Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

The Mate Was a Mighty Sailing Man…Day One Hundred, Eighty Nine

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Florida, October 2005.

It had been a wonderful yet busy nine days, but the wedding was now over, everyone had left leaving just Chet, Sampson and I.  It was time for mama to relax.

Chet and I got this idea to rent a boat and take a nice relaxing ride in Tampa Bay.  We went to a local marina and inquired about a boat we could rent that we could bring Sampson on.  We were told dogs weren’t allowed because they could damage the boat.

“Okay, thanks anyway” we said. (Like we weren’t responsible dog owners!)

“Wait a minute” the clerk said.  “I have a pontoon boat that I am going to be renovating, would that interest you?”

Does a bear crap in the woods?

So we loaded up the boat and headed out in the bay.

It was a very relaxing ride that was enjoyed by all three of us.

I think you can tell by the pictures.

Captain Chet

 

Little Buddy aka 1st Mate

 

Mama and Sampson

 

Now this is the way I like to swim!

It's a Dog's Life….Day One Hundred, Eighty Seven

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In October of 2005 our daughter Lisa was getting married.  In Florida.  We made the decision to drive.  So about a week before the wedding, Chet, Sampson and I packed up and headed for the sunshine state.

I had searched the internet and found a vacation home in the area where dogs were allowed.  The house had a pool and we were looking forward to a little R & R in the midst of the wedding celebration.  As luck would have it, the owners of the house also owned the house next door, so my sister and my mom rented it.

As soon as got to the house, I put my suit on and jumped into the pool.  Unfortunately we hadn’t prepared Sampson.  Sampson had only ever been in a lake, where you walked in and slowly the water got deeper.  Poor Sampson, he took one step and BOOM he was in over his head.  I don’t want to use the term FREAKED OUT because he didn’t flail and flomp, but it did scare him and it took him a few more days before he could be coaxed back in.  We did show him the steps, and he did sometimes lay in the water, but mostly he stayed on a lounge chair.

The pool area had a bar, the day our future son-in-law arrived, Chet and Steve went out to The Home Depot and purchased some styrofoam which they used to line the outdoor sink, so they could keep the beer cold.  Chet, Steve and Sampson as well as a host of various guests spent a LOT of time outside at the pool/bar.

The ladies (Lisa, Lynn and myself) spent a LOT of time with the wedding preparations.  One day while we were out of the house, my brother-in-law got Sampson into the pool.  After that, he would go in the pool if someone was in there with him.

We did try to get him on one of the pool floaties, but how do you explain balancing yourself to a dog?  We had also brought a bright orange retrieving toy, which we would throw in the pool.  He loves playing fetch with that toy, but he was so fast I couldn’t get  a picture of him with it.

Most of the time Sampson just enjoyed laying outside in the warm Florida sunshine.  But one day toward the end of our stay, Chet was down on the dock fishing when he heard a splash in the pool.  When he went to investigate he found Sampson taking a cooling off swim.

It’s a dog’s life.

Yum Yum Pancakes…Day One Hundred, Eighty Six

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We had just moved in to our current house, when I had the urge to make pancakes.  Being the ever resourceful person that I am, I pulled out a box of Bisquick and whipped up some pancake batter.  (Do you ever wonder how something that makes pancakes, can also make biscuits, dumplings, shortcake and pot pie batter and all taste different?)

I had the griddle on the stove and while I waited for the pan to heat up, I ran into the den to check something on the computer.

I left Chet sitting on the couch, not more than 15 feet from the stove.

Thoroughly engrossed with whatever I happened to be doing,  it took a minute for the slurp, slurp, slurping noise to permeate my brain.

“What the hell is that?” I thought.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I left the computer and made my way back to the kitchen area, where I found Delilah, front paws on the counter, face in the batter bowl, slurping happily away.

By the time I got the camera, she had licked off a majority of the batter. (I have since learned to keep my camera handy.)

Meanwhile, Chet (who once heard me whisper something to my daughter from one floor away) was sitting watching TV, oblivious to what was taking place barely 15 feet from him.

Yes, we still ate pancakes and yes Chet got the first one. 🙂

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