky Tenders bag had a picture of a very happy dog that looked a lot like Lupe on it, so right away she knew they were going to be good.

*These chicken jerky tenders are yummy, but don’t stop now! Keep those presents coming!*

Lupe’s 4th and final present from SPHP was a new Tuffy UltFlyer flying disc. It’s very strong and made of cloth, so it doesn’t hurt to catch it. The new flying disc was exactly like one Lupe had received from Erik & Ana a year ago in the PupJoy box they’d ordered for her. Loopster still has and uses her old flying disc practically every day, but it’s looking pretty frazzled by now. The squeaker inside hasn’t worked for months.

Lupe’s new Tuffy UltFlyer flying disc, still in the wrapper.

That was all the birthday loot Loop got from SPHP, but she wasn’t done yet. Grandma also had a present for Lupe, a big bag of Nudges Chicken Jerky Cuts. They also looked delicious!

Loop thought maybe she should sample one of the Nudges Chicken Jerky Cuts, too, just to keep her appetite up. SPHP said even though it was her birthday she shouldn’t open a 2nd bag of treats. She would have to save the Nudges until the 1st bag was gone so they would stay fresh. Besides, she’d already proven there wasn’t a thing wrong with her appetite.

Grandma gave Lupe a great present, too! A big bag of Nudges Chicken Jerky Cuts.

Lupe now had a little time for some Kong squeaker ball fun with Mush and SPHP while Grandma was busy broiling her T-bone steak for her.

Fun times with the new Kong squeaker ball while Lupe’s T-bone steak is getting broiled.

It wasn’t long before Grandma had the T-bone broiled to perfection. It was nice and hot, yet still a bit pink and bloody. The squeaker ball was a blast, but T-bone steak is Lupe’s favorite meal. She was able to tear herself away from the squeaker ball long enough to devour her scrumptious steak. SPHP cut the steak into bite-sized pieces for her.

Birthday dinner is served! T-bone steak is Lupe’s favorite meal.

Cooked to perfection! Hot, yet still pink and a bit bloody. What more could a Dingo want?

*If you’re going to cut this steak up into pieces for me, you’d best get on with it SPHP! I’m perfectly capable of dealing with it all by myself, if you don’t.*

The Purina Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerky Tender had done its job. Lupe’s appetite was great! In fact, she was famished! The entire T-bone steak disappeared as fast as SPHP could cut it up.

Everything disappeared except the actual T-bone, that is. SPHP made sure to leave some meat clinging to it. Lupe would get the bone later on at home.

Cake and ice cream was coming, but a little exercise was in order first. Lupe is a regular visitor at Grandma’s house. She always likes to go the cul-de-sac at the end of the street with SPHP at least once every time she’s here. This time of year, Loop enjoys the pretty Christmas lights while still keeping an eye out for bunnies and deer.

It was another warm evening for December. For the first time SPHP could remember, there wasn’t any snow on Lupe’s birthday.

Lupe stopped by the most beautiful Christmas tree near the end of the cul-de-sac. Every year this same tree is all decorated up with hundreds of colorful lights. Unfortunately SPHP’s photo is underexposed and too dark to do the tree justice.

Loop by another pretty tree that came out better.

When Lupe got back from the cul-de-sac, she went to see Butterfly, Grandma’s 3-legged cat. Butterfly always used to be at Lupe’s birthday parties, but now she likes to stay upstairs all the time. Lupe at least wanted to say hello to Butterfly on her birthday.

Lupe went upstairs to see Butterfly for a few minutes. Butterfly seldom comes downstairs any more, but used to be a regular attendee at Lupe’s birthday parties.

After her visit with Butterfly, it was time for cake and ice cream. The cake was rainbow colors inside. Lupe mainly liked licking the whipped cream icing off the cake. She devoured all the cookies ‘n cream ice cream SPHP would give her.

Full of cake, ice cream and T-bone steak, Loop spent the rest of the evening snoozing peacefully on Grandma’s soft carpet until it was time to go home.

At home, SPHP presented Lupe with her T-bone with meat still clinging to it. Lupe gnawed and gnawed. The T-bone was a very satisfying way to end another great birthday.

Lupe’s 7th birthday party had been a big success! Now she’s going to be 7 for a whole year. Lupe has never been 7 years old before, and isn’t certain what the coming year will bring. 7 is supposed to be a very lucky number, though, so she’s looking forward to many more Dingo Adventures, and hopes you are, too!