An old friend and a new friend

I just spent a delightful few days in Charlotte North Carolina.

My parents and I visited my old friend Joe from Tampa and his husband Doug.  They live in Charlotte now.

There house was very beautifully decorated for Christmas - even the bathrooms!

I helped Joe in the kitchen and slept on my parents bed on top of an electric blanket.  It was HEAVEN!

These are my friends Doug and Joe and me and their Christmas tree...

Ready for the Holiday

Hanukkah is over.  I enjoyed lighting the candles and getting an extra treat every night.

However, now it is time for Christmas.  Although I am a Jewish dog I DO look forward to Christmas since I get more presents and treats.

This year I've set up my little corner of the room in a particularly attractive way.  Please note my two Christmas trees, my Christmas pig and my stocking just waiting for gifts...and of course, me:)

Hanukkah

It is Hanukkah.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  We light candles and have a big party...Lots of food falls on the floor during big parties and that makes me, a canine, very happy.

One of my greatest fans was at the party.  His name is Tyler and he follows me everywhere.  Sometimes he can be very annoying especially when he steps on my tail, but I try to understand.

This is my fan Tyler...

Another hiatus

I guess I've been on another hiatus since I've been back from vacation.

The truth of the matter is that most days are very boring.  I go in and I go out, and I go out and I go in...sometimes I go for a walk or a ride or I visit my canine friends at Best in Show but that's about it.  No new scenery, no new smells...sigh...it's a dog's life

Well, I guess a few things did happen...

My dear friend Sadie died.  I was very sad.

My dear friend Trouper was ill.  He is better now.

There was a dig storm and it knocked down my second favorite tree.  My favorite tree was knocked down in a big storm last year.

This is my second favorite tree...

Then it snowed...

This is me in the snow   

Airstream - Jackson Center

Today my parents and I were in one of my most special places - Jackson Center where my Airstream was made.

Whenever I am here I immediately begin my job of guarding the waiting room.  Here is a picture of me on guard duty...

Now it may look as if I am sleeping but my Mom assured me that the noises I was making were scaring everyone away...

I also made two new friends at the WBCCI offices.  Hello Julia and Cyndi.  It was a pleasure meeting me.

A recommended restaurant..

You know that in my travels I try to find places that other canines would like to visit with their parents or friends.

Well, today my parents and I ate at a restaurant in Abilene MO called Joe Snuffy's.  We had breakfast.  There was a lovely patio in the back where we could all eat together.  The lovely waitress brought me a bowl of fresh water.  I tasted the bacon, sausage patty, toast and a very large pancake.  It was all very good.

I highly recommend this restaurant.

This is a picture of me and my Dad in front of the restaurant...it's a very small picture.  I hope you can see me.

The most important meal of the day...

Well, actually EVERY meal is important!  However, some people as well as some canines believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the the day.

This is a picture of me hurrying back to my Airstream for breakfast....

A few days of rest...

My parents have been going out a lot lately and leaving me alone.  So I rest...

Since I rest so well I am ready and alert when it is time to begin our next road trip!

Monarch Pass

My parents insisted that I have my picture taken by this sign...

It must be something special...like me...

My Dad went kayaking....

...and I waved goodbye to him from the shore...

Then I explored the area a bit....

Freckles

It has been my honor to meet a most special canine named Freckles.

Freckles has been bringing joy to his human parents for 14 years.

Unfortunately, Freckles is no longer in his prime and has difficulties breathing and walking.  Nonetheless he carries on, walking around the rally site, wagging his tail and greeting humans and canines alike.  Freckles is definitely an inspiration to all.

It is a privilege to call Freckles my dear friend.  This is a picture of Freckles.

A Fan

I am at one of my favorite events - an Airstream Rally.  This is for old Airstreams so there are a lot of people here who have not met me.  While I was being introduced to our neighbors, Marty and Roger, Roger suddenly exclaimed " It's Belle the traveling dog - I've been reading her blog!"

What a delightful man!  Hello Roger!

A compromise

I have been thinking and I have come up with a compromise for those people who want to look at pictures of ME and those people who (foolish though they may be) want to look at pictures of scenery....how about pictures of me in front of the scenery!!!!

This is a picture of me at Blue Mesa Lake in Colorado...

 Blue Mesa Lake is a really beautiful place so I will include a picture or two of it on its own....

Egad!

EGAD!  I just noticed that my mom has purple toes!

Pictures of Colorado

Well, I never!  I thought that people who follow my blog want to see pictures of ME!  But, believe it or not SOMEONE who is reading this blog wants to see more pictures of Colorado! Trouper, do you know that your mom is reading my blog????

Anyhow,  for THOSE people I asked my parents to go out today and take some pictures of the scenery.  This is a place called Black Canyon of the Gunnison  and the area around Montrose where we are now. 

I hope the person who requested these pictures is happy.  Tomorrow there will be pictures of me again...

A most interesting day

I must admit that I had a most interesting day today.

First my parents took me into Telluride to do some shopping..

This is me and my Dad going shopping...

 He and Mom took me to a store to get me a new harness.  Look at everyone trying to help me find one that fit.  Unfortunately nothing that fit was available in my favorite color, red...

Then my parents took me for a ride in something called a gondola that went up a HUGE mountain!  I must admit that I was a little nervous when I looked out of the window!

 On the way back to my camper I had a drink of water from a lovely bubbling brook...

My hosts

My dear friend Bertha returned with her family and it was time for me and my parents to leave.

Reluctantly I turned patrolling over to Bertha - just one last lunge at the cat and I was gone...

This is a picture of my hosts, Madison, Kim and Mark and of course Bertha..

35 Acres

I've been down in a valley with my parents and they say they don't get good computer reception here.  That is one reason why I haven't been updating my blog.  The other reason is that I have been VERY busy!  My dear friend Bertha who lives here was called away on family business with here parents and I was left in charge of the entire 35 acres!  This is not an easy job.  I patrolled ceaselessly!

Here are some pictures of me on patrol...

Bertha - a friend for life

In my travels I have made many canine friends.  However, while staying in Colorado I believe I have made a life-long friend, a black lab named Bertha.

Bertha and I have a mutual respect for each other and can actually exist together in the same house.

This is my dear friend Bertha...

My Day

There have been a good number of days when my parents have left me in the Airstream and gone out to do things without me.  Sigh!  I sleep a lot.

Well, today they took me out with them - all day we drove around to different stores and guess what - they left me in the truck!  I don't understand it!  I especially don't understand why merchants don't want canines shopping in their stores.  Canines can bring them a lot of business...

Consider this...if a delightful canine is in your store with a parent and sees a toy or perhaps a food item them want, what parent would not immediately purchase that item for their canine?  And there you have a sale.

Or, consider if a misbehaving canine were to maliciously rip open a bag of food or vigorously chew on a toy - why their parent would have to purchase the item to ensure the merchant's good will.

Either way the canine has been instrumental in the merchant making a sale.  So canines should be welcomed into stores immediately!  Right?

OOPS!

I forgot to tell you about something at the rally.  My parents entered me in a pet show.

Maybe I forgot to tell you because I didn't win anything....silly judges.

Anyhow, here is a picture of me at the show..

Airstream Rally

I have been at an Airsteam rally in Missouri for the past week or so.  Many of my dear canine friends were there - Scruffy, Michelin, Misty and of course Lunch and Dinner aka Barkley and Bentley. 

Although I did not spend very much time will all of my canine friends I must say that all my human friends were delighted to see me.  In fact, I even hosted the first meeting of the Wandering Jews camping club...

 Here I am greeting my guests...

This is the club insignia...

Now we are on the road again...

The Arch

My parents went to see this Arch today.  It is in St. Louis, MO and very tall (for St. Louis).  But, they do not allow canines so I had to be content with having my picture taken at our campground...I was not thrilled with that idea...

But since I am a gracious canine I allowed my Dad to hoist me on a truck so my Mom could take this photo.  I hope you enjoy it.

Pam

I have a new BFF - her name is Pam and she is also a friend of my mom.  They met on the computer.  I don't understand that but today they met in person and naturally Pam fell in love with me.  She petted me and ruffled my ears and brought me treats and told me that I am a beautiful girl - she certainly knows how to treat a canine...

This is a picture of me and my mom and Pam...

 Can you tell tht I really had a nice day?

Resting

My Dad told me that we're going to be going on another road trip soon.

That means I will be very busy exploring new places and guarding my Airstream.

So, I am taking advantage of these next few days to catch up on my sleep and other restful activities.

Here are some pictures of me resting:

Sometimes I rest with my eyes open and sometimes with my eyes closed.  Do you do that too?

My friend Jin

Yesterday my parents took me into Manhattan to see my brother Josh.  He had hurt one of his hind legs.  My mom brought some food and we all had dinner there.

Josh's friend and my good friend Jin came over for dinner too.  I was glad because she enjoys petting me and feeding me and makes my brother smile - really big smiles where his teeth show.

This is a picture of Josh and Jin.  Don't they look happy (I think they were looking at me when the picture was taken:))

Hiatus

Hiatus.  It's a nice word that my mom taught me.  It means I've been away for a while but now I am back.  I've been on hiatus.

So, to catch you up.  I've been seeing a dog behaviorist.  He says I'm normal.  

I went camping with my parents.  We went to a nice place near a river where there were lots of canoes.  I made several new friends.

These are my friends David and Jon and my Dad.

This is me in a kayak with my Dad.  I thought they were supposed to be in the water..

Then we saw my Grandma Emily.

Then we went to an Airstream rally.  I was very popular there.  There were whole groups of people who sat around waiting their turns to pet me.  It was a very tiring but happy time.

Now I am home resting between trips...

Catching up

I haven't been posting a lot lately - or at all really.

Things were quiet in Florida for the last few weeks I was there.  My parents went out a lot and left me at home.

Then we headed back to NY.  We visited my dear friends Lunch and Dinner briefly, went over some mountains and were home.  There were opossums in the back yard!  I barked them away.  I haven't seen them again.  I still have what it takes!

This weekend we went on a camping trip..I'll tell you about it in another post.

Naps

All canines know how important naps are!  They come right after food!

Every day, at least once, my Dad and I take a nap together.  This is us going up to bed for our nap.

My vacation

My parents went somewhere on a boat.  I don't know why. 

Anyhow, I got to stay with my godfather Bob.  I was so happy:)  He takes such good care of me!  My mom packed about 8 days worth of food for me and my godfather fed it all to me in 5 days!  He is so good to me!  He also enjoys my snoring.

This is a picture of of me and my godfather going for a walk.

 Why am I upside down?

A rally win

I've been at the Florida State Rally in Sarasota for the past few days.

My parents and I have had a nice time.  Many times I got to join them for dinner or what they call "happy hour".  I also attended and guarded their campfires at night.  But I don't want you to think I didn't have a chance to relax and have some fun.

This is a picture of me resting.

 

Today  I  entered the Pet Contest.  I was very cooperative.  I walked up and down, I did my tricks and I won a wonderful red ribbon.  Some canines won blue ribbons, but red is my favorite color.  I am very happy and my parents were too.

These are pictures of me...

This is me with my ribbon..

A visit with my godfather

My parents took me on a road trip to visit my godfather Bob.  It was so nice to see him.  He loves to cook and to feed me.  My parents said that I would be staying with him for a few days next month.  I'm looking forward to it.

This is me and my godfather Bob: