Whats Wrong with This Picture?

Still Got It!

Charlie's slowed down a lot - we spot him going up & down the stairs, and he can no longer get up on the bed.  So it was quite a surprise on a recent trip to Newport to come back to the RV and find this.  The boy's still got it!  :)

Practicing to Shoot a Fage Commercial?

What's Wrong with this Picture??

Orvis was kind enough to replace the toughchew bed that Charlie chewed a hole in, but Charlie just isn't getting with the program.  Sigh...
 

Wordless Wednesday

Charlie's Favorite Vet

Charlie's favorite vet just started her own vet service in Portland -- Portland Vet House Calls 

Charlie's Role in Making Christmas Cookies

Stamp Out Hunger

Saturday, May 11 is the 21st annual postal carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive -- the largest single-day food drive in the US. Last year they collected over 70 million pounds of food donations. If your letter carrier is participating, please support him or her - place non-perishable food items in bags and leave them by your mailbox before your mail delivery on Saturday. All the food collected goes to your local community food banks and pantries. For more information, go to http://www.helpstampouthunger.com

Hello Spring!

It's springtime, and on sunny days, my thoughts turn to the outdoors and gardening... with Charlie's assistance of course.  He supervised the roto-tilling...

and the mowing...

and then it was time for a well-earned rest...

Hope you're all having a good spring too!
 

Happy Holidays!

Whether you say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa or Happy Solstice, we send you greetings of the season and wish you all the best!

 

Happy Birthday, Charlie!

Eight today, he's getting a tiny bit white around the eyes and on his face, and he doesn't jump the backyard terraces quite as much, but Charlie's still the same goofy lovable going-on-2 golden guy.

His special Aunt Karen called with birthday wishes, and we all sang him Happy Birthday together (he joined in). We have some special pink-frosted carob treats from Vancouver Island to celebrate with, and we'll take a special walk, maybe even go for a ride in the car. Then something special for dinner and a brushing - his favorite way to relax in front of the tv.

Happy Birthday, Charlie! I hope you have a ton of fun today!!

 

Charlie Goes Abroad

Last week we took Charlie to Vancouver Island, BC. I carefully researched how to get him into Canada and back into the US (which our vet said was harder) and had his signed rabies certificate and recent health exam records. It turned out to be a total non-event, however. All anyone ever said was "Beautiful dog" and "Woah, don't eat me!!".

Charlie is a good traveler. He loves to ride in a car (or in this case the "Chuckwagon", his RV), loves to walk, and never seems to get out of sorts.

Charlie waiting for the ferry

We took the Blackball Ferry, M.V. Coho, from Port Angeles, WA over to Victoria because dogs are allowed both up on deck and in some of the observation lounges. The WA state and BC ferries, on the other hand, seem to restrict pets to the car deck, where it's noisy, smelly & hard to see anything except cars & trucks. This worked out great! Charlie could walk out on deck and, more importantly, sit inside and troll for passersby who needed a dog fix.

Charlie on deck

Looking at the big lines

Trolling success!

One passenger was really focused on Charlie, but playing it cool. After we'd been sitting in the lounge awhile, I realized a little boy in an orange fleece had been walking by a lot. When I paid attention, I noticed he was watching Charlie as he walked by. After a little while (and quite a few more trips past us), I saw him reach down and just barely touch Charlie's fur as he went by. On subsequent trips, he got bolder and patted Charlie on the head. Finally, on one trip past he reached down, put his face close, and ruffled Charlie's ears with both hands. I had to smile, it was so sweet and funny.

Charlie's friend

After arriving, we spent a little time in Victoria (the capital of BC) and then headed to Nanaimo and then on to Ucluelet, a small rustic community on the opposite side of the island.

At Swan's in Victoria

At Maffeo-Sutton Park in Nanaimo

On the road to Ucluelet

We stayed in Ucluelet for 2 days, hiking and seeing the area.

Wild Pacific trail, Ucluelet

Wild Pacific trail

Wild Pacific trail

Then back across the island and down to Victoria to catch the ferry home. Along the way we stopped at Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park and hiked a bit.

Headed to Lower Falls

In Victoria, waiting for the ferry back, we had more time to explore. Charlie saw horses, and puppies, and even met a group of students who attend Victoria University and wanted to have their picture taken with him.

Horses!

Puppies!

Another puppy?

With VU students

We walked through Chinatown and down Fan Tail Alley...

At the gate to Chinatown

Down Fan Tan Alley

... and everywhere Charlie made new friends.

Getting petted in Chinatown

Invited into a pet store in Dragon Alley

Making friends with the motorcycle crowd

What a great trip -- Charie's first adventure outside the US! Can't wait to do it again.