Remembering...
"THESE COLORS DON'T RUN!"
"And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there."
In memory of all who lost their lives on
9/11/01
NY- DC- PA
Bernie 2004-2010
Monday, May 12, 2014
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
HIGH ... on the AKD HIGH PEAKS!
What a grand adventure mom shared with me the last week of July!
We headed out for a week of exploring, fun, and frolic in the most beautiful high
We headed out for a week of exploring, fun, and frolic in the most beautiful high
peaks in the Adirondaks. It's about a 250 mile drive and we stopped for a delicious
healthy lunch at McDonalds. I am partial to the "double cheeseburger and fries".
Soon after we arrived at the Sharp Bridge campground. As luck would have it we
had one the nicest sites there which I won't divulge on a public blog. It was most
spacious, but to access it we had to drive down a path which mom thought
resembled a hiking trail. Good thing she drives an FJ cruiser and I have nerves of
steel.
We did lots of exploring all week and on Sunday prior to our departure we hiked
with Dot Meyer who is a very special elderly woman ( 80's), who still guides hikes
for the Green Mountain Club in VT. Her hiking accomplishments are too
numerous to mention but suffice it to say that she is one very remarkable woman.
Mom tells me that she is her "inspiration" and she promises to never give
We did lots of exploring all week and on Sunday prior to our departure we hiked
with Dot Meyer who is a very special elderly woman ( 80's), who still guides hikes
for the Green Mountain Club in VT. Her hiking accomplishments are too
numerous to mention but suffice it to say that she is one very remarkable woman.
Mom tells me that she is her "inspiration" and she promises to never give
up doing what she loves. She says she might have to modify but will never quit!
I am so fortunate to have such a good mom but she sure is lucky to have me as a
pup.
Unfortunately I cannot post pics of that hike because this is a public forum and I
do not want to disrespect people's privacy. We hiked up to Blueberry Ledges on the
Giant Mt trail, approximately 4 miles round trip. I was only 9 months old and this
was my most difficult hike yet. Mom is very careful with my legs because I am a
growing pup and she tells me that if we stress them out too much early on, I might
sustain permanent joint damage and we certainly don't want any of that.I do have
some Panosteitis (growing pains), so we take it easy. I will grow out of that
condition soon I hope. It can be a little painful and makes me lame. It certainly
was hot that day but there were some running streams that I could wander in and
out of. Not many but enough to get me cooled down some.
We did not care much for Lake Placid. Way too much hustle and bustle. The ski
jump was wonderful. I was not allowed out of the car but mom checked it out and
got to see some of our "olympic hopefuls" doing some practice runs. She was so
happy and returned with a nice Olympic style "ski jump" sweatshirt. I like it
because it has a large front pocket which my mom keeps filled with delicious dog
treats.
We explored hills and valleys, ponds and waterfalls. It is so beautiful and the peaks
are so HIGH and WILD! We had supper every night at the Noonmark diner.
My standard fair was a hot dog and ice cream. Do I ever love vacations!!!
Mom raves about their homemade blueberry pie. The Mountaineer is a terrific
gear store in Keene Valley. We highly recommend it for all your hiking needs.
Nice people.
One of my most exciting moments was when we arrived at the trail head for our
Giant Mt hike. I could not believe my dog eyes. There were no less that 7 dogs,
many of them off leash and most were youngsters like myself running wild and free! I had never seen that many dogs all gathered in one place and we met them again on the trail on our way
back. I sure did have a great time romping with them. Their owners were so fun to.
There was one BIG fella, much bigger than myself, and he was only 9 months old. I
could have easily fallen in love but we did not have much time for courting. He was
sporting an empty saddle bag. I think he might have been in training for
backpacking! We did not reach the peak but that was not our intention. We did
pick lots of blueberries on the ledges and I LOVEeating them.
Too soon we were on the way home but it surely was a wonderful experience and my first in the very big mountains. Can't wait to see more. A great time was had by all. Goodnight!
"Whatever joy you seek, it can be achieved by yourself;
whatever misery you seek, it can be found by yourself."
-Bhutanese Proverb
Unfortunately I cannot post pics of that hike because this is a public forum and I
do not want to disrespect people's privacy. We hiked up to Blueberry Ledges on the
Giant Mt trail, approximately 4 miles round trip. I was only 9 months old and this
was my most difficult hike yet. Mom is very careful with my legs because I am a
growing pup and she tells me that if we stress them out too much early on, I might
sustain permanent joint damage and we certainly don't want any of that.I do have
some Panosteitis (growing pains), so we take it easy. I will grow out of that
condition soon I hope. It can be a little painful and makes me lame. It certainly
was hot that day but there were some running streams that I could wander in and
out of. Not many but enough to get me cooled down some.
We did not care much for Lake Placid. Way too much hustle and bustle. The ski
jump was wonderful. I was not allowed out of the car but mom checked it out and
got to see some of our "olympic hopefuls" doing some practice runs. She was so
happy and returned with a nice Olympic style "ski jump" sweatshirt. I like it
because it has a large front pocket which my mom keeps filled with delicious dog
treats.
We explored hills and valleys, ponds and waterfalls. It is so beautiful and the peaks
are so HIGH and WILD! We had supper every night at the Noonmark diner.
My standard fair was a hot dog and ice cream. Do I ever love vacations!!!
Mom raves about their homemade blueberry pie. The Mountaineer is a terrific
gear store in Keene Valley. We highly recommend it for all your hiking needs.
Nice people.
One of my most exciting moments was when we arrived at the trail head for our
Giant Mt hike. I could not believe my dog eyes. There were no less that 7 dogs,
many of them off leash and most were youngsters like myself running wild and free! I had never seen that many dogs all gathered in one place and we met them again on the trail on our way
back. I sure did have a great time romping with them. Their owners were so fun to.
There was one BIG fella, much bigger than myself, and he was only 9 months old. I
could have easily fallen in love but we did not have much time for courting. He was
sporting an empty saddle bag. I think he might have been in training for
backpacking! We did not reach the peak but that was not our intention. We did
pick lots of blueberries on the ledges and I LOVEeating them.
Too soon we were on the way home but it surely was a wonderful experience and my first in the very big mountains. Can't wait to see more. A great time was had by all. Goodnight!
"Whatever joy you seek, it can be achieved by yourself;
whatever misery you seek, it can be found by yourself."
-Bhutanese Proverb
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A NEW BEGINNING
A hiker is born, Molly Sierra, on 10/12/2010.
Arrived home on 12/11/10
On her first "hike" at Look Park in NOHO, she was accompanied by her loyal guarding, Kodi, an 11 yr old Akita. Unfortunately Molly and Kodi no longer walk together because they could be referred to as "the tortoise and the hare. "Mom" is somewhere in between.
Molly loved winter travel and made the most of each remaining heap of snow until it had all melted. She thoroughly enjoyed climbing up and sliding down the large banks of snow over and over again. Making dog angels was another favorite.
Waiting for homemade cookies. "Oh so good!"
Love those crocs. "I want my very own pair."
In typical puppy fashion, Molly is devouring knowledge and requires constant watching.
Spring has sprung. Molly is now 6months of age and learning how to "walk on water". She has incredible energy and strength, but I am careful not to overdo because she is still a growing pup, and will be for some time to come. The prediction is ~ 100lbs!
We are planning a summer filled with many adventures in the mountains of NH and VT. Molly unfortunately has had an ongoing problem with her urinary track since age 3 months. She has several wonderful and highly skilled vets caring for her. We thought she might be turning the corner because she was much improved over the last two weeks, but she has relapsed once again. As I type this I am waiting for a call from her specialist to see where we go from here.
The good news is Molly has very high energy and seems undaunted by what could be a serious health problem. More on this later. Keep your fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Ever onward and upward!
"MAY YOUR TRAILS BE CROOKED, WINDING, LONESOME, DANGEROUS, LEADING TO THE MOST AMAZING VIEW. MAY YOUR MOUNTAINS RISE INTO AND ABOVE THE CLOUDS."
-EDWARD ABBEY
Arrived home on 12/11/10
On her first "hike" at Look Park in NOHO, she was accompanied by her loyal guarding, Kodi, an 11 yr old Akita. Unfortunately Molly and Kodi no longer walk together because they could be referred to as "the tortoise and the hare. "Mom" is somewhere in between.
We are planning a summer filled with many adventures in the mountains of NH and VT. Molly unfortunately has had an ongoing problem with her urinary track since age 3 months. She has several wonderful and highly skilled vets caring for her. We thought she might be turning the corner because she was much improved over the last two weeks, but she has relapsed once again. As I type this I am waiting for a call from her specialist to see where we go from here.
The good news is Molly has very high energy and seems undaunted by what could be a serious health problem. More on this later. Keep your fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Ever onward and upward!
"MAY YOUR TRAILS BE CROOKED, WINDING, LONESOME, DANGEROUS, LEADING TO THE MOST AMAZING VIEW. MAY YOUR MOUNTAINS RISE INTO AND ABOVE THE CLOUDS."
-EDWARD ABBEY
Sunday, December 1, 2013
NOT AGAIN...
DARN....will I ever have a BD when I am not in an emergency room or undergoing surgery? THIS IS GETTING TO BE A VERY BAD HABIT. On 10/12 /13 I turned 3 yrs old and am still a mere pup. I had torn my left ACL and had it repaired on 10/10. OUCH! Dr Benson did provide excellent pain management and I came home the next day for rehab. Mom finally got this sorted out and is working on a system to provide me the best care a pup could ask for. I am young and energetic so keeping me quiet is a daunting task. Don't fret...we did celebrate my BD before surgery. Mom would never let me go without.
Finally I ditched the "collar of shame" and had the staples removed on 10/23. I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The wound healed nicely and on 11/29 I had my 6 week rads done which show excellent healing. The bigger problem however is I need to have the ACL on on right hind leg repaired and that is happening on 12/10. BUMMER AND JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. I can only hope Santa will be extra generous. I have been a very good pup....most of the time. It had been predicted that this ligament would need repair but they could not say exactly how soon this would occur. I did give this some thought and it's a blessing it happened now rather than six months hence. My rehab will be only six months long and not 12. I am estimating by June I should be off leash and playing with Sir Tucker, my very best pal. We are so sad that we have to be separated ad infinitum. Think about it. Six months is a long time in a pup's life.
With mom's help we are making the best of a bad situation.
Mom is showering us with attention and great beef marrow bones to help ease the pain and suffering. Tucky gets car rides but I can only have one when I go to my vet. Who would think that going to visit your surgeon would be the highlight of your social life? That is one scary thought. I'm a girl on the go. Not cut out to be lame and tame. I HOLD STRONG TO THE BELIEF OF WILD AND FREE!
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| HI EVERYONE! |
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| THE "ICU" |
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| YOU'RE KIDDING AREN'T YOU? |
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| I'VE HAD BETTER DAYS |
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| I NEED A HUG |
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER |
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| ARE WE HAVING FUN YET? |
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Dog Park Dreams
What a grand and glorious place is the Dog Park. Acres of land with a river running thru it. Trails galore, some wooded and some open fields. It truly a heavenly place.
Sir Tucker has been in considerable trouble because of his digging. He is in "boot camp" and cannot be trusted. Mom is not a happy camper. He claims he didn't mean to do it but she doesn't believe that for one minute. She tried boots on his front feet as a prevention plan but Tucky sunk into a deep depression. "Woe is me" he says. "If I look pathetic enough, she might take them off."
"She isn't all bad. She did take me for an ice cream in the evening. Nice ride to South Deerfield with my head out the window. Love feeling the wind on my furry face and checking out the farm animals on our route to and from".
Yesterday we spent ~3 hrs at the Dog Park. It was the best. Lots of fur friends and it was an action packed adventure. We love the river and spend lots of time running in and out. So cool and refreshing. Lots of mud to. What more could a dog ask for?
Tucker says he is trying to do better. Only time will tell. Mom surely has "eagle eyes" focused on the lad.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Long time passing....
It's been 17 months since my last post. Mom told me to hop to it and start "barking" so here goes.
There has been a new addition to our home. In September 2012, a mighty fine orphan came to live with us. He was a birthday present to me for my 2nd BD which we celebrated on 10/12. I could not have asked for a better gift. We bonded immediately and were both off and running. My orphan friend's name is Sir Tucker Adam and he is officially my sibling. We adopted him sight unseen and never looked back....well maybe once or twice. He can be a bit of a challenge at times. He was named after the incredible Tuckerman Ravine on Mt Washington, and our good friend Adam, who also proudly exhibits wild man traits.
Sir Tucker appears to be an English Sheperd/Border Collie mix. One thing is certain, he is a working breed with a drover/herder type personality. Weighs in at 70 lbs and strong like bull!
Sir Tucker is quite a digger and here you see him guarding the multiple bags of top soil that we are taking home to fill at least some of the holes he has dug all around the property. He is indeed one very busy boy and frequently causes more trouble than I care to think about. I do enjoy him very much and he is a "radical fella". Mom calls him "her boy in the hood." After all he did come from a kill shelter in Alabama. We can only imagine what life was like for our little man. Prior to living with us, he did enjoy a temporary stay with a nice family in Hopkinton, MA. They loved him lots and were very good to him, but the 4 cats presented a serious problem for Sir Tucker. It just wasn't a good fit.
We now spend many wonderful hours at the dog park in NOHO. Lots of trails, a great river, and too many dogs to count. Tucky runs at top speed for a minimum of 3hrs showing no signs of fatigue. I can barely keep up and must take rest stops. As you can see from the pics below, Sir Tucker arrives home exhausted and often sleeps until 10 am the next day.
I love this pic of the two of us enjoying the river. "Bro" wears an orange vest and big bell so mom can keep tract of his whereabouts.
Enjoy this brief video of Tucker demonstrating ADHD in dogs.
Camping and hiking in VT and northern NH is very high on our "to do" list for the summer. Preparations are being made and we look forward to much fun and frolic in the mountains. I will surely share my vast experience with my pal Tucky. He is a natural and could probably teach me a thing or two, but my gut tells me that whatever it is he would recommend, it would surely get me in trouble with my "mom".
I don't think I mentioned that I am the CEDO (chief executive dog officer) of the NOHO DOG PARK. I supervise the goings on and I convert to "marshall status" when the need arises. I am also in charge of all SAR for dogs and have already rescued an American Pit Bull Terrier. He was scooped up and transported by the police to a dog shelter. From the looks of him, he needed a good meal. He was wee bit difficult to round up, and it took us a good am't of time to reel him in. Well worth the effort.
As you can see from this pic, I do get down and dirty carrying out my responsibilities.
I promise I will make a sincere effort to keep the blog updated in the future. Hope to have lots of nice trip reports to share in the not too distant future. Enjoy!
There has been a new addition to our home. In September 2012, a mighty fine orphan came to live with us. He was a birthday present to me for my 2nd BD which we celebrated on 10/12. I could not have asked for a better gift. We bonded immediately and were both off and running. My orphan friend's name is Sir Tucker Adam and he is officially my sibling. We adopted him sight unseen and never looked back....well maybe once or twice. He can be a bit of a challenge at times. He was named after the incredible Tuckerman Ravine on Mt Washington, and our good friend Adam, who also proudly exhibits wild man traits.
Sir Tucker appears to be an English Sheperd/Border Collie mix. One thing is certain, he is a working breed with a drover/herder type personality. Weighs in at 70 lbs and strong like bull!
Enjoying French Toast and Cookies for breakfast!
Sir Tucker is quite a digger and here you see him guarding the multiple bags of top soil that we are taking home to fill at least some of the holes he has dug all around the property. He is indeed one very busy boy and frequently causes more trouble than I care to think about. I do enjoy him very much and he is a "radical fella". Mom calls him "her boy in the hood." After all he did come from a kill shelter in Alabama. We can only imagine what life was like for our little man. Prior to living with us, he did enjoy a temporary stay with a nice family in Hopkinton, MA. They loved him lots and were very good to him, but the 4 cats presented a serious problem for Sir Tucker. It just wasn't a good fit.
We now spend many wonderful hours at the dog park in NOHO. Lots of trails, a great river, and too many dogs to count. Tucky runs at top speed for a minimum of 3hrs showing no signs of fatigue. I can barely keep up and must take rest stops. As you can see from the pics below, Sir Tucker arrives home exhausted and often sleeps until 10 am the next day.
I love this pic of the two of us enjoying the river. "Bro" wears an orange vest and big bell so mom can keep tract of his whereabouts.
Enjoy this brief video of Tucker demonstrating ADHD in dogs.
Camping and hiking in VT and northern NH is very high on our "to do" list for the summer. Preparations are being made and we look forward to much fun and frolic in the mountains. I will surely share my vast experience with my pal Tucky. He is a natural and could probably teach me a thing or two, but my gut tells me that whatever it is he would recommend, it would surely get me in trouble with my "mom".
I don't think I mentioned that I am the CEDO (chief executive dog officer) of the NOHO DOG PARK. I supervise the goings on and I convert to "marshall status" when the need arises. I am also in charge of all SAR for dogs and have already rescued an American Pit Bull Terrier. He was scooped up and transported by the police to a dog shelter. From the looks of him, he needed a good meal. He was wee bit difficult to round up, and it took us a good am't of time to reel him in. Well worth the effort.
I promise I will make a sincere effort to keep the blog updated in the future. Hope to have lots of nice trip reports to share in the not too distant future. Enjoy!
PILE OF PUPS!
Monday, January 16, 2012
GIVING THANKS....
We headed NORTH and the further up we went I observed a good amount of snow on the ground. My excitement is growing in leaps and bounds. We had been driving for over an hour when we passed a very large peak to my left. Mom told me if was Mt SNOW and it surely did live up to it's name. It was so very high and so WHITE! We continued up 100 N and I thought how much I love this road. I think it might get to be one of my very favorites. Soon we took a left and the road narrowed. Could this be a dirt road covered with snow? Mom parked on the side of the road and we enjoyed our turkey sandwiches together. They were sooo delicious. Mom put my orange vest on because it was hunting season and we had seen several hunters. I ran and rolled in the snow. I dug holes and made lots of snow angels. I was in Rambo mode. We went on a very long walk and met two young fellas who were out looking for pine boughs. Not a shortage of those in VT. They gave me lots of attention and thought I was "oh so special". Of course that was my interpretation of the adoration bestowed on me. It was cloudy when we arrived but soon the sun was shining and it warmed up some. We finally hiked back to our car and took a ride to Mt Snow. It wasn't open for skiing yet but very soon. We ate yet another sandwich and I'm bursting at the seams with turkey. YUM! Sure hope there are leftovers. Even had a touch of cranberry sauce on the bread. Soon we headed home and I will admit that I slept soundly all the way back. Mon always says "A tired dog is a good dog" whatever that means.
There certainly is lots to be thankful for today. My most wonderful MOM, good food, hiking in this most beautiful state of VERMONT, lots of snow, great visuals and smells, and some nice folks who enjoyed petting me. What more can a dog ask for? LIFE IS GOOD!
HIKING GROUT POND AREA, VERMONT 2011
"Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be."
~Karen Raven
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