Wishing it was Cooler

Now, at 6pm, it's still over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Portland (38 C). Charlie is very sensitive to heat -- a few years ago, before we had AC, the house got to 84F (29C) during a heat wave and Charlie got heatstroke. So... sympathize with the poor guy -- he's only getting walkies in the morning and some quick business in the afternoon. No more playing in the yard or cherry hunting until this heat breaks!

 

Fri(en)day

"Oh, will she ever arrive?"
"Is that you, Gabbie?
"Oh, yeah!!"
"Slimed?! I'll get you for that!"
"It's good to hang out with friends."

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Hunter - Gatherers

Charlie's Favorite Part of Summer

Our neighbors have a momentously large cherry tree, chock-full of Charlie treats* that are beginning to ripen and fall into our back yard. I just wish Charlie'd stem and pit them first!



*Note: Fortunately Charlie doesn't, himself, waste energy on chewing, but Khyra alludes to, and Charlie's favorite vet reminds us that, chewed cherry pits can release cyanide. So don't be munchin' on the pits!!

 

Sitting Around With On Friends

A little story in pictures...






Why does this remind me of adolescent brothers and sisters...?

 

Twisty

Happy 4th of July!

...now we'll just retire to a soundproofed interior room with a radio to await the 5th...

 

Too Funny

Every other night or so, Charlie gets a chew. He loves his chews and he eats a whole one at a sitting (which is why he gets smaller 6" ones and doesn't get them every night). Tonight was chew night, and Charlie settled in.


We were also rushing through our own dinner because of an evening appointment. So the plates & pots hit the floor for their "prewash" before Charlie was anywhere near being done with his chew.

Being the food-oriented kind of guy he is, Charlie raced into the kitchen and immediately started on the plates. Then, suddenly, I could almost see a light bulb go on in his head... he left the plates and raced back for the chew. Which he brought back into the kitchen and carefully set down by the dishes, where he could keep an eye on it while he finished up.


That Charlie! Always thinkin'!

 

Good Times

Treatcatcher

I've studied the picture and can't find the treat anywhere. It must be in his mouth, because he did catch it! Catching treats is one of Charlie's best-honed skills.

"I'm Sure I Heard Thunder..."

This afternoon a storm blew up, seemingly out of nowhere. The wind kicked up, and the sky darkened and suddenly cut loose with buckets of rain.


While it often rains here, Portland only occasionally gets thunderstorms. So considering his limited experience with them, I was surprised to see Charlie's response. Not waiting for the first clap of thunder (which frankly I expected too, but never happened), he immediatey headed to his place of safety.


He says he may have been wrong this time, but better safe than sorry!

 

Lucky Golden

Since today's weather was just perfect, we took Charlie over to The Lucky Lab brewpub for lunch. There, on the back patio, you can drink great beer, eat food, and hang out with your dog.

Charlie was very well-behaved, although there was a slightly tense barky moment when some cyclists arrived in full roadgear with scary cleats & helmets. Certainly a high point was when a man arrived with a box of dog treats. Now that's someone who knows how to make friends at The Lab!

Checking out the back patio...
"How 'bout some of those peanuts, Mom?"

"Good boys deserve potato chips, right?"

"Oh, woe is me... no food, no friends, ..."

"Yippeee! A new friend. With FOOD!"

"How 'bout a cold one?"

 

Blechhh...

Charlie's been on special food because of a urinalysis result 6 weeks ago, and today I had to collect a new "specimen" to see if it's been helping. Fortunately Charlie's a squatter, which made the job easier, but still I lost as much as I captured. And what Charlie must think... I don't even want to know!

Note: Test results came back Sataurday & were perfect!

 

C'mon, Charlie!

Charlie always has his own ideas about where it's safe to walk...

• past the apartments where he heard a loud motorcycle weeks ago? - NO!
• next to the school? - NO!
• too far away? - NO!

I used to let him get away with this, but my cousin who's a (human) psychologist convinced me it's better to help him get past his fears, so now we power through. Go, Charlie!

 

Introducing "Joey"

You may recall that it was with some trepidation on my part that Charlie met Roo. Like many dogs, Charlie enjoys taking apart his toys. However, he rarely stops there. Rather, he consumes them. Cloth, stuffing, rope... regardless of how unappealing it seems to a human, it all goes down Charlie's gullet. And then hopefully out the other end (although, as Curt knows too well, that part's not a sure bet).
Puppy Charlie, prior to the first toy "incident"
(which netted him a day at the vet's)
So when Roo arrived, I tried to be very careful. At first Charlie only had well-supervised visits. Then, as he demonstrated his trustworthiness, I relaxed. Thought he'd grown up. Grew complacent. Took for granted that nothing would happen, and allowed Roo to freely roam the house on his own.

Initially it was kind of minor - a detached nose. Well, that could happen to anyone, right? And he didn't swallow the nose. But then... then... one night, watching a video, I noticed Charlie holding Roo down with his paws and pulling at him with his teeth. And when I went over to inspect, Roo was missing his right ear - there was just a stub where it had been. And, worse, the ear was nowhere to be found!


So Roo went back to live on the mantel between play dates. And I began to avoid Roo posts, embarrassed that Charlie wasn't quite as grown-up as I'd portrayed and that I'd let such a lovely present be eaten.

But Brooke and Greg and Charlie and Opy of Dogs with Blogs, who originally sent Roo, found out. And a new package arrived in the mail last week. So, thanks again, Brooke & Greg, and without further ado... everyone meet Joey:

"For me? Really??"
Helping
"Hmmmm... what's in here?"
"C'mon outta there!"
"I'll put you down now & then give you the tour."
"...and this is the living room..."
"...and this is my friend, Roo..."
Charlie and Joey
Happy (supervised) family ;)

 

Roo - The Real Thing

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. ... Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Charlie and Roo
- Excerpts from "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams

 

Rock Around the Clock

Charlie must be part cat. Because, like a cat, he's sometimes subject to the "witching hour" -- you know... that time around eleven or twelve at night when it's suddenly time to go nuts and PLAY!






Then, almost as suddenly... playtime's over and it's time to snooze.

W. A. L. K.

What part of this don't you understand, Mom?

Buds