Guests in Gotham

This has been a special weekend for us as Mom's parents (known as Tutu & Huni to their 2-legged granddaughters ) have come to NYC for a visit. This is Tutu's 3rd visit to the big city - but the first time Huni as ever been here. I can't wait to show them my new hometown and introduce them to my boyfriend.

First things first - Friday morning I wanted to show them my blog - after all SPA DAY was to prep for their visit!

The two legged ones left me behind and went to see a few sites. Fine. I can always nap. Later that evening we all head to 47th Street for dinner. I'm thinking Huni is an easy mark and I might get some burger myself! I hear he likes Bacon Cheeseburgers...hello....now that sounds like heaven - you people actually put BACON and CHEESE on a BURGER! Oh my! Bring it on!

Tutu kept a tight grip on me - somehow I don't think she'll share her burger as easily as Huni - I heard Mom trying to inform them of certain "RULES" - (please - I KNOW they came all the way to NYC for one reason - to spoil ME - that's a grandparents job, so I hear that bending the rules is expected)

Saturday we head to THE PARK. I asked Due to help me get that clean dog perfume smell off me! And the sooner the better!

We're waiting people...it's time for Brunch....and that means BACON
Our food isn't ready yet - so I table hop and this very nice man shared his bacon with me - and his own dogs. He had an entire side order of bacon - JUST FOR DOGS! How sweet is that!
I had to share this picture that Huni took. I don't know her name - but I like to think of her as "Lucy". She's here every weekend and sits in her own chair. Such a elegant lady.
Time for a family photo - but do these people NOT understand that we are standing on the edge of a lake. An entire body of water (with ducks) just waiting for me to stir things up. Apparently Mom was thinking the same thing which is why I am in restraints (OK - fine - it's just a leash)
One last shot before we head out of my man Due - with the girls! We had a great time sharing our Saturday ritual with Mom's folks. I loved showing them our park and introducing them to our friends. I think they understand a little better why it is that we love living in New York.

SPA DAY

This is my special Spa. It's right in my neighborhood, Precious Pets on First Avenue between 51st and 50th Street. The staff there is wonderful and they do a great job - wait until you see the results!

Carlos always takes care of me and makes me look bea-u-tiful!

Let's get started....

Suds me up Carlos, lots of lather...

Hey, Hey....soap alert guys....in the eyes... (actually I'm just faking it...but it works!)

Enough, I've been good - now get me out of here...

Seriously Carlos, lets get to the good stuff...

Now you're talkin'. Love the wind swept look! SOOOO California....

Oh yes....Mani-Pedi me please....Love it when I get the full treatment...

Wow...I feel pretty.....this is definitely going to help me with the BACON quota on Saturday!

Time for Mom to come and get me. Thanks to Carlos & friends for helping me to document my spa day, and taking such good care of me.....did I mention I feel pretty...oh so pretty!

If you have to go to the "Spa" - I hope you have a place in your neighborhood that treats you as well (and makes you feel as special - and pretty) as Precious Pets!

New York's Finest

The motorcade route has changed this year - so 2nd Avenue is busier and has a larger police force on it than 1st Avenue...but we still found a few of New York's Finest to say hello to.

I'm off to the "Spa" as Mom has been calling it. Like I don't know she's taking me to get "groomed". At least I'll be nice and fluffy when my Grandparents arrive this afternoon. I'm taking the camera with me and asking the nice people at the "Spa" to document my adventures for my blog.

Wait until you see the "before" and "after" photos!

Got the Time?

When we arrive at Central Park for our weekly Saturday romp - we enter off of 59th street - go through the zoo...and then to FREEDOM...we have to keep our leashes on in the zoo - even in the off leash hours. I guess some dogs would want to stay and play with the animals....I want to get to the other side - where Mom unsnaps my leash and I run around like a ....trying to come up with the right word...but truth be known...I RUN AROUND LIKE A FOOL! A very happy fool!


On our way through the zoo - we come upon the Delacorte Clock...


The Delacorte Clock, is located right above the arcade between the Wildlife Center and the Children's Zoo . It was a gift of publisher and philanthropist George T. Delacorte and was dedicated on June 4, 1965. Designer Fernando Texidor collaborated with architect Edward Coe Embury (son of the 1934 zoo’s designer, Aymar Embury II) to create a brick arcaded bridge between the Monkey House (now the Zoo School) and the main Central Park Zoo quadrangle to house the clock and its animal sculpture carousel. Italian sculptor Andrea Spadini (1912–1983) crafted the whimsical bronze sculptures, which depict a penguin, kangaroo, bear, elephant, goat, and hippo parading with a variety of musical instruments as well as two monkeys with mallets that strike the bell.

Each day between eight in the morning and six in the evening, the clock--now digitally programmed--plays one of thirty-two nursery rhyme tunes on the hour. On the half-hour, the mechanical performance is a bit shorter. The animals rotate on a track around the clock and each also turns on an axis.
In 1995, the Central Park Conservancy supervised a restoration of the clock and sculptures, financed through an endowment established by the family of Mr. Delacorte in 1993.

Just another fun spot we get to enjoy and I wanted to share with my friends.

NEXT UP: UNGA....to those who don't live in NYC - this is the United Nations General Assembly. It's an annual meeting - the streets in our neighborhood are blocked off due to all the motorcades coming and going from the UN...which means 1st Avenue will be lined with Police Officers and Firemen...Its my favorite time of year. It takes twice as long for me to get to the dog run in the morning, because I MUST stop and greet each and every one. And you know I'm not kidding...it embarasses Mom - which of course is half the fun. Now that I'm blogging I will remind her to take the camera!

Friday Night is Date Night

The evenings have started to get a little cooler here in New York. Just right for hanging out with my guy at 47th Street. Mom called Due's Mom as soon as she left the office. It was just too nice of a night to stay inside - so we met at the corner and headed to one of our favorite spots in the City.
Sometimes - It's just nice to hold someone close - on a cool late summer night! And tomorrow...I heard talk of an early start! 7:30AM people. Rise and shine....it's off to Central Park!

SAVE THE DATE

Central Bark Designs will be participating in our FIRST Craft Show! It should be a lot of fun. Of course since it's our first one - Mom's insisting that I stay home - but I wanted to invite all of our friends in the NYC area to stop by and say hello! (And give Mom a bad time about leaving me out of all the fun!)

In the meantime I'm extremely busy supervising production of our handpainted pet place mats. I've put Mom on a tight production schedule. 10-12 mats a week until the show! (That's double what she normally completes - plus we have company (Mom's Mom & Dad) next week....we'll see.)

We have another new design in the works. This one is inspired by a David Hicks pattern. Here's a sneak peak at it....


Once we finish it - Due and his Mom review it - and help us find just the right NYC landmark or neighborhood to name it after.

For more information on Crafts in Chelsea click here. We hope to see you there (I'm still working on Mom trying to convince her that having me along would be a great sales tool!)

In the meantime - forecast for tomorrow is BEAUTIFUL...Central Park here we come!

Ahhhh....Due

"What I feel for you seems less of earth and more

of a cloudless heaven." --Victor Hugo

It's just a little irritating when Due and I are sharing a private moment -

and Mom thinks it's a Kodak moment.

HEY - PUT THE CAMERA AWAY....

Paparazzi - even in my own home!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.....

Tomorrow night - the DueMan, the Duester, the Dude-a-licous One....is coming to dinner...and if I play my cards right....I believe I heard talk of a sleepover! Oh baby! Of course that means that I'll let Due sleep with Mom....and I'll be close by just in case he wants to play...at all hours of the day or night...seriously People - I'm in H-E-A-V-E-N, absolute, cows jumping over the moon, HEAVEN!

We'll be sure to give you a full report on our activities....

Sunday Dinner

I'm ready....let me taste.....are you sure you know what you're doing.....

Mom took a break from cooking during the month of August. She claims it was due to the heat – sounded like a pretty lame excuse to me. Now it’s September, the weather is already cooler – and that means Mom is cooking again. And by that I mean Mom (with my supervision of course) is cooking FOR ME. She tends to order in for herself – we are Manhattan girls after all, although I don't think those lamp chops she bought today were for me. Hmmm. I digress.

A few years ago, after my bout with cancer – the vet recommended “Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health”. I had a Stage 2 Mast Cell tumor on my front left leg. Had surgery to remove it - then 16 rounds of radiation. Not a good time - I think Mom was a little more stressed over it all than me. Of course she kept calling me, "Paris", because she said I was running up credit card bills like an out of control hotel heiress. BOTTOM LINE - I had cancer. I got treated...and then I met Due and fell in love....so in other words...LIFE IS GOOD. Back to today's topic....DR. HARVEY'S....

It’s a dry mix of organic grains and vegetables that you cook up into an oatmeal-type base, then add a protein, mix together, divide into serving sizes and voila! It only takes about 20 minutes start to finish, and she has to do it twice a week. When she knows she’s going to be away – she makes a few batches and freezes them. (Honestly - it tastes the same to me whether it's freshly made or frozen)

It’s easy –

Brown up 3 lbs of your favorite protein (chicken, turkey, beef). Mom claims my favorite is which ever one is on sale. For special occasions (Christmas, Birthday – I get Bison!)

Add a little oil to the pan. (Canola, Sunflower, Olive). It is important to rotate the oils and proteins.

In a large pot, bring 9 cups of water to a boil, add 4 cups of the Dr. Harvey’s mix. Reduce heat, stir, continue to cook for 8:00. (Mom turns the heat off when there's 4:00 left on the timer)

Combine the meat with the “oatmeal”, mix well, divide into individual serving. Mom uses Ziploc 14oz round containers. One batch makes 7-8 servings depending on how much taste testing I insist upon. (And you know I insist)

A ten pound bag of the mix lasts a little over 2 months. It runs around $70 and it available online or at specialty pet stores. Between the mix and the protein, I know it’s expensive, but it’s been over 2 years since my episode with cancer – and I am running around the neighborhood and Central Park like a pup half my age.

I heard Mom talking earlier and it sounded like plans were being made for Due to stay with us Wednesday night....I can't wait!

Hope you had a lovely weekend.....until our next adventure....

ANOTHER RAIN DELAY

This is the face of a housebound pup. It's been raining all day - and TODAY WAS CENTRAL PARK DAY...as is every Saturday. Forecast says it will clear by the morning. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If we're stuck inside the least Mom could do is bake me (& The Due-ster) some peanut buttery treats.....I'll keep you posted!

Thursday's Thoughts...

"And they call it Puppy Love....."

NOT The Hamptons

Here’s a little secret I’ll let you in on. Labor Day is the perfect time to stay in the city. I can’t tell you how many people asked if we were going out of town this weekend. WHY? Let everyone else hop on the Jitney (I’m too big for it anyways), fight the traffic, and head to the Hamptons…. that just leaves more of the city for my DueMan and me.

With everyone else out of town – the city is quiet – the sidewalks are roomier – the Park is just ripe for a romp with my guy.

I let him chase me…..

I let him catch me….

And we rest….
Then I found this great little spot….

My own forsythia cave!
It’s cool and quiet….and I can still keep an eye on my people. We’re going to hang out here for the time being. Maybe stroll down Madison Avenue on the way home so the 2 legged ones can window shop. Another perfect lazy day in the city.

Until our next adventure…

Copyright 2009, Central Bark Designs, Inc., All Rights Reserved

My Due!

"No one is perfect, until you fall in love with them" - Unknown

Due is back from his week in the country. His folks headed out for their own adventure today (something about the U.S. being Open...and men in white shorts!) It really doesn't matter where they headed as long as Du spends the afternoon with us.

I'm trying to play it cool. I wouldn't want him to know how much I missed him when he was gone. Quite frankly a week in dog-ville is almost 2 months to you people. Trust me it was agony. But I can be cool...

I'll act like I don't even know he's here....

The best news...I heard the 2-legged ones talking...and it looks like we get to head to Central Park tomorrow...ON A MONDAY! I can't imagine life getting any better than that.

Copyright 2009, Central Bark Designs, All Rights Reserved

Let's Ramble

As promised - Mom and I headed to The Ramble in Central Park.

The Ramble is 38-acres of what appears to be untouched woodlands smack in the middle of Central Park. In reality, like the rest of the park, The Ramble was all part of the Olmsted's grand design. Even the stream, known as The Gill, was created for this area. It can be turned on and off at a water tap.

Our journey started at the Bow Bridge.

Once in the Ramble – you loose site of the surrounding city. You feel transported to a mountain wilderness that seems to be hours away.

Hey – we’re city girls – we do what we can within shouting distance of Tiffany's and Bergdorf's . In fact on our little journey today we discovered a rustic shelter...

Enjoyed the cool shade and gentle breezes... on the pathways....

And the granite steps.....

And the boulders....OK - fine - we (make that I) took a nap or two. A perfectly lazy Saturday in the Park!

As we wound our way through the woods to the Belvedere Castle – we came across the official NYC Weather Monitoring Station.

When broadcasters mention the temperature and precipitation for NYC – they mean right here – in The Ramble of Central Park!

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend! Until our next adventure…