One dog's bath...

During our run up on Black Mountain's cross-country ski trail, Bailey found some stinky poop to roll in. What is the fascination or the instinctual basis for such action? I scrubbed him down with snow on the mountain side, and then gave him a proper bath on the back deck at the house. When I poured the last bucket of warm water over him after having soaped him up, he looked at me with the most pathetic eyes. A bit of that look is reflected in this photograph.

"The best words in the best order."

Poets search tirelessly for their words--live lifetimes seeking them out. Visit Frost's cabin in Ripton, Vermont and you'll see evidence of that on his cabin's walls. Or read Frost's collected works and see the never-quite-there revisions in the back matter. Rosen said, "The poem is the point at which our strength gave out." I can't imagine Frost ever giving in.

I used to think I was a poet, and loved the idea of the life––shacked up in a small cabin on the shores of Lake Webb, white wine at midnight speaking the 44th revision of a poem about Weld. Some of those poems landed in regional publications and one even found a place in Indiana Writes and was anthologized... but now, thirty years later, I know that I didn't work long enough for those words. I might be able to now.

Spring Snow Storms

Spring storms are good for writers. They keep us indoors, nose to the keyboard and ass in the chair.

Winter hangs on...

The electricity went out this afternoon with the wet snow, so off we headed toward Joe Pond. April is just two weeks away, and we have enough snow for skiing for another 4-6 weeks. Amazing. I tried out the GPS on my Android phone to create the map and where we were at the time.

Poor Ry-Ry crashes on his surf board in the California surf

Bailey is deeply saddened by Ryan's surfing mishap.

We advise...

1) standing,

2) standing, and

3) not landing face first.

Myles Visits

Bailey's brother Myles stopped by as he was heading back to UMaine. Spring break is over and Myles is back at it!

Do I shed?

"What? You think a pretty boy like me would shed?"

"Damn straight. I shed small to medium-sized puppies! It's curious. When my writer needs a break from four-hours at the keyboard--where, by the way, he talks to himself a lot--he vacuums the rugs and takes pictures of me. Really, he needs a life beyond writing."

Just saying...

Seven months into my current writing project after nearly six years of collecting data... I went out in public for the first time in a week on Saturday and felt like I'd discovered a new planet. I was happy to get home–the writing life is not for light weights.

Another tough morning...

... in the life of a writer's dog. I revise page after page, paragraph after paragraph ... sentences, words... chapters, and still he snores.

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

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!

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.!

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...

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.

Someone in the family has a Pom-Pom fetish...

My beautiful ski hats minus their pom-poms.

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!

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.

Bailey has become a Vegetarian

Bailey's new treat is a big carrot. Loves 'em.

Mikey, Tyler, & Bailey....

Kathy and Jim Bennett's son Mikey and his friend Tyler came for dinner and ended up battling Bailey for an hour.

Lunch with Arseniy Pisarev of Kyrgyzstan

Arseniy Pisarev of Kyrgyzstan came to lunch today. A fifteen year old sophomore Exchange Student at Mountain Valley High School, Arseniy has become friends with Luiz Ristow via Facebook. He asked Luiz what he should have for lunch here, and Luiz said, "Mac & Cheese..."

Gearing up for a -10 degree F walk....

It's a bit chilly out.

Sleepover Camp

Bailey spent the past two days in Sleepover Camp at Worthley Pond with Jane McCarthy at The Proper Pooch. Jane has three well-mannered pups. Bailey's favorite is Pete. Over the past couple of days Jane took the crew for a romp across the Pond.

Pete and Bailey play and snooze and play some more. If you're looking for a safe place of learning for your favorite furry son or daughter... give Jane a call at The Proper Pooch.

Here's Pete... and Bailey this evening collapsed after his sleepover.

Baby, it's cold outside...

This morning, -1 degree F outside when we awoke and a balmy 56 degrees in the kitchen! But no worries, the pellet stove cranked away, and we hunkered down in the dining room for writing, snoozing, and lap time.

Baby, it's cold outside...

After the big storm the other day, the Bailster enjoyed the deep, feathery snow.

Baby, it's cold outside...

Hiking the mountain out back of our house.