Life is good when your name is Charlie!

The past few weeks we've decided to see how Charlie does on his own while we're gone... 'on his own' as in not in the sunroom... Hmmmm... first try, we left him and walked to EarthFare... we were gone about 30 minutes... there he was sitting on the arm of the couch looking out the window. I think he thought maybe we forgot to put him in the sunroom... he did great. Nothing wrong at all.. Then each time we left we'd be gone a little longer, so far A-OK! WOOHOO! I did Meals On Wheels yesterday was gone about 2 hours and yipeeeeee the beast did great! So good for Charlie! Today was a trip to Whole Foods, I told him if he was good I would take him shopping... so I did. We walked over to Dolittles and I got him another toy (egads, not cheap, but more durable so hopefully will last a little longer than most toys). He's been trying to put a dent in it since we got back, he is now asleep on the floor. Woohoo, this toy is so worth it! Have a happy day!

Happy Birthday Charlie! Nine months old today...

HAPPY NINE MONTHS CHARLIE! Another picture from the beach, we haven't made it back yet, but soon we will! Starting May 1 no dogs on the beach from 10AM until 6PM, so we'll have to see how the tides work out. High tide no beach at all on Folly, so we need to go closer to low tide... I expect we'll have a happy day filled with walks, chewies, playing in the yard and maybe even with the hose, ha ha... Hope you all have a great day! Treat every day like it's your birthday... celebrate!

Charlie is a star!!

Picture taken by Dolittles pet store in South Windermere and posted on their Facebook page, ha ha... (www.facebook/dolittles), it's hilarious... He loves his new water bottle cruncher toy, brilliant!! Very cool photo btw!

Carrots and ice cubes, carrots and ice cubes...

Another carefree image of Charlie and his trip to the beach. He had the best time! He loved the retractable leash, good for the beach! On our walk today he started with his beasty ways... biting on the leash stopping and trying to drag me towards Doolittles (dog store w/treats)... jumping up and biting at my sleeve... I said CARROTS AND ICE CUBES and woohoo... it's like magic, I told him, when we go home we'll have CARROTS AND ICE CUBES and darn if he didn't start walking like a park horse! With all his big hair he gets hot easy (hence, the ice cubes) and the dog loves carrots! Instead of treats each time he goes out and does his thing, we give him carrots or frozen haricot verts (thin green beans), once in a while he gets a cookie, but runs to the fridge because he prefers a carrot! Ha ha... Have a good day and come back to visit us soon!

Charlie's first trip to a beach... Folly Beach, SC

Ahhhh, Charlie's first footsteps on the beach! We took him to Folly Beach which is closest to our house. He had the best time ever. We weren't sure how he'd react to the water, at first he was hesitant and then SPLLLOOOOOOOOOSH, he plunged right in! He especially liked the tidal pools, warmer for one thing and most aren't deep, there was one that was over his head... he wasn't big on that, but it was good, it let him know that all water you can't touch the bottom (i.e. the pool!)...

He was really lovin it at this point! It was a great day! Was cooler at the beach, just below 70. Low tide was 5:30'ish last night, so that was sweet! We got there a little before 5... came home, gave the dog a bath, the bread had just come out of the bread machine, threw some fresh shrimp in a pot of boiling water and tada... DINNER! Too good! Hope you had a great weekend as well!

Helping to water the yard??!! I LOVE IT!

Hi everyone, this is Charlie... the coolest thing happened today... big daddy put out this thing called a SPRINKLER... and whooooaaaa did I ever want a piece of it! I tried with all my might to take it down but it just WOULD NOT GIVE UP... It made me crazy! I ran around the yard like I was nuts trying to gain a little more oomph to come back and try to take it... finally it gave in HA... I love this crazy thing called a sprinkler! And to me, there is nothing better than helping to water the yard... one way or another hee hee...
Have a good weekend everyone... charlie!

Temptation...

Charlie has taught us to pick up after ourselves... so what prompted me to put my slippers right at his reach I'm not really sure... this was temptation to say the very least... The 'leave it' command only lasts so long... It lasts long enough for me to forget what I said 'leave it' to... then I hear a weird noise, where I know he has something he shouldn't... Surprised? Hmmmmm, nope, not at all... ha ha


Charlie had a blast shaking that slipper running all over the house with it... I finally did get it back, it was very wet, but I got it back... Next time will I put my slippers on that little shelf under the table? Absolutely not... Thanks for the lesson Charlie, ha ha...

The beast is growing up!

This picture was taken the day my mom and dad left... Hmmmmm, so little attention now... When Charlie was young I couldn't get two minutes to myself in a full day... now he sleeps, plays, and is wonderful during the day... I would say he's a 'night dog'... I'm up early, 5AM, Charlie gets up with me then goes back to sleep on the ottoman... but come bed time... the beast is wound up tight! I can no longer read with the light on when we go to bed... if I turn the lamp on he stands on me and stares at it until I turn it off, ha ha... I turn it off, wait 2 minutes and he's fast asleep. Too funny!

The beast meets Bobo!

Well, Charlie finally met grandpa (aka Bobo, a name given by his human grandson)... at first he was hesitant, as he is with everyone... but I can tell you this dog has been pouting since they left! It was a great time seeing my mom and dad, and Charlie had a big time with their socks, clothes, pens and about anything else he could get to... He loved Bobo chasing him, and I think he misses the constant attention (WHAT??!! I guess I am not exciting enough!). I think he's still waiting for them to come back, like they went to the store or something... Come back soon you guys! The beast misses you!

No sissy dogs down he'yah!

I swear you can't be a sissy dog and go to a park in Charleston! When I first saw this sign I thought OH NO... I'm not taking my beast in there... shoot, he'll go after an alligator in a second, just wanting to play and then *GULP*... oh, I would miss the beast waaaaay too much. So I talked to other people, they said the alligators don't really come up that far... hmmmm, ok, but I'm keeping my eye out anyway, and I'm prepared to run like a robber in a zig zag pattern and hop that fence WITH the beast and WITH Fred! Yikes! Otherwise, James Island Dog Park... VERY NICE!!

Happy 8 months Charlie!

Happy Birthday Charlie! You're 8 months old! Woo hoo! Hmmmm, should have ordered a cake! hee hee Charlie is definitely growing up! He's much calmer during the day... he still has his moments in the morning after he finally wakes up around 8-8:30, likes to find things and drag them to you... socks, shoes, blankets, pillows, he's not picky... then he calms back down. He is thrilled that Fred is working from home today, maybe I won't talk so much ha ha... I think I'm driving him crazy... Maybe I'll walk him over to Doolittle's and let him pick out a toy! He does love to shop!
Have a good weekend everyone!

The beast plays basketball!

Ok, so the beast plays WITH a basketball... he had the time of his life! While Fred and his dad were powerwashing the teak patio furniture, I had to find a way to keep Charlie busy, I found an old partially deflated basketball in the garage, he loved how he could grab onto it and carry it around. It was a hit! It's a delight to see simple pleasures enjoyed so much... a lesson us humans should take, hee hee...

What? You think I was digging in mud? Why???

Gotta love a rainy day... the rain part is fine it's the mud that gets tiresome... The beasty one loves to play in the mud, dig up rocks, worms and who knows what else... When he comes to the door, if you just open it and he's muddy he'll come rushing in, mud flying, having a big time... you have to catch him, it's quite a skill, ha ha... then it's time in the sink to rinse the body the face, ugh... I was just thinking to myself yesterday, I need to start doing more weight exercises... well, helllllooooooooooo this pretty much covers it, he's a 16# beastyball that I lift so many times a day, hey... next... iron-woman competition, hee hee!!!

Hey everyone, meet Rue, Charlie's BFF!

Remember a few posts back when I mentioned Rue, Charlie's friend from Kinderpuppy class? Well Polly has sent me some wonderful pictures of Rue... however, at this time Kodak is preventing me from saving any of them EXCEPT the first one... so above is a sweet picture of Rue (she looks used to getting her picture taken, ha ha)... there were so many great pictures (THANKS POLLY!)Rue is a sweetie!

THE ANTLER

I know! I know! It looks like a tooth gone bad... a wicked fang that just kept growing... but rest assured... it's only an antler, the hot new thing for dogs to chew on... at $2.55/ounce I was really hoping he was going to love it! He's had it around for a while, and chews on it periodically. Nothing beats a bully or a flossie but he loves his antler nonetheless! It's going to be a beautiful day, so I think we'll head out to sit the pool later today! hee hee...