Wow oh WOW, Water!!!

What a great time we had today. We'd been traveling in the motorhome for, like, hours, when the old man pulled into a new campground. Water in every direction! You could run around blindfolded and still find the water. Of course, they wouldn't let us out as the did some of the stuff they always do outside, but me and Jodie could see the water so close to the campsite. We decided to press the issue and take things into our own paws. The plan was to charge the door the next time it opened. We didn't have to wait long. When the old man opened the door, I put all my weight into it, with a little prodding from Jodie's cold nose. We caught the old man off guard and we were out! I ran a victory lap around the campsite with Mom trying to grab my collar. NO WAY! I was free and I was goind to stay that way. After taunting her for a second, I dashed around her and sped to the water. Jodie was right behind me running like a freight train out of control. WE HAD A BALL!

Indeed! It did work well. We were able to romp in the water and on the beach and Mom even came to play with us. There's a lot of driftwood and we played fetch and keep away. It was good fun and good exercise and we had a grand time. At least we were having a grand time until the leashes got connected and we got led back to the camper. While we were playing with Mom, the Dad set us up for a bath. One of the truths of playing in the water is that salt water means a bath, fresh water, not necessarily so. So it was baths with nice warm water all around, followed by a brisk rubdown with dry towels, Ain't life grand?

Observations from the Quadrapeds

We've kind of been laying low for the last several days. The old folks have been a bit busy, but we've been relegated to our necessary walks. This was not so a few days ago. When we were still in Saint Ann, we went for a ride, looking for a place to swim. There is a beautiful river that flows through the area and we were hoping for a romp in the water. When we finally got to a beautiful spot in the river, the Mom saw a "NO DOGS" sign. Would you believe the racism of these French Canadians? With no other options the Dad drove back to the campground and evidently decided to let us swim in the ocean or the seaway, or what ever it is. Trust me, it's WATER!!! He opened the back of the Jeep and turned us loose, so Jodie and I raced to the water. Just between the two of us, Jodie can outrun me, but not when we're heading for water. I was first in and first out. The Dad was still a long way off as he is slow by human standards, but snail-like by mine. So I was able to dash in and out of the water a couple of times before he got to the beach. I noticed some great smelling snacks along the beach and managed to snag two or three before he got there. Yum!!!

Dad tried to get us away from the snacks by throwing a stick in the water. I wanted to continue eating, but I couldn't fight the need to swim out and get the stick. Over and over this occurred and I hardly had a chance to eat another bite, though I did manage to get one or two.

Yes, she managed to get a few more fish when I took the stick and kept it away from her. She likes to retrieve but not play keep-a-way, so she quickly gave up and went back to the fish, but she paid for it later. We weren't in the water very long when we were brought back to the camper and give warm baths. Oh how I love a warm bath, especially the brisk toweling afterward.

Later that evening, the fish I ate started percolating inside my stomach and I didn't feel so well. Does the term "sick as a dog" mean anything to you? I lost my supper. The next morning I lost my breakfast. Worst of all, I wasn't allowed on the bed. All I could do is lay around. I would have moaned if I could have, but stoic that I am, I just lay there quietly. The next time I eat off the beach, I'll try to make sure that the fish is fresher.

Now for the bright side. With Coco seven sheets to the wind, I was able to get all the attention I deserve. Coco would just lay on the floor, so I'd go to Mom and have a long scratching session. Then, when she's tire I'd go to Dad and roll over and get my belly scratched. Back and forth, back and forth, I'm really a glutton for attention, AAAhhhhhh!

She's Busted Again!!!!

My naughty comrade has been busted again. No, they didn't catch her in the grass. This time they caught her raiding the cookie box. We get a super sized Milk Bone biscuit every night. They are kept in a box under the edge of the bed. It's a tight fit and the old folks thought it would be secure. Ha!! That's a joke. Coco is not some dumb chocolate! Last week she got the box out and finished off all the cookies that were left. She didn't get sick because there were not many cookies left. So the folks put out a new box, only this time they didn't cut the top of the box. They'd slide the box out, open it up, and give us each a cookie. Then they'd close the lids and slide the box back, safe and secure....or so they thought. I unwittingly gave it away because I heard the crunch of cookies being eaten and got up to investigate. I'm a big cookie fan, too. Well,Mom saw me and went to check it out. She caught Coco red pawed. The great cookie caper is over for now as they are now stored in the shower.

You know, Jodie, you can be a big pain in the tail! If you'd had half a brain, you could have quietly come in and helped yourself to some of the cookies. I did all the work of getting the box out and opening the lids. There was plenty to go around. Who wants to stop at just one. It's like humans and Lays potato chips or me and grass. Our two legged waiters think they have beaten me, but I keep my eyes open. One of these days the shower will be cleaned out to use as a shower and they will take the cookies out without much thought. I can easily fill up while one is busy in the shower. Every dog has her day and it's not the fastest dog that wins the race. Persistence! Persistence! Persistence!

Water, water,everywhere!

Wow, people, we really hit the jackpot today. Coco and I have been yearning for some time in the water, after all, we ARE Labs, and today was the day. For quite a long time we have been seeing water out the window of the car or camper, but we never seem to stop. This time the old folks stoped at a beautiful river that runs into the ocean at Metane, Quebec. There wasa a neat current and we''d dash out into the river until we couldn't touch, then the current would rush us down stream for a while. We'd swim to shore and run back up stream and do it all again. Coco was having a bit of trouble retrieving sticks. She usually grabs one and tosses it around only to find it behind her. In the current, she'd toss it around and the current would get it. Coco would turn around and around, but the stick would be gone.

I want to know what the story is on the dog-eating salmon. For awhile I was having a glorious time dashing in and out of the water until Jodie told me about the huge salmon in the river that eat dogs. Now I know about the dog-eating alligators in Florida, but salmon? It took a lot of the fun out of the swim. I'd see something suspicious in the water and I'd freeze until I was sure it was just a rock or a shadow. It didn't help when Jodie ran from the water yelling about the river monster. She's just teasing me! I know there are no river monsters and I know there are no dog-eating salmon. Still..............do you think they could eat a Maltese?

Coco Got Busted

Here is a picture of the trail we USED to run at Wompatuck State Park. The old man would takes us out on the leash and walk us to the stone wall at the head ot the trail, then let us loose. It was neato! Running back and forth without anything to tie us down. The second picture is what we looked like off leash, after we had run a good deal

Unfortunately, Coc's sins have come back to haunt us. See, Coco likes to smoke grass, I mean eat grass. She can be seen grabbing a blade or two from time to time, but I guess that when she goes "cross country" she really grazes. Dad caught her and our last visit to the trail was strictly on the leash all the way. Too bad, this time we saw a deer and if I were not chained down, I'm sure I could have caught it Bad Coco!

Have a little compassion! I didn't try to get caught and it's hard giving up grass once you've been hooked. How did I know Dad would find out?

How didn't you know? You left a loaf of un -digested grass on Dad's bed in the morning. Did you think he would miss it? Did you think he might blame me, even though I was outside the bedroom door all night?

OK, OK, enough! I haven't had a blade of grass in three days and I'm going through withdrawal. Oh, my head.

If your head hurts, I'm glad. They shouldn't punish me because you were being stupid. They could let me run free and just leash you.

In case you haven't noticed, we're on the road again, and we get walked at rest areas where we never were allowed to run free. We'll have to wait until we get to some destination to see if there will be enough land, or preferably beach to let us romp and play.

I can wait for a nice beach!

So sad, so sad!

Is there anything sadder than an empty food dish? No........there isn't. This is happening all to frequently lately as the old folks tend to their friends and human families. Suppertime was written in stone. Oh, Jodie and I would try to push it up by standing infront of them and giving them "the eye", but that can't work if they're not even here. Nope, it's suppertime and they're out galivanting with some unknown biped.

Again, Coco is right. Are we not man's best friend? Are we not always faithful? Are we not always happy to see them? Well sure, but part of the reason we're so happy to see them is that it's close to "SUPPERTIME". Take away suppertime and we might as well be a lone wolf or a coyote. Even now I want to howl for my dinner. Im hungry and they're not here. Taht the...

Jodie, quiet, I think I hear the car....... Yes it's the Jeep. Yea, Jodie, it's suppertime.

Suppertime, suppertime, glory be, I won't have to go on the prowl tonight. OK, Coco, lets get to the door and give then a big "Hello" to make them feel wanted.

Don't you think they'll catch on to this act?

Are you crazy?They live for this stuff.

BORING!!!!!!

Jodie and I are getting a bit bored with the status quo around here. For a while we've been very busy, but lately the old folks leave us to spend time with other humans. We still get out walk in the woods, and we had to find a way to make the walk more interesting. Since the old man got lost that day, he takes the same old trail day after day. Jodie and I improvise by running well off the trail. Jodie will go one way and I run the other. The old man has no idea exactly where we are, but he makes so much noise that we always know where he is.

Yeah, Coco most of the time we know just where he is, but every once in a while he will just stop and stay still, often hiding behind a tree. That gets us interested and we have to find out where he's gone. I love romping in the woods, but I want to always know where the old man is. Not that I'm afraid of anything,(well, maybe the vacuum cleaner hose), but I want to be able to protect him if necessary. A dog has to remember where her chow comes from.

A good thing is that the weather has been nearly perfect. It has rained most of the time for over a week, and there are puddles everywhere. You don't even have to tug at the leash to get to the puddles because they are so close and so numerous. Even running through the grass and wood s gets us SOAKED! So after we've had our run and done our business, we go back to the camper and get a very thorough rubdown with a towel. AAAHHHHH!

Two days ago I found a way into the box of cookies inthe bedroom. Jodie may have had a bite or two, but I got most ofthe cookies. I even got all the crumbs off the bottom of the box. They don't call me "The Vacuum Cleaner" for nothing. Unfortunately, I notice that the new box of cookies has the cover still on. You can't fool the old man all the time.

Just a note!

Hello everyone, Coco and I didn't do much for a few days. Mom took off to spend some time with Roz, and Dad was consumed with work on this rolling home. We were fed, walked, and given limited affection at night, but little exercise. Then we moved to a new location yesterday and we are allowed to run without having to drag Mom or Dad along. GREAT!!! It's all wooded and we see no one on the trails. I'm sure that Dad won't mention this, but this morning we got lost on the way back. We heard a chainsaw in the distance and found our way to a crew working in the woods. Unlike him, Dad asked directions and we headed back to the camper. Please note that on the way back, Dad insisted on leashing us and leading the way. Otherwise, we would have had him on the right trail.

Yup, Jodie's right again. It's a good thing that we look out for him as we do. I had an interesting night two nights ago. I awoke with the feeling I was falling. That was because I WAS falling. It was a stupid thing to do, but I was on the bed with dad and I rolled over, falling off the bed and crashing against the venetian blinds. The noise woke me up mid-fall. Surprise, surprise, it woke up the Dad and you should have seen the look on HIS face!!! Well we all got back to sleep and would have slept soundly if Jodie hadn't pushed against the radio later. This time I awoke with the shock of extremely loud static and again you should have seen Dad's face!!! What a riot! As for getting lost today, I'm not blaming the old man. We were coming up on a muddy pool and he probably thought that we would have jumped in. Of course, if he had NOT leashed us, we certainly WOULD have dashed for the water, muddy or not.

More later from the Labs.

At Home on the Road

Hello everyone,

Coco and I are in Massachusetts visiting with cousin Daisy, a very small Maltese related to us on the Tempesta side. Life in the motorhome isn't what it is at home, but we're coping. So far on this "vacation", all we do is ride, ride, sleep, eat, attend to duty, and ride some more. I could complain more about the riding, but the vibration of the road puts me to sleep.

We'll, I'm happy to be here! Jodi may complain, but we've got it pretty good, but don't let the humans know. The attached pictures show how we rule the roost at home, spending time on Dad's bed. That would be the bottom picture. The top picture shows our accomodations on the road. Please note that the bed in the motorhome is smaller, so there is less room for the Dad.

We'll have an update when we actually have some "fun".