park | Change Is Hard

December 28, 2013
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Relief from winter

Katie here. You know how I’ve been thinking that maybe my Mama didn’t love me anymore because she’s never around much? Well I was wrong! HA! Mama took me to the park today! It’s been forever since I’ve been at my favorite park and today Mama said that since it was so warm – 44 F (6.66 C) – and there was sunshine too that we just had to take advantage of the break from winter cold and go for a walk! WOW! Did she say GO FOR A WALK? I’m ready Mama! (Mama says click on any picture to see more detail.)

So off we went. I just love this park. And because it’s winter it’s not even officially open. We have to park in a different spot and walk in, but that’s OK, just means fewer doggies are there. Mama said there had been a big dog there earlier in the day because she saw these really big paw prints in the snow. But we didn’t see anyone while we were there.

Sometimes Mama let me be off leash, like when we were practicing my recall. Which, if I do say so myself, is pretty darn spectacular.

Other times I still had the leash but Mama got busy taking pictures of other stuff and I got to wander around a bit. In fact once when Mama was busy taking pictures of boring grass I wandered right off the path. She told me “NO! Katie come HERE!” and I told her that sometimes a girl just has to explore a little bit. Geesh.

Anyway, we had a wonderful time. I walked almost the whole way. It was harder to walk in the snow than on grass, and near the end I asked my Mama to pick me up. My Daddy says I’m a wimp. But I didn’t see him slogging around out there in the wet snow! When we got home I told him all about our adventure.

Then I sat on the sofa next to my Mama. I did not go to sleep. I was just resting my eyes.

Oh who am I kidding.

I needed a nap.

November 11, 2013
by dawnkinster 30 Comments

Giants

Sunday’s adventures revolved around big things. Really big trees, located in the Sequoia National Forest and really big mountains in Kings Canyon. And on our way out to the parks we stopped in Visalia, a small town known for it’s giant murals.

We couldn’t find a map that told us where they all were so we wandered the town and found a few of them.

Then we headed up into the mountains to find the trees for ourselves. It was a beautiful trip through farmland filled with orange groves and grapefruit trees and miles and miles of grapes.

But I digress. I’m sure what you really want to see are the trees – yes? You won’t be disappointed.

Aren’t they magnificent? There were lots of them, each beautiful. I wish I could live in a small house out in the middle of these trees. I loved them all.

I also wish I could show them all to you, but there were so many. You just have to add this park to your list of places to visit. After we toured the giant trees we headed over to the park right next door called Kings Canyon. The mountains were awe inspiring. Everywhere you looked was something stunningly beautiful.

We were lucky too that the parks were open for free this weekend in honor of Veteran’s Day. Can you believe it? All this splendor and no entrance fee!

I told my husband this was better than visiting Disney World. I could have stayed taking photos all day.

The good news is we stayed at a lodge right in the park Sunday night, so Monday we’ll get to explore some more. It’s all just amazing. I can’t wait to show you!

October 27, 2013
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Yes I’m a pretty girl. I know.

New smells!

Katie here! Haven’t you missed reading about my adventures? Me too, cause I haven’t had any! I’ve been bugging and bugging my Mama but she says she’s working too hard to go adventuring with me. Huh. Seems an easy fix; just stop working Mama and hang out with me all the time! Problem solved!

So anyway, I’ve been working on her to take me to the park and she finally said yes, she could take me in between all her other commitments, if I was sure I wanted to go. Sure I wanted to go? Is she crazy? I’m always sure I want to go. Go ahead. Test me, say “Hey Katie, want to GO?” and see what happens.

I’m ready Mama!

Yep I’m always up for a jaunt in the park. This time we went to a park a little farther away with fresh smells. We went way in the back of the park where no one was and she let me run around off leash! That is so much fun! I always stay very close to her but it’s nice to be able to stop and sniff whenever I want.

Then suddenly she was clipping on my leash real fast and telling me to hurry up! And you know what came chugging across the field? THIS:

What the heck is that?

It was a tractor pulling kids on a hayride all around the park. I thought it was very interesting, but I don’t think I would have run after it. Well. Pretty sure.

After that we went to investigate the kids playground. Mama kept asking me to sit on these silly big dots of color. I told her I didn’t like the way it felt on my feet, and besides, I pointed out the sign said ‘NO PETS’ but apparently Mama can’t read. She did leave her glasses in the car, so maybe that was the problem.

I found a dot that matches me Mama!

At one of the dot places there was a drain and it had funny sounds coming out of it. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Scary! Can we go now Mama?

After that we walked past the climbing wall. I was pretty bored. Doesn’t Mama know that dogs don’t climb walls? What does she think I am, a cat??

Stupid climbing wall. Wonder what’s over THERE?

Mama kept asking me to pose in front of pretty trees and stuff.

Another red tree. Sigh.

That was boring too. I wanted to walk some more and we did end up walking a long way…but not 8 miles. She’ll tell you we did, but honestly? We didn’t.

Look! I went a long way! (kidding!)

We did some heeling practice too cause I have a trial coming up next weekend. Mama said looking down at me and my shadow it almost felt like she had two dogs.

Me and my shadow…

Daddy says I have enough personality for two dogs. And that’s why he won’t let Mama get me a brother or sister. He says I am enough. I don’t know. I might like a brother or a sister. But on the other hand I sort of like all the attention myself too.

It got kind of windy before we left. I like how the wind blows my fur around. Makes me very glamorous don’t you think?

Yes I know I’m beautiful.

My mama and I had a great time. I don’t know why I have to bug her so much to get her to take me to the park. She has just as much fun as I do. Maybe even more considering she’s always taking pictures. In fact the header up above, the one of the two leaves? She took that while we were at the kids playground. I pointed it out to her. My Mama. Always stopping and taking pictures.

Next weekend we have an Obedience Trial. I can tell she’s sort of nervous. She’s always spontaneously asking me to heel. Geeze. I get it Mama! Give me a break! I’ll be fine next weekend.

Will you be fine Mama?

Smiling at my Mama.

October 15, 2013
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

The big adventure

At a rest stop.

Katie here. I just have to tell you about my big adventure. I’d have told you while I was adventuring but I was having too much fun to blog. And then I was so exhausted that I had to sleep. A lot. Mama had to wake me up just to type this. She is wicked that Mama.

So anyway, you know how my Mama is always taking me on adventures? She gets me all excited and then we just go to my park (which I like and all, but it’s hardly an adventure!) or to the store, or worse, we tour the back yard. Well this time when she told me we were going on an adventure she wasn’t kidding around!

We drove and drove for about forty days and forty nights. (OK, it was 4 hours, maybe a little more.) We stopped at 3 rest stops along the way and I liked all the new smells a lot. But still it was a long car ride.

My chariot.

When I was just about to explode and tell her off we were there! Guess what? We went to visit Ricky! Yes, THAT Ricky!

Little Ricky!

And he has a cool fenced in back yard and we got to run through his tunnel and jump over his jumps and everything! (No pictures of that because we were all having too much fun to remember the camera.)

Ricky and I got along just fine. He showed me lots of stuff, like how to do stairs. He has a lot of stairs at his house. I don’t do stairs, unless I have to when Mama isn’t looking. But mostly I don’t have to because, as you all know, I am a princess. So my Mama carries me up and down them because I whine about it. It’s a skill.

Mama! Come get me!

But you know what the best part of the trip was? We went to Ricky’s park. It is sooooo wonderful! It has woods and a ravine and a creek and gardens! There are so many things to look at and sniff I could hardly stand it!

Me and Ricky.

Ricky and I and our Moms spent a long time there and I didn’t complain once about having to walk so far.

Pretty gardens!

And I sat in the back seat of Ricky’s Mom’s car without trying to crawl into my Mama’s lap! See? I can be a good girl.

We sat in the back seat. Together.

Ricky is a good influence on me. He’s also a good friend, and so is his Mom and Dad, cause they let me stay in his house and sleep in his room on his sofa! Well. He might not know I did that, so maybe we won’t tell him.

Our ride home was very long too…and I did not sleep not one bit. OK. maybe a little. But I didn’t put my head down until we were almost home!

Just resting my eyes.

It was a wonderful trip. Next time my Mama tells me we’re going on an adventure I hope it’s as exciting as this one. Though I don’t know how she could top it.

I don’t get my feet wet either. Just saying.

I’m off to take another nap now. Gonna have the best dreams ever!

Thanks Ricky!

October 11, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Lucky girl

This is MY park!

Katie here. My Mama says she’s a lucky girl because she had today off! And what a beautiful day it was too! I am also a lucky girl cause my Mama took me to my favorite park and she wasn’t even in a hurry. She let me do lots of sniffings and waited patiently (somewhat) for me to move along. It was awesome!

OK. She made me sit and pose for her too. I don’t know why she wanted all those photos of the floaty fluffy white things. They are not as pretty as me!

Boring!

Mama says we are going on something called a ‘big adventure’ tomorrow. She says I have to be a good girl. Well. Whatever. I can be good if I want to be. Whether or not I will want to be we shall see.

Won’t we.

We’ll see.

October 9, 2013
by dawnkinster 9 Comments

Wordless Wednesday

Playing before…

…summer slid away!

October 7, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Play date!

Peep and me working on some obedience.

Katie here. Some of you have already seen the pictures of my latest adventure. My mama is stepping up her efforts to make sure I have some fun and it’s about time if you ask me. Which you don’t have to ask me, cause I’ll just tell you. She owes me about a gazillion adventures but she says she can only take me on weekends. I personally think she should take me on an adventure every single day, don’t you? Sure she might have to quit her job, but it’s all about me anyway, so that should be no problem!

Hurry up mama!

So anyway, we went to the park that my friend Peep showed me last spring. And guess what? Peep was there! (OK, so my mama and her mom planned it that way.) Peep and I pretty much ignore each other but we get along fine. We’re about the same size and we don’t get in each others face’s and besides it’s not like I have time to play when I’m exploring! Peep feels the same way so it works out.

Pretty trail!

We walked on a trail along the lake. There were big frogs sunning themselves along the bank and they jumped into the lake in front of us. I thought about chasing one of them into the lake, but then I remembered that I got myself all pretty on Friday at the groomer and I didn’t want to get my feet wet.

Staying on the trail

We saw lots of pretty leaves though and had a fun time. I like going to the park with Peep and her mom. I go on new trails and I get to hang out with another cute dog! I’m hoping my mama takes me on another play date with Peep soon!

See ya soon Peep!

September 29, 2013
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Adventuring we go

Pretty picnic area

Katie made me feel guilty enough to make sure she got to go on an adventure this weekend. Knowing that it was going to rain most of Sunday Katie and I headed over to a park late Saturday. We were introduced to this park by Katie’s doggie friend Peep last spring and it’s taken us all this time to visit it again. Because we went on the spur of the moment we couldn’t coordinate with Peep this time but we’re pretty sure we’ll be able to get together again this fall.

Katie and Peep

This park has a lot of trails through the woods and I figured I’d find a trail head and we’d just walk for a bit. The first place I parked turned out to be the parking lot for disc golf so it was a bit too busy for us, but the picnic area was pretty. The second place we stopped was also a picnic area, but it was empty and had a trail leading back into the woods. So we were off!

Exploring

It was a lovely afternoon; no bugs and lots of sunshine.

A walk in the woods

There are a couple lakes at the park too, and we walked down through a boat launch to explore a fishing dock. It moved and squeaked a bit as we walked on it making Katie jump at first. But after she figured out there wasn’t anything scary there she was happy enough to be near the water.

Fishing dock

Mostly though we walked on the paths through the woods and enjoyed being out in nature. Lots of squirrels chattering and chipmunks squeaking, but Katie was very good when we did a little recall.

Recall!

She loves doing recall when we’re at a park. But I only do it once, and only if she is focused on me. She didn’t let a little chipmunk distract her. She’s a very good girl.

And she wants to know what we’re doing next weekend. I don’t know little one…but I’m sure it will be fun!

Riding home

August 18, 2013
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Camping experiment results

Arriving

As many of you know Katie-girl and I enjoy sleeping out in the backyard on warm (and sometimes not so warm) summer nights. If there’s no rain predicted we leave the rain fly off the tent and watch the stars until we fall asleep. I’d like to do more camping with her, further from home but she’s a Sheltie and Shelties bark which made me wonder about how she’d behave in a campground. So I booked a camping site at a local KOA, one located only one exit up the road. And last night we went camping for real with a backup plan of scooping her up and heading home if she barked too much at night.

This is my campsite!

Turns out she doesn’t mind being in a tiny campsite right next to other people (and their dogs) at all. She’s interested, but not particularly offended by their presence. She watched them until it got dark and then she settled down with a sigh on her pillows in front of her window and went to sleep. During the night she got up a few times and settled somewhere new, sometimes up on the air mattress with me, sometimes somewhere else in the tent, but she’s always been a dog that sleeps in multiple places during any one night.

Watching the neighbor’s campfire.

She woke me around midnight with a series of soft yips but I don’t know what bothered her. Maybe she just woke up in a strange place and was confused. I tickled her tummy and we both went right back to sleep. She barked about 4:45 a.m. but it turns out the next door camper was out with his dog, whose tags were jangling and he was coughing himself. She had to let him know he was infringing on her space. I told her ‘no bark’ once and patted her head and she settled back down with another sigh for an hour or so of sleep.

And then it was 6 a.m. and she was UP! Want to get up now Mama?

Hey Mama! You awake?

Huh? How about now Mama? I really do have to gooooo!

We went out and found a good place, then went back to bed for another hour…when many people in the campground were up including neighbors on both sides of us, so we got up, packed up and went home.

Sheltie sized window. Perfect.

She was a very very good dog. I’d go camping with her again no problem. Not at this particular campground which was crowded and noisy and not near anything interesting. But for this experiment it was exactly what I needed; lots of people, lots of dogs, lots of noisy cars…radios, TVs, bikes, you name it. She wasn’t distressed by anything other than an early morning walk by the neighbor dog dangerously close to her bed. Cant fault her on that.

I think she’s a natural camper!

Can we do it again soon Mama?

August 5, 2013
by dawnkinster 15 Comments

Awesome weekend!

Katie here. Bet you just can’t wait to hear about my awesome weekend! It was great! I’m going to have to sleep for three straight days just to get rested up!

First of all I got to go to school Saturday morning. I love love love going to my school. Mama said something about me paying attention cause we have some doggie trial or something next weekend. But I just did my thing. Came in crooked on the recall. Lagged behind Mama during the off leash heeling. But still. Being a princess and all that was pretty good. I DID sit still while all the other doggies moved on the long sit and long down. I know for sure that when I’m uncertain I only have to look at my Mama and if she’s staring at me I’m not supposed to move. So I don’t. Cause I’m a good girl. Yes I am.

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago when my Aunt B was here, but it shows you me at school. Cause I knew you’d want to see.

Sitting straight

Then Saturday afternoon I supervised Mama while she was working in the garden. I love sitting out there while she’s working. We stayed outside a long time and I couldn’t have been happier.

Mama’s flowers. And me.

Well, that’s not quite exactly perfectly true. I got even happier later in the day when my Mama put up my tent! OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY! We got to go camping!! I just LOVE camping! I could hardly wait to get out there and go to sleep next to my little window in the cool evening air.

My tent.

Ah yes this is doggie heaven! Mama was sleeping under four blankets, but I was perfectly happy to just be out there. She gives me two pillows and a blanket all my own and I’m good.

My window

Of course I got her up at 5:00 to go out. But she wasn’t even mad because the stars were so bright and pretty when we walked around the back yard.

Camping in our yard

I helped her pack the tent up last night but I’m hoping we’ll get to camp next weekend too. Mama even said something about going to a real campground! Wouldn’t that be cool?

THEN guess what? We got to go to my park on Sunday! TWICE!

Resting on our walk

The first time was the farmer’s market where I got to sniff a bunch of stuff and I even ran into the vegetable guy’s sheltie. I’m not too sure about him, but I liked everyone else that talked to me. And THEN Mama took be back to my park Sunday evening! Hot dog! A walk in my park where I got to look for ground squirrels and baby rabbits!

My park

This weekend turned out to be super fun! Too bad Mama has to go to work today. On the other hand, I could use the rest. I sure am one happy tired puppy!

Have a happy Monday everyone!

Happy dog!

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

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