The advantages of storms...

... when walking Fritzi on the beach.

The white-capped waves clean the beach of all slippery, nasty seaweed. There was tons of it last week. They bring in the sand that covers the rocks. The sand is packed down and wet and you walk on it like on a street. If you are facing the right way, the wind is at your back and rolls little bits of shell, leaves, and seaweed down the beach and that's where it became apparent. Fritzi chases those teasing bits of flying debris, runs and runs, plays, and has a ball. So, with the right gear, such as a Hally Hansen rain slicker and Viking boots you can spend an hour walking the beach, laugh yourself silly at Fritzi's antics, who, of course, is also equipped with fleece-lined rain gear.

Mind you, today is the third serious windstorm in 10 days. The third power outage, the third deluge that causes flooding in places. A couple of days ago there was a state of emergency declared in Courtenay due to floods.

But Frizi, being a dog, has to go outside again. So, on with the rain gear and out we go.

New Parents...

... to Emily!

Congratulations!

As long as the puppy is still at the breeder, go home and sleep, sleep, sleep! Emily will keep you hopping when she moves in. Look at the breeder's photo blog with commentary, excellent and funny! (Sorry in German only)

Fritzi says hello from Canada. He is now sleeping in his Kuranda bed, nicely away from the cold floor, he also stopped barking at the neighbour's scary Halloween masks that decorate each fence post. Fritzi is also getting stronger. The little pile of sticks on the wood pile by the front door is growing and the latest prize is longer than Fritzi is... if he keeps bringing sticks home, I won't have to cut kindling for the fireplace.

Rub-a-dub-dub...

... bath day for Fritzi.

Behold a squeaky-clean, face all washed, wet Fritzi. Being a typical boy-dog, he gets into dirt, sand, mud, digging, chasing birds, catching bugs and slimy things. He was so dirty, into the deep laundry sink he went. I think he is embarrassed, because he actually likes a bath, especially getting wrapped into a couple of big towels and being rubbed dry. Now he is white and fluffy--and he smells good. The bath water was black!

Did I tell you that Fritzi is a working dog? He is working on taking the pounds off me by demanding long walks every day. He is doing a great job!

Please help Turtle Gardens win the Shelter Challenge that started again a few days ago. They can win a much needed money prize. They are second in Canada already. If you have several browsers, vote from each. Every day. It's a few minutes of your time that can make a huge difference for the organization that does so much for dogs in need of rescue.

Fritzi is from there. From the time he was rescued by Turtle Gardens as a 4 months old puppy, until he arrived here, he benefitted from their hospitality for well over 6 weeks. I am sure that the time spent in Yvette's care made him a better dog. Just read Yvette's blog--she is one woman who knows everything there is to know about dogs!

Sleeping...

... Fritzi

Taking a little nap at my feet. Looks so innocent. Not so when he very carefully takes one of my slippers into his mouth and then tip-toes by me. He knows I'll see it, take the shoe away, put it back with the other one. So far the little monster has managed to keep me on my toes, and get attention, without destroying anything important... Touch wood!

My guests at the studio just left. Lovely people, as always. So now, rather than working at my computer, it's time to go do laundry and clean the Room and Beach studio. Have you seen the new pictures yet?

Fritzi is here...

... what a trip!
I let him tell it:

Let's go to bed, it's 2:30 in the morning!

There is another dog here! In the bedroom...

I've seen him!

Is he scared of me?

Kind of cute...

Where am I? Sooooo many new smells!

Fritzi here. Gosh that was a long trip. Where am I? What am I supposed to think at 11:30 at night when I was taken out of my nice van and put into a strange car? I found a cookie on the seat, and I nibbled on it, but was too tired, confused, and scared to do much else than tuck myself quietly into a corner, and, do you believe it, slept.

My new mommy didn't let me sulk for too long after we arrived at her (strange) place at 12:45 am. It was pitch dark with strange noises, was that water? We walked around in the grass until I finally clued in that I was to pee and poop before we could go inside. I felt safest to just velcro myself to the new mommy at her heels, and when she sat down for a bit and gave me the monkey to play with, I felt a lot better.

Can you believe it? She let me sleep on her bed. I was worried that I would have to sleep in that crate I saw, but I could snuggle against her on the bed. It got to be 2:30 am until she finally turned off the light. We both slept until 11:00 am. Got up, went outside, had some food and water, went for a little walk. But I?ve decided to take it slow. There is so much I?ve never smelled, seen, or heard before; it?s little scary, but my mommy sais, it?s not scary, it?s a new adventure.

Did you know she has another dog here? I saw it, it?s in the bedroom and stays there.

That?s it, I am taking a nap now. I?ll write again soon.

Fritzi arrives on Sunday...

... Yippee!
Just called Yvette of Turtle Gardens to ask when we can expect Fritzi. They are so busy there, I was reluctant to push. Well, Fritzi will be on his way tomorrow, together with a few of his friends, driven to Mission first and then to Nanaimo on Sunday. The trip is 14 hours! Holy cow, that's a long way to go every time to deliver dogs in and around BC.

They travel at night, so the dogs sleep in the van, and by the time they get to their destination they are seasoned car travellers.

There will be pictures! Lots of them.

Deer, be afraid...

... be very afraid!

You are not afraid of me, or visitors, or cameras, or car door slamming... but, you wait!

Attack puppy Fritzi is coming soon!

Can't wait!