Camp Pix, Mid-August

Pictures from Weld taken by my brother Rob.

Growing up!

I took this picture this morning while writing. Bailey's getting to be a bigger boy.

Rejected

Bailey tried his best yesterday during a three-hour interview at Ms. Sharon's Doggie Day Care... but the verdict: too young.

The "Other" Twin

Alex wrote to ask if Bailey was his hairy brother. I'm thinking there may be a family resemblance. But as I wrote to my Swedish son, "Paws down, he has the better voice."

Puppy Class: Bailey Passed with high praise...

... and I learned a lot about my mistakes with my pooch.

Jane is owner/trainer of The Proper Pooch in Peru at the head of Worthley Pond (207.562.4765). We were greeted by Jane's wonderful 3-year old Bubba (top photo) Next, Lucky Marden and family arrived with kids and dad. Lucky took 3 minutes to warm up to Bailey, and then... nonstop play just like litter mates (and a long night's sleep).

Sweet, Mississippi belle Holly, a rescue dog (third photo down resting in Mom's lap) warmed up to the excitement when we went into Jane's indoor facility. Jane's easy-going manner and spot-on advice helped me (and Bailey) discover our strengths and challenges. Next Wednesday we return for more play, more training, and more good advice! I know Bailey will love hanging our with his furry friends at The Proper Pooch.

Editor

Bailey enjoys snoozing under my writing chair after his morning routine of ---, and then food, then a ----, followed by training with treats to sit and down and even "come." Some mornings we follow that up with a walk.

Every writer should have a Bailey. The way he wraps himself around my chair keeps me from getting up to often, and that's a good thing for a writer. As my friend Monica Wood so often reminds me, "The writer's the one who stays in the chair."

Thanks, Bailey. Good boy... good editor... time for a treat.

"How to Eat a Poem" by Eve Merriam & Bailey Kent

"How to Eat a Poem"  by Eve Merriam

Don't be polite.

Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that

may run down your chin.
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.




"Wrf...woof" by Bailey Tuckerman Kent 

Wrf...

woof. 

Umwf

woof....

grr–woooof. 




Translation:

Slip into the living room

While Rich is lost in his words.

Take

the

book

intomymouth...

there's nothing

quite like

a dusty paperback

autographed

by a

dead person.

Cousin Sienna and her Bailey Boy...

We just received a picture of Cousin Sienna with her Bailey Stuff Toy!

Sienna is with her big sisters Ella and Olivia in the picture at the left and below with her Bailey look-a-like.

One smart dog... or a problem in the making?

I taught Bailey how to sit and shake his paw to receive a treat. This teaching has created a growing problem. A problem, you ask? But he's a smart dog, you might say. Now, when Bailey decides he wants a treat, he starts howling and lifting his paw. I captured this act on "film" this morning. He had me laughing out loud when he started this routine of sitting, lifting his paw, and howling.... Yep, he's a smart dog.

Godmother & God-dog say, "See you soon!"

Bailey and Victoria parted ways today, but they'll be in touch with one another through the school year. Victoria begins at the end of September and Bailey (and Rich) starts on Wednesday!

Good luck, Victoria!

W.o.o.f.----> Bailey

Pizza Night in Weld

Waiting in Line...

Pizza Night in Weld

Uncle Allen has a sour dough starter that he whips into the best pizza crust on the planet. With a wonderful array of veggies and wheat spaghetti, Allen's pizza is a hit on Burt's point. Need less to say, Bailey stood in line endlessly and then scrounged in the sand for spills and leftovers.

Bailey's RV...

If you know me well, I have three ways outside of work to "break up" my life (that's such a pathetic choice of words)... anyway, they include

1) hosting exchange students (done x 18th power)

2) thinking about getting a dog (done x 1 Bernese puppy)

3) purchasing an RV and doing road trips (incomplete)

It would go to figure that #3 has been accomplished by Bailey, and ... well, as you can see here, what else is there to say...

Godmother & God-dog meet at Weld

After fun in Pittsfield, we headed to Weld for some more good times.

Play Date in Pittsfield... and tonight, all's quiet in Bailey's house!

Had you told me a few years back--or in April, for that matter--that I would have driven 170 miles round trip so my 12 week old puppy could play with two other dogs... I'd have smiled in your general direction. But then I met Bailey.

We had a great afternoon with Alice Miller and Sophie Montgomery. I suspect that Sophie is not nearly as pooped as Alice and Bailey. A Great Pyrenees, Sophie is a grand dame and though she did have a bit of a frolic with Alice as we arrived, Sophie was much more interested in conserving her energy in the 90 degree heat... not so for Alice and Bailey.

A Black Lab who lives in Pittsfield, Alice loves her pool. Sophie, a Winterport pooch saved from a Vermont shelter, looks for the shade while Bailey and Alice begin to spare.

Ah, those foolish children!

Waiting for their second wind (of seven)

Maureen has friends...

"Take that, Alice..." "Take that, Bailey, Boy!"

Gosh!

Our neighbors Aunt Barbara and Uncle John Bartash--true dog lovers and generous friends-- delivered gifts galore today including toys and leashes and a water bowl and pix frames and an absorbent towel ... Gosh! Bailey is going nuts and has even tossed aside his precious Gatorade bottle for a tennis ball toy and a heavy rubber soccer ball. They've also loaned us a collection of soft crates... Oh, and I'd be remiss in not mentioning the a 2005 California red from Chateau La Paws for me! Thanks so much, Neighbors!

My writer's chair replete with built-in editor for my sabbatical.

Gifts from Gayle, Kate, Bapu, Minga, and The Big Guy

Woof!

I LOVE my new name tag!

The new collar, with stitched name and cell phone number, is a just a bit big right now, but that's OK. Bailey found another use for it this evening. And the name tag--a bone with BAILY engraved on it-- announces his presence in a room with a soft ringing sound. Thanks, Friends!

Greetings from Rayca, Bailey's Brazilian Cousin!

Beloved brother of Guilherme and Luiz Gustavo Ristow, Rayca is a happy dog who gives love and guards his family's home.

My "Super Puppy" Handbook had no chapter ...

... about giving your dog a bath.

What I learned from Bailey during bath time:

1) Both of us get wet, soaped, and rinsed off with the garden hose; then,

2) One of us sprints under the large bush in the yard to roll vigorously in fresh dirt; and,

3) Both of us are dirtier than before the bath.

Afterword...

Use a professional groomer.

Happy 12th Week Birthday (OK, I know this is overkill. Gad, what's happening to me?)

Bailey enjoyed a visit today from his Uncle Jerry from Florida. A dog person for years, Uncle Jerry kept Bailey on a tight, but happy leash.

Playing Hide-n-Seek

OK. I hope no one was listening in as I played hide-n-seek with Bailey for 15 minutes. Having a 14 room house makes for an interesting game. And I must admit, I scared the "bejesus" out of him several time. But I made up with big hugs and soon a great-tasting peanut butter and kibbles kong. These pix are in the middle of our house game. Oh, and we went to Uncle Doctor Fred: Bailey weighs in at 27.7.... 10 pounds gained since July 10th. Holy flying cows!

Bailey learned the game of hide-n-seek from Mikey Bennett who got Bailey all fired up a few nights ago when he visited.