Sunday, February 27, 2011

Snow Frisbee

Snow Frisbee

Another snow storm hit Maine today--not much, but enough to make some of us look at the calendars for the official first day of spring. It's good weather for writers and for Bernese Mountain Dogs. Pictures of me sitting behind my desk searching for just the right words would not compare to these shots of Bailey frolicking in our new snow. He's a good boy--a happy boy... I think he makes me a better writer. But then, that's getting just a bit Emersonian... "So shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, — What is truth? and of the affections, — What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit." Truth is, I throw the Frisbee and he chases it--and that's just plain fun. Spring arrives in three weeks....

Snow Frisbee





























































Thursday, February 24, 2011

Oh, I think Bailey has grown....

Click photo to enlarge!

The Keeper visits....


Kyle the Keeper stopped by to visit with Bailey... we both noticed that Bailey has grown.

New friend...

A new friend named Lucy poked her head in today to say hello to Bailey!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

KATHY & HER BOYFRIEND

Movie night during school vacation... The Bennett family visited and Bailey had the chance to play with Tuco and Lucky. Here, spent from an evening of play with the Bennett pups, Bailey relaxes in Kathy's arms.

Ry-Ry & Meg say Hello

Big brother Ryan and his friend Meg at Stanford... Hello & W.O.O.F.!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Wiped out...

Bailey met some new friends in Bangor at the Country Kennel. A dozen big-boy dogs gave Bailey a run for his puppy-playing money over a six-hour period.... he's still wiped out. Of course, Pete is still his favorite, but it's always good to meet a wide variety of friends.

King of the house in Trenton

We stayed at Denny & Jen's summer home this past week and Bailey made himself right at home on Jen's favorite lounge! Ah, well...

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Bailey: Against Happiness...

I LOVE California Carrots....

Bailey will do anything for a California Carrot... oh happy days, o frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

The view these days...


The snow has been plentiful this year. Here's the view from our second floor windows.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hi to our Favorite Sister & Aunt...














Barbara has begun her 7th clinical trial of chemotherapy this week for her battle with ovarian cancer. She's one tough grandmother! A marathon day on Tuesday, she settled in for the chemo and requisite tests from 8am to 9pm... Thirteen hours. Today, a morning session. Soon, her friend Debbie will arrive to share conversation as the minutes tick by. Bailey and I have been sending text messages--his paws are a bit wacked on the keys, but I translate--and now this pix....

We send our love!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

A long walk with Tuck...

I've been pushing through with my book project and fortunately, Tucker Phelps, who does some yard work at the house, was willing to take Bailey out for a long walk yesterday and today. The two also played some snow bank Frisbee as you'll see below.

When I first began thinking of names for Bailey, Tucker made the list. I thought of Tucker after Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine. As most know, I ended up with the name Bailey Tuckerman... the dopey little pup had a lot of "Bailey" in him, I thought.

Tuckerman Ravine is a long and accurate stone's throw from our family's namesake, Burt Ravine. Great-great Grandfather Burt started a newspaper on the summit of the mountain and his grandson, F. Allen Burt, wrote the mountain's history in The Story of Mount Washington (Dartmouth, 1961). Our little ravine is just off to the left of the Cog Railway track on Mount Washington.

But I digress. The upshot of this entry: Bailey is out cold and snoring on my office floor. He is having periodic snowbank-frisbee puppy dreams chasing his buddy Tuck and that white frisbee... Tucker did his job. Thanks, Tuck!

Getting tuckered out with Tucker....

Bailey had a play date with Tucker... snow bank frisbee had both of them going waist deep into the snow banks.

Carrots, Kibble, and Spruce bows... ohmy

I'm fairly certain the Spruce boughs did the trick last weekend. But after two rounds of barfing, Bailey recovered enough to head over to Pete's for a hike on the lake with Jane and her crew.