The trace of something in the air....

When I was a young pup, I was afraid of anything that went beep or boop or made a loud noise.  I did not like flashing lights, either.  The world was full of monsters, big monsters and little monsters.  The worst thing was some monsters were right inside the house!

But I'm a pretty smart guy and I learned that some monsters, especially the little ones, did some good stuff!  The toaster monster made some yummy things.  And the stove monster made even more yumbers.

My pack has plenty of yummy stuff, but Mom wasn't making some of the really good things she used to.  But NOW she is!  Best of all, the new stove monster doesn't make any beeps or boops!  (Our toaster monster doesn't either!)

I got SOOOOOO excited because I was taking a nice nap and my nose woke up!  Oh, boy!  Something is cooking inside the stove monster!  The whole house smells good! I can't stand still! I can't wait!  Oh, boy!!  Hot, smelly yumbers!

The old oven in our place did not work when we got here.  Then we learned it was really old and the company that manufactured it doesn't even exist anymore.  There was so much to do at first, cooking lovely meals was not high on my agenda, so we let it go for a while.

Then Spring and Summer came along and it was too hot to consider even stove top food.

Now we have a new stove and oven.  Just the other day I made my first casserole.  It was very simple, just pasta, tomato sauce (home made) and mozzarella. As the aroma started wafting through the house, Harry started going nuts.  He kept pacing past the oven!!  And since the light stays on the whole time the oven is on, he kept checking inside, too!  What a food hound!  Well, someone is happy that Fall has arrived!

I've been up, down, over and out.....

When I was a pup I was afraid of everything.  Except food.  Almost everything.  But, now I am all grown up and I am Super Spotter!  Especially since I flew over the big ocean!

So, when we got here, I explored the town.  I've been almost everywhere there is to go, I think.  I've been to parks and cafes and the gelato store and up and down lots and lots of hills.  Now that it's been a while, I know my way around town pretty well.  And I usually get to decide where we go on our walks.  

There is an elevator here...and it takes you to the "passagiata."  That is the word for a big, long walk around the back of the town....it takes us to the gelato store!  Well, that's one way to get there, anyway.  And if we go backwards, the elevator takes us to the café where they give me ice!  

Before we came here, I learned all about elevators when we stayed in a hotel for two months.  I had to go up and down in one every single day!!  Lots and lots of times!  

Yep, so, I....Super Spotter, decided to walk to the elevator the other day.  My pack was surprised.  But I knew the way and that's what I wanted to do.  Down and down we went....and then we were at the bottom and in a parking lot.  That leads to the "passagiata"...and if we don't walk all the way to the gelato store, we can also just go home because halfway takes me home!  It's nice because there are no cars and lots of trees and bushes and good smelly things.  

This is a hill town. There is no way to avoid going up and down hills, but the town did create a walkway around the outer edge on the east side.  It is very verdant and pleasant.  It winds around and slowly rises up from the parking lot, through trees and lots of greenery, along with some fabulous views.

The parking lot leads to an elevator that brings people right up into the main piazza, right next to a café we frequent.  It is very convenient for people who live elsewhere but work in this town, or for visitors.

Harry loves walking around this town but he had never led us up to the elevator before.  It was a bit of a surprise.  The passagiata leads to the back of our building and we can see it below our balcony.

If you continue on, it eventually ends in the piazza which is the exit point for cars, but also an entrance for pedestrians.  There are more cafes, the gelato store, a pizza restaurant and the one and only flat walkway in town.

It's funny because he definitely was uncomfortable in the elevator at the hotel we stayed in.  But I know he has a couple of buddies who take this elevator all the time, so maybe he gets their scent and it comforts him.  Brave boy!  (And dog-about-town!)

Who can it be now?

I have my own outdoor room now.  It's called a balcony.  I love my balcony.  I have a comfy mat out there and I can go in and out whenever I want to. There's a screen on it, but I can walk right through it!  

The mornings are nice because there is usually a cool breeze and it's quiet, just the way I like it.

Sometimes I see friends of mine go by, like Re or Hugo, but they don't see me 'cause I'm way high up!  There's lots to see out there - birds and clouds and hoomans, trees and flowers and bugs and stuff.  

Evenings are nice, too - when my pack sits out there.

We were all out there the other day and I was all nice and comfy on my mat where I can stretch out and enjoy the breezes.  But you know what?  Something really strange happened!  I was so surprised!!  All of a sudden a shutter on a window next to my balcony opened up!  And then I saw a hooman hand!  It was a man!!   WHAAAAT????  Who goes there??  Who is invading my kingdom??  I got right up to take look.....and I grumbled a little just to let him know this is MY balcony.  Hmmmmmmm.  I am not too happy about this.  No one else seemed upset, though.....but I sure was.  I am going to be extra vigilant from now on.

Someone moved in next door.  A young man.  His two windows are to the right of our balcony.  After nearly a year of total privacy, suddenly the shutters opened.  Harry was perplexed, to say the least.  He surprised me by acting protective.  He jumped right up and while I would not call it growling, he was muttering!  "Now wait just a minute.....when did YOU get here?  Who are you anyway??"  

Izz ok, Harry, he can't get to YOUR balcony.  Go back to your nap, silly boy.  

Grazin' in the grass, it's a gas.....can you dig it?

I love my balcony...I get to check on my kingdom and see if any of my buddies are walking by....and I also get to take nice naps in the cool morning breeze...and also sometimes in the evening......yep...I like it a lot.

And I have also liked eating grass.  I've been eating grass my whole life.  I like to pick up a little salad when I am on a nice walk.  Mom used to get really mad at me when I did and I never understood why.  There isn't much grass around in this town...it's mostly stone.

Well, it seems that my pack decided to make me some salad.  My very own, private salad! Gosh...that was nice of them.  Really!  Yep!  I have my very own home grown, all natural, non anything bad....really fresh and good salad!  I LOVE it!  

So, I just go out there and take a bite or two...or three.....yumbers...such a nice summer treat!

Harry would try to  eat grass every chance he got.  I had to stop him in New Jersey because there were all sorts of chemicals on the grass and ground.  He would give me such a look....."But, why?" Because those chemicals are harmful, Harry....you should not touch that stuff!

It wasn't deliberate.  I have had parsley growing on the balcony but didn't really use it as I expected to, so we just sort of let it grow.  It eventually got flowers that resemble a smaller and greener version of Queen Anne's Lace.  Mr. Spotter has found the parsley and finds it very tasty!  It's so cute to see him saunter out to the balcony, look around....take a bite or two....then take a nap.   And he's happy no one yells at him anymore for chomping down a little salad!  (No worries, he doesn't have that much) 

I am so into you...

So, hey!   I have a balcony.  I like it.  I go out there whenever I feel like it...to check on my kingdom...see what's going on...smell the air....listen to the sheep...yep...there are sheep nearby....and other pups...one sounds like a squeaky toy but the others sound like me...like REAL dogs.  

Well, I especially like my balcony in the morning.  I don't even care if the rest of my pack stays inside because this is the best time of day...it's cool, there is a breeze...and the birds are singing and it's really, really nice.  Except...….except......

Mom and Dad had one of my old beds out there. It was ok...but....not so comfy.  Not so comfy because I had to curl up and stuff to be in it.  It's an INSIDE bed....you know?   But the balcony is OUTSIDE!......Well, YAY, YAY, YIPPEE YAY...they finally "got" it!!!!   I guess they forgot how to speak Spotter for a little while, but they remembered.  You know what they did????  They put a flat, comfy mat out there for me!   It was under my inside bed to keep me warmer in the winter.  Well....it's not winter anymore!!!

So now I can s-t-r-e-t-c-h out....ALL the way...all nice and comfy...Ahhhhhhh, and have the nice breeze in my face and listen to the birdies.....and smell the farms....and stuff and it's all good now.  I had a big, big nap out there today....for a long time.  I love my balcony.  And my pack...for finally speaking "Spotter" and knowing just what I needed!

I can dream, can't I?

Everybody knows how I love to sleep!  After all, I have four beds.  Five, if you count the big one my hoomans sleep on!  It's my favorite thing, to lean back and stretch out, maybe rest my head on the side and just....mmmmmm.  

I have some pretty wild dreams, too!  I talk about that in my book.  In my dreams, I become Super Spotter!  And all sorts of other things, too.   Sometimes I'm running, sometimes I'm flying, and lots of times I have happy dreams and my happy meter goes crazy.

Mom even got a picture of me dreaming.  Want to see?  I open my eyes sometimes!!!  Mom says to tell you..."wait for it."

Yes, Harry is quite the dreamer.  He has had lively dreams since day one.  And so many interesting things to dream about!   He dreams this intensely every single day.  Sometimes he "boofs" out loud, too. It is adorable.  Dream on, Super Spotter!

King of the road...

Hey!  I've been here a while now.  The first friend I ever had here was Hugo, and I still see him a lot.  He sometimes runs across the whole piazza to come say "hello" to me!  He's younger, so he runs around a lot, but we waggle our happy meters and rub noses.  He runs around and I watch, haha!

Well, I have other friends, too.  And one of them is my neighbor, right here on my street.   His name is Re.  That means "king."  That's pretty funny, because the man who sells my kibble calls me the "prince of dogs!"  because there is a prince somewhere named Harry, too.

Anyway, Re is older than I am and he's kind of big, too.  My Mom got a little scared the first time she saw him because he wasn't on a leash.  But, it turns out that he is just a big mooosh.  

Re isn't feeling that great right now.  He has some aches and pains, but he is taking medicine.  I hope he feels better soon because I like him a lot.

Re (Pronounced Ray but with a rolled "R") does indeed mean "king" in Italian.  He is a mixed breed with possibly boxer, maybe some Great Dane. Re is a big boy and he is over 10 years old.  He is a big old sweetheart, the gentlest dog you could ever imagine.  

Right now he is having some trouble with arthritis in his front leg.  But his Mom loves him and takes good care of him.  He is getting medication and hydrotherapy.  Slowly he is improving.  His happy meter still goes like mad and he likes to eat, both good signs for his recovery.  

Feel better soon, Re, Harry is worried about you!