Tandem happy dance!

Here's a really brief clip of Toba and I greeting Richie and Christine when they left us behind one day...


Watch carefully and you'll see I actually get both of my back paws off the ground - more points for style. What fun!

Mischa

Christmas 2012

Every year, when the sun goes away early and the rainy season starts, there's this thing that comes around called Christmas. I don't really know what Christmas means, aside from all of the yummy food that is always around the house (more on that later). But one of the traditions that the young humans do, is go visit this guy - Santa Claws - and they ask him for presents. I asked him to bring us snow.

This year, Toba showed up to spend the Christmas holidays with us! She's been over here a couple of times before, and so she settled in here pretty quickly. On her first day here, Santa gave me my present early, because it snowed! We Bernese Mountain dogs love snow, and so Richie took us up to the big dog park where we ran and ran and ran! Both of us frolicked in the deep snow (over 10 cms, or so I am told), and we played snowball catch with Richie.

Then there's this whole Mayan calendar, end-of-the-world thing. It seems there were these humans that lived a long time ago, that had a calendar that ended on Richie's birthday - Dec. 21, 2012. I don't know - it's just another day to me. Anyhow, Richie and Christine thought they would celebrate the end of the world, so they were making all sorts of food for their party. When Richie went out for a while, I noticed that he had left a big bag of dinner rolls on the counter! I grabbed them, and ran outside with the bag - I shredded the flimsy plastic bag open, and it was a bonanza for Toba and I. Then I went back inside and grabbed the freshly baked banana bread off the table. Nothing better than having a yummy dessert after a meal. Needless to say, Richie was not happy when he got home.

Toba and I have also been spending a lot of time snoozing on the bed. She's discovered that you can watch the people go by up there, and there's also the chance of spotting a squirrel or two.

It does get a little crowded however, especially around bed-time. As you can see, there's very little room left for Richie once both Toba and I have laid claim to our spots.

The best thing about Christmas is that both Richie and Christine are at home the whole time, and we get to spend quality time with them over the holidays.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and we're wishing you a happy New Year!

Mischa

My favourite things

Now that I seem to have free reign of the house pretty much all the time, my favourite place to spend the day is on the bed. Here's why:

1. I can see out to the street without having to get up.
2. It's a nice soft place to lie and catch a nap.
3. The front door is very close, so I can bark at the mailman when she sticks the paper through the door.
4. Sometimes the sun shines through, and I can warm myself without leaving my nap spot.

I like it up on the bed so much that even when Christine is changing the sheets, I can't be bothered to get off. Sure, when there's the three of us up there, and I get a little warm, I'll get off - but it's on my own terms, not theirs!

I am liking this cool weather too. I'll go outside and sit on the deck or patio for hours by myself. Of course, I'm keeping everyone safe from those humans who go by the back alley, and I keep an ear out for other dogs barking in the distance. This is also the time of the year for good squirrel hunting. I almost got one the other day... one went up a tree, and as I went around the back to see what was going on, there was another one clinging to the back of the trunk, mere inches from me! It quickly scurried away, but dog, that was the closest I have ever been to one - well, except that dead one I found in the park one day... it wasn't very fun however.

I hear Christmas is coming... I love Christmas!

Mischa

Dinner at Toba's!

The other evening, we got into the Rover and drove for a while to a place we have never been to. After a while, we stopped at a row of houses, and went up to the door. When we rang the doorbell, I heard Toba barking! Then when the door opened, Toba's humans were standing there too! Toba was so happy to see us - she ran back and forth between the living room and dining room.

Lounging on the floor, using Toba as a headrest. 

The humans ate yummy smelling cheese that they melted onto their food with something called a "raclette". Whatever it was, I wish I could have had some. I did manage to get a chip that fell onto the ground in the kitchen however. What a fun visit!

Mischa

My new piggie

Christine came home the other day with a new toy for me. I was cautious at first, because this one looks like a real little piggie. I gently took it from her, and gave it a few squeezes and he made funny "oink oink oink" sounds.


I find this little piggie almost too real... I'm not really sure what to do with him. So I decided to take it outside and bury him in the garden. A little while later, Richie came back inside with my piggie! Doesn't he understand that I'm trying to grow him bigger so that I have a play-friend?

Then I went out and buried the piggie again. I dug so deep that I rubbed the skin off my nose!. This time, Richie and Christine couldn't find him - I hid it so well. The next day, when we came back from our walk, Richie went into the garage, and I decided that piggie wasn't safe, so I dug it up, and moved him. But he started making his "oink oink oink" sound again! Richie came out of the garage, and I was busted! He took piggie inside, washed him up, and put him away... apparently so that I won't try to bury him again. Poor piggie.

Mischa

Fall is here...

It has been raining a lot recently, and I'm acutely aware of this... it's not because I don't like getting wet, it's just that I don't like my paws being wiped off every time I come back in the house.

But with all of the leaves falling from the trees, there's lots of them piled up on the ground for me to play in. I love running around in the big piles, and while we were down in Point Roberts last weekend, Richie caught this on his camera.

What fun!

Mischa

T-Bear is back!

A while ago, Max showed up at our place and ended up staying with us. But then a couple of days later, my step-niece Toba showed up again! She was very happy to be here, and has been getting me into all sorts of trouble ever since.

Max inspects the hole that someone dug in the backyard

Like this for instance - I have pretty much all but stopped digging in the backyard and garden. But the first sunny day that we were all back there unattended, Toba and I had a great time trying to unearth things from the yard. We got in trouble for this, of course.

 Here's the three of us waiting patiently by the back door for some human to let us in - we've been doing the tandem "welcome home happy dance", but Richie is just too damn slow with his camera to catch it on video.

Here's a place where we are allowed to dig without fear of repercussions - the dog area at Queen Elizabeth park. We've been going here a lot, apparently because it's easier for Richie to put us in the back of the Rover than trying to walk three dogs at once. No matter, as it's fun to meet other doggies and run around after them. Toba really likes to give a good chase, but I'm still faster than she is.

Last night was something called "Hallowe'en". All I know is that the doorbell rings often, and we're not allowed to go and see who is there. At least 45 little humans came to the door, dressed in funny outfits, and they got little boxes of chocolate. Toba of course, is barking up a storm as soon as someone knocks on the door - or bangs a spoon on a pot for that matter. Here she is being cordoned off from the front door - she's decided that the couch is a good vantage point to watch the little humans from.

It sure is fun having Toba around again!

Mischa