Party Tu

Today is my second birthday. I'm not sure what that means, except I know it meant a party for me today! I love parties and my moms did a great job organizing this one. They contacted all my favorite friends and we all met at the big field in celebration. It was a blast!

The guest list included:
Desi -- a funny guy who is very shy. He tends to stand off from the crowd, but is always around when there are treats to be handed out. And he does a great trick -- a high-high five!
That's Desi's dad, Michael. He came to the party, too!

Ginger came, too, and stole all the balls. She does that, but since it was my party I let her steal my orange and blue ball while I played with her soccer ball.

Richard, Ginger's dad, brings lots of toys and treats and so I spent a lot of time hanging around him!

Wally and Quillette showed up too! They're really fun. Wally likes to play fetch and Quillette likes to talk about her life. She woofs and growls and gives a great begging face when it's treat time!

Only she has yet to figure out how to bring the ball back once it's fetched. Instead, she just stays out in the field and chews on the ball.


Jessica, on the left, is Quillette's mom and Leah and Shane are Wally's parents (in the middle). Colleen was invited, too, because she's one of my favorite people and she knows how to rub my belly!

Leah's taught Wally some pretty cool tricks, too. He knows how to hold a cookie on his nose and not eat it until given the command. Of course, it was a really hard trick with all of us watching!

Colleen showed Leah how to rub my belly and she did a fine job of it if I do say so myself!
And last, though certainly not least on the list, is Monty. Richard says Monty and I have a Bro-mance, but Colleen thinks it should be called a "Fro-mance" since with both have afros. Whatever. It's love, that's for sure!

It was a great party and now I'm really tired and ready for a nap! I wonder what will happen next year for my third birthday?

Thanks to all who came today. I had a lot of fun and I can't think of a better way to spend one's second birthday than surrounded by friends both canine and human!

A Question of Fate

There is much I must put up with being a dog. You may think my life is easy, but let me tell you, there are days when I question my fate.

We traveled this week to a cabin along the river. I love this cabin for it's filled with the smell of squirrels and mice and raccoon dung. The above photo is my smirky look taken after a long day playing in the snow. You can't see it, but my little paws are a bit scratched up as I went frolicking without my booties on. That wasn't as bad as having to wake up for this photo. Can you see a bit of irritation in my smirk? If not, trust me, it's there.

I received my scratched up paws while playing fetch. In the next photo, don't let the sun fool you. The mornings were chilly and there was a slim layer of ice on which I ran.

I, of course, did not let this ice discourage me and I raced after my favorite ball in the chilly sun for a long, long while. By the time I got done, my feet were a bit bloody, but I was very, very happy.

Then it all went south. With achy scabs on my pads, I was forced to walk on a boat launch made solely of metal grates. I hate grates. I especially hate them when there is nothing below them that I can easily decipher. In this next photo, my posture gives away the eerie feeling tossing in my stomach as we walked on the grate over the lake. Thank god they didn't make me stay out there too long.
They tried to make it up to me later that night with a full body massage. I'm a pushover so I forgave them pretty quickly.

But I have yet to forgive them for this captured moment...

...I love agility courses and with some encouragement, I decided to give this chain across the driveway a go. The snow made for a crappy take off and this then became my fate -- hung in mid-air and captured for eternity in a silly photo. At least they didn't capture it from the front view or you would have seen the look of confusion and frustration on my face.

We passed this chain every day on our walk and every day after this embarrassment, I ran up to the chain and gave it the finger...not an easy thing to do when you're a dog, but that is my fate and I do what I can.

Funnel Head

Not much time to write today. I'm a dog with a job and Wednesdays are our busiest days. And the day started off with a brushing of my hair AND my teeth. Alas. What's a dog to do? I think it's all in preparation for my visit with my grandparents and uncle and aunt this weekend. Still. It's rather annoying to wake up and get your hair combed.

Yesterday was fun, too, though kind of wet. There was snow and then there wasn't and then there was and now there isn't. In fact, it's bright and blue and light. Nice.

I played with Gemma, Lucy, and Ollie yesterday. Here's a sort of photo essay of our time together in the rain and snow.

Lucy -- so ever intent on her ball.
Ollie and Me -- so ever intent on the treats being offered

Persistent Gemma -- aka Funnel Head -- proving that she can still grab my ears even when faced with obstacles.

Ollie -- practicing levitation. He should have been named Pogo.

And finally, Funnel Head vs. Curly Man...

Puppies

This is Buffy. Contrary to the name, Buffy is a boy. A boy beagle to be exact. He is 9 weeks old and despite my better judgment, very cute. We visited Buffy this weekend bringing with us some of my favorite toys. In fact, the toys sat on the table at our house in a gift bag for a few days and I felt compelled to bark and whine at them. I know it was immature of me, but I'm telling you, there were toys in there that I loved when I was a puppy and I just wanted to play with them again.

No go. Instead, they were a gift to Buffy. He enjoyed them immensely.

I did my best to teach Buffy what I knew of dog play, but I think I kind of scared him with my rambunctious nature.

I gave up after awhile and Buffy found safety on the back porch. I really wasn't trying to hurt him, but I think I was bigger than any dog he's ever met before.
Buffy is a very smart dog. He quickly learned how to get the treat out of a human hand, he learned to sit, and he also learned how to roll a ball around with his nose.

But he's a very serious pup as you can tell from his face. While I am all smiles, ...Buffy contemplates the world in a very serious manner!
Still, I think we'll be fast friends as he grows older. At least, I hope so!

Floss!

Not much time to post. Mamma G is off to the dentist and I'm going with her. Last time I went to the dentist I ended up with one less canine. I wonder what she'll look like?

Business is going well. I am busy and at night, when Mamma A gets home, I barely have enough energy to say hello. But we spend quiet time together. She likes to pet my belly and I like it, too.

I'm keeping two blogs -- this one and one at wagsnwords. So much walking, so much writing. Perhaps I should get my own set of business cards.

Oh, and the business license arrived! So much responsibility!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from yesterday...me and Monty and Monty and Gemma. We're quite a threesome!

Okay, floss...Mamma G keeps running around the house saying "floss!" Not sure what that's all about, but I better run around with her.