Enjoying the last of the summer evenings

I can tell that there's a change in the air... I smell it coming. You see, our sense of smell is like 25x better than you humans - at least that's what they said on National Geographic last night. Anyhow, we are in that time of year that I like - cool, crisp evenings, and sunny days with only moderate heat. So yesterday evening, we went out and took in the evening sun down at the beach. Even though the tide was in, I didn't feel much like swimming. Maybe it's because Toba's not around anymore to play with, or because I wasn't feeling hot enough. Eventually, after a bit of digging and meeting other doggies, I decided on a brief swim.

Then we went back to the grassy area to dry off. Richie tried to lay a blanket down for me, but I thought it would be more fun to steal it from him and play keep-away. Eventually they got it back (I let them have it) and they started playing some weird game with balls. I thought they were throwing them for me to fetch (which of course, we Berners really are good at - NOT!). So I ran and chased down their silly balls, only to find out that I was ruining the "score" or something like that. Poo.

Then this big doggie came by to meet us. He's a St. Bernard - from  Switzerland too! Although, it would sound like we originate from the same area, he gets his name from a mountain pass in the South, whereas we Berners get our namesake from Central Switzerland. Unlike us carting dogs, his ancestors were bred by monks to rescue people in the mountains. I think I'd like to wear one of those little brandy casks around my neck though.

After the ball game ended, and I had sniffed what I wanted to sniff, we got back in the car and drove home in the setting sun. What a great summer evening!

Mischa

Long weekend antics

We decided to stay at home on this long weekend, and Richie and Christine had BBQ meals and we hung out on the patio for long periods of time. We went out to the UBC Endowment Lands (as they used to be called) for a long walk on the trails. Toba had not been here yet, as it has been too hot to go out for extended periods. We got to the "luge run" area, and she went crazy again, and we chased each other around and around!


Back at the house, we went back to hanging out on the patio. Christine pulled down the cushions from the chairs and laid down with us on the grass and snuggled with us.

I hope summer never ends!

Mischa

Things we're not supposed to eat

Yesterday afternoon, while we were all hanging around on the patio, Christine noticed one of the toys that we play with was all but gone. Where did it go? Toba was just chewing on it. I don't see it anywhere. Are you sure she had it? A few minutes later, Richie appeared with the syringe-thingy. I didn't want anything to do with it, as that usually means I'm going to have some yucky stuff fired into the back of my mouth. Toba on the other hand, didn't seem to have a clue what was about to happen. Richie opened her mouth, and shot the clear fluid down her throat with the syringe. She swallowed it, and everything seemed fine. Hmmm. Then about 5 minutes (who can count, really) later, Toba puked out what was left of my yellow toy! She had eaten almost all of it, even the little plastic squeakers that make noise when you bite on it. They were glad that they got it out of her, as it could have gotten stuck inside, and that would have meant an expensive (what is money, really) trip to the vet.

Toba examines the remains of the outdoor
snack that she missed out on

Then during the night, I noticed that there was something that smelled very enticing in the kitchen sink. Apparently my humans hadn't learned from the last time, but I can easily get up on the counter and fish things out of the sink. Turns out it was a huge piece of beef! I love beef - normally I get little bites of fatty bits, or have to gnaw it off the bone. This was gift wrapped in a plastic cover (that I love shredding apart anyways), and didn't have any of those annoying bones in it. I promptly ran outside with it, and devoured my midnight snack. This morning, I knew something was wrong however. Hey, was that roast thawed before you put it in the fridge? Huh, what are you talking about? The roast - I put it in the sink to thaw overnight. No way. MISCHA! Well, I guess we're not supposed to eat some things.

Mischa