That ain't the way to have fun, son......

Uh-oh.  Uh-oh.  I got in trouble again.  I didn't mean it.  I can't stand it when I get yelled at. If I find something interesting outside and put it in my mouth and Mom yells at me, I spit it out!  I listen.  I do.

Mom and Dad went out.  I had a treat and my Kong toy.  I love my Kong toy, it has treats inside.  I have to get them!  It's fun.

I guess I could have taken a nap.  But something was all good smelly in the garbage and they forgot and left it on the floor.  It smelled SO good!  And nobody was yelling.  So I tipped it over and went foraging.  There wasn't  much in there.  But I found the good smelly thing.  Smells like turkey!  Ooooooh.  Yumbers.  

But when they came back home, there was yelling.  Uh-oh.  I ran to the bedroom so they couldn't see me.  They were upset.  And they had to get that noisy clean up monster out.

After a while there was no more yelling and the monster went back in the closet.  But Mom and Dad were still upset.  I could just tell.

What's really funny is my suppertime was the BEST!  I had spergetters and eggs and there was something else tasty in there or on it.  All I had was hooman food, none of my kibble.  I really liked that! 

The next day, it was the same thing!  All hooman food.  We had lots of eggs when we were in the hotel.  I love eggs.  I had scrambled eggs again!  I wonder what is so special?

Since then, it is back to normal. Some kibble, some vegetables, sometimes some chicken.  And they don't forget to put the garbage up if they go somewhere.  I'm glad I still get my  Kong toy!

We had to go grocery shopping and somehow missed putting the garbage pail up on the counter before leaving.  When we thought of it, there was nothing we could do, and besides, there was hardly anything in it.

However, what was in it was a discarded package wrapper for turkey hot dogs.  (I don't eat those things, Harry's Dad does.)  So, I didn't know about it.  At any rate, when we got home, there was the garbage strewn in the kitchen and a little bit spilled over into the living room.

At that point my husband started panicking because of the turkey dog wrapper.  We could not be sure, but it appeared that he may have ingested some of the plastic.  Having had dogs all my life, I had a good idea what to do and what to watch for, but double checked on the internet.  Sure enough, eggs and olive oil.

So I scrambled up some eggs, I already had some plain leftover spaghetti, and I doused it all with a tablespoon of olive oil.  Harry snarfed it up.

He walked with his happy meter going and seemed fine, and we were relieved that he pooped!  I continued to watch him closely, though.

Next morning, happy boy was ready for his morning walk, pooped again and was delighted that I was cooking for him.   All is well in Spotter land.

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm....

Sometimes I think we live in a park now.  There are so many big trees and some hills and I really love going on my walks now, so I go on three BIG walks everyday!!

It's been really cold, but yesterday was warm!  And the sun was shining and we all got in the car!  Oh boy!  I know what that means!   Yep.  We went to the pretty park again with a stream and ducks and all kinds of good smelly stuff!

It was such a nice day that there were lots and lots of dogs running around!  I met a little dog named Molly.  She kind of looked like me, only smaller, haha, and a different color....but we sniffed and wagged our happy meters and jumped around a little and got tangled up in our leashes!  

Golly, I saw a Doberman and a Border Collie and a Golden and a Labradoodle and a bull dog.  They weren't too close to me so I just yelled "Hello!" to them.  

This time we started to go across a bridge, but it was scary!  It made noise and was wobbly and I felt wobbly and I didn't like it, so we turned around.  There was another bridge that didn't wobble, so I was okay with that one.

Then we sat down and I had a snack and some water.  A family came up to me.  A girl was in a rolling chair and wanted to meet ME.  So I, Harry Spotter, tried to make myself as tall as I could.  She liked me.  I liked her, too!

Then a man came up and asked to meet me.  He pat my head and held my face and told me how handsome I am!  

Then we walked again and there were some boys on bicycles.  They wanted to meet me, too.  I'm a pretty popular pup!  

Before we went home I met another little dog.  We rubbed noses!

Then it was almost suppertime.  I know because my tummy was telling me what time it was.  

I had lots of fun at the park!

We had a rogue warm day and it seemed like everyone came out to the park.  Dogs galore!  Mr. Spotter was uptail and waggy.  There is something about Harry that people pick up on.  I didn't see other dogs getting the attention he was.  It must be his gentle nature.  Anyway, he got pets and compliments and some nice social time with some other pups.  

The only thing he didn't care for was one bridge which is a suspension bridge over the rather large "creek."  To tell the truth, I didn't like it, either!  The slats moved and made noise when you stepped on them.  It is a very substantial bridge and I have no doubt it is sturdy and strong, but it freaked Harry out, I could see him start to tremble, so we quickly turned around and went back to the banks.

All in all, it was a very lovely day.

The weather outside is frightful....

I don't know where you are, but where I am it is very, very COLD!!  Super duper cold!  I like to stay snuggled up with Mom in the morning for as long as I can!  And I get right down to business when we have to go out.  All I want to do is get back inside where it's warm.

My pack is getting ready for a storm.  I can tell.  We are all stocked up with stuff.  And my popcorn is spread all over the bed.  And I have a sweater and my Kodiac coat, too, if I need them.  

Mom has been making my food warm!  Oh, boy, I like that!  It smells so good and it's just for me and I don't care if my coat is still on, I leap into the kitchen for my breakfast and suppertime!  Yay!

So, you better get ready, too.  Make sure you have food and warm things.  Don't stay outside too long.  Don't even go out if you don't have to!!!   Stay inside and snuggle.  I'm not kidding!

A huge winter storm is expected tomorrow.  Some snow, but the biggest problem will be the severe winds combined with frigid temperatures.  Bring your pets inside.  Don't expose them to this, it is dangerous.  

We have Harry's "popcorn" throw on the bed for an extra layer of warmth.  He has a comfy sweater, which he hates, and his heavy, lined coat.  Even so, our walks are abbreviated.  As soon as he does his "business" he heads right back for the door!  Good boy!

It's the holiday season....

Holiday Pups

What's your name?

Oh, hey!  In my book I talk about all the names I have.  I have lots of names and I know that every one of them is for ME!  That's because I'm a pretty smart pup.

Now Mom has a brand NEW name for me.  Want to know what it is?  Mr. Sunbeam!

Haha.  That's because every day the sun shines in the window and lands right on the bed where I like to take my naps!  I love sitting in a sunbeam.  It makes me feel all nice and warm.  And my magical Spotter spots get really warm. 

I guess I'm pretty lucky to have so many names!

Yes, Harry loves his sunbeams. And his two perfect spots get extra warm since they are black.  Sometimes he falls asleep with his face in the sun....I don't know how he can sleep like that, with the sun in his eyes!  Happy dreams, Mr. Sunbeam!

We'll have fun, fun, fun

Hey!  I'm not scared of this place anymore.  You know why?  Because it has so much nice grass and lots of trees and I even met some of my neighbors!  I love going for walks now!  Even better than before.  Lots of good, smelly things, too.

I met Leo, he's very playful.  And Duke, he's a puppy, but a really, really BIG puppy.  And somebody else...not sure of his name.  Bindi or Bippy or something, haha!

And then we went for a ride to a park!  I love parks.  This was a HUGE park and there was water, too!  Oh, boy!  We walked way, way out over the water.  I could see it down there and smell it, but we were high up.

There was a little beach, too.  It was really pretty.

And there was lots of grass, too and some kind of funny buildings.  This park was so big I got to run all by myself.  I still had my leash on, but I got to run and run.  I always make sure Mom and Dad nearby, though.  I don't want to lose them!

I forgot the most important part - it was warm out!  It was such a nice day, but there was hardly anyone at the park but us.  

I sure hope we get to go there again!

It was an unusually warm day for this time of year, so we decided to go exploring.

The park is an old fort from the late 1800s where bunkers were built to protect the Delaware from invasion.  They had electricity, though and the soldiers were able to communicate with one another via telephone.

Harry had a blast, especially when he was allowed to wander on his own.  There were only 4 other people in the whole place, so off he went.  But I could see him checking behind him from time to time to make sure we were well within his sight.

So happy that he is calming down.  Good boy!

Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?

Mrrrrrrrr.  We drove and drove and drove again.  Then we came into this place, and all kinds of people were here, moving stuff and going in and out.  I didn't like it, so I went in my kennel to feel safe.  All those people finally went away.

This is not a hotel. I'm not sure what it is.  But there is no egg breakfast everyday.  I liked that.

And there is a whole room with a bed, like it was at home.  And a whole room with a little TV monster.  So, now my kennel is in the room with the bed and my bed is in the TV monster room.  Mom and Dad got another pad for under my bed, like at home, so I can be warmer.  And I still have my snuggly blankets.

There is a separate kitchen, too, not like at the hotel.  So, my bowls are in there.

It's kind of nice walking around here.  There's lots of trees and leaves and good smells.  I have seen some other dogs, but I only met one.  He was a puppy, but a REALLY BIG puppy, bigger than I am!  He's big and brown and he got in my face.  I guess he wanted to play, but I was not in the mood so I barked at him.  Mom gave him some pets and bopped my nose.  I will try to be nicer to him if I see him again.

I just wonder why we keep moving around.  I wish we would just stay put, like we did before.

We have found a short term rental apartment that takes dogs of Harry's size.  It beats being in a hotel and is not as financially draining.  Harry is having a bit of a hard time.  Clearly, he is stressed and cannot be left alone here yet.  He met a puppy - albeit a LARGE puppy, but Duke was a real sweetheart and Harry was giving him a sharp, loud "get out of my face" bark.  Very out of character for this boy.

Hopefully, with time, he will calm down.  The grounds are nice, very verdant and huge, old, gnarly trees.  

It is getting quite cold.  Animals can't fly internationally in cold weather, so I am afraid that even it our visas are granted, we are here for the duration of the winter, regardless.

We persevere.