Portland - To Aire is Divine

Portland

May5th

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Rainbows, Unicorns, and Sprinkles

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Behold – a rainbow over the Pearl District…

And it is raining, nay, sprinkling (the real rain is obviously still working it’s way into town)…

And ok, so he’s not a unicorn – he’s a tiny doggie in a car – but he was hilarious and made me both curious and laugh out loud (kind of like if a unicorn was locked in a car on a street in NW Portland).

He was barking his little head off but you couldn’t hear a thing. The only reason we noticed him at all was because he was jumping straight up and down on the passenger seat – you couldn’t help but see his energy – and when you got up close you could hear that he really was making a sound – but just a few feet away, nothin’. Just imagine him with a single horn growing out of his cute little head and bingo – rainbows, unicorns, and sprinkles. A full day here in Portland.

Love,

Bogart

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May4th

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In the Sticks

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

You never know what you’re going to find on the morning walkie…

You just have to do like I do – snout to the ground, in fine terrier fashion.

This stick seems worthy of me… I believe I will take it home (or at least on the majority of the walkie home). Here’s how to do it right…

First let out a warning – to any other doggies in the area – that you have found a large, tasty stick and that IT IS YOURS

Throw in a howl or two if necessary. That always throws them off the scent. Because terriers don’t howl, do they? (hehehe)

Now go in for some goodness. Make absolutely sure that this gigantic stick is something worth dragging home and encouraging the wrath of pedestrians the entire way.

Good? Awesome.

Mama may at this point try to “help” you by picking up the large stick so that it might better fit into your mouth. This is a trap. Don’t fall for it. She will try to pull it away or even worse use it to steer you directly home rather than wandering around aimlessly.

However you need to do it, just do it. Get that stick into your mighty jaws, paws, whatever…

And then start to lay down. That will get some attention in case it was wavering at this point.

Now relax with your stick. You’ve earned it. Morning schedule be damned.

What? You want to walk now? Quick – distraction technique…

There is always SOMETHING in or on the ground that can be FASCINATING. Use these few precious moments to collect your thoughts and prepare your strategy for getting that fine stick all the way home.

Or if all of that fails, grab the Flexi leash and run like mad – with your mama attached to the cord, of course!

Love,

Bogart

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May2nd

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The Dr. is in Da House

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

When I walk down the street, I am a ROCK STAR. When Dr. Dre (he of the Four Pawed Blog of Fury) walks down the street, he is a GOD. With that sweet mohawk, he makes everyone smile.

Oh Dr. Dre, I do wish I could have spent some time with you, but at least mama got to see you and your parents for a little while here in Portland. And the fact that you graced our fair streets with your tiny pee, well, we are grateful.

Mama particularly had fun holding you, and said it was a much different experience than trying to hold me. Yes, I imagine that would be the case.

You are so brave, walking right up to the biggest dogs on the block and saying hello.

Oh yes Dre, YOU ARE DA MAN

Have fun shopping today – I hope to see you again soon my friend!

Love,

Bogart

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May1st

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Bedhead

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Overcast days make me want to CUDDLE. I don’t care if I get bed-head, you know, where your fuzz goes all crazy because you’ve been lying on your back with your legs up in the air. I am in the mood for a good, long cuddle.

Oh, but who will cuddle with me?

When mama isn’t around, I cuddle up with a cat or two and snuggle with dad – we sleep with his little box next to us, little Airedale stuffy guarding him from any and all bad things.

But when mama is around – SHE CANNOT RESIST ME WHEN I WANT A CUDDLE

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE – YOU WILL CUDDLE WITH ME

Cuddle urges satisfied, time to go outside and get cold and windblown so that we can come back and cuddle some more. Find some foliage…

And call nature back.

Love,

Bogart

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April28th

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Captain Wetbeard Strikes Again!

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

It’s one of “those days” in Portland – sunny for a short time, rainy for a short time, sunny for a short time, hailing for a short time. Even some thunder that freaked me out and caused me to jump off of the bed, barking at my imaginary foe.

Sometimes even street to street you can have rain or sun. Do I need a raincoat? Can I go au naturel?

Since I’m probably about to get wet anyway, might as well freshen up the beard.

See? They fixed the William Wegman fountain so now the water level is nice and high. Much appreciated, City of Portland!

The water is also nice and fresh today, so I think I’ll have a bit more.

You know, get in a nice thorough beard wash in addition to a tasty beverage. Multi-tasking at it’s finest!

Notice how the beard is getting slightly washed. A little bit wet as I survey the landscape in a majestic fashion. Manly, eh?

Every once in awhile I see the police horses and mama has to hold me back – I am both excited and completely freaked out by these much-larger-than-me animals. I cannot resist their smell and of course their very fine poop (dad used to call it “camembert”, and he and mama would take turns trying to keep me from eating it fresh from the tap as it were). I don’t know what I would actually do if one of them even noticed me, but I do think about the possibility.

For now, it’s starting to rain again so we’ll be heading home. Another time noble beasts! Ride on!!!

Love,

Bogart

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April25th

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Woop Woop

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Laurelhurst Park… I know that we come here often, but I need to tell you how much I love you. We actually walk for almost 2 hours each time just to get here, and then another 2 hours before we are home. I really, really love coming here.

Worth the walk if you ask me.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that there are pine cones ‘a plenty everywhere.

In fact, I’ve already found a few. These are smaller than the ones in my neighborhood, all the better to fit more into my mouth.

Playing with the cones is great fun of course, but it also buys me a few precious minutes of rest. When I want it. Mama and I seem to never want to rest at the same times during these marathon walkies…

But I’m cuter so I usually win!

I mean, I let her win sometimes, but I don’t want to spoil her…

We all need a tasty beverage every once in awhile. Today I shall consume almost a liter of water during this walkie! From my own cup, of course.

There are also sticks ‘a plenty here at Laurelhurst Park. Mama says it’s all the better to distract me from the no-leash area where I’m not allowed to go (apparently I don’t come back when I’m called if I’m off lead… oh well, we can’t be perfect)…

Sticks and Cones and Springtime = THIS TONGUE

The pond is still green with an algae bloom, and today seemed to be a day for duck-love. We watched several duck boys fighting it out for the best duck girlies, and also several who seem to have already found their partners…

On the way home, we spotted yet another “only in Portland” things. This one in a tree on a street near the park.

Aw… what a cool sign! And those plastic carrots are filled with dog bones!!!

Thank you “the cats”!!! That really hit the spot.

And the big bowl of water wasn’t too shabby either.

This was a very cool cat… up on a raised, ivy-covered area near this house… about 4 feet up. He came over, purring, wanting mama to give him a head scratch and I got so excited that I leaped up the 4 foot wall to say hello. Apparently this is the first time this has ever happened to him because he acted quite shocked – running away rather quickly. No worries my black furry friend, I really do love kitties and I promise that I suffered a bit when it came time to jump down (that ivy is pesky).

Mama – from across the street. Apparently she was just testing out the zoom on her camera. Seems to work!

Spunky Monkey – we almost stopped, just based on the name alone, but by this time we were tired and just wanted to get home. Another time, perhaps.

I am sure that this sentiment – scrawled onto an electrical box outside of a high school – means something. Something different to everyone who reads it. Something different to everyone who needs it. I know that I needed a little Woop Woop to get through the last 30 minutes of my walkie today, so thanks teenage vandal!

One last cool shot before we get home and crash – from the Broadway Bridge…

Love,

Bogart

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April24th

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Missing AND Action

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Days without updates… it just ain’t right. It’s not that I’m not sensitive to mama’s many moods, but I do feel that so many days shouldn’t go by without even a photo of my cuteness. I could say that we’ve been working hard…

But the truth is a little different.

I’ve been working hard on my cone collection.

Choosing only the finest cones to bring home.

Rejecting those of lesser size or which have already been chomped or stomped on.

Keeping them safe for the trip home…

Ok, I sample a few…

But most of the finest cones make it home.

As far as I’m concerned, this is what I’ve been up to this past week. We’re moving a bit more slowly these days, having some tough ones, but my everyday walkies are still a go. Can’t let mama become a hermit!

And when something even tastier shows up – like this “deconstructed” tennis ball, mama is kind enough to carry the cones for me.

Remember last week mama was looking for a black tulip? This is pretty darned close to what she was looking for…

This is as close as I can get to “pointer” mode – I stop, look at the flower, and bark. Golden moment on film!

Love,

Bogart

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April19th

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Throw a Dog a Cone

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Gee mama, what’cha gonna do with that cone in your hand?

I would like very much if you could throw it to me, please. See? I’m sitting like a good boy…

Woo-hoo!

Thanks for the cone. Yes that took a bit out of me, the jumping and the twisting. Wait a minute… YOU HAVE MORE???

Back to leaping, bending and twisting pronto!

GIMME GIMME GIMME

I’M F-L-Y-I-N-G…

Ah, SO CLOSE!!!

Leaping for the stars!

Ok, I’ve had enough jumping for one lunchtime walkie now.

I would like some time alone with my new-found and hard-won cones please.

They’re mighty tasty for any of you doggies who haven’t sampled them (of course be careful if you’re a little one, you don’t want to swallow any of the little pieces that come off during a good chomp). I like to think that they keep my teeth sparking clean too – did I mention that they’re mighty tasty?

Heh. Words of wisdom (and flecks of pine cones gone by) from Bogart Handsome Devil.

Love,

Bogart

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April18th

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The Stick Hunter

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Sunny spring SUNDAY and mama proposed a walk over to the east side.

But I wasn’t in the mood for a super-long walk (I know, how is this possible?) so I thought we’d stay on the west side and explore a bit.

Back to hunting sticks! I have found an absolutely fantastic one – bigger than I am – that I simply MUST have.

It’s bigger than me, it’s longer than me, and it’s covered in moss (unlike me).

Notice the much smaller stick next to the fantastic one. That’s the one that mama found to try to pry me away from the stick that I really want. See how puny it looks in comparison…

Sorry mama, I simply cannot settle for your puny stick. I want to have the extra-large mossy one AND I WANT YOU TO THROW IT TO ME

Oh… do I really have to bust out the SMILE – all right, HERE IT IS…

Now I am concerned that you may not throw that juicy stick to me. Come on mama, IT WILL BE FUN.

DAMN IT FOUL WOMAN, THROW ME THAT STICK!!!

Ok fine. I didn’t want you to throw me the stick anyway. I will pick it up on my own in my mighty jaws and shall carry it for the next hour on our tour around Portland in the hot afternoon sun.

Or… maybe I’ll just sniff it one last time and then we’ll be off.

Walking in NW Portland, we happened upon this cool sign (made with Lite Brite) in the window of a vintage store…

After all of that, wandering around for another 2 hours in the hot sun without that fine stick, I have to ask myself – do I still love my mama?

Love,

Bogart

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April17th

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Looking Up, Looking Down

Posted in: Airedale Fun, Portland

Well hello my little friend. It’s funny the things that you see when you’re close to the ground. Mama didn’t see him, but I did.

I certainly wasn’t expecting to see Winnie the Pooh on my daily walkie… got anything for me in that honey pot? No thanks on any honey…

While I was busy looking downward, mama was looking up more at her level, and yes she spotted some interesting things today…

Smells good, looks good today. The rainstorm that started as soon as we walked out the door now seems to have stopped. That means we can walk further, right mama?

You just never know what you’re going to find here in Portland. You just have to open your eyes (and have your camera handy):

Cheetahs… the fastest animals on earth. But even they don’t want to get anything on their fine fur while cooking (well in their case, I suppose that would be mostly butchering, wouldn’t it?). Who knew?

The girl cheetah is the Queen of Damn Near Everything and I would have to agree.

The boy cheetah just looks mortified. I would feel the same. While I am willing to bust out the raincoat, I too would balk at wearing an apron.

Love,

Bogart

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