Keeping it Fun

The winter rains have set in to the Pacific Northwest, and getting out with the dog is getting harder and harder. She really doesn't like to wear her raincoat nor does she like to get her feet wet. Some might call her a little princess. I looked on the local dog event calendar but there was nothing but a Puppy Romp going on.

I remembered reading about an indoor dog park that opened not too far from here, so Kendall and I put on our raincoats and headed out with paperwork and vaccination records in hand. When we arrived at InBark there was only one car in the parking lot. I didn't want it to be crowded, but it's nice if there's a least another dog or two to play with. After the formalities and a temperament test, we went in the back. There were no other small dogs, but there was a woman there with her 4 mo. old pit bull puppy that was playing with a balanced big dog in the small dog area. We went in and Kendall did ok. She goes to doggie daycare every Tuesday at A Dog Gone Good Place but she's always with small dogs. The big dog knew how to play with small dogs, and it was cute to watch as she laid down next to Kendall and eventually crawled under the bench with her. Their play styles were definitely different but Kendall seemed to be having a good time. It doesn't seem like the place we'd go all the time, but it's nice to have somewhere for her to run around when it's pouring down rain outside. They have a great video of the place.




I've also gone back to the games and puzzles that we've tried during other rainy seasons. One of Kendall's favorite games is the Nina Ottosson's Dog Fighter. I wrote about it here. She starts dancing around when I pull it off the shelf.

Another of Kendall's favorite things to play with is an empty Talking Rain bottle with a few morsels of food in the bottom. I often look for samples of good quality dog food that makes for a good treat without really being a treat. The shape of the 16.9 oz bottle makes it such that it's more of a challenge to get the food out.

What do you like to do with your dogs when it's too cold or too wet to get out regularly?

I almost forgot. Today is Saturday, so that means that it's time for the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. We're participating, are you?

To Scoop or not to Scoop?

I was faced with a moral dilemma today and wondered what you would've done. I had Kendall out at the local park today that has trash cans and poop bags readily available throughout the park. There are also numerous signs asking you to clean up after your pet. A woman walking her dog stood there on the path and watched as her large dog pooped right in the middle of the path. Rather than picking it up, she turned and walked away. My jaw just dropped, and I decided not to say anything. Would you have said something to her? Should I have picked up her dog's poop?

My Little Experiment

There's a little evergreen tree that has sprouted up right next to the road by a light pole near where I work. I've watched the little tree grow from a sprig to about 3' or so over the last couple of years. I'm surprised the lawn service that takes care of the grounds around there hasn't cut it down yet.

I decided to try a little social experiment to see how much people were into the holiday spirit. A few weeks before Christmas I put a red and a green Christmas ornament on the tree and sat back and waited. Nothing happened for a week or so, and I started to get discouraged. Maybe my little experiment wouldn't work. Then, driving home from work I saw it...four more balls on the tree AND a silver star! Someone had helped decorate my little tree. It snowballed from there. The garland with the silver bells appeared a day later. Then, some green bows, a chili pepper, and two snowflakes. What fun!

Thanks to everyone who added decorations for making the experiment a success! Let's hope the little tree is around next year.

Oregon Coast in December

With all that's been going on, I decided that it would be fun to get away to the Oregon coast for a few days between Christmas and New Year's. I rented a place in Manzanita. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found that the place had inadequate heat to deal with the winds and cold weather at the coast in December. Rather than drive back home in the dark across the Coast Range, we decided to spend the night in a kitschy motel in Manzanita. The place was clean, but definitely not the relaxing place I had hoped to spend time. We woke up Thursday morning to some gorgeous blue skies - a rarity at the Oregon coast in December.

I got on the internet and found us a place to stay in Cannon Beach for Thursday night. After a walk on the beach we headed north to Cannon Beach. The place was amazing! We stayed at The Ocean Lodge right on the beach. The view from our room was great. That's Haystack Rock.

We went for a long walk on the beach. Here's Haystack Rock looking south into the sun.

 The sunset was also very nice.

Our room came equipped with a gas fireplace, a kitchenette, and a complete array of doggie stuff, including dog bowls to use, dog treats, poopie bags, a towel and a bed sheet. Kendall made herself right at home.

We will definitely be back to the Ocean Lodge!

Pet Blogger Blog Hop

Does one of your New Year's resolutions include finding more great pet blogs to follow? Today is the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop. What a great way to start off the new year.

Happy New Year!

Kendall visiting Manzanita, OR

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy new year.

Kendall and Gretchen

Is it Christmas already?

 

Christmas is almost here, and I hate to say it, but things are running a bit behind around here. I'd love to say I had some really cute pictures of Kendall by the Christmas tree, but I don't. I had to borrow this one from the web. I'd give credit where credit is due, but I don't know whose it is. Things have been a bit hectic. We did get a small tree put up and my Christmas shopping is done, but not a single card went out this year. 

My mom passed away on Monday, so I've had a bit to deal with these past few weeks. As I mentioned in one of my October posts, my mom came to live with us and was able to stay with us until just after Thanksgiving when her health declined to the point that I could no longer give her the care she needed. We moved her to a wonderful foster home where she got excellent care right up until the end. She was one of four ladies living in the house. She was an avid Christmas card sender and has a notebook of cards sent and received for the past twenty years or so. As her cards are coming in, I'm sending back notes to let them know.

I have certainly learned a thing or two over the last four months! Here are just a handful of them:

• Don't assume that one doctor is ever talking to another doctor and that they know what the other is doing.
• The wheels on a walker can be put on the inside so it fits through a normal-sized door.
• You're capable of handling a lot more than you ever thought you could.
• Go with your gut when looking for a care facility. There are some great ones out there.
• Be kind to your friends. They'll help you get through things.
• If you want to fit a commode over top of your regular toilet, take the bar off across the back and you won't have to remove the toilet seat.

 I was able to make it through my grad school class with a B and will start a new class in January. I've decided just to chip away at the degree rather than taking two classes a term. Life's too short to spend it in school if I don't really need it for my career.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. I hope to get back to my regular postings as soon as things calm down a bit.