When this blog began, Bailey Tuckerman Kent was an 8-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog living in the western mountains of Maine with his writer dad, Rich. These are their stories.... and don't forget, click on most photos to enlarge.
If you own a pet, you create your own gourmet treats for furry family members. For Bailey, it's a rolling gizmo, a gift from my colleague and friend Jan Kristo, smeared in peanut butter and filled with kibble. Thanks to Bailey's teacher, Jane McCarthy of The Proper Pooch, I've helped Bailey wait patiently for his meals and treats. Here, licking his chops, Bailey stares down his rolling treat until that fantasmagorical word is uttered: Free.
When Bailey tires of me sitting behind my desk and writing, he climbs into my lap and talks to me. Today, his paw danced along the keyboard, and he wrote me the message below. I welcome any and all translations. And yes, Monnie & Anne, I know: now more than ever I should be expecting an intervention.
In my office Bailey has either been sleeping or climbing into my lap and pawing my computer keyboard. Now, he and I have discovered that if I open my window shades, he has a whole world to guard. Here, he barks at my neighbors Gina and Gregory as they pack up a van. Without question, Bailey is in charge of his 'hood. 
Bailey has been a part of our youth soccer program since the beginning. Here he poses with 4-5th graders after a hard-fought victory. Remember, click the photo to enlarge.
One of Rich's favorite students of ever and ever stopped by to visit. Jason is an artist, designer, and business owner who now lives in Los Angeles. Without question, Jason lifts people's spirits with the inspiring way that he lives his life conducting his meaningful work.
Bailey has decided that "writing sucks." There's only so long he can hang out underneath my office chair while I revise this foreword to Dawn Fels & Jenifer Wells new book, "Literacy Lives in the High School Writing Center" (Teachers College Press, 2011). Here, Bailey is giving my friends Dawn and Jenn the Bernese Mountain Dog Evil Eye... what happens as a result...? only time will tell.
We took a swing over to Weld to drop off laundry and walk through the fields and woods... and take a dip. Beautiful fall day in Maine.
My letter carrier Jimbo reminded me that it was duck season. Though I am not a hunter, when I saw the 99 cent honking duck at the big box store, I could not resist. And with that purchase, my afternoon with Bailey trans- formed. Bailey has never been happier as he chomped and wrestled and shook the "bejesus" (my college dean's term) out of that helpless stuffed duck. 
If it looks like Bailey had a wee bit of the bubbly after topping 50 lbs.... Well, no. He just finished another treat as I worked to coax him into a I'm-a-handsome-boy pose. 
Rich has, yet again, discovered another of his failures: he lets Bailey ---sorry, he "invites" Bailey---up on the couch at home with a towel spread wide open. Needless to say, Bailey wasn't too concerned about towels during his visit to the Wood-Sirois household. He just likes getting up where the action is, right Aunt Anne?
Clancey was on his best behavior when younger cousin Bailey came calling. 
Ode to Gipper
(who has gone home)
The drool spots on the floors and furry dust-bunnies
have been wiped or swept away,
The thumping of a game of smackdown with a stuffed animal
echoes no more through the house.
The poop bags no longer pile up in the garbage cans
in the garage,
The walks up and down the street to the accompaniment
of neighborhood barks are over.
No more jingling of tags follows us from room to room,
And no more middle-of-the-night "rearranging" of beds.
Peace and quiet returns to our home...
But it's almost too quiet and a little lonely
without Gipper.
We miss you, Pup!
by Grand-Dog Mother Connie
I went upstairs to write this evening and normally Bailey follows along. After 10 minutes I worried that he may be digging in the garbage, eating yet another of my books, or worse. But what I found when I came downstairs was Bailey relaxing in my TV chair. He always has seemed more comfortable on hardwood floors so his belly is cooled by the wood. Perhaps Bailey's need for warmth and comfort are sure signs that fall is on its way.
We went to Pam and Fred's old house to have a play date with cousin Zelig. Twenty-five minutes of rough and tumble has Bailey fast asleep under my office chair.
#1--Starting at a sprint
We stopped to see the Native American Long Hut on Center Hill after hiking for an hour through the woods. It was the first time I had let Bailey off the leash to run free during a hike. My voice, a few disap- pearing acts on my part, and tasty treats kept him in line. After the hike, he found two shady spots and was not in the least interested in getting back into the hot car. Couldn't blame him. 
Those "perfect" photos take several revisions along the way...
We had a fun evening with Jen and Denny (nephew) and their daughters Morgan & Caroline (Rich's God daughters)... and of course their "son" Odie. We also enjoyed the Trevett's friends the Bianchinis--little Eva, at five and a half years, was especially fond of The Bailster. She led him around in the water for 10 minutes--he was ever so gentle with the little girl. 
