Maxine’s Back: Sister Drama, Shed Shenanigans & Kibble Negotiations

Hey furiends!

Maxine here—your fabulous Director of Pawsitivity, experienced job site supervisor, garden enthusiast and occasional reason Dad needs to bring out the tools.

I know. It has been far too long since my last official update. My last blog post was back in July 2025! Some of you may be wondering whether I finally settled down, started behaving myself and quietly moved into adulthood.  Let me stop you right there.

Older? Yes. More experienced? Obviously. Better behaved? That rumour has been greatly exaggerated.

My First Birthday Present Came with Attitude

For my very first birthday, Mom and Dad gave me a brand-new little sister. A whole sister! Most girls get toys, treats or perhaps a fancy new collar. I got Melli. She didn't come with a bow, a gift receipt or an instruction manual—but she did arrive with plenty of opinions.

Her name is short for "Honey Bearer." She is a chocolate Lab, and we have the same parents—Melli came from their very next litter. Adorable, right? She is. She is also bold, bossy and completely unconcerned about the established chain of command.

Technically, I am the older and more experienced sister. You would think that would make me the boss. Melli disagrees. Loudly. She stands up to me every chance she gets and challenges my authority without the slightest hesitation. I usually let it go because I am naturally easygoing, patient and mature. I am not a pushover. I am selectively unbothered. There's a difference.

The Under-the-She-Shed Trilogy

Melli discovered that she could crawl underneath the she-shed. Naturally, I followed her. What kind of big sister would let a puppy disappear under a building without proper supervision? There was just one small problem. Melli fit. I did not. I got stuck- and I mean properly stuck. Dad had to leave work, come home and jack up the shed so I could escape.

Yes, Peter K. Gowan Construction Ltd. temporarily lost its owner and operator because the Director of Pawsitivity had wedged herself underneath a building. Executive emergencies take priority.

You might assume I learned a valuable lesson that day. You would be wrong.

I followed Melli underneath the she-shed a second time—and got stuck again. Dad had to jack up the shed. Again. Was he impressed by my commitment to big-sister supervision? His face said no.

Still, every great adventure deserves a trilogy. 

So yes, I followed Melli under there a third time. And yes, I got stuck. Again. But this time, I wiggled, squirmed and somehow managed to get myself out without Dad having to jack up the she-shed.

Was it graceful? Probably not. Did I maintain my dignity? Let's say yes and move on. Did I escape all by myself? YES. That's what I call personal growth. Dad calls it something else, but this is my blog.

After that, Dad made sure we couldn't get underneath the she-shed anymore. Apparently, he did not want to see a fourth installment.

Critics.

The Pea Patch Strikes Back

Not long after my under-the-she-shed adventures, Dad had just finished planting the peas and fencing in the patch when I spotted it.
Freshly turned soil. Newly planted peas. A fence clearly intended to keep me out.

Honestly, what did he expect? That fence was practically a personal invitation. Naturally, I jumped straight into the fenced-in pea patch to inspect his work.

Getting in? Flawless. Getting back out? Slight miscalculation. Did I quietly wait for someone to notice my predicament? Absolutely not. I barked up a storm until Mom came and got me out. Some might call that making a fuss. I call it activating the emergency rescue system. Mom arrived. I was rescued. The system worked exactly as designed.

You're welcome.

Two Labs Build a Chicken Brooder

Melli wasn't the only new arrival this year. Mom also brought home 10 little chicks. Ten!

Once they grew big enough to need more room, Mom decided to build them a larger brooder. Naturally, Melli and I helped. And by "helped," I mean we provided close supervision, detailed sniff inspections and plenty of opinions that Mom did not specifically request.

Every construction project needs management. This one had two Labradors, no formal training and unlimited confidence. Were we always helpful? That depends entirely on whom you ask.

But the brooder was completed, the chicks moved into their new accommodations, and Melli and I added "Chicken Brooder Construction Consultants" to our growing list of qualifications. Mom did most of the building, but leadership is about delegation.

You're welcome, chickens.

Those tiny chicks are now nearly full-grown and should begin laying eggs very soon. Melli and I don't bother them, of course. We're professionals. We may occasionally round them up or chase them off the deck when they overstay their welcome—but that is simply flock management. The deck has rules. We enforce them. Someone has to maintain order around here.

The Loaf of Bread Situation

Apparently, adulthood also comes with unsolicited comments about your figure. The doctor gently informed me that I needed to lose a little weight. She said a young lady should have a nice, girly silhouette when viewed from above. Instead, I looked like a loaf of bread.

Excuse me? A loaf. Of bread. 

Personally, I don't see the problem. Bread is warm, comforting and loved by practically everyone. Quite frankly, I thought it was a compliment. Apparently, it was not. So I am now working on getting my girly silhouette back. This may involve fewer snacks. 

I said may. No further questions, please.

Medical Leave at Docs on the Bay 

I also had a very important appointment with Dr. Tami and the wonderful staff at Docs on the Bay when I was spayed. They took excellent care of me, kept me company and made sure I didn't feel alone.

They said I was a very good girl—as long as I could see them. If everyone disappeared from my view, I may have voiced a few concerns. Loudly. I wasn't protesting. I was performing regular staff-location checks. A responsible Director keeps track of her people.

Thankfully, they understood the situation and stayed nearby whenever I felt lonely. The surgery was very well done, and Dr. Tami and the entire team took wonderful care of me from beginning to end. Five-star care and my full paw of approval for everyone at Docs on the Bay!

Next time I visit, however, I'd prefer they skip the surgery and go straight to the lovings. A girl has standards.

Melli's Full-Body Welcome Home

When I finally came home a few hours later, Melli was VERY happy to see me. There were wiggles. There were kisses. There was enough excitement to power the entire company yard. She had missed me while I was gone, and containing her happiness was not easy.

Normally, I would have joined right in, but I wasn't feeling quite up to one of Melli's full-contact celebrations. To her credit, she realized I needed some quiet time. She settled down, stayed close and let me recuperate. That's when I knew she really did love me. 

She may challenge my authority, steal the attention and treat personal space as a ridiculous human invention—but when I needed her to be gentle, she was. Not bad for a little sister. Don't tell her I said that.

Our New Inukshuk Ambassador Duties

As if being a Director, big sister, she-shed explorer, pea inspector and chicken wrangler weren't enough, I have more career news.

Melli and I are now By the Sea Apiary Collective's Inukshuk Brand Ambassadors!

Before anyone starts updating our employment records, we haven't been hired directly by Inukshuk, and we aren't leaving our regular positions. I remain Director of Pawsitivity at Peter K. Gowan Construction Ltd., while Melli remains Chief Apiary Officer at By the Sea Apiary Collective. We have simply taken on the additional responsibility of representing Inukshuk through the Collective.

An additional role involving food. Finally, management has recognized my strongest professional qualification.

Of course, every respectable brand ambassador needs glam shots. Longtime readers may remember that Mom owed me a proper paparazzi-style photo shoot after forgetting her phone during one of my earlier visits to Docs on the Bay. I never forget an outstanding debt—especially when it involves having my picture taken.

Well, I finally collected.

This time, my long-overdue glam shots were for the By the Sea Apiary Collective website—and naturally, Melli got in on the action too.
I brought the mystery and sophistication. Melli brought the chocolate. 

Frankly, the website has never looked better.

Our compensation package is still being negotiated. I have requested more kibble. Melli copied my request. Management has yet to approve our proposal, but negotiations are ongoing.

Melli and I both eat and love Inukshuk. Our coats are beautifully shiny, our bowls are always thoroughly cleaned, and we are proud to recommend something we genuinely enjoy—quality Canadian-made dog food manufactured right here in New Brunswick.
If your humans are looking for Inukshuk closer to home, tell them to check out Inukshuk at By the Sea Apiary Collective to learn more about the food, local availability and community pickup options.

Tell them Maxine sent you. It probably won't get you a discount—but it should.

I'll raise that at the next staff meeting.

Final Woofs from the Director

So there you have it, furiends. Since my last update, I've gained a little sister, helped build a chicken brooder, supervised 10 growing chickens, survived medical leave, started working on my girly silhouette, become an Inukshuk Ambassador, been rescued from underneath the she-shed twice, escaped it once and trapped myself inside the pea patch.

Busy behind the scenes? You could say that. Older? Yes. Wiser? Still under review. Still Maxine? Paws-itively.

Wags, wiggles and absolutely no regrets,

Maxine 🐾

Director of Pawsitivity | By the Sea Apiary Collective Inukshuk Ambassador | Patient Big Sister | Chicken Wrangler | Three-Time She-Shed Explorer | Pea Patch Prisoner