Big colorful sky with Mom

Another "big colorful sky" picture, this time with Mom.

And for those that know of which I speak, Mom has lightening reflexes, and so almost ALWAYs blinks whenever the flash is fired. So even though her eyes are a little bit closed here, we'll take it.

After all, the other two had her eyes totally shut ;-)

And besides, you gotta admit that's a pretty cool sky!

Leapin' Lizards (OK, frogs)

Check it out. It seems those amphibious creatures have decided they can avoid me on the cedar log. But does that deter my attempts? Heck no. Here you see one captured in the moment of escape (on the right). Darn, missed him by that much!


Here is another attempt. You can see me approaching from the rear while a really gigantic bullfrog suns himself again on the log.


And again, I am frustrated in my endeavor. These guys are leapin' lizards (or whatever)!


Can you see the disappointment on my face? Oh well, no matter. I'll just swing around and try again for the next one. I am nothing if not tenacious.

Green-eyed monster

Yesterday, one of my blog-pals (Anna Banana) said some people were commenting on my glowing eyes that photo. I told her that was nothing.

Here is a real blast-from-the-past. Only the 4th Frito-a-Day ever created (back in the days when Alpha used to e-mail a picture to my girl Alli). You guys are so lucky! Here's an extract from that early e-mail:

Here's a cutie. Mom think he looks a bit devilish with his large green eyes, and asked me to fix on the computer. But (a) I don't know how to fix (after all -- it's not "red-eye" ;-) and (b) I think he looks cool this way. Also, can you tell, we said something like "Frito, where's Alli?" and that's why he cocked his head that way. Very characteristic of the Frito-man.

Sunset

It was a beautiful sky the other night, and Alpha had to make the most of it. Yep, I got posed for this one.

Still he forgot to open up the aperture and keep the sky in focus. But hey, at least I look good, colored by the setting sun. And the sky is shoo a purty color.

Did you know we have a guest?

Well, will you lookee here. This is Anna Banana. And for those of you that have been following the blog, and its comments, you will know that she is a blog-pal who visits often.


Someday I hope to meet her in person. I just hope that when the time comes, I am ready to behave myself.

Now I know what you're thinking -- and no, I don't mean like Austin Powers' "Oh Behave!". It's that doggie socialization thing I'm talking about. My vacation/training didn't really work on that.

I'll do my best, Anna B.

Shadow man

Here is Alpha playing again with his camera and the setting sun. See how it looks like his shadow is holding me up?

Alpha, you really do need to get a life ;-) But hey, when you've got such an adorable model, I guess it is understandable.

Bucolic pooch

Tell me this isn't a picturesque spot. It's a place call Burnt Hill in Warner, NH, and we love the panoramic views. We stopped here after our hiking adventure, as the sun was beginning to set.

Gotta love that rural life! Here's another photo that helps you appreciate the size of this field.

Finished hiking

OK, so I figure you've had just about enough of my hiking adventures. This will wrap up my visit to Mt. Kearsarge -- see how beautiful it is at the bottom of the trail. Alpha just had to pose me with those ferns in the background.

If anyone is interested in a short little hiking adventure, I can recommend Mt. Kearsarge. Anyone can hike up the easy trail (Rollins), and the harder trail (Lincoln) is good for a change of scenery.

Marking the trail

No, no, no, not THAT kind of marking the trail. Jeez, this is a family blog ya know ;-)

When you are hiking, you have to be able to follow the trail. So kind people mark it in some manner. They can use "blazes" on trees, but on granite, would have to paint the rock -- and this won't do you any good in the winter.

So they also build little "cairns" -- piles of rocks -- to mark the trail, like the one I'm sitting next to.

Here's a different kind of trail marking. There are many very old chiseled names in Mt. Kearsarge, but this one looks like a memorial for a friend. I guess I'm helping to keep Jake and Rob remembered.

Not that way!

Here we are heading down from the summit of Mt. Kearsarge. This is the steeper of the two possible trails. Jeez, I guess so. Sometimes people actually climb up that rock wall, but there is no way we are going down it.

So Alpha took me on the normal trail. Still pretty rocky. Hey Alpha, which way am I supposed to go now?

No worries -- I managed just fine ;-)

No Dogs???

On the top of Mt. Kearsarge, there is a fire tower, where they watch for forest fires and call them into the local fire departments. Alpha wanted to take me up, but it was closed for the day. And then I spotted this sign. Sayyyyyy, how come no dogs???


Here is a picture of the fire tower itself, just to give you some perspective.


Well, now I realize at least one reason for the "no dogs" rule. It is windy, noisy, and kinda scary on the fire tower steps. But don't worry, Alpha took me down.


And here you can see me on the top when the wind blows. Yes, it was pretty gusty. But don't worry folks -- at no time did my paws leave terra firma. It was actually pretty fun!

Hiking with Alpha

Here we are on our way up Mt. Kearsarge. It is a nice viewpoint from the trail while hiking up.

Do you see that little pond in the background? That's my pond!

Or I should say where the cottage is located. It's Tucker Pond in between Warner and Salisbury NH.

You can't actually see our cottage, since we are behind the hill on the right side. Here's a zoomed in view:



And here I am with Tucker Pond in the background, looking like I'm about to fall off the side of the mountain ;-) Ha!

Hiking Mt. Kearsarge

I got to spend another weekend up at the cottage -- one of my favorite places!

Alpha took me hiking up Mt. Kearsarge. The girls stayed home thinking it was going to be too cold :-( But it was beautiful.

Here I am at the top. You can see it is a modest climb. But I just love getting out and exploring.

I was adored by many families who were also out hiking, I'll share some more photos in the days to come. Yes, Alpha took MANY ;-)

Dreamy

What do you think about this picture? I think it makes me look like I'm in a dream world.

But who's dream world would that be? Anyone out there dreaming about Frito?

Or maybe it just means I've gone to Doggie Heaven (and here I am running down Heaven's driveway ;-)

Perhaps it is just my own happy dream. Yeah, look at me snoozin' so peacefully. That must be it.



OBTW, I've filled in the missing posts, for those that are interested. Check back through 6 August posts.

On a cloud

Check this out! My Mom gave me this fur pelt since they weren't using it. It's my new "heavenly" spot on the sofa.

Wow. Now I really do feel like I've died and gone to heaven. Even sleeping on a cloud!

I'm Baaaack!

Yeah, it's been a while. Sorry about that.

But here I am, emerging from the darkness, into the light of the blog, and casting one heckuva shadow.

I'll fill in the holes over the next few days.

Listen, I always said ... "I'll be back!"

Camouflaged

Here I am practicing my excellent camouflage skills. I can sneak up on the frogs that might be resting on the shore. Sometimes they hide in these grasses. But not this time. I wonder where they are?

Oh ... perhaps they are practicing some of their own camouflage techniques. Sneaky!

Goin' with the flow

Alpha's having fun with his camera. See how the water is blurred but I'm in focus? Makes me look like I'm just a part of the flow (which of course is true). But just where am I going and why?

Ohhhhhhh ... that's where I'm going and why!

Racin' 'round the pond

Here I am racing around the pond. I do this to flush out the frogs, and make them jump into the water. If I'm lucky, they jump right over me, and I can grab 'em. Doesn't happen very often, though.

Especially when they are already out on the pond having a joy ride on a log! The nerve!

With my girl

What's another way to be in Heaven? Well, just to be with my girl again!

So glad you are home Alli!

Happy Anniversary

Well, well, will you look who's been married 28 years!

And do you wanna know why Mom is kissing me and not Alpha?

Because it's also my 7th anniversary as a member of the Crisp family.

Talk about a special day! Woo-hoo!

After dark

Look at me -- I'm out after dark. Alpha had to turn on his flash to take YET ANOTHER picture of me ;-)

Oh well, so long as he let's me out, I guess it is all right.

But jeez that flash is bright!

My Practice Froggy

Here I am sporting my new haircut (courtesy of Dara!) and posing with my practice froggy. See, since I've been gone two weeks I am a bit out of practice with my frog catching skills so I am practicing with Mr. Froggy here.

Aren't I such a cutie!?

Almost Back to Normal...

Well, Mom and Alli got home (after being delayed in Chicago...) on Tuesday morning so they weren't able to pick my up until that afternoon. Needless to say, I gave them the cold shoulder for a while because they had to earn my affection back! So now on Wednesday I am almost back to normal, sleeping with Mom on the leather...

Technique de la butt

If you want to win a tug-o-war contest, you just have to be willing to use your hind quarters.

Or what the French might call "technique de la butt." Hey, I'm just telling it like it is.

Ah, good to be home

Woo-hoo. The girls are back from vacation. So though I might not act like this immediately, it is in fact how happy I am to be home, and to have the girls home. As for Alpha, well, another week.

Frito pillow

Ummm, point of clarification ... that is as in Frito as a pillow, rather than a pillow for Frito.

It's OK though, because it's to make my girl more comfortable. Plus she's petting me, and telling me how gorgeous, and soft, and sweet smelling, and did I mention 'handsome' (?) that I am.

That's a suitable trade, doncha think?

I say "pfffffttttt" ...

... to more photos. You already took one in this pose.

So let's give it a rest, OK?

Otherwise, I'll keep my eyes closed and stick out my tongue. Oh, that's what I just did (hee, hee)

Lazy Days

We're talking Tucker Pond here, not RVs. Just need to keep things straight.

Ahhh, summertime at the cottage. You gotta love it. I can't wait till my vacation is over, so I can have another vacation.

Come to think about it, my life IS one continuous vacation. How about yours?

Graceful ...

... is apparently NOT my middle name ;-)

Hey, you let yourself get stop-action photographed by Alpha all the time, and we'll just see how your posterior is captured ;-)

Cutie Pie

Oh yeah, that's right, you know I am just a cutie pie!

Thanks for the attention and confirmation Alli!