Mr. Clean-cut (2007)

Somebody must have just been to the groomers.

My, what a sleek and silky pup.  So soft and beautiful.

Yes, Frito, you had the "goods".

Mountain Trail (2006)

Check out that rocky trail.  You can tell that water runs down it whenever it rains, and makes for some smooth and slippery exposed stones.

This was one of Frito's favorite hikes.  This is Mt. Kearsarge up near Tucker Pond.  It's a quick 30 minute hike to the top, and always a nice little get away.

And this was way back in 2006, so Frito was just a young pup (6 years old).

Frito Statue

If Ivan Grohar can have this nice large statue in the middle of some Slovenian village, I think Frito should have one too, don't you?

Maybe we'll have to put that on the retirement to-do list.  Carol's an artist.  I remember seeing a Hippo clay figure from her high school days.  (Notice the clever use of the "royal we".)

Honey, whatchathink?  A little something for the Frito-man?

Good Dog in the Badlands

Another photo with Mom of our RV adventure across the USA.

I can imagine these lands would have been "bad" in the heat of summer, on foot or horseback, a 100 years or more ago.

But now they should be called the Cool-Lands, well, 'cause they're really cool.  And Frito enjoyed all of the new sights to see.

Visiting Yellowstone (2008)

Frito was lucky to get to participate in our one and only (so far) RV road trip.

Here we are making it into Yellowstone National Park.

Just don't tell anyone, because the national parks are not real dog-friendly ;-)

Rested and petted (2008)

Frito liked to rest in his bed.  But especially so when Mom would get down on the floor and join him.

In the sun.  For a good petting.

Such a lucky boy.  And such a privilege for his family.

Sunshine on my puppy (2008)

In the immortal words of John Denver (well, kinda/sorta):

Sunshine on my puppy makes me happy 
Sunshine on my puppy can make me cry 
Sunshine on my puppy looks so lovely 
Sunshine almost always made us high 

If I had a day that I could give you 
I'd give to you a day just like today 
If I had a song that I could sing for you 
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way 

Sunshine on my puppy makes me happy 
Sunshine on my puppy can make me cry 
Sunshine on my puppy looks so lovely 
Sunshine almost always made us high 

If I had a tale that I could tell you 
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile 
If I had a wish that I could wish for you 
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while 

Sunshine on my puppy makes me happy 
Sunshine on my puppy can make me cry 
Sunshine on my puppy looks so lovely 
Sunshine almost always made us high 

And here's a link just in case you would like to hear the original song.

Oh yeah, and a bonus profile picture in the sun.  

Wow.  What a tongue.

Puppy Eyes (2008)

Another year older, but still some really cute puppy eyes.

And that trusty orange boney for a chin rest.

Long tongue (2007)

As Frito heats up, the long tongue makes an appearance.

I suspect there was some running going on during this photo shoot.

Happy Boy (2007)

Somebody's lookin' pretty happy and content in the sun.

And such a good show of those prized floppy ear tips.  And cute tongue tip.

I'd say it's a win-win for everybody involved.

How ya doin'? (2007)

Just thought I'd stick my cute little rubber black nosie into the camera and say "Hi".

Right back acha kiddo.

Tongue-tip close-up (2007)

After seeing that giant tongue in some earlier pictures, you almost wonder where Frito keeps the excess.

Here he is just sharing the dainty little tongue tip.  Because we're all so lucky.

Very kind, Frito, very kind.

Love me some tug-o-war (2007)

We were never sure if this was a good idea or not.

Would it hurt his teeth?  Would it encourage him to be disobedient?

Who cares -- Frito really loved to play tug-o-war, and never seemed any worse for the wear.

Rest a spell (2007)

"Alpha, you didn't mind being my chin rest, did you?"

Not at all, little buddy, not at all.

Wanna play? (2007)

Frito was quite the athlete.

He loved to chase tennis balls and frisbees.

And he was a good retriever, too.

Though in a situation like this, he also liked to play "I can grab the ball before you can."

So we usually had two toys going at the same time, so we could focus on the retrieving and excersie, rather than the "keep-away" game.

And that would work until we tuckered the little guy out.

Yeeeeeee Haaaaaaaw (2007)

Frito looks like he's driving along a road with his head out of the car window yelling "Yeee Haaw".

But to be honest, he's probably just been caught mid-yawn on the lawn next to our driveway.

Hey, go ahead an make up whatever story you like.  Frito would appreciate your creativity.

Shaking off the grass (2007)

Ah yes, after a nice dip in the pond, and getting all nice a clean ...

Then Frito would roll in the grass and dirt to dry himself off as if he were on a towel.

But he wasn't on a towel ;-)

So then he had to shake not only water off, but all kinds of dirt and grass drek.

And we'd probably have to give him a bath later that same day (ha!)

Check out how steady Frito's nose is in the picture, and how everything perfectly rotates around its axis.

Very impressive!

Boney tease (2007)

Frito's got something to show you.

But he's kinda shy and modest, so he only wants to show you a little bit of it.

You know -- be discreet.  Have some decorum.

OK, enough of the tease.

Now you can see all of his favorite orange boney,

Colorful fur, er, hair (2007)

Kids these days.  Always off dying their hair, just to make a statement.

Ha, ha -- Frito had them beat.   His fur (oops, I mean hair) was very colorful from the get-go.

All different shades of butterscotch and auburn and coffee and cocoa.

Clean cut cutiepie (2007)

Frito could have worked for the CIA.  (In fact, maybe he did, hmmmmm ;-)

Anyways, you can see how different he looks when he's shaggy and when he's clean cut.

Which do you like better?  What's not to love about the little guy, no matter the "disguise"?

Personally, I always had an affinity with the clean-cut look.  So soft and silky.

Nothin' but fur (2007)

And speaking of shaggy.

Check out the after-bath shakes.  Fur is spinning everywhere (and water is in the air ;-)

You can see Frito was mostly fluff.  He was always in pretty good shape.

Shaggeriffic (2007)

Someone's looking rather shaggy.

But Frito doesn't mind (since it kept him warm in the winter).

And he's got his tennis ball, and is showing off his tongue freckle.

You all are very lucky, donchaknow.

Happy couple (2006)

Everybody's lookin' happy.  Especially Mom.  Check out that smile.

Frito had a way of bringing out the best in all of us.

Just a dusting (2006)

Frito didn't mind the snow.

Lord knows Mom had enough sweaters to keep him warm.

And in this case?  Well, it's only a dusting anyways.

So it must be time to play.  Come on, let's go!

Genius-in-training

Some of you may know our son Greg works at Apple (note the hat) as a Genius.

Actually he was recently promoted to the Lead Genius (to help guide all the other Apple geniuses).

So here Greg is trying to get Frito on the Genius Team.  I think he wears it well.  Don't you?

World's largest water bowl

So if it's good to drink lots of water;

And if it's good to cool off by getting into water;

Then it must be super-duper to drink with a big tongue while cooling off in the world's largest water bowl.

Frito was one lucky dog.

Smiley

Hi Howdy.  This here's Smiley.

A little hot, but darn happy to see ya,

Walk the plank

Shiver me timbers!  T'was a foggy morn in Riggenberg, Switzerland, ya land lubber.

Me Salty Alpha Dog was out for a run, so I decided to keep me one good eye on him.

What's this?  It's not a poopdeck. Ye better talk like a pirate or ye'll walk the plank, ye will!

What's Frito thinking?

(a) "Ummm.  This appears to be a wee bit small for a swim, donchathink?"

(b) "I was hot just a minute ago ... now I'm freezing my buns off!"

(c) "Is it bath time already?"

(d) "Drop me in ice cold water one more time and I'll dry off on your clothes."

or (e) "I really love Alpha for keeping me cool on a hot day."

Gotta be "e" right?

Alpha and Obi-wan Frito (2009)

The Force is strong with this one.

May the Force be with you, little buddy.

Floppy ear tips (2009)

And here you see the highly-prized floppy ear tips.

After grooming, Frito's ear used to stand up straight -- more like a chihauhau.

But then as the fur grew back, they would start to tip over.

And make him such an adorable cutie pie!

Escargot? (2009)

Hmmm, smells a little like escargot.

Anyone have some oil and garlic?

Hey, Frito was not a vegan or vegetarian doggie.  Nosiree!

(But then again, he never harmed any snails.)

Another photo, really? (2009)

Frito is simply trying to rest is recently-groomed poochiness, but someone-who-shall-remain-nameless just won't put down the camera.

But I know there is much love hidden under a thin layer of disdain and resignation ;-)

My Stick (2007)

Frito is really getting into this stick.  Check out those chompers!

 Now I've got it.  Frito's jaws are clamped down hard.

  

Perhaps if I tried another angle on this yummy stick.

 Still another angle.  I think I've got this one covered!

Glam Shot (2009)

Such a handsome boy!  I love the sun glistening on his fur, and the small sun spots in the picture as well.  It makes Frito look like a movie star ;-)

My PJs (2010)

Frito wasn't too sure about his PJs when he first tried them on.  But they grew on him, as they were quite good at keeping his little legs from getting all snowy and wet.

And he looked so cute in them!

Running buddies (2009)

Frito and Alpha were running buddies.  Eventually, Frito slowed down some and shortened his distance, but even in 2009 he could still run about 6 miles into work with Alpha.

And then he would want to rest.  He was a great athelete.

And such a buddy!

Gimme My Boney (2007)

Frito liked his orange boney.  We had about a dozen of them at one time, but eventually they all "died".  Frito would break the squeakers and tear the orange fabric.

You can maybe see this one has a repaired hole in it.  Carol actually ordered replacement squeakers and performed some surgery on the salvageable bonies.

You can see that Frito isn't going to let go until he gets his boney.

Remembering Frito

As I was going through my somewhat disorganized collection of photos, I realized there were quite a few of Frito that had never been posted, or in some cases, even seen before.

So as mentioned in this tribute post, I thought it would be good to keep on posting some of these "lost" Frito photos, so we could all remember what a cutie pie Frito was.

So here we go ...

Negotiation or trickery?

Well, considering it's Alpha down there, I'd watch out Frito.

Someone is gonna steal your ball ;-)

Greg and Frito play ball

Greg first has to extract said ball from Frito's chompers.

And what a catch.  Holy smokes!

Looks like it was cleanly fielded by the furry four-legged outfielder.

And Frito is running it all the way back to home base.

And now he rests.  What a play!