Another Car Ride

Yesterday I went for two car rides.  In the morning we went to Castlewood State Park to hike.  I already told you about that.  Then in the afternoon we got it the car again.

We went to Charlie's house.  Charlie was on vacation at the farm while Jen and John were gone teaching.  They just got home and we went to see them.  I like Charlie's house because Jen and John throw the ball in the house.  I like playing ball in the house.

A good day for a hike

This morning we took a long hike in Castlewood State Park.  It was a good day for a hike.  We hike up to the bluff where we can see for miles.

 Then we hiked down to the field.  We saw some deer there.  I watched them.  Jim doesn't want me to mess with the deer.  I was very good.

I got to get a drink from the creek then take a little swim.

It is St. Louis's 250th birthday.  That is really, really old.  There are 250 birthday cakes all around St. Louis.  They are not really cake.  They are made of wood and paint.  But they look like cakes.  There is a cake in Castlewood State Park.

Saturday in June

Jim and Jean got up really early for a race.  I like it when they get up early because I get my breakfast early.  I like to eat.  They ran fast then were home in plenty time to take me for a nice walk before lunch.  It was a good day.

All day outside

Today I was outside with Jim all day.  It was a wonderful day.  I chased the tennis ball, I laid in the shade and I watched Jim work.  Jim does a lot of work in the vineyard.  He put more wires on the fence because four wires was not enough to keep the deer out.  What the deer don't eat the bugs do.  I'm glad I don't have to rely on Jim and Jean's gardening skills for my dinner.

The vet

The vet is a big man with a soft voice and gentle hands.  This may fool you at first but he has a big needle.  Sometimes you go to the vet because you have an ear ache.  Sometimes you go to the vet because your foot hurts.  But sometimes you go to the vet when you are perfectly healthy.  Today was one of those days.  Jim took me to the vet.  I did not want to sit on his table at all.  They gave me shots and told me I was healthy.  I got a new tag to wear on my collar to prove that I had shots.  The shots last three years so I am glad I don't have to go back for a long time.

A walk on a new trail

Today Jean worked and Jim had to leave to run errands.  At lunch we went outside and played some ball.  Jim brushed my beautiful fur.

After dinner we got in the car and headed to the park.  Jim had to take a baseball team photo and Jean took me for a walk on a new trail I had never been on before.  I peed on every tree and rock I could find.  There were so many wonderful smells and Jean let me take me time and sniff them all.  When Jim finished with his pictures he walked with us too.

We stopped by the store on the way home.  Jean waited in the car with me.  Jim and Jean never leave me in the car alone when it is warm outside.  Sometimes in the winter they will leave me in the car for a few minutes but in the summer they never leave me.  It can get very hot in a car.

When we got home there were deer near the vineyard.  Jim stopped the car in the driveway and got out to chase the deer away.  He left Jean and me in the car.  But I jumped out the window to go help Jim.  He needed me.

Walking in the rain

Today after dinner Jean and I left for a walk through the neighborhood.  We got to the top of the big hill and it began raining.  It wasn't raining very hard and there wasn't any thunder so we kept walking.  Some of my dogs friends were outside in the rain.  It was a good walk.  When we got home Jean dried me off with a towel.

Thunder and lightning

Last night Jim and Jean went out to eat at Jean's parents home.  While they were gone there was thunder and lightning.  When they get home usually I am waiting at the back door for them.  Jean came in the house and she called my name and went to look for me.  She thought I was in one of my favorite storm places - her closet.  But I was not there.  Then she looked in the bathroom - another one of my safe places.  I was not there.  She was getting worried.  Jim came in and whistled for me.  I was safely hunkered down in the basement.  I came running up the steps to see them.  Jim brought me on bite of the most delicious, wonderful, incredible steak.  Yum.

Saturday chores

Jim and I got up early this morning and went out and watered the garden.  Jim and Jean went for a run.  It is too hot for me to run so I stayed home.  I did get to play a little tennis ball.

Hot outside

It is almost summer.  It is hot outside for a dog with a fur coat.  I still like to chase the ball.  Then I like to get a drink from the pond and lay in the shade.

Helping in the vineyard

I help Jim in the vineyard.  The vines need to be checked and watered.  It is very, very hard work.  Jim cuts the grass between the vines.

After a hard day of work outside we need a nap.

The fawn

This morning I was helping Jim in the vineyard.  A baby fawn that was not much bigger than me walked right under the fence.  It charged at Jim.  Jim pushed it away.  Then it charged at me.  I didn't know what to do.  I think it wanted to play with me but I don't play with deer.  It's mom was nowhere in sight.  Finally Jim chased it away.  Then I stepped on a bee.  Jim had to take the stinger out of my foot.  After all that I needed to come in the house and take a nap.

Planting Trees

Today after dinner I helped Jim and Jean plant two peach trees.  We planted peach trees last year but they did not make it through the winter.  When I go outside the first thing I do is find a tennis ball.  The second thing I do is take the tennis ball to one of my humans.  Then I stare at them until they throw the ball.  Next I run and get the ball and bring it back to them and start all over again.  I always like to keep a ball close by.

A Walk at Lunchtime

Today Jean was back to working in her office all day but she took a break to take me for a walk at lunchtime.

The most beautiful dog at camp

There were a lot of dogs at camp.  There were big dogs and little dogs, black dogs and white dogs, boy dogs and girl dogs.  But I was the most beautiful of them all.  Everywhere we went people told Jim and Jean that I was beautiful.  The children all wanted to pet me.  I am very popular.

Camping Rules

Missouri State parks have camping rules for dogs.  Here are the rules:

Rule 1 - Bring your dog with you but two dogs per campsite.  I like this rule.  I get to go camping.  I am the only dog they need at this campsite.
Rule 2 - Don't leave your dog unattended.  I like this rule too.  This means I get to be with my humans all the time.
Rule 3 - Keep your dog on a leash.  I am okay with this rule.  Although I like to run free, I am happy being on the leash with my humans close by.
Rule 4 - Don't leave waste behind.  Jim and Jean always clean up after me.  This rule is fine with me.
Rule 5 - Keep your dog under control and quiet.  I do not bark much.  I did not bark all weekend.  I am always under control because I am a good boy.
Rule 6 - Do not bring your dog into any buildings.  This is okay with me because if Jim goes into a building then Jean waits outside with me.  If Jean goes into a building then Jim waits outside with me.
Rule 7 - Enjoy your visit.  This is the best rule.  I had so much fun.

Fetching the Stick

When we went camping we pulled the canoe over to a sand bar.  I got to fetch the stick.  I had so much fun.

When I get out of the water I have to shake my whole body to dry off.  I am good at shaking.

A fun, fun, fun weekend

I have a lot to tell you about.  I had a very fun weekend with Jim and Jean.  We loaded up the car and hooked up the camper and off we went.

We drove to Meramec State Park.  It is not a very far drive.  I took a little nap in the car but we were there before I knew it.  We found our camp site and set up camp.

We had a fun weekend.  We did a lot of hiking.  There were creeks to get a drink of water.  We took the canoe to the river and floated.  I like riding in the canoe.  I wore my life vest because the river was high and moving pretty fast.

At the end of the day I was exhausted.  We had a campfire.  Then we all slept in the camper.  I love camping.  I have been camping with TJ and Pat since I was just a puppy.

Jean's Day Off

Jean is not working today.  I am so happy because when Jean does not sit at her desk all day she plays with me and takes me for walks.  It is going to be a fun day.

Finally some work

Today we finally did some work.  Jim mowed and trimmed the grass.  I helped by keeping track of my tennis ball.  When I get tired of chasing the ball, I like to take a rest with my tennis ball.

Another Boring Day

Today was boring again.  Jean worked at her desk and Jim had other work to do.  I did get to play some tennis ball but besides that I was bored.

No deer

There are lots of deer around here.  The deer are not allowed in the vineyard.  Jim put up an electric fence.  The deer don't mess with the vineyard any more.  The electric fence is high enough that I can walk under it and never touch it.  Jim always turns the fence off when we go work in the vineyard.  This morning when I went outside there was a deer by the driveway.  I chased him up the hill.  Jim yelled at me.  Apparently chasing deer is frowned upon if they are not in the vineyard.  I promise not to chase deer like TJ and Pat taught me.

Boring Monday

Jim has had thing to do besides take me outside to work.  He thinks he is working at things like photography but that is not real work like we do outside.  I would rather be outside helping Jim than just about anything.  At lunchtime we always go outside and feed the fish and play a little tennis ball.  Bedsides that it was a boring day.

Race Day

Today Jim and Jean got up early to go run two races.  This is good because I like my breakfast early.  It is bad because there are no Sunday pancakes.  They think that pancakes would make them run slow.  I think pancakes would make me run fast.  They must have run fast because they weren't gone long and they came home with medals.  In the afternoon Jean weeded the garden and threw the tennis ball for me.  I chased the ball until my tongue hung out.  Then I rested in the garage.

Ballwin Days

The city of Ballwin has a carnival every year they call Ballwin Days.  I do not like it because they feel a need to shoot off fireworks.  Ballwin is 5 miles away but I can still hear the fireworks.   Jean went to Ballwin Days today and brought me home a goodie bag from Petco.  It was filled with things just for me, a ball, a frisbee, a bandana, some treats, a dentastick, shampoo and conditioner samples.  I especially liked the ball.

Good day for a walk

Today I helped Jim take a nap.  Then after dinner Jim and Jean took me for a nice long walk on the trail.  We walked down to the river but I wasn't thirsty so I didn't take a drink.  Jim didn't let me swim.

Boring

Today Jim went to play golf.  I was stuck at home with Jean all day.  Jean takes me outside at lunchtime and throws the tennis ball.  Then she feeds the fish.  I like to drop my tennis ball in the pond when she isn't paying attention to me.  Jim and Jean went for a run in the evening.

Planting a garden

Today I helped Jim plant a garden.  We planted tomatoes, peppers, and squash.  I like working outside with Jim.  I also chased the tennis ball.

Summer time

It's not really summer but it's pretty hot.  This morning Jean took me for a run before she had breakfast.  I had my breakfast first because I am starving when I get up.  I do not want to go for a run before eating.  It is cool enough early in the morning for me to run with Jean.  Then Jean worked at her desk all day.  I helped Jim outside most of the day.  It got hot in the afternoon so we came inside.  Then Jim and Jean left after dinner.  They do that a lot in the summer.  I don't mind because I am tired after my busy day.

A regular day

Jean worked at her desk all day.  I helped Jim outside.  It was just a regular day.

Summer cuts

Jean got her hair cut.  She likes it short in the summer.  It is much cooler and easier for her.  Jim gave me a summer cut today.  I love it.  It is much cooler.  Jean looks good but I look gorgeous.