Ivan's first hayride

Ivan (far left) and friends

On the scale of human excitement, I rate hayrides around 2.  I like them and all but, let's face it, the tractor goes about 5 miles an hour and the most exciting thing that usually happens is you get whacked in the face with a branch.  But when St Johns does its annual hayride, they throw in a bonfire, hotdogs and s'mores.  How could I resist introducing Ivan to all these fall traditions?

We sit on the hay bales, right Mom?

Farmer Ann

We got to the Richmond's after a full day, which should have left any normal dog, well, dog-tired.  Not Ivan the Adorable!  After most cars had arrived, I let him off the leash and he ran around like a maniac.  You would have thought he had never seen tall grass.  He bounced, cavorted, gamboled and generally enjoyed himself greatly.

And then it was time for the ride.  We loaded up and made ourselves comfy one the straw bales.  Ivan was content to snuggle with Betty Gill until the tractor started.  Then he was all about driving.  He supervised each twist and turn and his tail never stopped wagging.  Once the trip was over, he jumped down, inspected each of the tires and ran off to chat with his new friends Winnie and Gabby.

Seriously, Mom, let me drive!

Then it was time for food and Ivan thought hot dogs and chips sounded great. He even followed the example of the big dogs and stood under the hay wagon collecting chips and other glorious tidbits as they fell off people's plates.  The bonfire lighting did not even faze him although I never had to warn him away from it. Favorite part?  Possibly the sticks we used to toast the marshmallow sticks!  Ivan thought they were wonderful.

When it was all over, we loaded into the car and Ivan slept all the way home.  He woke up briefly for his bath and brush out (it was not possible to bring all the burrs in Woodford County home with us, but we tried).  As soon as he was dry and fed, he sacked out again and has not yet woken up as of 8:15 this morning.  Awesome day!