Petey's playhouse

"Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have acted so happy and healthy..."

2011-09-21T20:38:00.002-04:00

If you'd told me two weeks ago that I'd feel comfortable leaving Petey to go on vacation, I'd have told you that was impossible.

And yet here I am, debating how many sweaters one really does need to pack for a trip to Dublin/England/Paris.

Before you start thinking of me as a cold-hearted, unfeeling wench, let me assure you that Petey is 100% better. He's playing with his toys, gobbling down his meals, knocking down shop assistants to get treats, and snoring blissfully through the night. My friend Dina is coming to stay with him and I've already warned her that there are several locations where he will stop in his tracks until he can go in and get a cookie. There's a freezer full of Frosty Paws and marrow bones.

He'll probably growl when I get back.

In the meantime, I get to reunite with Clive and Co. in Dublin and have the honor of meeting Eric Square Dog and Otis on their home turf. No doubt I will return with enough quantities of dog hair on my collection of black sweaters that Petey will feel I brought Clive and Eric home with me.

Will fill you in on all the juicy details when I return.

Me and Mia

2011-09-19T23:14:00.005-04:00

Over the years, on many a Saturday morning, I've grown accustom to hearing my doorbell ring followed by the door slowly opening (I leave it unlocked more often than I should) and then two little high-pitched voices asking "Can Petey come out and play?"

My neighbors' adorable granddaughters Liola and Mia have spent many weekends visiting their grandparents in the City. And over the years, they have come to know the small beige dog down the hall who is always happy to do a few tricks for some cookies, play ball (or circus, or dog show) in the hallway on a rainy or snowy afternoon, and even get two leashes attached to his collar so each of them could "take Petey for a walk" at the same time. Lucky for me, they'd even squabble over who got to pick up the poop!

Because sisters just a few years apart can quickly get on each other's nerves, the girls have been visiting one at a time rather than together lately. And Mia, so articulate and outspoken for her age (7), never fails to connect with me with her candor and wit.

One of my favorite "Mia-isms" was when she and Liola and I were walking Petey around the block and she looked up at me and with a huge sigh said "Dogs are my destiny."

When she and Liola got Loopy, a cinnamon-colored teacup poodle a few years ago, I said to Mia that I was glad she still loved Petey now that she had her own dog. She looked at me with an unblinking stare and said, "Don't be ridiculous, I hate you for even thinking that!" Point taken. I'd been dressed down by a first-grader.

Lately Mia hasn't been too pleased with our extended absences to Hilton Head. And as she and Liola get busier with their school activities and friends, I know those Saturday morning discussions and walks are going to become less frequent and my time with the girls will be cut even shorter as their grandparents become more reluctant to share their time with them. Already I miss them. One Sunday afternoon I came home to find the following note under my door:

Dear Jane,

I wanted to say hi but I forgot. I'll see you next weekend. Maybe.

Your friend,

Mia

I just loved the straight-forwardness of her message. Pure Mia. No sloppy sentiment, no over-promise. Maybe.

I'd been concerned how Liola and Mia might react to Petey's new appearance since his surgery. While less hair was cut over his brow than I'd imagined and his cheek is now velvety with new hair growing in, it still is a bit startling not to see both of his eyes under those shaggy brows. I spoke to their grandmother when I saw her by the mail room, so she could tell the girls what had happened to Petey before they saw him.

Sunday afternoon, I came home to find another note from Mia under my door. This brilliant and beautiful little girl had summed up my own feelings eloquently and succinctly.

Dear Jane,

I saw Petey. I was really sad when I saw him. But luckily, he didn't look too bad. Thanks for leaving the door open.

Your friend Mia

I have no doubt that their reunion was filled with hugs and kisses and heart-felt conversation. And I'm glad that it was private, that I wasn't there to eavesdrop. I'll keep Mia's note and look at it from time to time. There's so much to learn from children and I know I have found an amazing professor.

Mia, Petey and Liola, a couple years ago, after walking Petey down the hall.

From Petey's pal Henry

2011-09-17T22:10:00.002-04:00

Here's an action shot as Petey was in a big hurry to get his BIG cookie from his pal Henry out of sight/reach. He's so funny - anytime he gets a treat that he really loves (like Frosty Paws or a raw bone) he has to take it to a room all by himself...as if I'd really want it!

He's a goofball.

Back to the run on Friday evening to see his pals. You would never guess that anything was different - he was back to dropping the ball in front of his latest victim and then insisting that they throw the ball for him. If anything, he was more insistent than ever.

Can't tell you how happy this makes me!

NO CANCER!!!!

2011-09-14T21:11:00.002-04:00

Just heard from the surgeon that Petey's pathology report came back and there was NO tumor and NO CANCER! Systemic or localized! There was a tremendous amount of inflammation that could be caused by a spike in his blood pressure. So I guess this means no more salty snacks, cut back on bacon and more time playing and exercising!!!

We're thrilled to bits. Ice cream for EVERYONE!!!!

It's all fun and games until someone ends up in a cone!

2011-09-12T17:58:00.005-04:00

Petey in his velcro'd cone this Spring when the tip of his ear got nipped at the dog run and bled and bled.

He liked this clear cone because he thought he looked like an astronaut, but anytime he shook his head, the ear would start bleeding again and he'd look like his head was in a blender, as you can see!

I have to admit, we've been a bit naughty. Our very nice vet techs brought Petey out wearing a rather complex clear hard plastic Elizabethan cone, that had tabs that were rather tough to fit into the slots and and an additional tie around his neck. After removing it for Petey to eat his dinner, the noise startled him so much that I went looking for the cone he got when the tip of his ear got nipped this Spring. Padded around the neck, velcro closure. Easy peasy.

The first night we were home after his surgery, I got a call from his surgeon, checking in and asking how he was doing. She said it was okay to take the cone off when he was sitting on the couch with me, out for a walk, or eating. That his stitches were secure but keep the cone on when I wasn't around or when he was sleeping at night so he wouldn't try to rub or scratch at his eye.

Petey relaxing in his enormous bed, with a ball (!!!), and without his cone!

I have to admit, now that we're on Day 6, he's barely wearing his cone at all, except when we go to bed. I did put it on him when I went to the gym this morning, but just hanging around the apartment, he's been cone-free. Still waiting to find out when we'll go back in for his followup appointment—we saw the Je + Jo ice cream vendor the other day and told her the story about "Je" being his surgeon and told her to tell her "boss" that Petey is doing great! Then we'll be able to throw away--err--store his cone, hopefully for GOOD!

In the meantime, he's howling his demands, smiling when I mention going out for a walk, and visiting some of his pals. Life is very good indeed - what a difference a week makes!

One small step for Petey, one giant leap for Jane!

2011-09-09T22:17:00.002-04:00

Today's achievements for Petey....

Woke up with a wagging tail...

Took the stairs rather than the elevator when we went out for walks (good depth perception)...

Talked to his friend Denise at the bank to give him a cookie...

Jumped off the bed while wearing his cone, rather than waiting for me to lift him down...

Insisted on a walk of over an hour this afternoon, tugging all the way...

Played briefly with his favorite orange rubber ball!

We are grateful beyond words for all the sweet messages, prayers, and pep talks that we've received from you all this week. Really made an enormous difference in BOTH of our recoveries!

Much love from Jane and Petey

The road to recovery

2011-09-08T12:15:00.004-04:00

As the song goes, "Whatever gets you through the night, is alright, alright!"

The Excedrin are for me, the gourmet grub is for Petey. As my friend Glenn says, "I want a burger in a can!"

Well, it's our second day home and Petey is definitely making progress! He is happy to go for a nice long walk, even gave a Wheaten terrier a "what are you looking out?" Cujo-like snarl today. Trust me, this is a sign that things are getting back to normal - Boxers, Wheatens, some German Shepherds are all on Petey's "get'em before they get me" radar. And especially Huskies.

While we were waiting for his appointment on Tuesday morning, I saw a woman outside unloading four, count'em four Huskies from her SUV. I tried to quickly get one of the nurses' attention before they arrived in the lobby as I knew Petey, even in pain, would go nuts. (Once at the dog run when Petey was having a drink of water and marinating a tennis ball in the bowl, an enormous Malumute came up and put his mouth around Petey's neck. I screamed and leapt up, the dog's owner did the same, Petey picked up his tennis ball and trotted away unscathed. But ever since, he's gone cuckoo when he sees any variety of sled dog. Sorry Khyra! If you two were off-leash at the run, he'd be fine.)

Sure enough, the Huskies make it into the glass enclosed vestibule and Petey's barking and growling and snapping at his leash. I grab him and they send us off to an office and I just ask him "Really Petey? You were going to take on FOUR Huskies???"

Petey's always liked his sleep but now with the advantage of having one eye already closed, he seems to be napping more than ever. He's also still taking some pain meds that make him drowsy so I'm not too concerned - figure sleep is probably what his little body needs right now.

Or should I say, not-so-little-body. I think Petey's put on a pound or two since this ordeal began, not in small part from me coddling him with cookies, extra treats (ice cream - dog and human varieties), and fancy gourmet canned dog food (see photo). He was turning up his nose at his Wellness Healthy Weight kibble —and frankly, can you blame him? — and I thought that his sense of smell might be compromised a bit with his surgery, so we got some fancy grub that we usually only get for special occasions. (Petey highly recommends Merrick's Thanksgiving Dinner for all of your upcoming canine and feline holiday festivities.) Yesterday, he got about half a can for dinner and licked the bowl clean. Today a heaping spoonful on the kibble got the same results.

He happily trotted around the block last night with his buddy/bodyguard/wingman Bear and this morning would have pulled me down Bleecker Street to Soho if he'd had his way. He still wants to retreat to his "bunker" - a canvas bag of off-season clothes under the bed - so I've had to head him off at the pass. I don't want him getting dust in his eye or banging his cone against his head under the bed. So he's snoozing away on the top of the bed, legs occasionally twitching as he dreams.

Day by day. Definitely making progress.

Hey, if you didn't see my facebook post yesterday, our wonderful primary vet, Dr. DeLorenzo called to see how Petey was doing. She had not seen him during this whole ordeal because it was after hours when I first spotted his red eye and I took him to a vet a few blocks away who is open later in the evening. The surgeon had sent detailed reports to the referring vet and to Dr. DeLorenzo. Dr. D had called the surgeon and spoken with her then called me. Said to feel free to call her if I have any questions or if Petey just wants to drop by for a cookie (we can't walk by without him stopping in his tracks and pulling to go in to say "hello, I'd like a cookie please.).

It was a year ago today that Dr. DeLorenzo helped Mica on his way to the Bridge. Which just sort of added to the sadness and worry of the past week. I wasn't ready for news that Petey might be joining Mica at the Bridge anytime soon and fortunately, that reunion has been postponed indefinitely. A couple months after Mica died, I received a card from the Tufts University Veterinary School that a donation had been made in his memory by Dr. DeLorenzo and her staff.

Isn't that marvelous? It restores my faith in the goodness of people, especially those who love our pets almost as much as we do.

UPDATE: Perhaps too ambitiously, I took Petey for a walk over to the dog run, correctly assuming no one would be there during the afternoon (although there was much activity in the Meatpacking District in anticipation of Fashion's Night Out this evening). Got tears in my eyes when Petey trotted over to the first tennis ball, tentatively picked it up then rejected it for the next tennis ball which he carried around as he inspected the half dozen or so on the ground. Finally he dropped it in front of me, I gave it a little roll towards his good eye and he grabbed it and lay down. He was tired, so we walked over to the water bowl where he dropped the ball in then we walked home. About a block away, he slowed down a bit so we waited a little while and I carried him a bit. Now he's home, cone back on, up on the bed and having just taken a pain pill, I'm sure he'll soon be dreaming of chasing down tennis balls in the near future.

Petey news

2011-09-07T13:13:00.002-04:00

For some reason, my recent post is listed as Monday at 7:30 p.m.! Anyhow, please read the next post for the news about this next phase of our lives.

Petey my brave little soldier...

2011-09-05T19:29:00.007-04:00

To me, it's not so much a cone as a halo.

I'll get right to the point. Petey's eye had gotten worse, to the point where we made a visit to the emergency veterinary clinic on Saturday night when he was squinting, unwilling to open it, listless and clearly uncomfortable, hiding under the bed. The initial exam did not look good - there was pressure on his eye that made him feel like he had a 24-hour migraine. The vet on call did an eye exam and said he'd probably lost all vision in his eye. She sent a photo of his eye and her report on his exam to their veterinary opthomologist who said that he may have a tumor causing the problem and would probably need to have his eye removed. I literally felt my blood turn to ice water as she told me this. Petey was given new drops to help control thepressure and it had gone down from 75 to 60 by Sunday afternoon when he went back to our local vet for x-rays and bloodtests to see if there were signs of cancer spreading. (Good news, the x-rays were clean and clear.) He also had new pain pills so he was more comfortable and almost back to his old self. I, on the other hand, was a shattered wreck.

Waiting, waiting, waiting through the long holiday weekend for our appointment on Tuesday morning. On Monday, Petey took me for a long walk in the morning and in the afternoon, we joined his pal Bear for a little walk (and some cookies at his favorite stops). There was a new ice cream cart on the corner called Je + Jo and the girl working there said that her boss was a big "dog lover" and gave us a free cup of vanilla for the dogs. Petey was thrilled and stood with his front paws on my knees so he wouldn't miss a drop. Since he wouldn't be able to have anything to eat after midnight in case he needed surgery on Tuesday, I felt it was perfectly fine to indulge him.

Waiting patiently for his next spoonful of ice cream.

In the pouring rain on Tuesday morning we went back to the NYC Veterinary Specialists (aka the emergency vet) to see the ophthalmologist, a very nice young woman named Dr. Jennifer Welser. As she examined his eye, I babbled about spoiling him with ice cream the day before and showed her a little video on my phone. (I wanted everyone there to love Petey as much as I do so they'd take extra good care of him.) "Where did you take that?" she asked suddenly. I told her and she laughed and said that Je + Jo ice cream was her sideline company! She was the "Je" of Je + Jo - the "dog-loving boss!" I told her that she was already taking good care of Petey before she'd even met him!

Anyhow, there was good news and bad news. The good news was that he does NOT have glaucoma and his right eye is perfectly healthy. His pathology and x-rays were clean and clear. However, a sonogram showed a massive hemorrhage and possible tumor in his eye and it would have to come out. My beautiful boy with those shiny brown eyes that smiled when you entered a room and would follow a tennis ball with laser-like focus would now have a permanently closed lid. (I'm teary just typing these words a day later.) I sat on the floor next to Petey while he dozed in a makeshift bed, just crying and stroking his coat and whispering silly songs and sayings to him. He so often is told that he resembles the dog in the Traveller's Insurance TV spots and the phrase "protect what you love the most" kept ringing in my ears. I carried him into the surgery, covering his head with kisses and more salty tears.

About an hour later the doctor came in and said that everything had gone fine, he was in recovery sleeping off his anesthesia. When the vet tech brought him back into the room, his tail was wagging. She put him on the exam table and his nose went right for the container of liver treats that had been forbidden beforehand. He eagerly ate about a dozen then and there, even giving the vet tech a "high five" before he got one (with the little catheter still taped to his paw!). Then he settled back down on the bed in the corner and I sat pressed next to him for the next hour and a half while he dozed in his big plastic cone, his shaved eyebrow giving his closed eye a bit of an "ah ha!" look. More tears, not so many this time, and many words of reassurance. Angus of http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/ wrote poignantly yesterday that "As blind dog owners learn 'to be trusted is an even greater compliment than to be loved.'" And while Petey is definitely not blind, he is disoriented -- as someone eloquently put it, his brain needs a bit of rewiring.

Got home in yet another downpour almost 11 hours after we'd left. Petey wasn't too interested in food, but I got him settled in his bed and ran across the street to the deli to get a roast beef sandwich for my dinner as I too had not eaten all day. I could only face a half a sandwich and since Petey was refusing to eat his own dinner, he proceeded to eat the lion's share of mine. Then allowed himself to be hand-fed another handful of kibble. To bed at 10:30, slept soundly until I insisted he get up this morning at 10:00 AM for a walk around the block which he did quite well. Still not interested in kibble, but more roast beef allowed me to get his antibiotic and pain pill in him. A little snooze in his own bed, then he walked into the kitchen on his own accord and drank some water and finished his kibble. Progress!

He is indeed my brave little soldier, now with a battle scar to prove it. Or as he told me, "Mom, now all the girls will think I'm winking at them!" Once I see him pick up a tennis ball, this ball of ice will finally melt inside of me.

In the meantime, many thanks for your kind words and encouragement. The power of the paw!

Relief efforts

2011-08-28T11:51:00.003-04:00

Well, relief is indeed at hand! Sighs of relief that damages in New York seem to be quite minor. And relief for Petey in terms of FINALLY getting outside for a nice long walk. And with plenty of limbs on the street, he had loads of places to leave pee-mails.

This car was swamped down near Asta's home. We were walking with a bunch of our dog run friends and ran into George taking Asta out for some relief of her own. There was some flooding on their street, but it's all receded.

About a block and a half away on Bleecker Street, two trees toppled down in the little park near Magnolia Bakery. (No cupcakes were killed in the Hurricane. Well, at least not by toppled trees.)
One fell over inside the park -- the park is under renovation already!

And this one fell across the street and was cut down by the fire department.

While we were looking at it, I was interviewed by CNN! (Note to self: Never go outside following a national disaster without full makeup, hair and wardrobe...) Told them that the dogs were the real victims, as they'd been housebound for hours and unable to get outdoors to relieve themselves. Yes, hard-hitting news! But the camera man did pan Petey and my friends across the street, so keep your eyes peeled for us!

Again, we're feeling very blessed that we made it through an earthquake and a hurricane without much harm here in New York. Our prayers go out to those not so fortunate.

Goodnight Irene!

2011-08-27T18:44:00.002-04:00

Looking south towards the tip of the Island. the fourth building from the right is the new tower,
now under construction.

Well, we've been waiting out the hurricane all day today. The streets are eerily quiet, though we did see a couple with their "Nuevo York" guidebooks trying to get in some sightseeing in the Village this afternoon!

Every time there is the slightest break in the rain, I've taken Petey out to "drain his squirt gun!" The city has either removed or turned the trashcans upside down so they'll be less likely to fly around when the storm really hits. Which means that the few available cans are full of poop bags! When Irene starts to blow, the sh*t could really fly - literally!

Looking north towards the Empire State building.

Around 2:00 p.m., I went up on the roof to see what was going on - hence these photos. Eighth Avenue is usually a ribbon of glowing red taillights up to Central Park and today - nothing. The shops on Bleecker Street are closed, some of them taped up with painters tape or masking tape, which I thought was pretty funny. Clearly these people are not up to date on their Hurricane preparations! The Michael Kors store was boarded up, except for two small windows on the side of the building which still had handbags on display. Figure those are the cheap bags!

"Hmmm, how long is she going to expect me to hold it?"

Petey's not a fan of rain to start off with. even more so as he's gotten older. So I bought some wee-wee pads and opened one in the bathroom and am hoping he'll remember what they're for - that they'll stir up a memory from puppyhood. Of course, every time I take him outside, he'll do a quick pee and then pull to come inside. Where he goes to the kitchen and scratches his bowl for water! Nooooooooooo!

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words as we face this storm head on. We really appreciate all the goodwill you're sending our way!

In our household, this is EVERYday!

2011-08-26T08:53:00.005-04:00

Today is National Dog Day - what's new? - it's Dog Day every day at our house! I often think of Jerry Seinfeld's riff that if aliens came to earth, they'd think dogs ruled the planet, with humans as their servants who carry their waste in little plastic bags!

So celebrate like crazy today, Petey and Pals! Because the rest of the weekend here in NYC may not be so much fun.

My biggest concern is not the windows blowing in or the electricity going off but what to do when it comes to getting Petey outside to relieve himself? I think one of my hurricane supplies is going to be some wee wee pads and just hope that he can think back to his puppyhood and remember what they're used for!

The following image has been all over the internet lately, but it's so beautiful and powerful, I felt it was poignant to share it with you on National Dog Day.

(Not meaning to be disrespectful, but unless there's a tennis ball or a doggie treat on my coffin, I don't think I can expect this from Petey.)

Finally, in the spirit of solidarity on National Dog Day, I thought I'd share this photo with you that was taken of Petey and Lil' Lacie this summer on Hilton Head.

And in case you're thinking that "Hey, Lacie's butt doesn't look THAT big," Petey wants you to know that they are not sitting on a cushion, but a pair of Lacie's shell-printed bikini bottoms.

Have a great and SAFE weekend everyone!

Beware the Devil Dog!

2011-08-24T20:38:00.002-04:00

Now, Petey has been a devilish dog in the past. Sometimes literally, and sometimes figurately (like when he decided as a puppy that the only pair of shoes he wanted to chew on were my pink alligator pumps, purchased at the Barneys Warehouse at a significant discount from their original price of $1,350. I know. But how many times do you run into a pink alligator?).

However, last Thursday while walking home from the run with our neighbor and her dog Kali (since Rosie has disappeared from blogland, Kali is Petey's real-life girlfriend. She's a sweet black and white beagle-terrier mix with an alluring beagle bay.) we stopped by a neighborhood store where Petey knows he can always count on getting a dog treat or two or three. I looked down and my sweet boy looked like this:

Okay, I exaggerate. Just his left eye looked like that. Like he was possessed by a demon. He wasn't in any pain and his vision didn't seem impaired, but it looked just awful and glowing red so off we went to the emergency vet.

Several tests later, we ruled out rat poisoning, internal bleeding, cornea scratches, blood infections (can you just hear the cash register ringing up this total?) and it was decided that he had a burst blood vessel behind his eye. So, home we trotted with pain pills (as much to keep him quiet as for pain relief) and gooey ointment to squish into his eye three times a day. He's on to me and when he sees me coming with anything in my hand, he scampers away, tail between his legs. The blood started pooling at the bottom of his eye almost immediately and is s-l-o-w-l-y looking better but it still looks quite red when he's outside in the sunshine.

But here's the worst part. No dog run until it clears up. And the weather? Perfect breezy sunshine in the upper 70's. More late September than August. Oh well, we've got a hurricane headed our way this weekend so he won't miss out too much. (Earthquake, hurricane - what's next? A plague of frogs?)

Guess it's as good an excuse as any to let the little mite have some ice cream at the Cafe Cluny ice cream cart...

Petey meets the Royal Family...on Greenwich Avenue, NYC?

2011-04-29T10:53:00.005-04:00

Hello there Ladies and Lords! Petey here. No, I'm not outside the gardens at Buckingham Palace, I'm right across the street! But you may think I'm in Jolly Old Englande for the Royal Wedding!

First off, I've been wearing an Elizabethan collar after a dog bit me on the ear at the run. We both went after my tennis ball and I got there first. Wish I could say "you should see the other guy" but she outweighs me by about 60 lbs. No permanent damage done!

Am I outside Clarence house? No, just a townhouse on West 12th Street.

Here's our favorite tea shop — Tea & Sympathy—and next door is A Salt & Battery, a proper fish and chips shop. The whole block was decorated with Union Jacks and royal bunting for the occasion.

Now that's a flag!

Why look! It's Prince William and Princess Catherine, with the Queen (Nicky, truly the ruling monarch of Greenwich Avenue.)

They look much younger than their photo in the window.

Lots of people got up to watch the wedding over a proper English breakfast at 6:00 am.

Here's Nicky's husband Sean, the Pearly King, chatting with a commoner over a nice cuppa.

Sean confessed he grew this big handlebar mustache "just to bother the wife!"

Don't worry little bridesmaid, Prince Harry's still available! Actually, she was more interested in me - maybe my name should be Prince Hairy?

A fun day for all!

A final shot of the happy couple, getting into their royal carriage!

A Wonderfully Tacky Day

2011-03-08T21:37:00.005-05:00

The Sunday before we left Hilton Head for New York, I went to the annual Marsh Tacky Races on the beach, as a part of the Gullah Festival. The Marsh Tacky is a plucky pony and the State Heritage Horse of South Carolina. Marsh Tackies' lineage is attributed the horses the Spanish conquistadors brought to the islands in the Low Country in the 1500's. They lived in herds and were rounded up when horses were needed for riding, plowing, etc. They are naturally adept to maneuvering in the swampy environment of the Low Country.

As automobiles became more available, the Marsh Tackies dwindled and by the 1980's, they were thought to possible be extinct. Today, they are an endangered breed, with an estimated 150 purebred Marsh Tackies in existence.

A tradition that used to be held on Christmas day has recently been revived as a conclusion to the Gullah Festival—the Marsh Tacky Races on the beach. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, with the sea sparkling, dolphin peeking up at the crowds from the waves and over 5,000 bystanders on hand to cheer on the 22 ponies in the races.

The event began with a parade of the horses competing in the races. There were several heats one for stallions, and several for the mares and for the geldings.

You can learn more about marsh tackies at www.marshtacky.org.

One of the favorites of the day was a feisty mare named Molly. She was also the oldest horse in the race at 22—two years older than her rider Brittany!

There were several duns and buckskins - very common Marsh Tacky colors.

And the races are on!

This young girl was one of the youngest riders (and the only one to wear a helmet! I was shocked that helmets weren't required as the sand is as hard as cement if you fall off.)

Three beautiful chestnut-colored fillies on their way back to the starting line.

Giddyup!
These two little girls were cheering on Molly. She won her heats and captured the Mares category.

Just a few more heats. Good thing as the tide was quickly coming in!

Several ladies were wearing rather unusual hats - when asked they told me that they had designed "tacky" hats for the occasion! That explained the fly-swatters, plastic flowers, toilet paper and even a garter belt festooning hats!

And the clear winner (against a 2-year old stallion and an 8-year old gelding) is MOLLY!!!

Girl power! As the announcer said with his wonderful Gullah-accent "That Molly beat those boys fair and square. Just shows you don't want to mess with those old ladies!"

Many of the horses and riders posed for photos (and for the horses to get their noses rubbed) after the race, including Brittany and Molly.

When Molly's not racing, she is used in Civil War reenactments and was wearing the authentic tack from the 1860's.

It was an all-around fantastic day - we followed up the races with a long barefoot walk down the beach to visit my friend Pool Bar Jim for a refreshing "Roseanna Banana Kabana" - a perfect frozen concoction of kahlua, coco lopez and bananas - it's a very adult milkshake!

Now we're back in New York - cccccold! - but Petey's only complaint is that his favorite stores all seem to be out of cookies. Off to Italy next week, may not post until I get back but guarantee lots of photos then!

Happy 8th Birthday Petey! (And other stuff, too.)

2011-02-26T16:48:00.004-05:00

No time to write much today as we're busy getting ready to head to New York tomorrow.(And Blogger is not cooperating with uploads!) I'll just leave you with these photos of the charming town of Bluffton and of course, Petey at the beach!

Petey doesn't look a day over 3! Happy 8th Birthday to my sweetest Petey boy...

For Murray....

Ties, Tricks, and Tide-ings!

2011-02-13T10:54:00.008-05:00

Let me begin by wishing each of you a very Happy Valentine's Day (weekend)! Hope you've been able to spend some time with the ones you love this weekend.

For the ladies out there, Petey insisted that this handsome photo of him be included with the title "How about a kiss?"

While we haven't posted in several weeks, we have been very busy. On Monday, we finished our Agility Classes. And while Emily the Jack Russell Terrier has graduated to the Intermediate level of classes, I'm afraid that Petey and probably his love-sotted lab gal pal Isabelle will be repeating the Beginner level.

Here are the students with their marvelous and infinitely patient instructor Allison. It took four tries to get them all in the same shot - what does that say for their obedience? I love that Isabelle is giving Allison a kiss -- what a black-noser! All-in-all, despite Petey barking at me to "go ahead and give me the damn treat/toy" and sometimes lying down when I told him to come, we had a terrific time and will certainly do it again. Even if you never intend on trying agility trials, it's lots of fun and a great way to spend time with your dog.

Petey and I were also invited over to Beaufort for a dinner party and to spend the night at the home of Lulu's friends Nancy and Jeffrey. Petey didn't know what the dress code would be, only that he and the host dogs would be wearing tails. Then we spotted this snappy necktie at Lulu's and decided it was the perfect thing to wear to a party when you're meeting new lady dogs.

(By the way, Lulu has these canine collars and ties in all sorts of patterns and sizes - Petey took a medium- and she's happy to ship! Call 843-524-LULU.) Petey also wore his tie to the Animal Shelter's Valentine's benefit last Saturday to much attention and admiration. He looked like he was posing for a Match.com photo!

Nancy is a wonderful mosaic artist and her home is fabulous, including a gallery and her studio. I loved her work and wanted to share a few pieces with you.

This is actually the back of a piece untitled "My Mother, Myself" which is a lifesize dress form, covered in mostly mirrored tiles. The "head" is an antique vanity mirror and as you can see, on the back is an apple with a serpent that coils around the neck like a necklace. It's fabulous and the centerpiece of her front hallway.

Here is a beautiful, fully-functional garden bench. I've got just the spot for this under my pine trees in the backyard...(don't I wish!)
This third piece is called "Formal Dining." Many of Nancy's mosaics have witty names. You can see more of her work and find out more about her on her website.
It's always so inspiring to be around brilliantly creative people. It makes you look at your own world through refreshed eyes.

Speaking of inspiration, I've found a wonderful blog called Advanced Style, that celebrates the personal style of women "of a certain age." With so much hype that women need to disguise their age or dress age-appropriate (ie: "youthfully but not too young") I found it gratifying to find a site that salutes the individual. These women are firecrackers! Three wonderful quotes..."Life is short, but very very wide."..."the only romantic thing left in life is a hat!"...and finally, "You will always have a great time if you make up your mind, 'I'm going to have a great time!'" That last quote came from a spunky 90-year old! God bless her!

Have to leave you with some more photos of my boy enjoying the beach. This particular afternoon he dropped his orange ball on the towel of a woman who remarked plaintively "I'm frightened of dogs." I tried to call Petey away but every time I got closer, he just move the ball closer to the woman, finally nudging it with his nose until it was practically in her lap. "He's a very nice dog" she remarked, laughing at his persistence. "I think he may be able to cure me of my fears of dogs. I just assume they are going to bite me."

As if he understood her every word, Petey picked up his ball, wagged his tail and trotted off to see some young ladies he'd beguiled earlier. Mission accomplished.

Didn't catch the name of this cute little Cairn girl, but she came scampering up and gave me a kiss. Petey ignored her completely. Typical.

So we leave you with this image once again - of a rather small dog with a very large heart, living life in the sunshine rather than in the shadows.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sunday, 70° F, Sophie and Sofia

2011-01-31T10:21:00.006-05:00

I'll start this post with an enormous caveat for my snow-and-ice trapped friends in the North -- you won't want to read this. It will feel like salt or lemon juice pouring into wound or a paper cut. Okay, now read at your own risk and do not hold it against me!

Yesterday was one of those gorgeous days just bursting with the promise of spring and the warmth of summer. Sunny, warm, with a lapis lazuli blue sky and a freshness that hints at life stirring again beneath the damp soil. I headed to the beach with Petey, my camera and a quickly shed heavy sweater.

Petey ran past a saltwater-damp Newfoundland on his way down the boardwalk to do a big prancing pony circle on the sand, surveying the beach goers for someone to play with. Unfortunately, he set his knobby head on a pair sitting in beach chairs, reading books and the newspaper. He dropped his ball politely in front of the woman who looked up from her Kindle, frowned and kicked the ball away. Problem. He was now engaged in a game, unbeknownst to the grumpy couple. He moved to the side of the newspaper reading man and dropped his sandy ball next to him. At least the man obliged by tossing it. At that point, a couple rode up on their bikes, a woman I've met from my knitting group down here who has two Cairn terriers of her own, both rescues. We lured Petey away from the grumpy couple and my new friends got a good healthy dose of terrier for the next twenty minutes or so.

Petey's next target? A bag on a little spit of sand between the ebbing tidal pool and the ocean. I ran after him, knowing his preference for leaving a pee-mail on anything vertical. Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about. Instead, I chatted with a young woman while her father flung tennis balls far out into the ocean for their year-old Labradoodle named Sophie. She would bunny hop out over the shallow breakers -- the ocean was quite calm -- and found most all of the balls. Since tennis balls are Petey's drug of choice, I was pleased that he ignored them. The same can't be said for Sophie, she took quite a liking to Petey and tried to engage him in play, much to her owner's chagrin. Eventually, she lost her focus on the tennis balls and several were abandoned at sea. By now, Petey had charmed a lady visiting from Atlanta who started tossing his ball into the shallow waves. Happy for the excuse to rid himself of the remnants of his Olive Fruit Nourishing Shampoo bath, Petey dashed back and forth from sea to shore. Often with Sophie dancing around him.

Frustrated by the distraction of the handsome blonde fellow from New York, Sophie's owner moved them (and his damp alligator loafers!) further down the beach.

And that's when we met Sofia and her new puppy Chewie (after Chewbacca!).

Chewie was a rescue, believed to be a mix of Cairn and Border terriers though he has a bit of an underbite so I think there may be some Chihuahua or Pug in the DNA soup. Chewie has yet to learn to chase and fetch a ball, but he sure liked chasing Petey. It was Chewie's first time off leash and his owners were a bit nervous, as they've only owned him for a month. He was a very jolly little fellow, giving chase to bigger dogs with his big bark, but always coming back to see what I was up to.

This photo is one of those "happy accidents." My favorite kind of portrait.

Sofia was a quick study -- Petey had her throwing the ball non-stop in no time.

Watching and learning the game.

He'd give it a sniff, but no real interest in the ball. Just in Petey.

This happy dog came galloping up but once he saw that Petey and Chewie were preoccupied, he loped along on his way.

Nirvana! The many tennis balls that Sophie's owner had lobbed into the ocean, that she'd lost sight of in the waves and abandoned, were now gently washing into shore. Petey then has what I've come to refer to as his "Sophie's Choice" moment—the agony of realizing he can only choose one ball! Ironic that this motherlode had come courtesy of a dog named Sophie.

My bold man even swam out to retrieve a couple of these fuzzy ingots.

So many tennis balls, so little time...(and alas! no pockets to stash the spares!)

After three and a half glorious hours of playing on the beach with anyone willing to toss a ball, we headed home for a late lunch and Petey stretched out on the porch for a good four-hour nap!

A perfect Sunday at the seaside.

Things that go bump (crash, click, splash) in the night

2011-01-29T11:24:00.011-05:00

One of the things I really love about living down here on the Island is that we are surrounded by nature and very aware that we share this lovely planet with other creatures. In addition to the usual songbirds and squirrels, we share our neighborhood with armadillos, possums, raccoons, herons, egrets, migratory ducks, white-tail deer, alligators, otters and in the not so distant past - black bear, Carolina panthers and bobcat. There were even rumors of coyotes having swum across the Calibogue Sound last summer and of course, the immediate movement to "Save the Sea Pines Coyotes!", complete with requisite tee-shirt.

So we're mindful that that log in the middle of the road on a dark night might just stand up and walk over to the nearest lagoon, that our trash cans have to be secured with elaborate bungy cords lest you want to spend your morning cleaning up after raccoons who enjoyed a midnight snack, and to look twice before you walk into a sandtrap on a sunny afternoon, as you might disturb a sunbathing alligator.

I usually don't feed the birds as there is plenty for them to forage on their own, however, during a recent cold snap, I bought a bag of feed and enjoyed watching the wrens tuck into their seeds as I tucked into my English muffin in the morning. A chubby squirrel caused one of the chains holding the feeder to break loose, so I'd moved the feeder to a corner of the deck railing, much to the delight of said chubby squirrel.

But I got a good laugh one morning when I discovered the cheeky bugger had made his way onto the porch and toted the bag of birdseed out onto the deck, leaving a path of seeds in his wake.

Petey, hot on the trail of the purloined bird seed!

The thief really wasn't very subtle, was he?

Late breaking news! Spotted this morning on the deck...a return to the scene of the crime???

And this week, we've added a large cat to the wild kingdom. The community is installing new water pipes down our road which has resulted in cheery waves from the workers each morning as I take Petey out for his morning constitutional.

Hmm, I wonder if Petey could practice his tunnel agility moves in that blue pipe?

Well, if every man's (and woman's) home is his/her castle, mine now appears to have a moat in front of it. I'm surprised that these trenches aren't filled with water as we are very close to sea level here in the Low Country. Those metal plates cover the trenches at night, creating a sound not unlike thunder every time a car passes over them. Petey, no fan of thunderstorms, spent the better part of the first evening in my lap. Now he's grown quite used to them.

Here's an update on the lovely but stubborn Missus Parker-Bowles. My next door neighbor's camellia is now in radiant rosy fuscia full-bloom, just to mock me as I look out my kitchen window. We have the exact same amount of sunshine, wind protection, etc. so why is Missus Parker-Bowles so persnickety? (Could it be because I have a black thumb when it comes to nurturing greenery? I've been known to kill artificial plants...)

Last year she had only one sad bud and this year, she's quite ripe with them. I'll keep you informed of this harrowing news story as it progresses.

In the meantime, the winter pansies are doing quite nicely, thank you. I love their cheery little faces.Now, I don't know exactly how many nearly identical photos of Petey frollicking on the beach with a ball in his mouth that you can tolerate, however, he is really quite an irresistible subject matter.
And I feel quite cruel mentioning this, knowing how many of my friends in the Northeast are suffering through the snowiest winter on record, but the weather these past few days has been nothing short of splendid. It's what I call "high-definition" days, when it's so clear that you feel you can see every leaf, every blade of grass, every grain of sand.

Yesterday afternoon, after I returned from a glorious morning with the kids and ponies at Heroes on Horseback, I packed up my canvas bag with a book, camera, dog treats and water and headed down to the beach. It was sunny and warm, with a strong breeze that would blow the loose sand across the beach like low-flying spectres...ghosts of long-forgotten Spanish conquistadors, ill-fated pirates, or battle-weary Confederate soldiers?

While I read the excellent and highly recommended "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (a novel written from the point of view of a dog), Petey survey the scene, digging his ball in the sand, and allowing himself to be chased by Quincy the yellow lab, Honey the maltese mix, and a particularly yappy Schnauzer.

Occassionally, he'd retire to the shade behind my beach chair, utterly contented with his lot in the world. Can we say the same? And after a while, my reading would be disturbed by the soft plop of the sandy ball in my beach bag and an insistent "errr." Toss the ball and the cycle begins again.

We always meet lovely people down on the beach who will happily stop their beach stroll or bike ride for this insistent little terrier blocking their path and demanding that they throw the ball. I love watching them look around, trying to determine "who does this bossy mite belong to?" While Petey will say a polite "Howdoyoudo?" give a sniff and wag his tail to other dogs on the beach, he really loves people, children in particular.

Yesterday, we met one of the best. A little girl about the age of 5 named Ruby who was more than happy to meet Petey's requests again and again, each mid-air catch met with peals of delighted laughter—that sound only children can create that is sweeter than any music.

Ruby's very talented mom captured this photo of Petey and emailed it to me last night. Pure, windswept bliss in twenty pounds of salty, sandy fur.

Okay, I feel quite evil showing this next shot, but yes, it was warm enough to go barefoot. Wriggly toes badly in need of a pedicure in talcum-soft sunbaked sand.

I had something to drop off at my friend Karen's house on the way home from the beach and couldn't resist going out in her backyard to try to capture some of the beauty that is the coastal South Carolina Low Country in the low golden light of the late afternoon sun.

The tidal creek was cool teal blue against the soft oyster gray of the worn cypress wood deck.

Looking out across the marsh to a hammock of trees.

In the summertime, we'll often bring glasses of cold white wine out on the dock and spy deer peering through the trees across the creek in these quiet, golden hours.

This ancient oak tree overhanging the marsh, draped in his hoary mantle of Spanish Moss reminds of an old man, hunched over and gray, with his bony fingers reaching towards the water.

Karen's camellias also have a jump on Missus Parker-Bowles... I love how the blossoms look like layers of tissue paper against the glossy green leaves.

Another view of the sunlit tidal creek and marsh, framed by craggy oaks and Spanish moss.

The kumquats made it through the frost, though they're not as abundant as last winter.

Didn't quite capture the beauty of the late afternoon sun filtering through the cobwebby lace of the moss in the trees.
Now...enough of this serene beauty. On to last night's BIG ADVENTURE WITH PETEY. And yes, I think you'll agree that this merits all those capital letters. One of the many things I love about being down here on the Island is Petey's last walk of the evening. In New York, it means putting on coats and boots on both me and Petey and shivering in the "now you're wide awake" cold night. Here, I usually just open the front door and he'll scamper down the front steps, rarely stepping out of the pool of light from the porch and carriage lights. I can be in my pajamas, toasting warm. He relieves himself and quickly scampers back inside, a bit intimidated by the utter blackness of a moonless night.

But not last night. Oh no. My bold man spies a buck at the same time the deer sees him. The buck tears into the woods down the street with a beige blur of terrier quickly melting into the darkness in hot pursuit.

While the sky is pin-cushioned with diamond stars, it is darkest night, with no street lights or houselights as I race along the side of the road, praying that a car won't come by and catch my bold hunter in its headlights. I see a flash of beige fur a hundred feet down the road, then it disappears into the woods again. I can hear some rustling through the thick underbrush and in between my increasingly urgent calls of "Petey! COME!" an odd clicking sound. (If any of you are fans of the tv show LOST, think of the Smoke Monster.)

And then, most terrifying, silence. Not a broken twig, not a bark or snort. Nothing but the stillness of the night, my panicked calls for Petey and the squeak of a toy I grabbed to lure him away from his wilder instincts.

Twenty minutes of this feels like a year.

And then, through the darkness emerges a ghostly shape that reveals itself to be Petey. Trotting in an eager, "cock-of-the-walk" way. I grabbed his collar and realize he's wet, head to tail. His air of accomplishment quickly turns to humility as he is hoisted unceremoniously into the deep bathtub and warm water starts pouring in.

"What were you thinking?" I ask him again and again. No dog shampoo on hand, this sample of Kiehls Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo will have to do. "Intense moisture for damaged hair." Sounds about right. A brisk Dutch rub with an old towel and a happy roll around on the carpet and we're finally off to bed.

So this morning, I snapped a leash on the boy and off we went to put some puzzle pieces together. For example, did Petey get wet following the deer into this run-off from the lagoon that runs behind our house, then under the road and continues down the road? That is sometimes home to alligators--who have been roused from their hibernation by our warmer temperatures and have been spotted like Canadian tourists, exposing their winter white bellies in the sun?

On reflection this morning, I think this swimming pool may be a more likely candidate for Petey's dunking, as he didn't have that fetid odor of brackish water on his wet fur last night.

If you look behind Petey in this photo, you'll see the tracks of the deer. Petey seemed downright apologetic as we went in search of his pal this morning.

If this was one of Santa's reindeer, down here for some post-holiday R &R, I fear Petey is now permanently on the "Naughty" list.

Hmmm, seems as if this Scottish terrier is not only a ratter but has some Scottish Deerhound in his DNA.One final thought...behind every successful dog blog is someone with opposable thumbs who can actually type his dictation for him!

Moonlight, Benevolence and Fallen Trees

2011-01-27T09:58:00.007-05:00

No, Petey's not seasick, I'm still just trying to figure out the new camera. Apparently I can get things in focus indoors or the correct color but not both. Really should crack open that instruction booklet that came in both English and Spanish...

In the meantime, I'll mess about, trying to capture that luminous full moon through the Carolina pines and ancient oaks, so bright it was like an enormous spotlight, casting perfectly articulated shadows of tree branches on the pine straw below.

Headed off to Beaufort last week and that means one thing -- LULU'S! I know several of you have had the opportunity to meet my very dear friend Nannette Burgess Brown Sutton in person over the years and others have visited her store online and on her Facebook page. She always has something new to tickle your fancy and is oh-so conscious about keeping her prices affordable. If you're looking for a fun gift, be sure to check out Lulu Burgess!

Don't mean to rub salt into a wound for our friends up north, but it was a gorgeous day with Spring-like temperatures near 70 F. Beaufort is the perfect small town for a stroll. I've always loved this little building near Nan's house.

Check out the sign! We can think of several ladies (ahem, Lacie) who might benefit from the company of some benevolent ladies. Beaufort really is a throwback to a gentler, kinder era, with it's sleepy side streets lined with Spanish Moss draped oaks and beautiful camillas in bloom.

Here's a typical small Low Country house, with it's tin roof and wide front porch. I can almost predict the porch ceiling is painted a light sky blue to keep the bugs away. Perfect spot for cooling off on a summer afternoon with a lemon icebox cookie and a glass of ice cold tea (or an Arnold Palmer - half lemonade, half iced tea.)

Even these little plaques on the sidewalk are well-designed and thoughtful.

The blooms on this camilla bush (tree?) were past its prime but still so beautiful behind this old house on Bay Street. Still have my fingers crossed that the camilla bush by our front door will blossom soon as it has some fat buds. I talk to it daily and have named it Mrs. Parker-Bowles.

Looking out on the Beaufort River. This is a familiar scene for anyone who's seen the movies "The Big Chill" or "The Prince of Tides." Pat Conroy, author of many books about the South Carolina Low Country, including Prince of Tides and Beach Music, was a long-time resident of Beaufort and returns frequently for book signings. No one writes better descriptions of this beautiful part of the country than Pat Conroy.

Meanwhile, back at home...we acquired something new in our backyard over the weekend.

There were two dead trees right over our property line on the neighbor's side (yay! we didn't have to pay to have the trees removed!) and the company they'd hired got there too late to take the trees out entirely. So, we had their big truck and a good portion of the tree trunk to sniff around.

In honor of his pal Wilf, Petey promptly set about "christening the tyres." Wilf may have the rickety old farmhouse and gourmet meals and Mme Bay, but can he claim his very own truck right outside the door?

Petey also gave the property line marker a good inspection. And was delighted to find some recent raccoon poop to rub his face into, apparently trying to give himself a raccoonlike mask.

A leap over the log for some Agility practice! Sorry we haven't been able to share any photos of his class, but I'll tell you more about it later in this post.

I'm relieved that this tree won't be headed for our roof the next time there's a big storm. Sea Pines, the community where we live, has a wonderful rule that you can't take down a tree until it has been inspected by an expert and declared dead. Then you have to either replace the tree on your property or pay $50 per tree to have a new tree planted in the community. I'm happy to oblige, as it keeps our community well-forested, without those awful bald tracks of land where the developers come in and bulldoze everything, then plant spindly saplings afterwards that will take a decade or two to mature. If you buy a lot here, you first have to have your trees surveyed and any trees over a certain diameter cannot be cut down. Essentially, you design your home around the trees, not the other way around.

Petey was happy to retire to his patrol on the deck, followed by a nice long nap in a patch of sun-warmed wood.

Now, for his agility class! He started off last week with a half-hour private session to bring him up to speed with his other two classmates. I was pleased that he showed no fear - let's face it, that dog would walk across fiery embers if there was a cookie or tennis ball on the other side! He leaped over fences, sat on the table for the required count of 5, scrambled up and down the incline, dashed through the tunnel and followed a cookie through the tire. That said, he wasn't quite so keen once he realized he wasn't going to get a cookie for every trick and got a bit weary towards the end of the class -- an hour and a half had tired him out mentally and physically. He perked up when a tennis ball appeared, but still was a bit selective about following up commands like "come" and "sit." The other two dogs were both younger females - a 3-year old Jack Russell terrier named Emily who was such a quick learner and very attentive to her owner (ahem, Petey...you could follow Emily's example.) She was like that kid in class who always knows the answer, has her homework done early and asks if there's anything to do for extra credit. The other dog was an 11-month old Black Lab mix, what we call a Carolina Dog down here as they are plentiful at any animal shelter. Her name is Isabelle and she's a big wriggly sweetpie, immediately enamored of Petey and his suave Manhattan dog-about-town ways, so much so that after every trick, she'd run over and wiggle in delight in front of him, asking "did you see what I did?! Did ya? Did ya?" She's adorable. Emily would sit primly on her owner's knee and sharply bark "Get back to work, you're not done yet!" and Isabelle would lumber off. It was pretty funny, Petey and his women, each battling for his attention. This week he mastered the chute, wagging his tail under the tarp as he found his reward cookie! Hopefully I'll get some photos in the next two weeks!

Sunset/Moonrise

2011-01-18T23:26:00.004-05:00

Remember how I was saying just the other day that you need to find some thing that brings you joy every day? Well, in the past 24 hours, I feel my cup has been overflowing with joy. From Petey's first adventures in Agility Class (he loved it and worked so hard!) to kicking off the new Heroes on Horseback session with close to 30 kids just today, it has been a day filled with so much love and hope and joy. Since Petey had spent so much of the day inside today and the sun had finally emerged from the clouds, I decided to take him to the beach around 5:00 p.m.

This is fast becoming our favorite time (and place) of the day here, as the setting sun turns the eastern sky lilac and the waves take on a pinkish hue. But this evening was even more magical. Big froths of foam were floating in on the waves like mounds of whipped cream and over that lavender sky was an enormous pearl of a full moon. It literally took my breath away.

Naturally, I did not have my new camera with me so had to make due with my iPhone camera and it's insistent "Low Battery" message. And while these photos don't show the enormity of the moon, they do have a wonderful, soft watercolor feeling to them.

In contrast to this meltingly pastel seascape was a blazing orange and purple sunset over the loblolly pines and palmettos.

Again, these photos don't capture the neon pinks and hot purples of the sky, but I do love how you can see the fog moving in onshore, further down the beach.

Oh it's a marvelous night for a moondance...

...or a moon doggie.

Snowbirds and polar bears

2011-01-17T10:01:00.009-05:00

I have to begin this post by telling you how often we are asked if Petey is "the dog in the commercial?" He seems much smaller than the real star, but I can see the resemblance...

Can you?
We also get asked if Petey is a mixed breed or a West Highland Terrier (do they think he's dirty?). So for once and for all, no, he's an AKC registered Cairn terrier. Yes he's big for the breed —too much personality to fit into the standard size—and yes, they come in lots of colors, not just Toto gray. In fact, for the first four years of their lives, Cairns can change their haircolor entirely. No big deal, I've done the same thing over 4 years!

The past week has been unseasonably cold, resulting in lots of things washing up onshore. Summer beachcombers would be delighted with the treasure trove they'd find on the winter beach. Lots of clam shells and starfish and horseshoe crabs. And loads of seabirds. They'll fly out over the ocean in clouds of white wings, perfectly synchronized. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

We usually walk down to the tall, lone tree, but lately, Petey finds some willing "victim" to play ball with him and we end up talking more than walking!

I'm sure these people were wondering why I was aiming my telephoto lens at their house, but I've always loved these brilliant turquoise chairs, how they stand out among the gray and beiges of the beachscape.

Petey is the same color as the beach. He's a natural there. His coat is way overdue for a stripping, but since it's winter, I'd rather he has a thicker coat for warmth. He is scruffy as can be!

Now, keep in mind, when I shot these photos yesterday, it was about 50 degrees on the beach and the ocean temperature is about the same if not a bit cooler. I shiver just watching him run in for a belly dunk.

Shake, shake, shake!

These orange rubber Chukka balls are just the best. They're the same size as tennis balls but they don't get soggy, can be washed off and can be spotted on the sand. They still bounce like crazy and they're not too heavy. And...they're terrier-proof and approved!

Off goes "Disregard" to check out the birds.

Eh, not that interested! He's a ball dog, not a bird dog after all.

The Piping Plovers and Peeps seem just fine ignoring Petey!

Even a ball-chasing boy needs to take a break now and then. Nothing finer than a bellyful of wet sand.

Muzzer was asking about our local bird life so I thought I'd take some photos just for her. I just got a new camera and was trying it out on the beach. It was so bright, I really couldn't see the LCD screen too well, so I was delighted when I downloaded my shots when I got home and found this fellow wading in the surf.

Then we made this happy face for our pals Sorcha, Murray and Clive—Hilton Head is sending then a big smile!

Ahhh, now this is one contented dog. Life is indeed good. I read a quote where you should purposefully try to find at least one thing that brings you joy each day. With Petey, those opportunities for joy are countless.

We also met this handsome fellow named Barney. I think he might be the perfect Southern gentleman for Aunties Martha and Bailey.

Just check out the size of those soup bowl paws! He wasn't interested in chasing Petey or the ball, just having his velvety head and ears scratched by me as he thumped that big tail in the sand.
Another gull for Muzzer...

And one more with those beautiful yellow legs. (I knew there was a reason I like to wear my yellow pumps with my gray pants!)

We didn't catch the name of this soggy doggie, but she was very cute with her damp curls and happy to chase Petey.

You've gotta be awfully fast to get to the ball ahead of my scruffy dog! Wish I had a better shot of some of his airborne catches.

This Sheltie gal was determined to herd Petey up and down the beach. He figured out that she didn't really like the water, so he'd head into the ocean to shake her off. We should find a polar bear club for him to join! While the weather was bright and sunny, it wasn't particularly hot but that didn't stop the weekend visitors from putting on their shorts and flipflops and pretending they weren't cold.

Look at that sandy, weary yet very contented face! Time to hit the hose before we head home for a bowl of water and a nice long nap on a soft sofa in the late afternoon sunshine.

Petey's got it made. No doubt about it.

Horseplay

2011-01-15T12:27:00.002-05:00

This could also be called the "By Request" post! First off some more photos of Petey racing around on the beach. This is the definition of pure joy, from the moment I put Petey in the backseat of the car and mention "wanna go to the beach?" As we get closer, his excitement turns into a frenzy as he can't wait to leap out of the car and race from the parking lot to the boardwalk. Once on the beach, he dances in a huge circle of happiness, engaging every person on the beach. He really couldn't care less about any other dogs there, beyond the "howdoyado?" sniff. He spots someone and heads over, dropping the ball at their feet, and more often than not, pouncing on it mischievously seconds before they can pick it up. It's his game, I can't explain it!

I always say that his name changes when we get to the beach to that old Southern name...Disregard (like Beauregard!) And yesterday, he absolutely lived up to it, following a man down the beach a good half mile while I whistled and yelled for him to no avail. Clearly, we were operating on Petey/Disregard time!

As you know, I am very involved in volunteering with Heroes on Horseback down here and this week has been busy with volunteer orientation and putting together a curriculum for ground school. Very exciting!

Murray has requested some photos of our horses and since I was unable to capture the three dolphins Petey and I watched playing off shore, I felt obligated to deliver!

First is our little pony, Blue Eyes, a great favorite of the little girls. He's a cute little fellow, who looks like a stuffed animal with his wooly winter coat.

Hee! I had to include a shot of this persnickety, slightly barrel-shaped mare. She doesn't really get along well with the other horses so we have be careful to keep our distance from her when we're in the ring. And she's been known to nip, only can be put in the pasture with a few tolerant horses. And her name?

LACIE! Okay, so she actually spells it "LACEY" but still...what's up with girls with that name?

This handsome fellow is named Cisco and he's one of my favorites. He's that pony that you can call by name and he'll come trotting over to the fence. He's a love.

This little mare is named Little Bit and she's a sweetheart. Whenever I'm horseleading her, she'll generally head-butt me to scratch her behind the ears, under the chin. She'll follow you around like a puppy. However, as horses are herd animals, she was very unhappy to be left alone in the pasture, kept whinnying like crazy, and racing around the field when some of the other horses went off for a trail ride. She was actually cantering right up to me in this shot, veering off at the last moment.

"Will someone please come play with me?"

This handsome fellow is one of the newest members of our herd. His name is Crackers and he's a really sweet pony.

Finally we have Mister Ed, another new horse to our herd who is slowly getting used to his new surroundings. He's half Clydesdale and HUGE - he's over 17 hands for you horse people. I rode him yesterday and he's quite slow as he has to lift those big hooves and I felt as if I could see over the barn, I was so high up when I was riding him. He's like a big baby whose intimidated by the ponies, who totally boss him around!

He is so sweet, a real gentle giant who just loves to be cuddled, scratched under the chin and behind the ears. After I dismounted, I felt like I could walk underneath him!

So there you go, Murray, here are many of the horses and ponies I'll be working with on Tuesday and Friday mornings for the next six weeks!

We're back. Kinda.

2011-01-12T10:59:00.003-05:00

Okay, so my goal of writing daily on my own blog flopped miserably! I think I made it about three days. So, new year, new goals. Maybe something a bit more moderate, a bit more doable.

Petey has generously welcomed me back to his blog, but with a few changes. I'll be writing in my own voice, not Petey's. He'll save his witty remarks for the occasional aside and of course, for commenting on the outrageous behavior of Lacie. So we're going to open the window instead on our dual lives on two islands of approximately the same size but not much else in common — Hilton Head Island SC and Manhattan.

We're back at the beach for the winter. And why we know many of you have been up to your tails in snow, we really can't complain. For the most part, the weather is a comfortable 50 degrees or so, with lots of sunshine and those winter skies in this part of the country that have coined the description "Carolina blue." We've become fond of sunset walks on the beach, when the water turns the most amazing color of pale pink pearl beneath a lilac sky, while an orange fireball dips behind the pines and palms.

We'll try to post with some regularity - I'm going to be working with Heroes on Horseback again, starting next week, so there may be some photos of horses posted here. In fact, I can't promise that all posts will feature Petey, though he does have his own way of working himself into a lot of situations.

And we'll try to get around to visiting our friends - we have missed you and have visited most of you, even if we haven't always left a comment.

Happy New (blog) Year!

Time off for good behavior

2010-11-04T22:19:00.003-04:00

First off, I wanted to show you my prize-winning costume from the Dog Run Halloween Party! This little white dog named Spike was also dressed as Sherlock Holmes (though once his Mom got a load of my hat and pipe, she thought Spike should be Dr. Watson!) and I shared the "Best Small Dog" prize for our costumes. Mine was hand-made by the incredibly talented Mrs. 2-Legged who lives with my besty beasty Eric Square Dog. Mom says it's nicer than anything she owns and I have to agree. I always give her a look -- "Couldn't you have dressed up a bit?" -- whenever she takes me out when I'm wearing my authentic Harris Tweed coat with real leather buttons. I think I cut quite a dashing figure....

Anyhow, you've probably noticed that I haven't been around much later. We were in South Carolina for most of October and Mom went to Mexico for a glorious week (don't feel sorry for me, I got spoilt rotten by my good friend Gayle and her sister). Knock wood, Mom's had lots of work lately (always a good thing for a freelance writer!) and she's also made a brand-new commitment to her own blog. She's trying to write every day, just for the sake of writing about non-work related topics. Not too many photos, mostly words. But do drop by.

So my blog is going on hiatus for awhile. That doesn't mean I won't be dropping in on my friends from time to time, just probably not quite as often. What can I say? Mom's put in alot of hours on my blog, it's only fair I let her do the same thing for her own blog.

We've sure had a lot of fun and Mom and I are so grateful for all the wonderful friends we've met in blogland. Hope to see you all SOON!

Your pal,

Petey

Lyle passed away this afternoon. Sleep well liitle friend.

2010-10-03T21:48:00.000-04:00

Prayers for Lyle

2010-10-02T15:40:00.003-04:00

I'm down here in South Carolina, but I just heard that my dog run pal Lyle has had 17 seizures and is in a coma. He's a sweet, funny little fellow, a hearty rescue and the real boss of the dog run. Please send him (and his family) some prayers and the power of the paw!

By Wednesday afternoon...

2010-09-28T23:46:00.002-04:00

I'll be back at the beach! We may not have much time to visit or post because Mom got a big work assignment today (she keeps reminding me that we're NOT on vacation) and then she's going to Mexico for a week (I get to stay with my pal Gayle!) so we'll be thinking of you even if you don't hear from us for awhile!

Happy Oktoberfest!

Four for Asta's Fourth!

2010-09-24T08:55:00.002-04:00

It's ASTA'S fourth birthday so to celebrate, I've chosen four of my favorite photos of the two of us!

...Taking a break from organizing my toys in alphabetical order

...sitting like good dogs, watching the numbers on the elevator...

...I have a feeling treats are involved for such synchronized sitting....

...And doing what we do best, playing like crazy pups at the dog run!

Happy Birthday Asta! Here's to the next 4!

Many thanks for all your kind words

2010-09-14T21:36:00.004-04:00

Over the past week, your thoughtful comments and prayers have meant so much to me. Just being able to use this blog to express my feelings, knowing that I'd be sharing my emotions with other people who feel that the dogs and cats that share their lives are members of their families, not just pets or possessions, was of great comfort.

Petey and I both miss Mica and know it will be a long time before we stop looking for him in a nest of cushions, tapping my hand to share whatever I'm eating, or sitting by the sink, waiting for me to turn on the tap. (My friend Karen sent a card where she referenced "brushing my teeth with Mica, every time I come to visit.")

But this week is easier. Gentler. More peaceful, knowing the decision to let Mica go, no matter how difficult, was absolutely the right one. Across the miles, Petey and I leaned on your shoulders, felt your hugs.
I hope to get around to visiting all your blogs in the weeks to come. There were so many kind wishes from new friends as well as old.

We'll never forget your generousity of spirit.

The silence....

2010-09-09T15:00:00.004-04:00

How could such a quiet creature leave such a deafening silence?

I moved my feet on the couch last night, having caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eyes of Mica who, of course, was not there. In his later years, Mica was less likely to greet my arrival home at the door, more likely to open an eye then settle back into sleep on his nest-like pillow. Unlike Petey, who even if you wake him up by opening the door, comes around the corner, grinning madly and wiggling like he's doing the watusi and sometimes emitting happy whimpers or little barks. And yet, it is Mica's silence I miss when I open the door. It's impossible not to look for him.

I've had a low barricade to keep Petey out of the kitchen (and out of Mica's litter box) so he won't bolt in and gulp down Mica's food. (Apparently, cat food and poopies are doggie delicacies.) Now it's no longer necessary, but I still automatically lift up my feet as I enter the kitchen. I decided that Petey can start eating his meals in the kitchen, rather than right outside it. And as I prefer Mica's white enamel bowls, I've decided they are now Petey's. So I put Petey's dinner in one last night and called him. Now, let me tell you—Petey usually eats so fast that sometimes I have to be sure I actually fed him, it's gone so fast. And after years of trying to get to Mica's food, suddenly he was very hesitant about going into the kitchen. Instead, he stood in the doorway and stretched himself at a 90-degree angle for a couple bites, then just backed off into the living room. Maybe it's too soon. He seemed relieved to have his breakfast out of his old bowl just outside the kitchen this morning.

I've been looking for signs that he realizes Mica is gone. This morning, he walked into the kitchen and began sniffing -- the air, the rug, Mica's empty bowls. He followed his nose into the living room, sniffing the carpet where Mica spent much of the day yesterday before letting out a sigh and going back to sleep in his favorite chair.

One more story in this already too-long post...

My Mom wore a gold pine cone on a chain around her neck. She wore it all the time — you can see it here in this photo.

I have since put it on a much longer chain and I purposely put it on yesterday as I knew I wanted my Mom's strength to be with me on this tough day. (I had my Dad's watch on as well.) After the vet gently gave Mica the injection of Valium, I was talking to him, whispering endearments, singing our silly song. I gave the vet the nod for the second injection and told Mica "Now, go find Mom and tell her I love her." He breathed his last. And when I looked down, the pine cone charm was pinned down by two claws on one of his front paws.

He had arrived. My message was delivered.

And he is gone....

2010-09-08T17:08:00.000-04:00

Please say a prayer at 4:15 today...

2010-09-08T12:38:00.002-04:00

...as that is when my sweetest Mica will be crossing the bridge. Here is my last photo of him, spooning with Petey on the couch last night. It was the first time they've ever done that.

So many tears.

Thank you for understanding what an incredibly difficult decision this has been to make.

Another morning...

2010-09-07T15:00:00.002-04:00

Last night, I went to sleep pretty much convinced that Mica would pass in the night. He was disoriented, extremely wobbly and his breathing was raspy, like an overworked bellows. When I picked him up to carry him into the bedroom, he fought wildly against me, peeing down my side. (Which for once, I didn't mind, as he has only been using the bathroom once a day, despite the vet tech telling me that the daily IV would make him pee more often.) I got him settled down on an old bed of Petey's near his favorite spot on the floor and got myself cleaned up. Then I lay down facing him and we talked of hundreds of little furry toy mice that he used to love so much - tossing them in the air, leaping for them, and wriggling in excitement before pouncing on them. We talked about the acres of chairs and sofas, just waiting to be shredded by scratchy sharp nails. We talked about when I first picked him out of his litter at just three weeks old, a feisty little boy meowing furiously with a little tail that looked like a bristly triangle and enormous ears. I sang our little song to him, so only he could hear it. And I told him it would be okay if he needed to move on in the night. I fell asleep in tears.

Around 2:00 a.m., I woke up and was startled to see the silhouette of Mica's head against the dim light of the shades. Surely I must be dreaming, but then he sneezed and I realized that yes indeed, in the dark of the night, he had scaled my high bed (a feat that Petey requires a running start and a footstool to achieve) and was now draped against my outstretched arm. Where he remained for the rest of the night, sleeping peacefully in the crook of my arm albeit for the occasional burst of sneezes.

In the morning, he jumped down off the bed, landing awkwardly, still startled that his once powerful body doesn't respond like it used to, and made his way across the room toward the closet. I sensed he needed the litter box so leapt from the bed and carried him to the box. No sooner than I'd put his front paws in, he determined he must be fully in the box and let loose with a nice long pee. Fortunately, this time it was on easy to clean up tiles, rather than Petey's bed! He drank some water from a bowl -- but only as long as the faucet was running -- and ate a few teaspoons of food while I gave him his IV. He's been sleeping peacefully all day, despite the housekeeper vacuuming and cleaning around him in the bedroom. I woke him up a little while ago and he wolfed down a tablespoon or so of canned tuna, always a big treat. (Petey cleaned up the rest.)

The vet called with the results of his blood tests. He is not in kidney failure, which is a bit of a surprise. He is anemic and she thinks he may have something going on with his intestines but won't know without more tests and at this stage, we both agree that he doesn't need to go through that ordeal. I cried yet again and asked if it was time to bring him in and she said let's wait and see. He's having a good day today so we're going to take it a day at a time. If his days become more like his night early last night, then it will be time.

Day by day. So savor your favorite treat. Take time to enjoy some gentle strokes. And at the end of the day, stretch out on a comfy bed and dream of better times to come.

Brotherly love...

2010-09-06T20:34:00.002-04:00

Mica has had another very quiet day. He's been sleeping for most of it, ate about a marble-size blob of cream cheese with his IV this morning and about a teaspoon of food, a few sips of water. He is not in any pain, spent most of day sleeping in his favorite spot on the couch, while Petey and I visited friends in New Jersey this afternoon. (It was good to have a bit of a break from the constant worry.)

Waiting for whatever may be next...

Thank you, each and every one of you, for all of your kind words of love and support. Especially to Alett for her calm yet compassionate advice. I wished we lived closer to Boston as I cannot imagine a finer person to trust with your pet's healthcare.

Prayers, please...

2010-09-05T14:52:00.003-04:00

What do you do when every decision seems selfish?

In the past 10 days, Mica has seemed to be on the decline. His usual robust appetite was diminuished, even his sense of smell seems to have disappeared, as he usually has a bit of food still on his once immaculate brick red nose.

His beautiful rudy Abysinnian coat now seems to hang like cloth across his bones. Every bone can be felt. While he was always a slim cat, he's now all elbows and angles. And yet his sweet smiling face remains unchanged.

His eyes, green as grapes, now seem slightly unfocused. Can this be the same fellow who caught four mice just 9 months ago? His back legs are stiff and a bit wobbly. Yet he can still find my leg to stretch out against on the couch. I haven't heard his birdlike "chirrrup" in months or had him tell me off when I'd closed him out of room. But he still purrs contentedly while angling his chin for a soft scratch.

What do you do when you just can't seem to stop crying?

I look at these photos, many not taken that long ago, and I'm astonished at some of his physical changes. In between tears, there have been moments of horrible frustration. Like when he used Petey's bed (or the laundry bag...or my gym bag) instead of his litter box. Knocking things over a couple times a night so I'll wake up and go turn on the bathroom tap for him. Now he follows me into the bathroom whenever I go near it. I have to help him up to the sink, he can't always make the jump. And more often than not, he doesn't even bother drinking, or dips his face too far in and sets off a round of sneezes. I go through yet another bottle of Nature's Miracle, scrubbing away another accident and I'm frustrated that my home is being ruined. Then I get mad at myself for feeling that way.

We've been together through almost my entire adult life. From the time he was 5 weeks and 6 days old until now - 20 years and 6 months later. He moved with me into my first apartment. Curled up on my heaving chest when I cried at losing my first cat Moki and my third cat, Maui.

He was meowed his way from Boston to New York on a late night shuttle flight and learned to make those "ackakakakakaak" sounds at pigeons that dare rest on the air conditioner outside the window. On those dark terrifying nights — after 9/11, when I heard my father was diagnosed with cancer, when I left my job—I'd find calm in stroking his soft fur. He'd give me a "we'll be fine" look and a single raspy kiss on my finger. Petey rarely gives a kiss, Mica bestows them freely.

And now the thought of losing him, it rips off all those carefully layered bandages of mourning. And the pain of losing my Mom, my Dad, my other pets, back to my childhood dog Sam all come back in a blurry collage of pain and memory and loss. I think of my two dear friends who are fighting for their lives against horrible cruel diseases and feel as if I'm mourning for them as well.
I took Mica to the vet yesterday. He was his sweet, gentle self. Never complaining at being poked and prodded. A patch of his snowy white fur on his neck was shaved for blood work and it was determined that despite his unquenchable thirst, he was very dehydrated. A vet tech showed me how to administer subcutaneous fluids, while Mica sat still as a monk, deep in meditation as she first stuck him, then had me try. On my third unsuccessful time, I just broke down. He turned and looked and me as if to say, "we'll be fine." I got the needle in and he got the rest of his fluids. While the vet tech told me that many times a cat will look like a camel with a hump after the fluid goes in, Mica's body was so dry he just absorbed it instantly. He slept last night, curled under my arm, braced against Petey's back. Around 4:00 am, he jumped off the bed and went into the bathroom where I'd placed a second litter box. I'm delighted to report he's now used it twice. Petey's bed, freshly laundered late last night, is tucked away unused in corner. Petey will just have to make do with his favorite chair and my bed.

Mica had his second injection of fluids this morning on the kitchen counter, nibbling away at contraband non-prescription cat food as my pet sitter and I played nurses. He never made a peep, just retired later to his new favorite spot on the rug in the bedroom, facing the bathroom with it's ever-promising spring of water.

I am supposed to fly to Hilton Head on the 29th, and Eric, a friend's son and a fourth year med student, will be staying here while he's on a rotation at NYU. I have no fear of him administering the IV should that continue to be necessary, but would I really feel comfortable leaving Mica , even for just four weeks (one of which is supposed to be spent on a holiday in Mexico)? Is it fair to Mica or Eric to have to worry about Mica waking up Eric late at night or having accidents in the apartment for him to find and clean up? And should something happen to Mica, how could I stand to not be there for that final farewell?

How do we really measure "quality of life?" How do our needs balance one another's? Is it selfish to keep him alive when he's already lived far longer than most cats for many happy years and his passing is inevitable, not curable? Or is it more selfish to let him go, even if he doesn't seem to be in pain and is quite content to pass the day sleeping on the couch?

What do you do when you can't stop crying and no clear decision presents itself to you?

You pray.

The last summer weekend...kinda.

2010-09-02T08:46:00.002-04:00

We'll be headed back to the beach in a few weeks, where summer will linger long into October (and where I can be on the beach all day long without a leash!). And we realize that summer doesn't officially end for another three weeks.

But for those of you who are already thinking of fall leaves, shorter days and sweaters, here are a few more moments of summer sunshine...

Ice cream - all for me!

Running flat out....

Hanging out with "flat Petey."

Happy Labo(u)r Day Weekend!

Murray's turning 12 tomorrow!

2010-08-24T15:08:00.003-04:00

I just couldn't wait! I wanted to post this Birthday Card for him so he'll see it first thing tomorrow morning when he wakes up. Please go over to Clive's blog and leave some birthday greetings for Murray — just remember, he hates the Happy Birthday song, so come up with something more imaginative...

Who lives in Ireland close to the sea?

Sponge Murray Square Pants!

Has a global collection of bright yellow tees?

Sponge Murray Square Pants!

If you'd like to send him a 12th birthday wish

Sponge Murray Square Pants!

Then drop by for ice cream and cake that's delish!

Sponge Murray Square Pants!

Arrr, arrr, arrooooooooooooo!!!!

op like a fish.
Sponge Bob Square Pants!

The Stuff Dreams are Made Of....

2010-08-17T20:27:00.003-04:00

This Hugh Hayden Dog Bed is made of recycled tennis balls from the New York Metropolitan area. It is 26" wide and made for small breed dogs up to 25 lbs. (I weigh 21! And I'll cut out the Frosty Paws if I must!). $285.00

Ahhh, sweet dreams!!!

Visit my pal Nannette's new blog!

2010-08-13T21:47:00.005-04:00

Remember last winter when I went to visit my friend Nannette and her dog Lulubelle at their wonderful store Lulu Burgess in Beaufort, SC? Well, guess what? You can now visit Lulu Burgess too on their brand new BLOG!

You can see the cool stuff at the store, practically as soon as it arrives! And if you simply have to have it, you can call Nan at 843-524-LULU or email her at luluburgess@embarqmail.com and she'll give you the prices and send it off to you.

Maybe your Mom might like these really pretty cuff bracelets...(Or if you have a very long skinny neck, they might make interesting collars. Maybe Lorenza could wear one as a belt?)
And who doesn't know someone who needs one of these cool baseball cap? Can you imagine dropping that orange cap in Dad's lap when it's time for a stroll around the neighborhood?

We know our humans admire our canine teeth - so why not let them make dog bite ice cubes? Or if they're fans of Twilight, then this might be the closest thing to a bite from Edward. Perfect for your Halloween party, huh? (If you really want to be gruesome, you could freeze a little cranberry juice in the fangs first, then add water for the rest of the mold!)

Ahhh, this is what happens to me if I gulp my Frosty Paws! Great present to send your favorite brainiac college student though...

If your 2-leggeds are very old, they probably remember Fuzzy Willy! He was a bald guy and you gave him hair and a beard with iron shavings and a magnet on a red stick. Well, check out these plates for finicky eaters! Talk about playing with your food. Apparently, grandparents LOVE these plates because they're guaranteed to get the kids to eat! I wish they made dog plates like these...

I'm fine with just wearing one collar at a time, but Mom apparently likes wearing a whole pet store's worth at once, because she really loves this necklace!

I bet if you tell Nannette that I sent you, she'll even send a delicious dog treat along with your purchase! She's very generous and loves us pups!

If you actually make it to Beaufort, SC, be sure to stop by Lulu Burgess on Bay Street and say hello. Maybe you'll even get a giant snuggly hug like my pal Clive did! Now that's Southern Hospitality!

So what are you waiting for? Pop on over and take a tour of Lulu Burgess!

Art on the Street with Pete(y)

2010-08-10T22:16:00.006-04:00

Bonjour mes amis! And welcome to Art on the Street with Pete(y). Living here in the West Village, we find that local artists don't always limit themselves to canvases, clay or even art studios. Won't you join me as we pee-ruse the local art scene?

I was attracted to the use of bright colors and smiling faces in this piece. Also, the proximity of the artwork to the curb for leaving my review. If you biggify this photo, you'll see these smiley guys are quite vocal in their political ramblings.

Can you spy me in this photo with the Not-So-Little Tramp? This and the next image are for a real gallery show in the Meatpacking District, just a few blocks from my house and near the dog run. I give this four paws up!

We also really liked this enormous Woody Allen! (We also are very excited about Woody's new film, Midnight in Paris, because frankly, we like anything set in Paris.)

A good reminder...especially when it's on a wall-size mural!

Okay, Mom spotted this scary lady when she was walking home through Soho (after seeing the amazing Tilda Swinton in I Am Love.) I'm glad I missed seeing this sculpture, she's kinda scary. I give it two pees, though I do like how Mom shot it through the security gate. One paw up for Mom's artistic photography with her iPhone.

Back to MePa (the Meatpacking District!) - this fellow has quite the look of the scholar about him - maybe Clive's pal James Joyce? I like the freestyle painting technique as well. Three paws!

Don't know if this fellow was painted by the same artist, but it seems like he/she ran out of room when he got to the top of his head! Still, I'm a sucker for a Roman nose - Two Paws and a tail wag!
I appreciate how the artist incorporated tennis ball yellow into this colorful mural. I think the whole work is elevated by my presence with my omnipresent tennis ball. (Actually, this was a brand-new one called a Tuff Ball that was touted as being "indestructible." HA! Guess they weren't terrier-tested! It did last longer than most...)

Shall we take a closer look? Uh oh. Don't know if I want this fella owning all my dreams!

"My Way" - now that's an artistic message I can relate to!

I think Mister Monopoly was a later addition to this portrait by another "artist" but hey! I like it! I'm always adding my own personal touch to the landscape as well that Mom collects in special orange bags. (Hey! Wait a minute! What are you doing with that work of art? Throwing it in the garbage can?!?)

I guess this fellow got all the forehead that other guy was missing. He's kind of scary but then again, I can't dislike a fellow whose head looks so much like a nice white tennis ball! Two paws up!

I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Art on the Street with Pete(y). I now return you to deepest Manhattan Profonde, where the sunflower fields are filled with Van Gogh beauty. And me.

(Okay, so maybe it's not a "field" exactly but more like a tiny garden on a traffic triangle, but it does continue my parallel life with my pal Wilf!)

A bientot, mes amis!

Petey and Wilf: Parallel Lives?

2010-08-03T21:16:00.007-04:00

My Mom is a pretty serious Francophile, who daydreams of living in Paris and calling "Ici Pierre! Et tout suite!" So each morning, we begin our day by reading about the antics of my PONs pal , in deepest France Profound. The more I read his blog, the more I think we live very similar lives. My Mom is half Scottish and one half of his people (Mongoose) are Scottish. We're both shaggy dogs of a beige hue. We live in villages. Okay, so his is in southwestern France and I'm in the southern part of Manhattan in the West Village. But hang on....

Wilf hangs out in his "rickety old farmhouse." Me and Mica hang out in our "rickety old pre-War apartment." Wilf and me share plumbing and contractor problems on a regular basis.

While Wilf begins his day with a walk around 6:30, that's approximately the same time Mica wakes Mom up to get him some fresh water from the sink. She then groggily locks him out of the bedroom ("Where do you think the word 'catapult' came from?") for a bit more sleep.

Later in the morning, we go out to admire the sunflowers. Just like Mongoose and Wilf!

Wilf likes to christen the tyres/tires in his neighborhood. I prefer to leave pee-mails on objects that are less likely to start moving.

Wilf has bountiful fields of wild flowers to sniff. Me too. These bags filled with plants and flowers are actually quite interesting - made of recycled materials and attached to vertical surfaces all over the West Village. You can "adopt" one and care for it, or leave it up to Mother Nature.

Wilf likes to take in the local scene (and occasional snacks) at his nearby farmers' market...me too!

Most of the vendors have treats on hand for dogs and Mom feels guilty not buying something when I'm begging for a cookie. So we end up with more produce than she can ever eat in a week.

Wilf has Mme. Bay and her interesting hairstyles and colors. We've found just the place for her next Manhattan makeover.

Living in France, Wilf enjoys the delicate scent of lavender wafting on the breeze. Okay, so I have to go over to the florist, but same thing. (Although I bet Wilf is allowed to water his lavender plants.)

In Wilf's village, there is much excitement about pottery. Here we have a store that only sells these little glass pots.

Wilf's village is filled with centuries-old cafes and bistros. We have the White Horse Tavern, a whopping 130 years old. (Although Wilf is welcomed at his local cafe and the tavern has about a 100 signs up declaring "NO DOGS ALLOWED.") Sidenote: the White Horse Tavern is also known as the last place Dylan Thomas drank before returning home, growing ill and dying a few days later. Really says something about the food and drink of the establishment, huh?

Wilf can find all sorts of delicious French cuisine in his village. Me too! There's Pastis, Paris Commune, La Recette, The New French, and La Ripaille...

...this new restaurant Bistro De Le Gare. Let's take a closer look at the menu and see if there are any of Wilf's favorites to be had...

Hmmm, wait a minute! Chile Rellenos! Corned Beef Hash! Tamales!!!! Apparently they consulted Mme. Bay when they were creating their authentic French menu...

Here's where we go for croissants and bagettes—just like Wilf.

And I can even get my hair tousled by patrons on the benches outside as I enjoy a drink.

(Unfortunately, no early morning absinthe drinkers in the Village, though there is the odd homeless man sleeping off in a corner in the park, bottle clutched to his chest like a child's Teddy bear and a blissed out smile on his face.)

Another fine French establishment. I particularly like walking past this restaurant and scooping up any errant french fries that have fallen off the tables or stray pieces of bacon!

At the newsstand, I can catch up on the latest in French couture, just like Wilf.

We even have our own endearing characters, like Mohammed and Ali who run the magazine store. (It's called Casa des Magazines but I'm campaigning to change it to Maison des Magazines.) This is Ali. He lets me hang out behind the counter and feeds me bits of his breakfast croissants while Mom buys her 100th magazine of the week. Ali is like the mayor of the Village - he knows everyone and everything that's going on.

Wilf is cautiously friendly with the Village cat and I'm trying to befriend Tiger, the kitten who lives at the bodega on the Corner. She's little and she never hisses at me, but I get kinda shy around her. She was sound asleep on a stack of Poland Spring bottles - who says cats are afraid of water?

Wilf has a Village Frog Pond. I have the Village Dog Pond.

Still more sunflowers growing in the West Village. These are planted along Jane Street and haven't quite come into bloom yet.

I'd say another week, would you agree, Wilf?

I even have some baby sunflowers practically outside my front door! Just like Wilf!

And if you needed any more proof that we are living parallel lives, take a look at this building to the north of us!

So what do you think? Is the West Village just about exactly the same as a charming village in the Western part of France?

Okay - so I guess they don't have alligators in the sewers like we do. Vive la difference!

Paws crossed for my buddy Clive

2010-07-30T21:55:00.002-04:00

You may have read on Clive's blog that he was up all night earlier this week feeling poorly. Well, his Mum reports that the vet has diagnosed a respiratory infection. He got some medicine, a home-cooked chicken and rice dinner and is feeling a little better which makes me and NSLM feel a lot better as well. Go pop over and wish him well!

I miss my Irish pals!

2010-07-26T15:25:00.002-04:00

Well, Clive & Co. (including the gorgeous Sorcha) have now returned to cool and rainy Ireland, leaving behind hot and steamy South Carolina and just as hot and even steamier New York (although the rain last night really improved our weather conditions!) We don't have too many photos of me and Clive together in New York, mostly because it started to rain and I can't go into as many places as Clive because I'm just a leisurely type, not a hard-working dog! Look! He even made it up on the "no dogs allowed" High Line Park to pose for this AWESOME photo with NSLM.

So Mom had a great time "playing tourist" -- visiting the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park Zoo, Times Square and beyond! Keep your eyes peeled for hundreds of photos of their adventures on Clive's blog...

We can't wait for the whole family to come visit us again—and the sooner the better!

Mica's Supermodel Monday

2010-07-19T12:55:00.003-04:00

Check it out! My catbro Mica is a supermodel once again! Remember those photos that were taken of me and Mica for the West Village veterinary? Well, another bedroom shot of Mica from that photoshoot is now hanging inside Beasty Feast! My favorite store in the whole world.

Here I am posing under Mica's photo. It was also a great day because they were having an Ice Cream Social at Beasty Feast and I got a whole cup of delicious peanut butter frozen treat PLUS a whole bunch of cookies!) Okay, back to Mica.

Doesn't he look sweet and angelic in this photo? You'd never guess he regularly wakes us up at 5:00 am to have some water from the bathroom faucet (despite the BOWL of water on the counter for his Highness...)
So how is the senior supermodel catwalker celebrating his big comeback?

With some beauty sleep, natch!

Dogs (With Blogs!) at Sea!

2010-07-16T15:46:00.004-04:00

"New York, New York—it's a hell of a town!

We've got one day here, and not another minute,

To see the famous sights,

We'll find the romance and danger waiting in it,

Beneath the Broadway lights.

But we've got hair on our chests (yes, Asta, too!)

So what we like best are the nights.

Sights, lights, nights.

New York, New York—a hell of a town!"

This is the song that me and Duffy and Asta sang to welcome our DWB visitors from all over the globe to our town, New York, New York! The city so nice, they named it twice!

While the big party was at Asta's on Thursday, we kicked it off with a little get-together at my place so everyone could say hello to Mica. Then the DWBers headed off to dinner and then on to Chelsea Piers for a wonderful moonlit cruise on an 80' schooner!

Monty, Molly and Taffy's Mum came all the way across the big pee from England for the party! And yes, that's Mumsie peeking between Asta's Daddi and Mommi. Next is Stella and Stanley's servant.

It had rained off and on most of the day, but by the time the evening rolled around, it was dry and cloudy. Just beautiful!

It was still a bit misty so the lights of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building were soft and romantic.

Here's Duffy's pretty Mom!

We had a keg of Coke Zero stowed below decks for Mumsie. After all, it was a 2 1/2 hour cruise!

More members of the British Royal Family - King Simba and Princess Jazzi's NSFFM (and their brother came too, but he's not in the photo!)

The DWB Founders, Brooke and Greg were the reason for the celebration! Their first ever trip to New York! (We're certain it won't be their last!) Plus Lola, Sherman and Penny's—The Dogs of Jackman Avenue—two-legged!

Hey! It's AireRuby's CEO! With the leader of the Brat Pack!

We were really sailing - just wind power - on the Hudson, down by Battery Park, past Ellis Island, all the way to the Statue of Liberty!

We got really close to her! Even closer than this blurry photo would have you believe!

Three lovely ladies - Sophie Brador's roommate, Duffy's Mom and Lady Liberty!

(Fortunately, I checked the bow before we left the docks and Lacie was NOT along to wreck havoc! No doubt she was on a conference call with Stella and Asta, preparing for the party the next day!

)
Hope all of our Dogs With Blogs are either enjoying their extended time in our wonderful hometown or safely on their way home with suitcases filled with fun memories of our time together!

Update! Clive recognized in Beaufort, SC!

2010-07-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

Well, my buddies Clive & Co. are still vacationing down in South Carolina while I'm sitting her in the rain in New York, waiting for the DWB convention to begin tomorrow!

Anyhow, we got a text message from NSLM's Mummy that they'd just arrived in beautiful and historic Beaufort, SC for a visit. (Film lovers may recognize Beaufort from The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides - read the book, says Mom - The Great Santini, and of course, Forrest Gump!

My good friend Lulubelle lives there too. Remember? I visited her and went to her Mom Nannette's awesome store Lulu Burgess over the winter. WELL...Mom calls Nannette (isn't that just the greatest name?) and tells her to be on the lookout for Clive & Co and Nannette replies "Wait a minute! I think I just saw them getting out of their car about half a block from my house!" and proceeds to describe the family and "the most adorable Goldendoodle!" Yep! It was them!

Everywhere he goes, people just seem to recognize Clive. Did you all have any idea he was quite so famous??? Don't think nearly as many people would recognize me in Ireland!

The Beach Boys...Petey and Clive's big adventure!

2010-07-11T21:47:00.011-04:00

Hey there! It's me and Clive again.

Okay, so I'm back in New York, hanging out at the dog run and hitting up the Cafe Cluny ice cream lady for free samples and Clive's winning over fans on Hilton Head, but we wanted to share our few days together with you.

So Clive...where shall we begin?

Well, after our breakfast with the Irish waitress who knew Clive from her school days in Cork, Clive & Co. walked around Harbourtown. (I was home on the phone, confirming evening plans...) Clive even got to romp on the little rocky beach on the Calibogue Sound with a black lab from Georgia. (Let me tell you, when he's wearing his vest, he's all business. But when it's time off, the fella is a PARTY ANIMAL!)

NSLM tried out the treehouse at the playground in Harbourtown and demonstrated his royal wave to the adoring crowds.
Then they came back and we all headed out to Hardeeville. And not Hardeeharharville, either.

You see, after arriving in Savannah the night before, following a long day of a transatlantic flight, an airport transfer, and a second flight, Clive & Co. finally got their SUV rental car and headed to Hilton Head. Being out of his work togs, with that scent of magnolia in his wind-blown hair, well, Clive encouraged Dad to drive a little faster than he should. Not a good thing in South Carolina...the highway patrol stopped them for speeding and threatened to arrest Dad (!!!!) because he was from outside the country and could skip out of the ticket. After a few frantic conversations between NSLM's Mom, my Mom, and a friendly local Judge who just happens to be Mom's lawyer, the cops agreed to take the handcuffs off Dad (!!!!!!!) and take his passport for collateral that he would indeed return to Hardeeville to pay his traffic fine. Phew!

Disaster averted! (Well, except to Dad's wallet!)

So anyhow, we all headed out to Hardeeville, me and Clive included in case we needed to argue with any police dogs. On the way back, we swung through Bluffton, a funky/artsy small town with some great old Southern homes and a wonderful Farmer's Market on Thursday afternoons.

NSLM's Mom took these magazine-worthy photos of all of this locally grown produce. Just look at these ruby red 'maters...

...and did you know that South Carolina actually produces more peaches each year than Georgia?

Even the chocolate sunflowers looked good enough to eat!

Hmmm, did you know that fried shrimp tails are simply scrumptious? Clive and I both tried this new delicacy — hope it doesn't turn our blonde coats pink like flamingos!

Hmmm, the Gullah ladies had some interesting fare that day. Clive and I thought Steamed Pig Feet might be worth a nibble—Sorcha wasn't so keen.

It was hot, hot, hot (but still not as hot as New York that day) so we all headed over to a little cafe/tea room called The Cottage and sat on the porch, drank cool drinks and since we decided we'd sweated out all the toxins and calories in our bodies, we indulged in some Southern sweets.

How'dya like this Bourbon Pecan Pie? Mom and NSLM's Mom shared it and it was delish!

Clive and I stretched out on the nice cool tiles when we got back home. Ahhh, nothing better on your hot paws and belly, am I right Clive? By the way, Clive and I got along great from the first sniff. Mom was afraid I might be possessive of my toys but guess what? Clive didn't pay any attention to my toys. And better still, he brought me some new ones! (And some fabulous presents for Mom, too. Awesome!)

"Clive, I'm still hot, how about you? What say we split the last peanut butter Frosty Paws?"

As I said above, Clive is a swell guy, but I was a bit taken aback when he ate his half of the ice cream in a single gulp. I snuck mine into the dining room, just so I wouldn't get brain-freeze eating it too fast.

Soon we were left alone again while Mom and Clive & Co headed out on a private catamaran charter to spy some dolphins.

NSLM even saw some right by the dock as we were waiting to go aboard!

Soon we were heading out of the marina, with a cool breeze and loads of dolphins all around us.

("Ahhh, I wish the lovely Sorcha would look at me like this..." — Petey)

NSLM helped Captain Bob pull up the main sheet and voila! We were under sail power!

Now, NSLM's Dad and Sorcha have been known to be not-so-great sailors in the past, but this evening, the breeze was fresh and the Sound was calm—no tummy-rocking swells. Sorcha and NSLM got to sit up on the trampoline for a better view of the dolphins.

Just look how relaxed NSLM's Dad looks! That's our friends' other boat, the Pau Hana, sailing past us.
Ahhh, how cute is NSLM with his sweet smile and the sun setting over Daufuskie Island behind him???

Boy, do they look like they're having fun or what? And without me and Clive! The nerve!

Isn't this a beautiful photo of the Pau Hana? Our pal Jeanne was onboard, taking photos of us as we passed by!

So, you may be asking, what were we non-Seadogs doing while our 2-leggeds were sailing the high seas?

"Okay, Clive. They're gone. Let's get off this cold, hard tile floor..."

"...this is SOOOO much more comfortable! Now Clive, can I offer you a nice chilled rose or would you prefer a wee dram of Irish whisky?"

The next morning, our 2-leggeds packed up towels, chairs, umbrellas and every number of SPF from 20 to 100 and headed to the beach. Clive and I stayed home in the cool air conditioning and I taught him how to order stuff on eBay.

Then later in the afternoon, once it started to cool down a bit, we headed to the beach. On the way, we had to stop for some alligator wrestling.

Hee hee! Look at Clive, doing his imitation of the alligator's big snappy jaws. (Or maybe he was imitating Lacey? Hard to tell the difference...)

Even NSLM hopped on that snappy gator and showed him who's boss!

Then Clive and I took this wonderful photo of the whole family!

Now you may be thinking that Clive is the only hard-working dog of the two of us. That's simply not true. I got a summer job as lifeguard. With my sandy blonde good looks, trim build and affinity for dashing into the water, I was a natural for the job.

"Okay, Clive, my shift's over. What say we grab that surfboard and hit the waves?"

(Now these next photos are titled "Our dog Clive hates the water! He won't even go near it!" I think the evidence to the contrary speaks for itself. Apparently, Clive doesn't like cold Irish water, but warm Southern Atlantic waters are a whole other story...)

"Umm, Clive, I think if you just gingerly step into the water and slowly ease into waves....umm Clive? CLIVE???"

YIPPEEEE!!!!!

WHHEEEEE!!!! WAAAHHHHHOOOOOO!!!!!

"Petey, old boy, this ocean stuff is just the BEST! Totally AWESOME!!!!"

See? NSLM agrees that these waves are just irresistible!

Now Clive's family thought he looked awful all wet and soggy like this. But I think he looks AWESOME! Nothing better than a salty dog!

Let's look at an instant replay. Yep. That's one happy soggy doggie!

"Hey NSLM, can we go surfing tomorrow???"

"Hey, wait just a minute Clive, I see something even more fun than romping in the surf..."

"go ahead, I'll catch up with you in a few minutes..."

"But first, I've found a new little friend who already knows how to play my favorite game!"

"...he even knows how to dance in the sand!"

Well, we sure had a great time with Clive & Co. and we can't wait to see them in New York later this month. In the meantime, we hope they have a wonderful vacation on Hilton Head. We can't wait to hear about all their new adventures!

("Bye Sorcha! Do you miss me? Even a little???"- Petey)

Preview of coming attractions!

2010-07-10T17:57:00.003-04:00

Hi! It's me Petey and the bloke to my right is none other than CLIVE!!! Yep! The hottest Irish import to hit the States since Collin Farrell. (Just look at those big brown eyes!) Flew all the way from Ireland to Hilton Head with a layover in New York — all in a single day.

And guess who he brought with him??? THE Not So Little Man!!! How AWESOME is that? Plus Mum and Dad (who apparently has a bit of a leadfoot - more on that later...) and the drop-dead gorgeous Sorcha. (Hubba hubba. I've got a bit of a crush. She likes that Werewolf guy from Twilight so I may stand a chance. Not only does she know her way around a tennis ball but she is one stunning young lady. Mom says she's charming too. Clive - you're going to have to become a watchdog when the suitors start sniffing around...)

Not So Little Man is a real champ, too. Loads of fun. Knows some excellent jokes. Has a belly-busting laugh and wonderful crinkly blue eyes. (Like Sorcha's. Did I mention she has blue eyes and eyelashes that are about an inch long? And glorious thick wavy hair? I miss her already. Tried to sneak into her room last night, thought Mom wouldn't notice. WRONG.)

Anyhow, in just a few days we had all sorts of adventures. From chasing frogs and lizards on the deck to shopping for Gullah gourmet delights (who knew fried shrimp tails were so delicious?) to taming alligators and romping on the beach.

Have about a squillion photos to share with you. And just about as many stories. But we're exhausted from our long day of travel (gate changes, delays, and 6 hours in my carrier bag) and a Clive-high pile of mail to sort through (plus covering Mica with seven weeks worth of kisses) so we'll just share one story with you for now...

See this lovely lady posing with Clive? Well, the first morning Clive & Co. arrived, we went down to the Harbourtown Grill so his Dad could see where the big Heritage PGA Golf Tournament is played. This nice gal named Sinead was our waitress and she was from Cork, Ireland! We got a big laugh that they'd travelled so far only to run into an Irish lass instead of a Southern belle.

Well, listen to this.

Her Mom volunteers with the Irish Guide Dogs! Can you even believe the coincidence? Hold onto your hats....

She'd met Clive before! In Ireland!!! He came to her school with Irish Guide Dogs five years ago and she remembered him. (You know, he told me he was better known than Bono in Ireland but I didn't really believe him before this.) Now, I might have been amazed to hear this story if it had happened in New York, but on Hilton Head? C'mon. There's just one word for it. As the NSLM would say...

"AWESOME!"

More awesomeness to come....

Happy Co-Dependence Day!

2010-07-04T16:19:00.005-04:00

Yes, it's Independence Day here in the United States, but for me and Mom, we think of it as Dependence Day. That's because seven years ago this weekend, we found each other and neither of our lives has ever been the same!

So today, we're gonna wave sparklers and celebrate seven years of wonderful co-dependence!

It's Terrier Time!!!

2010-06-29T16:42:00.008-04:00

When I'm down here on Hilton Head, I don't need a clock or a calendar to tell me when it's 4:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon...

Around 3:45, I start getting all excited because it's almost TERRIER TIME!!!!

The golf course at the Country Club closes for maintenance at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, so at 4:00, me and my pals meet up at my friend Honey's house - actually, her backyard. The 9th tee box.

Hurry up, Mom, we're gonna be late! (Man, I never want to go up against that fish in a ball-catching contest!)

What are you dragging your heels for? It's 3:50 already! Who cares if it's hot and humid? Gotta go!

Hmmm, a brief diversion to scan the tennis courts along the driveway to the Country Club. Never know when you'll find an errant but perfectly good tennis ball hiding in the pine straw.
(By the way, I HATE pine straw. I'm still enough of an urban dog that when I get a piece of pine straw stuck on my legs I have to sit down immediately until Mom removes it.)

Hey, I smell something in this bush. Just a minute....(my wound is all better by the way, though I still have my fierce-looking bald patch and scratch that has passersby inquiring if I've had surgery!)
SUCCESS! A brand-newish tennis ball!!! My record for finding one every week is unbroken!

Yeah, nice fountain. We'll admire it on the way home. Hurry up Mom! Time's a-wasting!

Ahh, nothing like the taste of a slightly damp, leaf-covered tennis ball on a hot summer afternoon...
Okay, we're on the golf course now - wonder it anyone's there yet?

Hmmm, I can see them gathering on the tee box. Maybe a quick practice throw to try out this new ball before I get there...

Here comes my gator-fighting partner in crime Muffy. She's just about the only other dog who likes to chase the ball. Well, she likes to chase me chasing the ball. She looks like a smaller, girlier version of my pal Bear in New York.

This new ball is terrific! Gotta take a quick break from the action...

Muffy's Dad always brings along delicious treats (that's what lured me away from the alligator pond) but I'm too busy playing ball for a food break. That's Honey in the front, insisting on her fair share as she is the hostess of this grand event.

Savannah's never one to miss a treat either. How does she keep her girlish figure?

Ahhh, a tennis ball in my mouth, grass on my belly and a pretty girl to chase me! This is the life!

Okay - it's 4:30, time for everyone to head home. C'mon Mom, at 5:00 we can go to the beach!

Ooh. I forgot how hot and tired you get running around chasing tennis balls. Just look at my big old bologna tongue hanging out. My sides were going in and out like a bagpipe! Need a little break before we head home. (We stopped for a big cup of water at the driving range.)

Well that's it for another Monday. Time for a little snooze in the air conditioning as I drift off admiring my new tennis ballllllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

(Actually, we did go down to the beach around 7:00 p.m. Lovely cool breeze and nice big waves. And of course, new kids to train and play with! Got home just before the thunder started rumbling. Fortunately, Mom's not too particular about having a damp dog in her lap!)

Happy Third Birthday Dear Rosie!!!

2010-06-24T15:40:00.001-04:00

While the Dughallmor Beagles have cut way back on their blogging*, my dearest Rosie Posie still holds my heart in her paws...

* you can catch up with the beagles on Facebook!

Poor Petey! Under attack and off to the vet!

2010-06-21T22:40:00.004-04:00

Well, bloggies, I have a tale of danger and violence to share with you today. Late Saturday afternoon, I started feeling poorly. Mom thought I might be dehydrated because I'd been playing on the beach and out on the patio. Then I got real clingy and it looked like a thunderstorm might be brewing. I was trembling and couldn't get close enough to Mom.

Unfortunately, Mom was having a dinner party and instead of smiling at the guests and showing them how I can now "high-five" for a treat, I hid under the dining room table and looked sad.

I was feeling a little better on Sunday, but I'd still cower when Mom touched my sides, even gently. So today she took me to the vet to see what was wrong. She was terrified I might have been bitten by a tick and had Lyme Disease or worse. She was so scared she hadn't slept for two nights!

Of course, I became Mister Personality when I got to the vet, wagging my tail, saying hello to all the dogs and cats and people and generally, being my adorable self.

And while Mom had checked me over carefully, she now noticed this cut on my side. You see, I'd been running on the beach on Saturday, playing with all the kids, when I met a 40+ pound girl puppy. Her owners said she was friendly and could she play with me. We both ran after the ball and when I got there first, she attacked me! We were about 50 yards away from our 2-leggeds and our skirmish didn't last long but apparently, she beat up on me! See the gash from her paw?

The vet took my temperature (how embarrassing!), listened to my heart and lungs and felt me all over for any broken bones. She said everything was normal (hooray!!!!) but I had a contusion from where she'd beaten up on me.

I put on a brave face for Mom. (Also, I was getting lots of cookies and pats and cooing from the 2-leggeds!)

I was told to take it easy - no Terrier Time or beach walks for a week — and walks on the leash rather than running free as the doctor said "those little terriers can be twisty!" She gave me an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxer (which made a little woosy - time for another nap under the dining room table!).

The vet also gave me a shave—and discovered another gash under my scruffy fur. At least I don't have to wear a cone, Scruffy... And no anti-biotics either - the wounds don't look infected, probably because I played with a little girl in the saltwater after my battle with that bitch, errr, girl dog!

By evening I was back out on the deck, looking for my collection of tennis balls and wondering why Mom wouldn't bounce them for me to catch. Rolling a ball back and forth just isn't much fun.

Speaking of fun, before my big attack, Mom and I made a stop at Tailwaggers to pick up my food and I almost fell over! Is this Auntie Martha...or is it Auntie Bailey??? She kinda looks like a combination of both. But then she wagged her tail and barked with a Southern accent and I realized that she was a Dixieland dog!

She was pretty fast moving - hard to get her to stay in place to get a good photo! Plus her back half was always going the opposite direction of her front half.

She was a very good saleslady though, checking out Mom's purse before she handed over the dog food...

She even offered to taste-test my purchase but I said that wouldn't be necessary...

She also recommended this fine line of spa products. I was looking for Square Muddy Dog for my Bestie Eric, but no such luck.

...however, I did find this product for Lacie. Maybe if she soaks in it then sits under a hot dryer, her extra-large body parts will shrink! Think I'll get a case for her and another case for that nasty pup on the beach.

So at the end of this long and scary day, ice cream once again is the best medicine! My side hurts a lot less when my tummy is full of a nice cold Dogster treat!

No more adventures with short-tempered girls who are more than twice my size, I promise!

And the winner is....Gussie!

2010-06-21T08:03:00.004-04:00

For his wonderful definition of "imitz" — somedog who imitates in a sincere effort to flatter but is a total ditz at it. There were some awesome entries but this one literally made us laugh out loud!

Gussie, can you please have your Mom email me with your new address so my Mom can wrestle your prize away from me and send it to you? (mica_maui_98@yahoo.com) I promise you it's NOT this tennis ball!

Some Island images and some new friends!

2010-06-11T09:31:00.004-04:00

In honor of the World Cup, I had to post this photo of my favorite female soccer player, Molly. I met her last fall and I'm pleased to report that she is still sitting on her red soccer ball.

Hee hee! We loved this sign we found in a little gallery in Bluffton, SC so much it is now hanging on our porch (along with a sign that says "If you're not barefoot, you're overdressed." Strong words from a shoe-fanatic like Mom!)

In New York, I've shown you plenty of photos of the Hudson River. Well, down here, we're looking over the docks at Hudson's Seafood Restaurant - parallel universes!

Mom and I biked down to Harbourtown the other day. This is the iconic lighthouse (not a real working lighthouse, but a navigation view point nonetheless.) After our three-mile bike ride, we decided to skip climbing the lighthouse...

...but I did give these sea kayaks a good sniff. Mom wants to try paddleboarding while she's here. I told her that I find dog-paddling boring, but she said this was something all together different.

So we decided to get some ice cream and discuss this further. Can't tell you how many little two-leggeds came over to pat me while I was eating my ice cream. I kept wagging my tail but I didn't want to stop eating!

Dogs can only go to the beach now before 10:00 am and after 5:00 pm. Which is fine with me because it's too hot the rest of the day. I prefer to hang out on my porch. But after 5:00, it's the best time to go to the beach. The sky is gorgeous, the crowds have thinned and there are always some people to throw the ball for me!

Don't I make a handsome lifeguard? I'll rescue you as long as my feet can touch the ground.

This is so cool! These guys are kite-surfers. They stand on boards that look like snowboards, wear harnesses that are attached to these big parachute-like kites that pull them through the water. Sometimes they do enormous jumps and spins over the waves. It's quite beautiful to watch.

I spotted a bunch of kids and took off to introduce myself. This is my new pal William.
He's from Tennessee. I asked if he knew Gussie.

He introduced me to his brother and sisters and cousins. Are they the cutest bunch of kids ever? The littlest girl in the pink tee-shirt was named Maggie and she played with me the longest. When we had to leave, she ran after me shouting "Bye Petey! Bye Petey!"

Mom said it made her Grinchy heart grow three times as big.

Word Verification Dictionary!

2010-06-05T15:12:00.003-04:00

I've got about a million squigillion photos to download, but the laptop isn't cooperating. So I thought I'd share an idea with you I had while Mom was pedaling me over to see my pals Jeannie and John...

...there are some pretty hilarious words that come up for "Word Verification" when you're trying to post a comment. Like when I was on MaxMom's blog, I got "Ostricia" - thought it might be a word describing all things regarding Ostriches...or maybe some Baltic country where ostriches are the national bird.

So here's today's game. Write a descriptive definition for your word verification and you could win a swell prize! But you only have until Sunday at midnight!!!

I'm off for another ride (this is the ONLY kind of wheelies that this terrier can deal with!).

Gator Bait

2010-06-02T22:37:00.003-04:00

Man oh man, am I ever in the naughty corner!

Mom and I went to Terrier Time the other afternoon. It was great - I got to see my island pals, like Honey and Cleo and Savannah and Muffy. The golf course is closed for the afternoon so we get to run around and have a ball.

Speaking of which, I'm the only fella who brings along a ball. The 2-leggeds throw it and lots of the other dogs chase me around. Especially Muffy - the black dog in the bottom of this photo. She looks alot like my pal Bear in New York!

Well, we were chasing the ball on the 9th tee box and ran off the back of the tee box out of sight. When we didn't immediately come back, Mom and Muffy's Dad went looking for us. My favorite orange ball was floating in the lagoon...Muffy was on the bank watching it...and I'd ventured in! My front legs and belly were covered in mud.

It's a good thing I don't like to swim when my feet can't touch the bottom, because just look who sometimes lives in the lagoon!!!!

Mom kept calling me over and over and I wouldn't budge from the edge of the lagoon. It was my favorite ball after all. She tried to lure me with biscuits. Not budging. Finally, Muffy's Dad offered some REALLY good cookies and it seemed clear that Mom wasn't going to wade into the lagoon and get my ball, so I gave up and went for the cookies.

But for the rest of Terrier Time, I didn't have a ball to play with, so I just rolled around in the grass, making all the 2-leggeds shriek at my dirty belly and paws. Muffy and I kept trying to sneak back to the lagoon, but Mom and Muffy's Dad weren't letting us out of their sight.

Needless to say, I got hosed down but good when we got home. And Mom kept petting me all night long, saying "Petey! You would have been a little snack for an alligator!" So I'm in BIG trouble. Bet I'll have to wear my lifejacket to Terrier Time next week, if I'm even allowed off leash.

Maybe I'd better stick to the beach.

This is for NSLM and Clive! Five weeks to go!!!

Time to hit the deck!

2010-05-26T11:52:00.005-04:00

You may (or may not) know that I am lucky enough to split my time between two islands...Manhattan and Hilton Head, SC. Right now I'm being a Southern gentleman/beach bum down on Hilton Head. And while I do enjoy my almost daily excursions to the beach, I thought I'd share with you the place where I spend a good portion of my day.

I have a nice screened porch where I can lounge on the rug, sniff any bugs that wander in, and generally keep my cool under the ceiling fan. I especially like to be out here when it's raining (but NOT when it's thundering!)

The screened porch opens onto a nice long deck. You can see the special gate at one end that Lulubelle's Daddy made just for me. It's so I won't wander off to the nearby lagoon and become "Gator Bait." ("Uh, Mom? Would it kill you to put down the camera and pick up a broom? My deck is getting quite leafy...")

At one end of the deck, I've planted an herb garden, to add some savory flavor to my Wellness Light kibble.

I've hired the Yard Bird to keep watch over my garden and scare away any lizards or squirrels.

Ahhh, now I can relax in the glider under the hibiscus blossoms and contemplate an ice-cold glass of sweet tea...
The waitress around here moves at about the same pace as this turtle! (It's from Lulubelle's Mom's store in Beaufort, when she first opened years ago.)

I also have to attend to my begonia plants. Like me, they like a lot of shade and a nice cool drink.

Now that my deck is all in order, I can get back to the business of playing with my vast collection of tennis balls.
Check out this movie to see me in action. Oh, by the way, did I tell you that when I come down here, I change my name to that old Southern classic...Disregard?

Living life to the MAX....

2010-05-24T17:43:00.003-04:00

My South African pal and tour guide extraordinaire Max left us today for a bigger and even better adventure. We'll miss him like crazy and know his family is heart-broken, but we're just grateful for all the unexpected days we had with him, long after his "expiration date" had come and gone. He truly showed us all how to live with grace.

He taught us that even when you're feeling poorly, a bit of play and a nice walk in a beautiful place can revive your spirits.

...And you should stop and savor the delicious moments in life, be it pausing to take in a magnificent sunset, sharing time with a good friend, or just tasting all the sweetness that life has to offer (calories be damned!)...

... Yet like pawprints on the beach, we knew you couldn't stay with us forever. The tide was rising to carry you gently away to distant, yet familiar shores.

And until we join you there, we'll see your smiling face in every African sunset, in your Mom's smile (it will return again, don't worry), and in our bruised, but grateful hearts.

For Max, with love.

Time to hit the beach!

2010-05-17T16:09:00.003-04:00

Well, very early tomorrow morning, me and Mom will be flying down to South Carolina. Gotta make sure the rocking chairs in Harbourtown are all freshly painted and ready to rock...

...need to check my boat for leaks, maybe give it a new coat of paint as well....

...have to make sure the porch is nice and cool, perfect for hanging out on a rainy summer afternoon.....

....have to make some new friends and teach them how to play ball on the beach (ie: throw it fast or I'll jump for it, don't throw it too far out into the ocean)....

...these were some of my BEST (and most adorable) students!

...gotta get my chariot washed and polished, with my special sling in the back seat so I don't bring back the entire beach on my feet...

...you see, there are some STARS coming for vacation in July and I want everything to be just perfect for them!

In fact, they're such bright stars, I gotta wear SHADES!

My posts may be less frequent (and once more, identical photos of me playing on the beach!) but I'll still be checking in regularly!

Do dogs understand death?

2010-05-12T10:36:00.003-04:00

Reading Angus' post today about how Wilf is reacting to the loss of his brother Digby reminded me of how Petey has behaved during times of personal grief and mourning.

When my Mom passed away in her sleep last year, while staying with me, I had an unending stream of policemen, detectives, firemen and EMS workers coming into the apartment. (Apparently, this is not unusual when someone dies in a private home.) Petey has always assumed that anyone coming into the apartment is there to see him, so he greeted each with a waggy tail and a tennis ball offering in his mouth. He'd drop the ball by their feet, insisting that they play with him. So here are these serious men, bending to toss a ball, while asking me questions about my mother's death.

(Tosses ball) "Sorry about your loss, Ma'am." (toss the ball) "Umm, was your mother on any medications?" (toss the ball) "When was the last time she saw her doctor?" (toss the ball) "Wow, he's really good at catching the ball, isn't he?"

While Mica remained glued to my side all day, purring softly, Petey literally was having a ball and enjoying all the attention. I thought he might react when the coroners took Mom's body away—after all, he was very fond of his indulgent Granny—but instead, he just dropped the ball in front of them and wriggled away, waiting for the next game to begin.

Several days later, we arrived on Hilton Head for Mom's memorial. As we entered her house, Petey raced from room to room, looking for her. After exploring every room and closet, he came back to the family room, looked me in the eye and gave out a huge sigh, and quietly lay down.

A few days after we'd buried Mom, a huge Spring thunderstorm rolled in off the ocean late one afternoon. These are pretty much daily occurrences as the ocean warms up—loud house-shaking thunder and curtains of rain. In his younger days, Petey never seemed to mind storms or fireworks, but for the past few years, he needs to be with his Mom, sitting very closely to me for the duration of the storm.

On this particular evening, I was invited to dinner with some friends and, while the storm was definitely abating, it was still thundering when I reluctantly left to go meet them. When I returned a few hours later, I was surprised not to find Petey in the family room, where he'd usually snooze in a chair or on the couch. I called him and no response. I walked through the house looking for him and finally found him — curled up and sound asleep in the deep recesses of my Mom's walk-in closet, the scent of her perfume still wafting off her clothes hanging around him.

Clearly, he had sought her out for whatever comfort she could still provide.

He hasn't gone in there since.

As a puppy, Petey had both Mica and Maui as cat-siblings. Maui was a sweet girl, a shelter rescue, and she and Mica were never particularly close. She developed a cancerous tumor and at 15 years of age, I wasn't going to subject her to surgery so the decision was made to put her to sleep.

Unfortunately, on that last day, I could not get an appointment for her until 11:00 am. All evening and that morning, Petey stayed close by her side. Mica was aloof, but Petey was her companion to the very end.

While Mica seems very healthy right now, I am aware that at 20 years and 3 months, he is living on borrowed time. He and Petey have grown much closer—certainly closer than he ever was with either of my previous cats, Moki or Maui. I often find them curled near or next to each other or giving each other a gentle sniff.

With our new lifestyle, splitting our time between NYC and Hilton Head, Petey and Mica are apart for weeks at a time. My goal is to keep Mica's life as stress-free as possible, so plane trips are out of the question. Instead, I've been fortunate to have cat-loving friends come stay at the apartment in New York with him. (He keeps interrupting me for chin-scratches as I type this.)

I have no idea how Petey will respond to be an "only child" some day in the not-so-distant future. But I have a feeling, there will be some ball-throwing involved...

It may be hard to sleep tonight, for all the joyous barking!

2010-05-10T12:21:00.004-04:00

Today, across the sea, God called home two of our bravest canine heroes, Jackson and Digby. We may not be able to sleep much tonight, as the dogstar will be twinkling extra bright and ringing loudly with happy barking.

I imagine my dear friend Hamish will be the first to greet them at the gates. He'll be asking how Gail is doing without his editorial skills and will no doubt be delighted to hear of young Bertie. And though his licorice black nose may be a bit out of joint when he hears how quickly Bertie mastered the dog gate, he'll be thrilled that his excavation plans for the backyard are continuing.

Who is that beautiful wiry gal bounding towards them, wriggling from excitement rather than seizures? Why, it's Miss Snickers! She's never looked so radiant and leaps in the air to welcome Jackson home. He reports that little Katie also has the fashion gene and is looking forward to wearing all of her beautiful Snitchybug couture...

Here comes Charlotte now, wondering how Deetz is faring. Lacy Lulu is leading the gang in a round of zoomies, but come over to welcome the newcomers. Shamus is sitting near Jamie's Mom Anna's chair, lolling in the sunshine as she scratches behind his ears. Java Bean is munching on a chocolate bar - you can eat as much chocolate as you want here!—and asking to see photos of the Scottie pups.

Charlie is delighted to hear all about the DWB reunion in New York this summer and says he'll be watching over all the proceedings. Graham is enjoying a snack from the ever-filled treat bowl with My Beautiful Raja, but races over to ask about Sophie Brador and her new greyhound brother.

Even the cats are thrilled to see Jackson and Digby—albeit from the perches on the greatest climbing tree ever (there are cans of tuna on every branch!) - there's Roscoe, Maui and Moki, Sen-Chan and Ikkyu, among others. They climb down in their elegant fashion and do figure-eights around the legs of Jackson and Digby, purring loudly and asking about their still-earth bound two-leggeds.

The crowd is quite large now, merrily yapping and wriggling, their tails a blur of happy wagging. It parts to let through Wally, the one and only Corgador in Heaven. His eyes are sparkling, his coat gleams, and there's the remains of a tasty dollop of peanut butter on his lip, and FuFu the hamster perched on his broad back.

Dakota stops in her tracks—in the midst of chasing slow-running squirrels through the fluffiest of white snow that never melts or gets dirty—to come join the pack.

Together, they show Jackson and Digby the swimming pool, the jaffa cake fields, the automatic tennis ball lobing machines, the acres of beds to sleep on and the miles of fields, free of any nasty bugs, but with delightful mud puddles scattered throughout. They are delighted to see there are no leashes, silly sweaters or baths in Heaven. Already, their joints are looser, their eyes shiny, that puppy bounce is back in their steps.

Here come my 2-leggeds Grandparents, with Keddy and Robbie and Sam #1 and #2— tossing balls and taking pups for a ride in their convertible - it's fine to stick your head out the window! In fact, there are lots of friendly humans here—gathering up beloved cats and dogs and covering them with kisses—their pockets filled with the most delicious bacon treats.

The party welcoming Jackson and Digby continues for hours, then the dogs and cats and people settle down and head for their own windows, looking down on the world. They draw back the curtains and let the light of Heaven shine through as they watch those that they love on Earth, going about their daily lives. It's hard to understand why those left behind are so sad, when Jackson and Digby and all of their friends are now in such a wonderful place for eternity. As they look around, they see there are still many unopened windows—for Petey and for Mica, for Eric and Asta, for Jake and Just Harry and Martha and Bailey and Fergi and Jake, Wilf, Tammy and Butchy. There's a window waiting for each of their friends, yes, even Lacie. In time, we each will join them as well and they will be the first to greet us at the gates.

So tonight, look towards the Heavens. There are two new stars, shining brighter than all the rest. They are Jackson and Digby's windows, watching down on us. And if they could they'd tell us that while one journey has ended, an even bigger and better one has just begun.

Till we run together, dear friends....

Healing vibes for Lulubelle

2010-05-07T15:35:00.003-04:00

I just found out that my pal in Beaufort, SC, Lulubelle, has contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever. We're praying that the vet discovered this early enough and that she will have a full recovery! Yikes, ticks are sure wrecking havoc with my pals these days. Our local expert recommends Advantix, as it kills more types of ticks. However, it is LETHAL to cats, so if you have feline roommates, try Frontline or Advantage. I'm going to wait until I get to Hilton Head for my dose of Advantix so I don't harm Mica.

Once again, let's put the Power of the Paw to work for sweet Lulubelle and Digby.

Our vigil continues....

2010-05-05T12:25:00.003-04:00

We don't feel much like blogging these days. Instead, we wake early and check in on our shaggy pals Digby and Wilf in France. Comforted when we hear sweet news — that Digby went for a walk in the garden or growled at the postmistress, heart-broken when we read of his steady decline. We've grown to love those adorable PONs as well as Angus and "The Font" and the cinematic-worthy Mme. Bay. Angus' marvelous writing takes us away to country lanes lined with chestnut trees, the spontaneous ringing of ancient church bells, and the joys and tribulations of living in an old comfortable house. We come along with them for their adventures with heifers and hens, lizards and caterpillars. And now we mourn quietly as their precious boy slips away.

Do keep them in your prayers.

UPDATE: In the past few days, our friend Digby has rallied like a champion, though he is far from recovered. As the vet said today, he shouldn't have made it this past week. Keep up your prayers and positive thoughts—this may be beyond medical explanation. And in the words of Churchill, "Never, never, never give up!"

Preparations under way for the DWB Convention in NYC!

2010-04-28T22:15:00.004-04:00

Although it has been COLD and rainy here since Sunday, Asta and I took advantage of a sunny morning to discuss our hosting duties for the first Dogs with Blogs International Convention to be held in New York this July. There will be many of our flat-friends attending with their two-leggeds, but we'll be the 3-D canine hosts!

There's so much to do in New York in the summer —the very thought just made us exhausted. We'll want to take our friends on a lovely walk along the Hudson so they can see the skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

We'll want to show them the hotspots in our wonderful West Village neighborhood. Great little restaurants and shops, and of course, shopkeepers who keep a big supply of dog biscuits on hand. And they'll want to stop by our favorite stores — Beasty Feast and Zoomies—to get New York treats for their four-leggeds left at home.

Maybe we'll give them a tour of the Dog Run and see how well they can toss a tennis ball or two ....or twenty!
Of course, while Asta and I both consider ourselves to be seadogs, I don't think we're invited on the Classic Harbor cruise. Mom went last summer and just loved it. (Mom here: You really get a feel for New York as a port when you're sailing around the southern part of the island. And incredible views of the Statue of Liberty. Keep in mind that this is a real sailing schooner under sail, in other words - if there's a nice breeze, you'll be tacking back and forth. You'll really feel like you're on the water, more so than on a motor boat!)

Just thinking of all the fun things to do in the Big Apple reminded me of my new favorite treat — Apple and Cheddar yoghund — yep! Frozen yogurt just for dogs! Delish!

Of course, while we're planning all this fun stuff, let's not forget about our pal Digby. He got bit by a tick and has had an awful reaction. He seems to be on the mend the past few days, but he's still far from out of the woods. We love him and his brother Wilf and theirs is one of our favorite blogs to read, filled with characters and scenery from southern France. Please drop by and give him your best wishes and prayers.

A year later, we miss you Granny...

2010-04-22T14:05:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe, but it's been a year since my Granny (Mom's Mom) left us. We prefer to focus on her life and the fun we had together than her passing.

Here I am the first time I met her! It was Christmas time and we fly down to Hilton Head. I was about 10 months old and it was probably the first time I'd ever been on an airplane. (Mom figures I flew from Kansas to NYC when I was a little puppy.) Granny thought Mom was crazy to get a dog, much less a puppy, because she worked alot and already had two cats. But I won her over and before long, not only was I sleeping on HER bed, but I had almost as many toys at Granny's house as I did in New York!

Granny was very beautiful with the prettiest dark blue eyes and a friendly warm smile. She liked to laugh alot and play games with me. My favorite was when she'd be standing in the kitchen talking on the phone and I'd roll my ball over to her with my nose, then she'd gently kick it back to me. We could roll that ball back and forth forever!

She always wore that gold pinecone on a chain around her neck. It reminded her of Hilton Head and all the pine trees there.

Here's a picture I took of Mom and Granny at the beach. They claim the ocean makes their butts look big, but I think it's a nice photo.

Here we are playing together on the porch. Granny would have been a swell soccer player!

And this is my favorite photo of us, just walking down on the beach on a sunny warm January day.
I'll keep looking for your footprints in the sand, Granny. We miss you and we love you always.

Set your DVR on Wednesday night!

2010-04-19T23:19:00.002-04:00

I know what we'll be watching! Tune in - it should be pawsome!