Bogart the Carpenter

Sunny Saturday - time for a walk in the park... literally!

Forest Park is just truly lovely. It's still really wet and mossy, but the sun is shining and I'm ready to roll.

As you already know, I am quite the connoisseur of sticks (and pine cones - but that's another story). And the downed trees here always stimulate my stick urges. Even with my mighty jaws, I cannot pick these up and take them home in order to transform them - like a carpenter does - into something fabulous. Ok, so fabulous in my book translates to "little pieces scattered over a wide area".

So I'll humor mama a bit here and pose heroically on this mighty stump.

Are you absolutely sure we can't take this one home mama? It would make a perfect stump for sitting and watching tv...

A few different poses? While still standing or sitting on top of the stump? Oh all right, if I have to...

Staring off into the distance, ready to leap off the stump at any moment and take down whoever needs to be taken down...

An ever-so -slightly different angle to increase the intensity (and length of tongue)...

How about sitting? Well, all right. Ears up, butt down.

Looking over one shoulder... check.

Looking off into the distance wistfully... check.

Another angle - yes, I like it when you do more of the work mama.

One last one - with my best smile (and only slight bit of exasperation):

Ok, I'm kind of over this now. Can we walk now mama?

NO MORE MODELLING - MUST WALK ON TRAIL NOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!

Coolarama. Back on the trail.

I say we do the big loop today - you might have to carry me home (you did bring extra chow and water, didn't you mama?), but that's fine with me!

Love,

Bogart

Sunday in the Park with Mama

When walking through NW Portland, you can see many interesting things. Today I noticed this:

It's actually pretty darned cool - made of weird metal pieces - and wasn't scared of me at all. Unlike most birds.

It was another sunny day here in Portland - cold but sunny - and since yesterday we hit the east side, today we ventured toward Forest Park.

It's still kind of wet and cold here, but we haven't been here in a long time. And walking up hills works my fine butt muscles and keeps me warm enough.

Ah, the stone house. It's nice and mossy today, just the way I like it.

Ok, just because mama sometimes forgets where we are and where we need to go, doesn't mean that I do. I remember the way, follow me mama...

Time to head up the hill, into the sun, at a full Dale clip. Notice my ears flopping in the aire...

You never know who you'll meet on the trails. That's part of the fun of hiking. Always lots of doggies too.

Hiking can take a lot out of a dog. Rather than hopping up onto this water fountain like I usually do, I just went for the dog-hole...

Perhaps a bit lazy, but it works.

Could it be... are we heading toward... OHMYDOG, on a sunny Sunday there is a spot for us outside at Kettleman's! I haven't had a fine toasty pumpernickel bagel in ages, and I am a dog who enjoys his bagels...

And of course a fine drinkie to wash it all down...

On the way home, we ran into some Airedale People! Notice the fine airedmiration...

They were awfully cool, and anyone who has an Airedale is an automatic friend of mine! Thanks ladies!!!

Love,

Bogart

A Forest

Saturday morning. Portland. Fall. Yet it's still really warm. And sunny. What to do?

Pick up a trusty stick - not just any stick will do - it's gotta be IMPRESSIVE

And rather than let your mama decide which way to go, just start running in the direction you want to go. If your mighty speed doesn't do the trick, you can count on passers-by smiling and commenting on your incredible cuteness to distract your mama. Then run like the wind!

To the forest, of course. On a hot day, it's nice to be outside - in the shade.

But do not let your mama take the stick away. Make it a reoccurring theme.

Oh, this way? (notice the continuing stick theme)

It is important to be sure to choose your stick wisely - large enough that everyone can see, but not so heavy that it gets annoying to carry it around.

Because there really are only so many times that mama will pick it up. Unless you make this face:

Or this one:

Maybe this one:

Or if it's getting serious and you really want that stick one more time, bust out this one:

Just a little free Dale advice.

Forest Park is really lovely. So green, a running stream that I can drink from and wet the paws in, and an awfully nice trail.

Amidst all of this natural beauty, do check back every once in awhile to make sure that your mama is still there. It's tougher for the 2 leggers than it is for us with the 4-wheel drive.

Ah, but it is beautiful.

But back to the important things.

STICK ACTION!

All of the hiking makes me thirsty. Remember this great fountain?

Well what we somehow never noticed before is that rather than me having to get onto my hind legs and drink like a human, there is a doggie-level hole in the bottom.

Silly us.

Cool, refreshing, AND at doggie height. AWESOME.

Here is something odd that we noticed on the way home - yet another thing that we somehow have walked past many times and didn't notice. A great philosophical question indeed - Which came first, the hydrant or the tree?

You keep thinking about that. I'm off to grab a bagel.

Love,

Bogart