My Beloved....PARK

We made our first journey to Central Park in over a month. There's so much to do we might have to go back tomorrow!

First - there's a little culture at the entrance to the Park off 5th Avenue and 60th Street.

Then it's time for some rollin'

And rompin'

A little tete a tete with the Boss...

Some stick chewin'...

And rock climbin'

Put that together and you have ONE HAPPY DOG!

Now it's time to nap. Being happy is exhausting!

I hope you all enjoyed your adventures this weekend!

Tap Water is Fine

Now this pup was thinkin'.

He is NOT drinking from the fountain, but is being served a fresh stream of NYC's finest tap water....into his bowl....and drinks from the bowl. Brilliant!

As Cindy Adams would say, "only in New York kiddos, only in New York!"

Check out the close-up of the same shot. We just loved this one.

The concentration alone makes me laugh!

The Perfect Drinking Fountain

NOTE: My Editor has been after me for some of the sloppy writing (her words) in this blog lately.

Apparently if you do not have the photos to illustrate the particular point you are making -

the Editor thinks you should edit that part of the story out.

Case in point: The Doggie Drinking Fountain mentioned in the previous post.

I argue that it was part of the journey - and I explained why there was no photo. SHE DIDN'T TAKE ONE.

You see, the Editor, the Photographer and Mom are (of course) one in the same.

Why is it that Editors and Writers have and will always have "creative differences"?

I know, it's because "they" think they're in charge. Well listen here sister - there's wouldn't be a blog if I didn't have the original thoughts to put to paper and create something for you to EDIT! HA!

MOVING ON. I did a little research this evening and found a couple of photos in our archives that illustrate the "Doggie Water Fountain":

Due is demonstrating the refreshing aspect of a cool drink of water...

While I am showing you the benefit of being able to dump out the old water by lifting the metal tab (on the left side of the bowl) therefore allowing you to fill the reserve area with fresh water....AND CREATE A PUDDLE AT THE SAME TIME FOR EXTRA REFRESHMENT POSSIBILITIES.

BRILLIANT.

There are several of these special fountains throughout the Park. I for one would like to thank the Central Park Conservancy for thinking of their canine visitors!

SLACKER (a/k/a My Mother)

You heard me. S L A C K E R .

First NO PARK LAST WEEKEND. Why? I have no idea. Seems someone was afraid of getting a little wet. (Hint - NOT ME). That was the excuse for Saturday - oh and Sunday was Mother's Day - and she thought I "let her" sleep in as some grand gesture of love and thanks. DO YOU KNOW ME....AT ALL.

I slept in because SHE didn't wake me up.

Well this weekend we did make it to Central Park.

But SOMEONE (again - NOT ME) forgot to charge up the camera.

TO TOP IT OFF I GOT IN TROUBLE AT THE PARK.

Apparently - the nice big lawn that we love to romp on is a "family lawn." This means dogs must be on leash at all times. HUH! A Park Employee was stationed on the lawn to make sure all of us 4-legged ones were tethered. Leashed. Tortured.

Some ridiculous notion that people bring their kids and spread their blankets on the lawn later in the day so they don't want "dog messes" on said lawn.

EXCEPT HERE'S THE STUPID PART (yes - I used the word STUPID)...

I can still be on the lawn - I just have to be on leash.

Now if the poor man understood "D O G" I would have told him

(in no uncertain terms if you get my drift) :

#1 - I am Mom's FAMILY. So I BELONG ON THE FAMILY LAWN.

#2 - It was well before 9am - and I do believe I make the rules before 9am!

#3 - We (Mom) ALWAYS picks up after me - and what is the difference in I'm on leash or off.

If a girl's got to go...A GIRL'S GOT TO GO!

Due's Mom did a good job trying to translate for me and defend our case - but the Park Employee really didn't care.

This is a shot from a few weeks ago of us enjoying ourselves on the

"FAMILY LAWN"

I know. I know. I don't own the Park. I'm not saying I have to have it all to myself. I'm willing to share.

And I'm all for following the rules and being a responsible canine citizen. It just makes me crazy when the "rules" are silly.

OK. Stepping off my soap box now.

CENTRAL BARK DESIGNS NEWS: We've been invited to participate in a new artisans market in NYC.

June 5-6 at 3rd and Avenue A. The MARTE (Manhattan Artists Retail Trade Emporium).

More info later!

What Saturdays Were Made For...

I don't think there are words to describe how perfect this morning was...but let me try!

The blossoms are starting to fall from the trees - it's raining petals! Beautiful, pink, soft petals. Due kept getting them stuck on his nose! I found this pretty funny!

Due's been staying with us the last couple of nights. This morning it was just Mom & Aunt Dana so after breakfast - we decided to play with Due and head off in a NEW direction! He likes routines - I like to mix it up - so we did! He seemed to like the Ramble...

We took time out to sit on a rustic bench by the water. Notice it's after 9am so we are leashed up. Plus you know me and water...I really wanted to take a dip!

We came out of the Ramble at the Bow Bridge - which is one of Mom's favorites. These next few canine-free pics are for her. She thought the floral urns on the bridge were exceptional and wanted to share them with all!

More azaleas. Its fun to see what is blooming in the Park. Every week it seems to be bursting with something different. Something beautiful.

I must admit they really were stunning. Looks like Augusta!

Tulips are always a favorite! It just screams "SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK".

We took a break on these benches before continuing home. I hope you enjoyed sharing our Saturday adventure.

Stay tuned....we stopped by a place called the "Ball Field Cafe" and although it wasn't open yet - we did talk to a couple of the staff guys and found out that 1) They open at 11am 2) YES - they will have the homemade guacamole starting May 1 and 3) YES - they do serve adult beverages.

In dog talk - what I heard was after May 1 I may get an additional late afternoon/early evening trip to the Park for a little guc & beer. (OK fine - Mom & Aunt Dana get the beer - but its right by the ball fields - so I'm thinking I'll have LOTS of ballplayers who just might need to pet me!)

NOW We're Talkin'

Yep. The sun is shining. The trees are blooming. And I'm in Central Park with my best friend, Due.

Doesn't get any better than this.

Due agrees. Look at that smile!

And then we zoom....

Ears flappin'. Airborne. Full body ZOOM!

I hope all of you were able to enjoy a little bit of the beauty of spring this weekend.

Now pass the Benadryl.

Ahhhh SPRING

How do you know when it's SPRING?

The daffodils start blooming....

The new grass is just right for rolling in....

There are plenty of sticks for chomping.....(oh - and wedding parties taking pictures)

And best of all....there's lots of MUD....

Did I mention there's mud!

The perfect day for hanging out with my buddy Due....

Although apparently he overexerted himself with the springtime activities ....

and had to be carried part of the way home....poor baby!

We hope all of you were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather (at least here in the east). Of course Mom is still confused about what constitutes a "workday" as opposed to a "vacation day" or even a "weekend". I hear rumblings that she is going into work tomorrow due to coverage of the Healthcare Vote in Congress.

Fortunately my man Due does know Sunday is for family (and loved ones) - so I might be spending some time with him and his peeps tomorrow.

ENJOY SPRING WHILE YOU CAN - we're expecting to be in the

40's again next week!

One Word Wednesday

JOY

Now We're Talkin'

This way people. Hurry up. We Have LOTS of ground to cover today....and it still has SNOW.

Sometimes Due has trouble keeping up....his legs are just a tad shorter....but he's a trooper.

The lake is frozen....

The Fountain is frozen....

and I'm so happy I just want to hug the snow.....

Yes....I'm so happy I could cry!

It seems like FOREVER since we had taken our traditional Saturday romp in Central Park. I'm just happy to be back with the gang....although we missed Aunt D - maybe next week.

Hope you are all able to enjoy your winter adventures. I know too much snow can be a bad thing on the roads, knocking out power, etc. So please stay safe....and don't forget to PLAY!

MOM-NAPPER

Someone kidnapped my Mom!!!!

Apparently THIS is the guilty party. Her name is Magnolia Marie - known as "Maggie". Here's what happened...

Just a few days before Christmas...Mom disappeared.

I knew she wouldn't leave me on her own accord - so the only thing I could think of was she must have been kidnapped. She was finally returned (unharmed - and maybe a few pounds heavier...) in the early morning hours of December 27th. I grabbed her camera and look what I found. Every picture is of this OTHER DOG.

After some investigating on my part - Mom fessed up that she went to see HER parents (Tutu & Huni) for Christmas - in southern Utah - which is why I was left behind. You must take a plane to get there - and until Mom gets me my own private jet so I can travel in the main cabin - I only travel by car! (I think the private plane in on the same fantasy wish list as that townhouse off Central Park and George Clooney)

One has to ask WHY would anyone in their right mind leave NEW YORK CITY for Christmas,

then I found this picture of the view from Tutu & Huni's living room.

I guess it's nice if you like that "nature" sort of thing - but where are all the big buildings? All that light must be blinding. I understand Mom had trouble sleeping her first night there - it was too quiet and she missed her lullaby of screeching tires, honking horns and the occasional siren! - Ah....New York.

So back to the Momnapper - MAGGIE. Seems she even has a job! Every Wednesday she goes with Tutu for a Pet Therapy session at the local assisted living facility, Ridgeview Gardens in St. George.

She loves to snuggle with the residents.

And they snuggle right back.

She gets belly rubs...

And even tried to go for a ride!

Back at Tutu & Huni's she supervised the preparation of Christmas dinner. Now I don't know what fennel is - but apparently it was "fabulous" in the sausage/fennel stuffing that was part of the big meal!

This MAGGIE dog was everywhere - in every picture. I hear she even SLEPT with Mom. That is just unacceptable.

Sounds like Mom had a lot of fun visiting - but I'm not happy about this OTHER dog!

Now just because Mom left the big city for the holiday - doesn't mean I had to suffer. In fact I got to stay at Due's! We got to go on long walks, and take even longer naps. We even got to check out the snow in Central Park on Christmas morning.

What's better than a snowman? A snowman with his DOG!

There was still lots of snow to play in!

And we stopped to check out the windows at Ralph Lauren (Madison Avenue) on the way home!

Thanks to Due (and Tom & Deborah) for taking great care of me while Mom was gone. And Maggie - I guess I should thank you for taking care of my mom - just remember - she's MINE!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and your travels were safe.

Until our next adventure....

Excuuuuuse Me!

Granted - this is a lovely shot of 2 dogs I do not know....

And Central Park is basking in its autumn glory...

One problem...NEITHER DUE NOR I ARE IN THESE PHOTOS...

Blogger Rule #1

Take your camera everywhere. You never know when you will see me do something blog-worthy.

Blogger Rule #2

Make sure you charge the battery for above mentioned camera.

Seems Mom has mastered the first rule - not so much the second. We got to the Park this morning and as Mom was taking pictures of dogs we don't know - she realizes that her camera battery is dying...to make matters worse... these are the only pics for the day.

She missed out on all sorts of blogger gems like....

Coffee at a different cafe (apparently the caffeine need was so great we had to stop at the Conservatory Pond Boathouse (Model Boat Pond) for coffee before heading to the Loeb Boathouse for bacon and eggs. I'm just confused that there are 2 boathouses and they don't seem to be anything like each other.

She missed...Due covered with leaves...that stuck all over his coat...ME....ME and Due.....ME with a stick....ME running like the wind and spinning backwards...

okay maybe she needs video to do that one justice.

The point is she messed up and better get it together before the holidays.

Although I do really like that shot on the rocks...maybe next week Due and I can strike a pose there and make it our Christmas card...of course someone will have to charge the battery AND bring along some treats just for good measure...hmmmmm.

I hope you all enjoy your adventures this weekend.