Crazy Dogs on Walk & Share Gratitude

Saturday we met our friend Gabe and his mom at the park for a long hike.  All the dogs were needing to get out and release some energy.  April and I both had rough weeks at work so also needed a good walk in the woods.  Something about the woods that just makes things okay (and of course seeing your dogs have such a great time!).

As usual I took several pictures.  I don't go on a walk without my camera because when I do I always wish I had it with me.

Today we are participating in #ShareGratitude Blog Hop hosted by our friends over at Cascadian Nomads, Oz the Terrier, Loved By A Collie, and Kitty Cat Chronicles.  We're grateful we had to chance to get in the woods and enjoy the peacefulness after a hectic week.  I'm always grateful to my "fur kids", family and friends.  Without any of them no way I could get through this crazy world.  

Black & White Sunday: Two Black Dogs

Weekend Full of Fun!

Over the past 4 days we've been able to hit the trails on some kind of hike 3 of those.  It has been a blast.  The weather really cooperated with us this weekend.

Today we took a 4 mile hike on a new-to-us trail (Long Point) at Summersville Lake.  Our friends April (with Gabe) and Michelle (with Dory) were able to join in on the fun.

This trail heads out onto a point in the Lake with some fantastic views.  The picture below was taken by my friend Laura, today, which is funny because we were hiking to that point!  The trail ends on the end of that point.

Took advantage of friends being with us to get our picture.

Of course we had some pictures of all three dogs having fun.

And they're OFF!!

All in all it was a great weekend to be outside.  Hopefully there will be many more in our future.  Will have to scope out some more new places to explore.

Monday Mischief: Too Much Fun In the Snow

Yesterday we had a break in the brutal winter temperatures and were able to take a fun hike with our friends April and Gabe.  The woods were beautiful with the freshly fallen snow. It clung to the leaves and even the sides of the trees.

The snow was fairly deep too and with the melting was kinda slick.  These trails are pretty rocky so you weren't sure where you were walking.  

Of course Teach and Gabe excited to see each other and played a game of chase and tag.

We hiked up the trail to a big field so they could run and play to their hearts content (and also took a pause for a photo shoot on the picnic table).

 

And of course with all the fun we had someone had to end up hurt.  That would be Teach.  It was this time last year, in the almost same conditions that Teach came up lame on his back left leg.  I never saw him take a false step through all the playing and trotting/running ahead.  He came home and crashed on the couch, woke up for dinner and was 3-legged. Poor guy!!  So its crate rest and leash walks for us for a while.  I'm going to give it to the weekend and see how he is before we head to the vet.  

The same thing happened last year (Tails of Limping) and they never did determine what went wrong.  Even x-rays didn't show anything (other than his knee caps riding too high on both hind legs).  So he may have dislocated that knee cap and it popped right back into place and strained that ligament/tendon.  But that strain won't show up on a x-ray.  

There is a dog show I was entering him in at the end of February (same one as last year) so I hope we're sound for it.  We would be going for his last leg on his Rally Excellent Title.

So that is our mischief for the weekend.  Poor Teach!!

Monday Mischief: Christmas, Hiking and Picture!

First I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!!  I have plans for a post tomorrow, but sometimes those plans don't pan out so wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year today just in case.

Santa was good to Teach this year since he was an exceptionally good puppy.  Treats, toys, puzzle game and more were in his stocking.

Didn't get a picture with all his loot ... but did take this Christmas morning

We did get some hiking in before and after Christmas.  I always try and take him out Christmas Eve to release some energy before we do the family thing with everyone.  Of course Teach accompanies us to my in-laws' house.  He is part of the family.  (Google's Auto Awesome is at work with some of the below photos.)

Randy's mom got their Beagle a bed ... but Teach thought it was for him.  He keeps wondering why his Grandparents' don't buy a bed that fits him.

Shame on me ... I didn't really take many pictures Christmas Day.  

Now to the Mischief part of our blog.  Teach met up with his Aussie friend Gabe this weekend for a fun play date/hike.  They had a blast ripping and zooming around the trail.  And Gabe even photobombed a picture of Teach.  He wanted in it as well.  No big deal.

And they're off!!!

Gabe was constant motion so I'm shocked I got this picture of him

The Photobomb turned out good, I think.  Good boy Gabe!

Blue of motion ... watch your knees!

The Stand-Off

I got a new camera for Christmas, a Samsung Smart Camera.  It has 21x Optical Zoom and 16.3MP.  Pretty nice.  And the coolest feature is I can use my phone to take pictures with my camera sitting several feet away.  No more self-timed pictures of running and getting into place.  I know ... takes the fun out of it.  Here is a picture I took Christmas morning using the feature.  Pretty neat!

Everyone have a Happy and Safe New Year!!!