Saturday, December 13, 2008

Helping Mama

I'm feeling all "good boy", and when I have that special feeling I just wanna help mama do whatever she is doing...

It looks like they're getting ready to go out somewhere - they have coats on (and not the nice fuzzy kind that I have)... and I have not gotten the magic signal that I will be coming with them. That signal is usually the word "walkie" or the appearance of my flexi-leash. Mama tries to distract me with my favorite tenny but that will not be nearly enough...

How dare you consider going out without me mama... I am insulted!

Hey wait, exactly what is that on your head?

Faux fur - but it still smells good.

What? You want a good-bye kiss? Let's do it in slo-mo, shall we?

Going in for the big kissaroo...

Ha! You have to kiss my head!!!

Aw shucks, I love ya mama...

But wait... what is this? Another fun piece of that funny hat I suppose...

Oh wait, this is f-u-n...

Ok mama, I'll let you go out without me tonight. Mama and dad are going to the local Brew Crew Holiday Party - so if it will further the mission of my Black and Tan Brewery, I suppose it is a good thing.

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Friday, December 12, 2008

Life to the Max

Hey dogs, check this out!!!

I just got the coolest book in the mail - and it's written by an AIREDALE!!!

Life to the Max is a book of maxims for a great life - written by a dog named Max (and told to his mama). It's adorable... and TASTY

Mama thinks it's funny that whenever she hands me a book the first thing I do is try to bite it. Yep, I find that amusing too...

Nom nom nom

Ooh, and looky! My copy is autographed!!! Big thanks Max & Robin for this great book!!! Check it out, read Max's website, or get your own copy HERE

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Monday, December 08, 2008

Extreme Neem

Hi, my name is Bogart. I am an Airedale Terrier. I have dry, itchy, flaky skin and hot spots.

Ok, that's not me that's my feline sister Sekhmet, and she is checking out some products that mama just ordered. My skin is soooo itchy and flaky, she did a lot of research to try to find out something that was natural and that worked... she was open to pretty much anything except nasty chemicals. And she thinks she may be on to something...

Neem oil has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for all sorts of skin issues, including mine! It naturally repels insects as well as soothes unhappy skin. Sounds like just what I need. So she went whole hog and ordered a special shampoo (made for pets), a soothing salve, and a bar of special soap. Sounds great mama...

Oh crap. That means I have to get showered doesn't it?

H-e-l-p M-e-e-e-e-e-e-e

I mean, it's nice to be washed inside rather than tied up outside and get squirted with the hose and all, but daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad...

Dogs, I'm taking one for the team for all of you this time. I just hope that it's appreciated!!!

This is taking an awfully long time... what's that mama? The shampoo is thin so it can sink down into the skin rather than just sliding off and it needs to sit on my skin for 5 minutes? Damn...

So I'm thinking that you all will have to feel comfortable being in the tub (or as mama suggests, you have a tub with doors) so that you can stay while the shampoo does it's work.

I kept trying to escape but to no avail - with dad inside and mama running defense, I'm stuck.

How much longer - am I done yet???

Ah, sweet freedom - time to run around outside and do a little Aire Drying. Perhaps Mingo will understand all that I've been through...

Now it's time for some salve. Mama spread it all over my back, directly on my dry skin. It feels really good, mama is surprised at how I stand still until she's finished.

The salve is really interesting, and smells nice (so does the shampoo and the soap, by the way). All natural, and none of these items were tested on animals. The Salve is almost a solid, but when mama put her finger on it it kind of melts into an oil. So far, so good.

If any dogs are interested in these products I will happily give you the website that I ordered from privately. Drop me an email (bogarthandsomedevildog@yahoo.com). As of right now, since I have only used this today, I cannot give a full report on the product's efficacy and would not want to recommend something that I cannot completely stand behind!

That being said, mama says that my fuzz looks fantastic and shiny, and I smell awesome. My skin looks good so far, but it's too soon to tell if this will be the super product that she hopes it will! We both promise to keep you updated as to how it goes.

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Sunday, December 07, 2008

The Cuzosaur

I had never heard of such a thing. It arrived in a simple package, of which I noticed the distinct aroma of canine immediately. Mama could read who it was from, yet she hid this important bit of information from me.

Damn it cruel woman - HELP ME OPEN THIS PACKAGE!!! Something FANTASTIC lies within...

Behold... THE CUZOSAUR


THANK YOU OPY & CHARLIE - DWB RULES!!!!

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Special Delivery

The brewing continues in earnest... I'm learning a lot by watching dad doing his work making beer, and one thing I've discovered is that there are some definite by-products of beer making. And we're not really fond of wasting such things if there is another great use for them. Well, it turns out that the grains left over after brewing are really yummy - for livestock. And that got us thinking.

This past summer when we would walk down this area of the forest to pick blackberries, we met a nice guy that we chatted with. His house had a lot of property and we noticed that not only did he have horses, but he also had goats. I sense a Special Delivery coming on, don't you?

So we packed up the grains (and some other root veggies left over from our last harvest in our garden) and headed over. Maybe they will want the grains, maybe not, but hey, at least I get a nice long walkie out of it, eh?

The grains were a HIT. Goats and horses alike went BONKERS.

Two beautiful horses were lining up to get a turn at the Scoop Away bin of grainy goodness.

I got in there too - I must admit that I've never been up this close to horses (not separated by a fence) and this was my first time EVER with goats. The people also have two dogs that I haven't been super friendly with before but I think today I was really overwhelmed by all of the animal excitement and was on my best behavior - no snapping or dominating other dogs!

The goats are Nubians, don't they have the coolest ears? All in all, everyone got a little time with their head buried in grains and root veggies, and it seems that we will be welcome over at their place whenever we want (and have another bucket-full, that is)...

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Friday, December 05, 2008

Potato Champion

Mama has been working late this week - in addition to making this difficult for her to update my blog everyday like I want her to, sometimes she misses the last bus. That is bad. But tonight it was good - because dad I and went to pick her up. It's always funny to be walking down a strange street, picking up messages, smelling the new smells, and then seeing mama!

Since she had just crossed the Hawthorne Bridge, dad and I scooped her up and we ambled over to the Hawthorne/12th Street food carts for a little snackie. Tonight we visited the Potato Champion...

Mmmm... belgain frites = double fried goodness. With mayo!

These are the darned tastiest fries I've had in a loooooong time...

I got to sit outside with them and checked out the other carts. I kept my eyes wide open just in case someone wanted to swoop down and steal those fries from the cone... I'll have none of that. Whatever the humans don't eat is MINE!!!

This is the front of the Potato Champion cart. They pretty much serve yummy fries and that's it, but they make lots of sauces for dipping and poutine (french fries, cheese curds, and gravy)... mmmmmmm

Viva la Potato Champion!!!

Love,

Bogart

PS - Happy 2nd Birthday KNUT, you handsome polar bear!!!!

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Homebrew!

Ok, curiosity has gotten the best of me today. I saw dad bringing in lots of boxes of stuff, putting it into the garage, and I wasn't allowed to check it out. What the heck is all of that stuff?

It's dad's new home brewery! He has been studying how to make his own beer for awhile now - reading books, meeting other people who brew, and now he has put together his very own brewery.

What should we call it? Well, you know I've got some ideas about that. How about The Black and Tan Brewery?

I SAID IT WAS GONNA BE CALLED THE BLACK AND TAN BREWERY AND THAT'S MY FINAL ANSWER!!!

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Monday, December 01, 2008

We Have a Winner!

The Be My Baby Mama Contest is over... and we have a winner!!!

Maggie & Mitch, thank you so much for helping in my quest to find my baby mama.

I will be sending you a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs which I hope you LOVE!!!

Thanks again my dear friends...

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine