1 Pepper and I had some good times. We discussed Freudian analysis over mini martinis (virgin, of course). First, she sniffed...

2 Then she ventured to have a taste...

3 Soon things began to appear a bit blurry. Perhaps a placebo effect....

4 Much to my surprise, Pepper then asked for a cigar....

5 And here is the infamous Gus, Pepper's adoptive brother. Why the uniform? When Pepper's adoptive mom Kelly is not at home policing her canine crew, she is hard at work fighting crime as a real life police officer!

6 And here is Gus with his late friend Dyson, a rescued bulldog. Gus lost his best buddy last year, but thankfully for Pepper, Gus and Kelly have opened their hearts to a new family member.

7 Kelly reports that Pepper sleeps under the covers cuddled up to Gus. She gets 4 walks a day and apparently she and Gus play non-stop! Here are the two siblings together.

8 Here Pepper is practicing a little runway walk to showcase her chic new pink winter-wear!

9 Best buds and partners in canine crime....

10 Pepper asks, 'Does this parka make me look fat?'

11 Pepper and Gus creating traditions of their own now. Waiting of for the local coffee house to open and give them a treat

12 Pepper has taken it upon herself to guard the plush kitten Kelly gave her as a welcome gift.

13 Somebody's getting sleepy...

14 Pepper approves of Kelly's hip taste in furniture! And of the radiant heat flooring!!!

15 She recalls the days of needing to be bundled up for warmth!

16 An email I just got form Kelly... Hi Pia- Pepper is doing great! I'm so glad you saved her and happy she's with me and Gus now. She's so funny! She now knows when I'm off to work so she plops herself on my bed and looks at me as if saying, 'Are you sure you'd rather not stay home and cuddle? Look how cute I am on your pillows!' Too funny! And so lovable! Big hugs, Kelly, Gus and Pepper

17 Only thing I'm having trouble explaining to Kelly now is why Pepper expects a martini at happy hour, analyzes Kelly's every move and insists on being called "Dr. Pepper." Perhaps I overindulged her a bit while fostering?

1 The perfect cat napping spot, right on top of Sharkey and Francesca's wardrobe. Nice and warm, even if it does smell like dog.

2 Do you think I care if I get my hair all over their cloths?

3 Hey, Vivaldi! What do you think you're doing?

4 We don't want your cat fluff all over our stuff!

5 Francesca! Vivaldi is napping on our cloths again!

6 Talk to the paw, Sharkey!

7 You want some of this too, Francesca?

8 That's right, now back away slowly and leave me be!

9 I am KING of the servery! KING!!

1 Hey Martha! We're ready for our ride around the farm!

2 It's a great day for a ride. How's that cappuccino?

3 We're driving past the pergola, headed towards the vegetable garden. We're sitting between Martha and Mike, the property manager.

4 At the vegetable garden, Martha turned left and headed down the road flanked by pin oaks. The equipment barn is to the right.

5 On the way to the upper field - there is always so much to look at.

6 It rained last night and there is a field of mud at the gigantic compost piles. I don't think we'll get out and walk. Martha had to put the Kawasaki in low gear.

7 The compost piles look very impressive.

8 Back on the road and through the woods. Francesca moved to the back seat.

9 Ooh-la-la!! Is that a squirrel I see?

10 Mike, make sure you write down everything that Martha says. There's a lot of work for the crew to get done.

11 Martha says this is a perfect hay field.

12 Martha pointed to this grove of metasequoia trees on the left and commented on how quickly they are growing. See the new Kestrel bird box hanging on the tree to the right?

13 Out of the woods and driving towards the chicken coops

14 Martha, I like how this newly cleared area is looking - not so scrappy anymore.

15 At the Maple Avenue house, we spotted a tree covered with fruit.

16 Martha said they were crab apples and that the horses love to eat them. They don't interest us!

17 Then we saw a bush covered with purple berries.

18 Martha told us they're called beauty berries. That makes sense.

19 Next, we drove past the chicken coops. It's always so tempting to jump out. Franny, stay right where you are!

20 Martha stopped to inspect the trailer barn, so we decided to get out with her.

21 Time to stretch

22 Sharkey! I think I see something over there!

23 Oh goody! It's a squirrel! Later Martha - we need to chase!

1 Look Sharkey - it's one of those things they call a leaf blower. That can only mean one thing at this time of year - fluffy, dry leaves!

2 See? What did I tell you? Let's go leaf diving!

3 Oh, this is so much doggone fun!

4 Sharkey, if you're trying to hide, you need to do a much better than that - you're sticking out like one big Q-tip!

5 Not good enough - I can still see you Sharkey!

6 What's up, Sharkey? Is everything OK? Why do you look so concerned?

7 OMG!! A giant leaf sucker! We need to get out of here FAST!!!

8 Phew! Shaun to the rescue!

9 Why Shaun - Is there still time to play?

10 Good thing we were so gallantly rescued. We might have been sucked right up with all those leaves!

1 With the ears of a rabbit, one blue eye and one brown, Pepper is like no pooch I've ever met!

2 I find her black nose with pink nostrils to be quite fetching!

3 Pepper has had it rough in her short life. She was rescued from an abusive home, so she needed a little stability before we could assess her true personality and what kind of home would be a good fit.

4 Some rest and time to adjust are among the most important things a foster home can provide, especially for animals whose time is up at a shelter and who may be a little shaken by the experience.

5 While with me, Pepper relaxed and daydreamed about what her forever home would be like.

6 I even caught her reading some Freud.

7 Who new she was so analytical?

8 Professor Pepper is quite the pooch!

9 Deep in thought....

10 She also played with some new toys...

11 And enjoyed some good backrolls!

12 By fostering Pepper we were able to learn she was fine with cats.

13 More than fine, actually -- I often discovered her lounging in the afternoon sun like a lady of leisure with my uber-tolerant rescued feline, Max.

14 Her adventures with me included...

15 ...meeting a giant version of herself...

16 ...and a stop in San Francisco.

17 It turns out she had always wanted to visit and drive across the Golden Gate bridge.

18 Here we are with Alcatraz behind us.

19 Knowing I'm able to help an animal in need makes it all worth it!

1 Francesca, I want to go play with the donkeys.

2 They're right here in this paddock but - ahhh! This feels good on my back.

3 I'll just stay here and scratch for a while.

4 Hey Rufus! I've come to play.

5 Are you sticking with Billie and Clive? Safety in numbers!

6 Run, donkeys, run!

7 Loop around the water trough!

8 Which way to go? Which way to go?

9 Come on Rufus - follow Billie to the hay shed!

10 What did you say? You're tired?

11 Oh well - catch ya later!

1 Francesca! Come into the carport and see all of these shiny new pails.

2 Honestly Franny! Stop scratching your back and come over here!

3 Oh, I see. These pails must be where all the wild bird food is stored. Martha likes to feed her feathered friends during the cold months.

4 Maybe we could help by filling some of the bird feeders.

5 I don't know - this scoop is kind of heavy.

6 Sharkey, I can't even reach this scoop. It's so far down. I think we're going to need some help.

7 Oh Gyurme - you make filling the feeders look so easy.

8 This looks like really good quality bird seed. There are so many large seeds and assorted nuts.

9 It even smells good. Gyurme, have you ever been tempted to eat the bird seed? Oh, I remember - you prefer cupcakes! Ha-ha!

10 Well Franny - another job well done. All the feeders are hanging and awaiting bird customers. And do you remember what also is attracted to bird seed? SQUIRRELS!!!!

1 Uh-oh, why does Laura Acuna have that apron on? It can only mean one thing!

2 BATH TIME!!! Take Sharkey instead - Please, for the love of DOG!!!

3 Poor Sharkey was taken down to the laundry room. I'll follow quietly.

4 Look! She's in the laundry cart!

5 Laura is giving Sharkey a very thorough rub down.

6 See what I mean?

7 We should think twice when we see another opossum.

8 No escape!

9 OMG!

10 She looks like a fish out of water even though she's in water.

11 Don't jump, Sharkey - it's too far down!

12 Is she liking this, or not?

13 Oh no! The headlock!

14 Another application?

15 My poor dear Sharkey, they shall sing songs about you one day.

16 I wonder if Laura knows I'm here?

17 There's still time for me to escape and hide.

18 Actually, Sharkey looks.....

19 Cozy and happy!

20 And she smells so good!

21 Please Laura - my turn - MY TURN!!

1 This is Martha's compost yard and there's been some talk about grinding up all that wood over there.

2 Franny and I always like being in on the action and here we are in the cab of the big excavating machine.

3 Dan, the operator, was so nice to let us help him out.

4 Hey Dan, is this the joystick that controls the claw?

5 Oh, I see - depending on how I move these levers, the machine will go forward or backward.

6 Wow! I'm really getting the hang of this now!

7 Very good, Sharkey! You are handling this thing with great precision!

8 Egads! Look at the size of these tire tracks. There must be another big machine around here.

9 You're right, Franny. Those tracks were probably made by that huge tub grinder over there. That's what grinds up all the wood.

10 Let's climb up and take a look.

11 You go on, Sharkey - I think I'll stay right here.

12 Well look at that English bulldog logo! That must mean this is a Mack Truck. Pretty cool, but I think they should have used a French bulldog, instead.

13 You know, Franny, it's always an adventure learning about new things, but from what I recall, this tub grinder makes a lot of noise and I don't think we want to be here when it's operating.

1 What a nice warm morning for sitting on this wall.

2 It's fun to just sit here and watch life on the farm.

3 I know - I know - I have a very cute pink belly.

4 Hi Jeff. How is the security detail going today? Have you checked all the buildings and patrolled the perimeter of the property? Martha will want to know.

5 Mike, how are things operating on the property today? Are there any problems Martha needs to know about when she calls?

6 Oh, that sun feels so good on my face.

7 Ah-ah-ah-chooooo

8 Hey Sharkey, why did the cat run from the tree? Because it was afraid of the bark!

9 Ha-ha - Franny, that was such a good joke!

10 Hmmm - what's that buzzing sound?

11 Is it a bird?

12 Oh, I see. It's a plane passing overhead. Maybe Martha's on board coming back from her book signing. We've missed her.