Christmas weekend, definitely worth barking about

Well, here we are in the granite state. As I type this, a blizzard blows clouds of snow outside in Maine, but on Christmas morning in New Hampshire we could still rustle through the leaves on the ground and hear squirrels scamper up the trees.

Sylvia needed a little help with her present...

Christmas dog

Sylvia and Sunny barked up a storm, wore each other out

 While Sylvia wrestled with her new toy, Sunny watched from a safe spot. Not exactly sure who was in charge, both dogs barked to match the other.

(seen Santa anyone?)

 See the marina by the water there, behind Sylvia?

It was used in a movie a long time ago, "On Golden Pond". Summer is bustling, but the off-season is most beautiful. Sylvia seemed curious and happy to trot around, even in spite of the windy cold.                                                      

 Sylvia liked this road a lot. We got in more exercise than we had originally planned, but it was probably a good thing. How else were we going to burn off all those holiday treats?

 These New Hampshirites are funny. I thinck we'll have to come back.

travel down boot lane

We got close to six inches of snow, which Sylvia gleefully leaped through first thing this morning.

 The snow was powdery and she didn't seem to have any problem trotting through it, though her belly brushed the surface in the deeper spots.

 We also explored along the Sheepscot River late in the day, as the pale sun dipped below the horizon.

 She found some interesting sniffs along the river bank, but quickly hopped back into the car. It was getting cold.

 The day was partly sunny. Sylvia and I explored boot lane and sniffed around there for a bit. We met some dogs, briefly, and hung out with friends.

Tomorrow we will travel to the wilds of New Hampshire. More sniffs, sights and experiences await for a Christmas on "Golden Pond".

Explorations near and far

Sylvia at the recycle center with her friend, Meghan

 Dog is my co-pilot.

Sylvia and I checked out this park overlooking Portland harbor after seeing Meghan off on her flight back home.

 In the background you can see the buildings of Portland's West End.

There were lots of interesting sniffs in Portland.

 Sylvia wagged her tail and seemed to be in doggie bliss as she trotted ahead of Meghan and I during a leisurely walk along an old rail track bed in the woods of Alna.

vet visit

 Sylvia is fascinated by our prickly friend here. Fortunately, she hasn't been able to get too close.

 Heading up the road, Sylvia ran off her nervousness after a visit to the vet's office.

 Our four-legged heroine was very nervous at the vet's office, but turned out fine in the end. She happily gobbled down the liver-flavored biscotti offered by the friendly staff at At Home Veterinary Care.

Chomping wood, among other things

Sylvia stood by as look-out for neighbor Frank Small who was splitting firewood for his stove.

 Frank and Sylvia got to know each other a little bit better the other day. She was happy to play tug-of-war with him.

 Hey Sylvie, come on back!

"Well, are we ready to go home now?"

Dashing through the snow

  We took a brief walk down the road the other day while it was still snowing. Sylvia kept shaking her torso to try and loosen the jacket. She seemed to like the walk, otherwise.                                                 

And she loved running through the newly fallen snow. Sylvia couldn't wait to get that jacket off and as soon as it stopped spitting snow, she did. She seemed quite relieved!

 

vet visits, horse visits, and eating grass

Sylvia and I were blessed with a four legged visitor yesterday. The horse, who stops by on occasion, likes the grass here. She (?) leaves behind a gift or two before trotting back up the road to her home.

Sylvia, of course, was very excited and desperately wanted to meet the horse. She satisfied herself by barking "hello" from inside the shop.  Sylvia also likes to munch on grass. Here she is on our walk yesterday morning:

Even though she was frightened while visiting the vet's office, Sylvia quickly recovered and was back to her exuberant self. 

Explorations far afield

Sylvia and I have returned to the little hamlet in Whitefield and are busy sniffing around. She is re-affirming certain territories and I am exploring new ones. Today we found some garden fresh carrots and will soon set out on an excursion to the curious Damariscotta.

Thanksgiving weekend, well out to sea

Our voyage to an island off the coast of Maine began with an adventure neither of us expected.

  Here Sylvia looks out, with a mixture of excitement and wariness, toward the water ahead.

We arrived at the ferry terminal in plenty of time to wander and sniff before clambering inside the car and driving onto the ferry.
The wind was strong and until I saw a short string of cars and trucks lined up, thought I might have to rent a room for the night. Lucky for us (cough...cough), the ferry was still running.


The rumble of the ferry, the wind, and the sight of open water before us as we were parked in the very front (foredeck) were enough to keep Sylvia sitting upright, her ears perked and wide eyes scanning the sight before us. We had a front row seat.
Once out in open water, we encountered much larger waves, bigger swells, which is what I expected. The waves washed over the front of the boat and drenched the car. I was reading a newspaper, drinking a cup of coffee and speaking with Sylvia in a calm, soothing voice. She was panting heavily. Then a large wave crashed against the car, spraying water through the cracks in the two open windows. We both got a good soaking. I spilled my coffee. I set aside the newspaper and took these pictures. Then I mopped the windshield with a towel. I patted down Sylvia, dried her off, petted her and reassured her we would be okay. I closed the windows. Then I watched the large swell of another wave and felt the boat dip into its crevice. I gripped the steering wheel, as if to keep the car from skidding off and colliding with the other cars on the boat.

 The wave slammed up over the front of the boat and submerged the car in water. I could hear it washing all around us, the dull drone of the ferry engine, the wind and the water rushing beneath us. I could hear a squeaking noise, as if the rear bumper of my car was rubbing up against the front bumper of the car behind us. The couple in the black SUV next to my car kept their windshield wipers working. I could see a green flag through to the other side of their car whipping in the wind. I unlocked all the doors of the car, removed Sylvia's leash, and considered possible escape scenarios. I gripped the steering wheel and watched the waves. Then I leaned back against my seat and rested my hand on Sylvia. I then poured myself another (shallow) cup (I'm not going to let a little wind keep me from my coffee, dammit!). I could see the boat turn in an angle against the waves and in a short time we were chugging toward the island. In the sunlight of our approach I saw a half-moon glint in my windshield and saw that it was cracked. The impact of the large wave cracked my windshield. When I drove up on dry land (Sylvia looked slightly less perturbed) I went into the ferry terminal office and asked if the ferry service insurance could cover the damage. Someone standing inside said they had never heard of anyone's car windshield breaking from the force of a wave. Later, the captain said the same thing, though I don't think he doubted that it had happened. I also found that the VW plate in the grill was missing.

Sylvia stopped panting heavily and looked significantly better when she got out of the car and ran around. She wore her fall colors for a brisk walk after her adventure on the ferry.                               

                                                                    

 Sylvia met up with a new friend, one she had met on another interesting occasion and joined her for a stroll on a secluded beach. She and the whip-smart and lovely Meghan have become pals.

 

 Sylvia seemed to really love the sticks found washed on shore. She loved chewing on them, chasing after them and playing tug-of-war.

        

 Sylvia watched intensely at preparations for the Thanksgiving feast. She was enthused by delicious tastings of turkey, stuffing and other goodies at the party.
 All who attended the Meghan house for the extravagant meal seemed to enjoy Sylvia's company. They said such words as, "She's such a sweet dog" and smiled down at her often. Sylvia undoubtedly made some good friends on the island and is likely to be invited back for another visit.

 What day would be complete without some disembowelment? Sylvia never tires of her stuffed animals and I never tire of playing tug-of-war with her and watching her come trotting up to me with the defenseless creature squeaking between her clenched teeth.

Here's a photo (courtesy of Meghan's artful eye) showing the sunset on that isolated beach. I hope all who have been following Sylvia and her adventures had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The sun will shine again tomorrow and may the waves of your life carry you safely home.

See you soon...