Michele Ess
@michele-ess.bsky.social
I'm generally too sensitive for the internet.
Holy motherfucking shitballs
November 12, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Holy motherfucking shitballs
Our current watch comes with a pesky earworm.
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Our current watch comes with a pesky earworm.
One sleepy peek at the weather (did I hear distant thunder?) and I flew out of the bed to take the dog out before it let loose. Just made it!
August 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
One sleepy peek at the weather (did I hear distant thunder?) and I flew out of the bed to take the dog out before it let loose. Just made it!
Just a reminder of where we started, 17 weeks ago:
August 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Just a reminder of where we started, 17 weeks ago:
Juniper at 25 weeks: 36.8 lbs! She graduated from 1st Grade (basic class #2) and starts 2nd Grade (beyond basics) tomorrow. We had our first "WTF DID SHE EAT" trip to the vet, she ate something yucky but the effects of it dissipated rather quickly. She gets her first bath this afternoon. #juniper
August 10, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Juniper at 25 weeks: 36.8 lbs! She graduated from 1st Grade (basic class #2) and starts 2nd Grade (beyond basics) tomorrow. We had our first "WTF DID SHE EAT" trip to the vet, she ate something yucky but the effects of it dissipated rather quickly. She gets her first bath this afternoon. #juniper
"Can I eat the neon spiky wiggle thing?" asked Tuna.
"Uh...no."
Neon spiky wiggle thing (American Dagger moth caterpillar) moved to native plant garden, pretty sure it can find something interesting to eat in there.
"Uh...no."
Neon spiky wiggle thing (American Dagger moth caterpillar) moved to native plant garden, pretty sure it can find something interesting to eat in there.
August 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
"Can I eat the neon spiky wiggle thing?" asked Tuna.
"Uh...no."
Neon spiky wiggle thing (American Dagger moth caterpillar) moved to native plant garden, pretty sure it can find something interesting to eat in there.
"Uh...no."
Neon spiky wiggle thing (American Dagger moth caterpillar) moved to native plant garden, pretty sure it can find something interesting to eat in there.
Juniper at 24 weeks: she's lost that puppy looks and is now on to being a small big dog. She still loves her sticks and going for rides in the car. #juniper #junipup She now has an official nickname: Tuna. It went from Juniper --> Tunaper (enjoying the pool, little dogfish) --> Tuna.
August 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Juniper at 22 weeks: 33.4 lbs, right on schedule. She has been a fearless pup but has developed some wariness in the last couple of weeks: bicycles, my sewing basket, the sound of a ladder extending. She is also still teething - this pic shows off some of those new teeth coming in. #Juniper #Junipup
July 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Juniper at 22 weeks: 33.4 lbs, right on schedule. She has been a fearless pup but has developed some wariness in the last couple of weeks: bicycles, my sewing basket, the sound of a ladder extending. She is also still teething - this pic shows off some of those new teeth coming in. #Juniper #Junipup
Juniper at 21 weeks: 32.2 lbs. She is still teething, but we've only found one single little tooth (she probably swallowed the rest). We wonder, what would a doggie tooth fairies be like? Would they be tiny dogs with wings? Would they leave little treats under her pillow? #juniper #junipup
July 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
July 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Success: I have emptied a pen of all its ink before losing it. This may be the first time this has happened.
July 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Success: I have emptied a pen of all its ink before losing it. This may be the first time this has happened.
Juniper at 20 weeks: 31 lbs. Her big dog teeth are coming in so we're trying to be understanding about her recent grouchiness.
It's really not so bad...and we know there's a sweet dog in there once she doesn't have teeth crashing through her gums like the Kool-aid man.
#juniper #junipup
It's really not so bad...and we know there's a sweet dog in there once she doesn't have teeth crashing through her gums like the Kool-aid man.
#juniper #junipup
July 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Juniper at 19 weeks: 29 lbs.
The dark stripe on her forehead is new. She has been losing the white around her nose for a while - it's darkening and the black spots are barely visible anymore. I'm sad to see it go, but she still has the white fur with black spots under her chin.
#juniper #junipup
The dark stripe on her forehead is new. She has been losing the white around her nose for a while - it's darkening and the black spots are barely visible anymore. I'm sad to see it go, but she still has the white fur with black spots under her chin.
#juniper #junipup
June 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Did they know? They must have known.
June 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Did they know? They must have known.
I never thought this day would come.
June 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I never thought this day would come.
Juniper at 17 weeks: 27 lbs of energy. Pic from her test run at Doggie Day Care. She is still full of Scrappy Doo-esque confidence: she thinks she can mix it up with the big guys. So far, she loves it.
She's scruffy because of all the dog spit. Good thing she likes water... it's bath time
She's scruffy because of all the dog spit. Good thing she likes water... it's bath time
June 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Juniper at 17 weeks: 27 lbs of energy. Pic from her test run at Doggie Day Care. She is still full of Scrappy Doo-esque confidence: she thinks she can mix it up with the big guys. So far, she loves it.
She's scruffy because of all the dog spit. Good thing she likes water... it's bath time
She's scruffy because of all the dog spit. Good thing she likes water... it's bath time
Juniper at 15 weeks: confirmation that she is the kind of dog that likes water. Future dock diver???
June 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Juniper at 15 weeks: confirmation that she is the kind of dog that likes water. Future dock diver???
Juniper at 14 weeks: 21 lbs, successfully completed Puppy Kindergarten. She celebrated by peeing on the classroom floor. We documented the moment with a closed-eye picture. We're going to have to participate in Picture Retake Day.
May 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Juniper at 14 weeks: 21 lbs, successfully completed Puppy Kindergarten. She celebrated by peeing on the classroom floor. We documented the moment with a closed-eye picture. We're going to have to participate in Picture Retake Day.
And we have a tarp on Terra Firma. It's been a week of rainouts...but man, is my lawn going to look amazing.
May 21, 2025 at 11:56 PM
And we have a tarp on Terra Firma. It's been a week of rainouts...but man, is my lawn going to look amazing.
13 weeks: 20.2 lbs, and she has graduated from Big Puppy Playtime to Big Tweener Playtime. She gets high marks for being a good sport. In other news, we sent the doggie DNA kit off last week. We should learn more in the next couple of weeks. Perhaps I'll post a poll: what kinda puppy do we have?
May 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
13 weeks: 20.2 lbs, and she has graduated from Big Puppy Playtime to Big Tweener Playtime. She gets high marks for being a good sport. In other news, we sent the doggie DNA kit off last week. We should learn more in the next couple of weeks. Perhaps I'll post a poll: what kinda puppy do we have?
Juniper at 12 weeks, curled up with her favorite snuggle toy: a concrete brick. She loves rocks, bricks, cement, and stucco that's fallen off the garage.
She does have a truckload of squeaky and chewy toys, but loves her brick the best.
She does have a truckload of squeaky and chewy toys, but loves her brick the best.
May 12, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Juniper at 12 weeks, curled up with her favorite snuggle toy: a concrete brick. She loves rocks, bricks, cement, and stucco that's fallen off the garage.
She does have a truckload of squeaky and chewy toys, but loves her brick the best.
She does have a truckload of squeaky and chewy toys, but loves her brick the best.