Thursday, July 30, 2009

Thanks 'n a Tag

THANK YOU CHECKERS!
I want to belatedly thank Checkers ("I may be small but I'm definitely in charge") the Peekapoo (http://checkersthepeekapoo.blogspot.com/) for this rockin', sockin' pawsome badge award! It is creative and furry beautiful. Much gratitude and xoxoxoxo!




And my mom has been tagged by Samantha and June at http://ydsalittleofeverythingplace.blogspot.com/!
The rules are:
1. Mention and link back to the person who tagged you.
2. List 6 little things that make you happy.
3. Tag 6 other bloggers and let them know they're "it".

1. I love rock climbing soooo much! The mountains where I've climbed are beautiful... no... spectacular, often requiring hikes that take me through tranquil forests and refreshing lakes and streams. And the challenges of a rock's architecture are so numerous - no two routes are the same!
2. My family is pretty much an instant happymaker! I am extremely lucky! My mom, siblings and their families are all in the northeast, but our son and family are all out here, which is ashame, but we try to gather together at least two to three times annually.
3. I adore traveling. Another instant "happymaker!" Below is a picture taken at about 5 a.m. near Piana in Corsica. We are at Les Roches Rouges, which we knew would be gorgeous at or around sunrise.

4. And speaking/writing of sunrise, I really love an amazing sunset. I took this picture of the sun setting over the Rockies from Colorado Springs on our last evening there a couple of years ago. I just hit shot after shot of the amazing fireball of a show.

5. I love flowers if you didn't know that already hehe! All spring I took pictures of Sammie (poor girl) in a backround of profusions of blossoms!

6. And of course this is truly among the #ONE "little" things that makes me so furry, furry happy! Sammie - you make me experience such a broad range of emotions from love and laughter to tears and fears that I don't know what we've done without you all these years. We are so grateful that we are lucky enough to share what we call HOME with you!
This has been a tough tag, as there are so many things I could write about, but there's a start! I know this is a cop-out, but this tag is really a valuable exercise. I urge all doggies to try this. So... I tag all my bloggie pals and look forward to hearing about the "little" things that make your pawrents happy!
Huggers,
Sammie

Monday, July 27, 2009

Wild Weekend

Hi allpups! Whatta weekend I had! First a hike-a-thon, then this! I had no idea what mama and dad had in mind when we loaded up the jeepster and headed off for ... someplace. When we stopped, here is what we ended up at. I had no idea what this was all about.
Hmmmm... "Splashdogs"!!! What could that be? I was still exhausted from my hike-a-thon. Could my peeps wring a bit more out of me? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Here's dad trying to hold me, but it is a tough job, cause I've had one practice jump and I'm shaking from the excitement of it all, and squeaking and making a lot of whiny noises in the hopes that I can do it again... and... again!!! Yeah!
And there's ma, throwing me my all-time fave: my kong-on-a-rope! Off into the waters beyond! Can I get it! And go miles and miles over the pool? There are tons of labs. Labs are so furry good at this!

Well... here I go - novice that I am! Not bad, but more important - oh - SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!

Sploosh!And sploosh again!

And finally, all doggies were removed from the practice dives area. Now some rest until the competitions! I was only entered into them so I could swim and dive again! My first time, and I would like ma and dad to get me one of my own splash doggie pools for my backyard hehe!

Okay, well, I had to stop for a sec to figure out the distance. Besides, Mom is such a rookie!

Okay - sploosh! Here I go! After my kong-on-a-rope!
Got it!!!! Now where's the getting-out-ramp?

And when we left, I there was a real problem. There was an animal that I needed to protect all peoples from.




Ha-rooooo!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Marin Stables & Trails Ride & Hike-A-Thon

Today, I participated in a Ride/Hike-A-Thon for Marin Stables and Trails. They have a public outreach program in the form of educational, therapeutic and mentoring programs for adults and children that involves horses and the environment. A great cause!
Tell ya what. Crash and burn. I really haven't much to say right now except one thing: "What exactly, were my pawrents thinkin'?"
Here's a collage of what was goin' on when we arrived at 7am. Coffee and yumzers for the peeps. And for me? Nottin!!!!!!
I got to watch the biggest doggers I ever saw get groomered and pampered, then an horrific thingamoboboober put in their mouthies. Uccchhhhhh!!!! And then.... if you can even think of it, an ginormous packeroonie thrown on their poor backies. All this while Dad and Mommers was watchin' and drinkin' coffeees.

Okay then, we followed the big guys toward the trail and pass these ones making some kind of yumzers chicken and who knows whatzers. Smells amazing! Hope I get to have some!

Uh oh. Now I get outfixtured with this backpackerooni thing. The indignity of it! Two bottles of water, snackies, poopie baggers and a clothie camp bowl. I can feel my spine compressing.

Actually, (gotta tell the truth) Momma's been practicing all week, so I'm starting to get used to it. I now know that it gets lighter as we go hehe!
Resting on the trail with my fave dadpeep!

When we reached the highest elevation, I met Roscoe, a Bull Mastiff, who should meet Mango. He and his mom would ensure that we wouldn't lose our way "home."
Hi Roscoe!

And here we are not only on our way "home," but greeted with love at Marin Stables!

Then Mom took me to see if our pal, Sharon, had arrived. There was a weird spotted horse flying around in the air. It scares the pants off of me (if I wore them hehe)!

Time to go into guard mode to protect us all from certain disaster!

Yummers food, drink and dancing! Man! Was the music ever pawsome!
Some of the riders had come from faraway lands and had to leave. We sent them off on their way with big cheers!

And when we finally left to find our cars, we passed this truck, loaded with half a baker's dozen of Khyras. You can't see them all, but there were eight Sibes in the back. And all ready for furever homes. Anyone?
Momma wants to express heartfelt apologies for not having visited for a while. She's been up to a lotta work and duties and loves ya all and will try to catch up before the weekend's out. But hugs from me, Sammie. More adventures tomorrow that you won't be able to believe!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Yo-Ghund!

I'm tantalized by all this waiting! Hurry up you guys!
You may recall that I got yummalicious yoghund for my birthday at the park! Well... after din-din tonight, I got more peanut butter yoghund! A whole carton of it! Scrumptious! I am focused!

Staring at Dad who's about to serve me the delectable treat of all treats! Can't wait!

He starts me out with a bit and then...

lets me have at it!!!!!

Until it's all... GONE.... whimper! Oh how I love National Ice Cream Day!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Raffles and Rangers and Rations, Oh My!


We doggies got a super invitation!!!
Friday, July 17
5pm to 7pm
Dog Day at the Park *
Bring your dogs for an evening of fun and education. We’ll discuss park regulations and sensitive wildlife
issues that all pet owners should know. Enjoy a free BBQ and raffle prizes. Meet at McInnis Park (350 Smith
Ranch Rd, San Rafael). Bring a leash.
And so many of us came to hear about the fate of our beloved McInnis Park. We'd heard rumors that a remote part of the field would be fenced off - and that this area would be the only place left here where we would be able to run leashless. And... it turned out to be just that! A Rumour - nasty thing! But some of our owners apparently don't follow the rules and could ruin the good thing we have here!

The rangers put on a rully nice shew! Doggie cookies for us and hot doggers and a great spread for our pawrents (which we all tried to get to and snarf... Most of us were unsuccessful!


But some of us were, like my lucky pal below, licking his choppers!


The picnic table pup crew - to be able to take in the view over the big doggers.


Below is my pal, Olivia - famous for her kissing scenes with Finnegan woohoo!


Squiggly one desperate to grab a potato chippie or two!


Guarding the babe here - good job!


So there was lots of meeting and greeting, reading pee mails and plenty of butt sniffing too. I had to get my secretary to add this cute poem by someone named Anonymous. Here goes.
The Dogs' Party
The dogs all had a party
They came from far and near
Some dogs came by taxi
And others came by car
Each dog signed his name
upon a special book
And each dog hung his backside
Upon a special hook
One dog was not invited
And this aroused his ire
He stormed into the party
And loudly shouted "Fire!"
And in the chaos that followed
The dogs forgot to look
And grabbed just any backside
From off of any hook
So that is the real reason
Whenever they meet or roam
They sniff each others' backside
To try and find their own!
Heehee.


You can see that we were provided a big pool for the likes of me and my big pals, then also a small pool, which you can't see. Very popular! Middle right is Finnegan, famous as Olivia's kissing beau. You can also catch pix of doggies hoping for food and also listening politely to what the rangers had to tell us.

After a nice swim and treat. We're all waiting to see if we won anything in the raffle!

Pacing around before said raffle, hoping to find bits and pieces of people dogs. There were some pawsome raffle prizes!

Hangin' out after the super picnic! We all get along really well together - our pawrents love that about this place - we pups feel very content and safe here.

During the raffle, Rangerdude pointed out the winners - like this!

Well, well, well! One of the first raffle winners was Sierra Rose! Here's her mom picking up her prize of a collar and leash! NICE!
While Sierra didn't get to actually join the party revelers, she was close-by in her vanmobile, surrounded by fans (both the blowing kind and the doggie and people kind too!). She was very happy to hear that she's won such an uber nice prize. Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen?
Sierra being congratulated by a bevy of goldens, from top: Sierra, Olivia, Aspen and me! My number was called too - I won a fabu chicken squeaky that says it's practically indestructible. We're keeping tabs on that. Aspen also got a collar and leash, and Olivia won one of the grand prizes. Those rangers are very generous indeed and a great time was had by everypup and human! We thank the Marin County Parks and Open Space District for putting on such a great pawty for us all!


Thanks also for our own personal "Bark Ranger" tags! Woof!