It’s all about toast.

No, this is not a food post. Not even close. It is a Tucker post. What’s up with the title then? Glad you asked.

We know when Tucker is beginning to need a bath because he starts to take on the aroma of toast. It starts gradually, sort of like warm bread. It advances to Stage 2 when you can smell the toaster coils heating up. Stage 3 is reminiscent of the bread just starting to turn a light golden brown. The next day Stage 4 sets in and the crust of the bread is dried out and beginning to burn. Stage 5 is when the neighbors see smoke coming from the house and call 911. Tucker crossed over into a Stage 5 alert in the last 24 hours. We realized we were in trouble yesterday when he spent ten minutes in my new car and gave a whole new meaning to the term “new car smell.” He did a little digging for gophers this morning then rolled in something vile. The inevitable could no longer be delayed. Whether he wanted it or not, Tucker had a bath. He got hoisted into the utility sink, doused with warm water and scrubbed with shampoo until he smelled like a wet dog, which was a vast improvement.

As much as Tucker hates the actual bath, he has a little afterbath ritual that he seems to enjoy.