Our Latest

We climbed Rattlesnake Mountain again this year, but without Ann. Now that school's started she has to work weekdays. But the weather feels nothing like school starting. It's at least 80 degrees and was at least that on the mountain. I am sitting down in this photo because I am afraid of heights. Monty is not, so he feels much more comfortable looking over ledges.

The hike isn't too hard. It's about 2 miles one way and 4 miles roundtrip. Of course, that's 2 miles up and 2 miles down. We took an hour to go up and about 40 minutes to go down only because we had to stop and visit other dogs and people. The up was hard because it was so warm, but the down promised Rattlesnake Lake and frankly, that's my favorite part!

Monty likes it, too.

When we got home, Gretchen made an iMovie of our day using silly music -- "Summertime" sung by African singer Angelique Kidjo, "Stairway To Heaven" performed by guitarist Rodrigo y Gabriella and finally, "Heavenly Day" by Patti Griffin (who wrote the song on the last day of her beloved dog's life). It's way too big to put on my blog and it was her first real attempt at iMovie on her new computer, but it turned out kind of fun.

The day was heavenly during this summertime September as we climbed the stairway to heaven. Here's how happy I was about it, so happy my face wouldn't stay in the frame.

Monty was happy enough for a full-frontal smile!

Wrestle-mania

It's been warm. Really warm. Like summer in September. Every day we go for a long walk and on special days, we go for a swim in the lake, "we" being me and Monty. When we get home from our excursions, we get a snack just like daycare and then, well then we play.

Hard.

After our play sessions we sleep.

Hard.

I like this extended summer. I like having Monty as my best friend. I like the walks and the swims and playing fetch in the park.

But I really really like wrestling. It must be the poodle side of me.

And I really really like Monty. He's a great pal.

Fitness Camp

While this picture embodies relaxation, it must be known that the relaxation came only after a 90-minute brisk walk, a swim in the lake (well, a lot of swims in the lake as we were playing fetch), and a wild game of chase in a very big field. When I really think about it, it's amazing that our heads are not done, fast asleep.

This is what my mom affectionately calls Doggie Fitness Camp. Now that she works part-time and mostly in the afternoons and evenings, our days have developed a routine of their own. We get up with Ann (my other mom), read the paper and drink hot beverages, and then we head up the street to pick up my workout buddy, Monty.

And we're off. Usually it's a long walk down by the lake, but yesterday the city closed off the lake road and we got to run free (not on leashes) and splash around in the water. Mom threw sticks for us and we swam and swam and swam. Then we headed to the big field where we dried off by chasing each other. Finally, we headed home where we were fed a snack and then laid out in the last of the summer sun on the deck. We were tired, but after our nap, we did another spin around the park before we took Monty home.

Mom went off to work, riding her bike, and my other mom came home, riding her bike (everyone's into fitness around here!). We ate dinner (my other mom and I) and then went for the last walk of the evening with Monty and his mom, Colleen. Later, mom got home from work and we headed off to bed where I slept as soundly as a newborn baby.

My moms keep talking about how my appetite has improved. I used to be a skimpy eater, but now I down my breakfast AND my dinner with gusto. It's no wonder with all the exercise I'm getting.

I'm a lean machine these days, muscular and fit thanks to fitness camp!

On the first day

On the first day my mom didn't teach, she took me for a walk. It was a short one, but it was at the park where all the squirrels tease and chatter at me.

On the first day my mom didn't teach, she cleaned the house. I was banished to the back yard, but my friend Monty was visiting me so I passed the time playing chase with him. Meanwhile, mom went at it -- dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing. We were only allowed to come in after she'd placed the rugs back on the floor and then she wiped our feet off since they were wet from the lawn.

On the first day my mom didn't teach, she sat at the computer and wrote. This is good, I think because it is the reason she decided not to teach anymore -- more room for writing.

On the first day my mom didn't teach, she decided to take us both (me and Monty) for a long walk by the lake. We were tired from chasing each other, but we were still game to go. There is sunshine today and from my vast experience as an 18 month old dog, I know the weather will change soon and these long, warm walks will be a thing of the past.

On the first day my mom didn't teach, she packed up all the things that needed to get mailed -- returns, gifts for foreign relatives, bills, etc. She did some laundry and made some pasta sauce. She listened to music and even resolved to go for a swim later in the afternoon. That may or may not happen, but she's thinking about it. She gave cookies she baked yesterday to the neighbor and piled up the paid bills that needed to get filed. She hung up coats that had gathered on the backs of chairs and even took a brief nap, though her original intent was to finish reading her book (that will have to wait until later).

It's a busy day, this first day of not teaching.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?