Rest stop walk

Here's a cute photo of Frito at one of his rest stops. He's beginning to think this was a pretty good idea.

So what's a road trip?

Alli decides to check out a new school. This time in Nova Scotia (Dalhousie). So we think it might be a good time to take Frito for his first road trip. Frito's not too sure what he's getting himself into.

Swimming through pond weed

You may think it's gross, but ... Frito thinks there are many advantages to having pond weed right in the middle of the pond. First off, that is where the frogs hang out. So if you get tired of trying to pick them off the shoreline, you can just swim right into their resting spots, and you'll be sure to create some action. Now, fortunately, Frito is comparatively slow in the water. But hey, it's great hydrotherapy for the legs.

Oh, and the other good thing? It aerates the pond, and keeps down the "bad" algae by using up the nutrients. Frito is getting his degree in pond management -- he's also aerating the pond by swimming through the weed.

Mr. Sunshine

Frito, you are the sunshine of our life, as depicted by this sunflower portrait. Here's an excert of that Stevie Wonder song:

You must have known that I was lonely,
Because you came to my rescue,
And I know that this must be heaven,
How could so much love be inside of you?

You are the sunshine of my life, yeah,
Thats why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart.

Someone's a little tired

Well, it looks like someone's just a little tired! Too much activity today. To many laps around the pond. To many 'I want to go out's and 'I want to come in's. Way too much swimming, and too many times visiting the neighbor's pond. Too much running after critter smells. Yep, it's been a long day!

On the sidelines

After running and swimming all day, sometimes you just have to take a break. And so Frito parks it on the sidelines, and poses for the camera. Tough life.

Welcome home

It was great to get home after a couple of weeks in Japan. And look who's all clean-cut and ready to greet Alpha. What a nice welcome home!

On the prowl

It's interesting to watch Frito learn new frog hunting skills. He used to just run around the pond and hope to catch one too slow to jump out of his oncoming charge. But maybe the frogs wised up. So now he takes a swim, as if too cool off from the summer heat, and then doubles back toward the weeds and tries to get them from behind. A sneak attack. Very sad when he succeeds, but I've come to accept it as evolutionary training for a really smart batch of frogs.

Focused Like a Laser Beam

Frito is looking directly at one thing in this picture and nothing else can even phase him.


When it's dinner time -- food is the ONLY thing on Frito's mind! (If he had laserbeams for eyeballs he could burn a hole right through the plate with his concentration!)

A Pound Lighter...

Here is Frito three days ago, before he got his new hairdo for the summer... can you even tell there's a puppy under all of that fur!?!?


And now, after six hours in the Beauty Salon for puppies (not to make Frito sound sissy because he defintely isn't!), look at how happy, handsome, and cool Frito looks as he smiles for the camera! (And sends Alpha a belated birthday kiss!)

Happy B-day Alpha

It's Alpha's birthday, and this is the perfect picture, because it is also the day Frito gets a new haircut. Maybe he'll look like he did when this picture was taken, a few years ago. Alpha is in Japan right now, missing Frito, and of course, the whole family. He can't wait to get home and give everyone a hug.

In the office

Here's Frito on Greg's bed and quilt, at home, which has been turned into my office now that he's away at college. Frito really likes to snortle and and do froggy-legs on Greg's quilt, and then to just look adorable. Don't you think?

By the new pond iris

Here is Frito posing for me by the pond, and that's one of Carol new iris's she recently planted, in full bloom. Things are shaping up around the yard, and Frito is quite happy about that.

On the patio

Here is Frito adorning our new back patio stone wall. It's a little hot in the full southern exposure. But Frito looks good next to the potted plants.

In my arms

Here is Frito, looking very well groomed, in my arms. We hope to have his hair cut next week -- this is an old photo from Tucker Pond. Look how small and cute he looks. And cooler, as well. We're coming Frito, just as fast as we can. Never knew dog groomers were in such demand.

Casting a long shadow

It is early morning at Tucker Pond -- one of my favorite times. Alpha usually gets up early, and we get outside just before or after the sunrise. See how I bask in the early morning sun, and cast such a long shadow. Sometimes I even scare myself it is so big!

The sun glistens in my hair

We seem to have a boat-theme going here. Anyways, you can see how Tucker Pond water really does wonders for my hair. All nicely coifed, and don't I just look spectacular in the afternoon sun!

Windswept

Well, now that's a little better Alpha. At least you've got the boat movin'. But will you look at what it's doing to my hairdo. Can't I get up in your lap, and duck behind the windshield?

Frito and the Oinkers

This little visit to Green Acres is right in our neighborhood. That's right -- we've got ourselves a workin' farm. Frito wanted to check out just who was making all that noise. Oh look, it's the three little (er, big) pigs!

Hot and Shaggy

Sometimes Tucker Pond can be so hot! Even in a boat. Too much sun. Too much fur. Come on, Alpha, put the pedal to the metal and lets get some wind blowing here!

On the shore

Then after you've been cruising in the water, you get out, roll around on the grass, and begin to cruise the dry-side of the shore line, hoping to have better luck with the critters. And of course, ocassionally you have to stop and pose for a picture. Looking a little shaggy, there, Frito.

Frito's cruisin'

Frito's cruisin' the strip -- that short section of shoreline in front of our cottage. Back and forth he goes, hoping to see some critter activity, and cooling hiimself off at the same time. Not a bad way to spend part of your summer day.

Kayaking at Tucker Pond

OK, back to the future. This is Frito on his maiden kayak voyage around Tucker Pond. We're on our way back to the cottage now. Frito likes just about any boat.

Look, it's snowing

It may be the Independence day 2006, but I felt like some snow to cool down. So here is Alli sledding in our back yard, with Frito in hot pursuit.

Alli's wall

We're still in the way-back machine. Here is Alli and Frito showing off her mural wall also from October 2001. My how they've all grown up.

Early Frito and Greg

Here's another oldy-but-goodie. Greg shows Frito the newly finished basement way back in October 2001. He's such a young pup. And Frito isn't very old either ;-)

At Carol's feet

This is an old one. Back from an early fall walk with Frito. Look how his fur just glistens in the autumn morning sun. Shall we go for a walk?

Frito strikes a pose

This is Frito at one of the ponds near our cottage as we were taking a break during one of our runs. Nice of Frito to pose for me on the rock, don't you think? He's such a stud.

The Swimmer

Swimming at Tucker Pond. Nothing better (except now maybe swimming at home). But anyways, Frito is intent on getting back to the shore, so "outta my way Alpha".

Frito meditates

There he is, Mr. Zen dog. What, did you think you would find him sitting on a zazen cushion with his paws crossed? Oh come on, don't be ridiculous. Instead, see him in the grass, with his eyes closed, simply "being". Now you know ;-)

Let sleeping dogs lie

Frito is very tired after playing in Tucker Pond. Now he needs to rest in the sun on the deck. Shhh. Don't wake him. He needs his beauty sleep. Nah, he's already pegged the cute meter.

Dad and Frito

Frito says, "OMG Alpha, you are squeezing the daylights out of me. Can't you see my tongue hanging out? Please lift that adorably handsome face off of me." Hey, I just write what Frito tells me.

Hiding in the grass

Shhh. Be berry, berry quiet. I'm hiding from that rascally Alpha. He'll never find me over here.

Say what?

Say what? I'm sorry, can you repeat that? It seems that Alpha has been playing with my ears again! Will he ever grow up? Do you see what I have to put up with? Alli, rescue me!

Finger-lickin' good

Can you guess what this is? Well, I guess the title kinda gives it away. That's Frito's shadow licking my fingers on the kithcen floor -- well, I mangled the sentence, but you get the idea. And then a little playing in iPhoto to jack up the contrast, adjust the color, and voila -- our own blue dog Frito (sounds like a rock & roll band). I'm sure it will be famous some day ;-)

The cutest face

Well isn't that the cutest face you ever saw? Which one? Why both of them, of course! You don't think I'm stupid, now do you?

Sitting on the lap of my girl

Sung to the tune of

(Sitting on) the Dock of the Bay,
by Otis Redding

Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the boat go 'round
Yes, I watch it go around Tucker Pond, yeah
I'm sittin' on the lap of the girl
Watching the shore just twirl
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the lap of my girl wastin' time

I left my home in upstate
Headed for the Crispy abode
'Cos I had nothing to live for
But then into Alli's car I rode
So I'm just gonna sit on the lap of my girl
Watching the breeze just whirl
Ooh, I'm sittin' on the lap of my girl wastin' time

Don't want nothing to change
Make sure everything remains the same
I think maybe I died and went to dog heaven
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this girl of mine won't leave me alone, listen
To all my neighbors I've roamed
Just to make this cottage my home
Now I'm just gonna sit on the lap of my girl
Watching the 'skeeters just swirl
Ooh wee, I'm sittin' on the lap of my girl wastin' time

Sometimes I just sits

Frito is taking a break from his frog terrorizing campaign. And so he "just sits" looking cute. I don't think he's planning out his next attack plan. I think he "just sits". Ah, to be a dog, and to have your very own pond, dutifully stocked with frogs. Life is good.

Dog days of summer

It's getting pretty hot out there, and it's not even summer yet! But Frito has ways of cooling off at Tucker Pond. Like taking out the inflatable lounge chair for a spin in the water. And then swimming of course. He was having fun.

Cleaning my moustache

Here's a dapper fellow, right after his haircut. And he just had dinner as well, so now it's time for a little moustache grooming. Need to keep up the image, you know.

Scaredy dog

Who the heck is this dog? That can't be Frito. He's cowering in the corner. That's after our neice's daughter decided to befriend Frito. Then of course Frito had to try to eat Mia. It wasn't a pretty sight. Look at that scaredy dog.

Steve, Frito, and a beer

I've got my (er, Alli's) Frito and a beer, what more could I ask for? Hope you all have a great soon-to-be-summer weekend.

My new driveway

Yes, I'm a little shaggy, I know. But the driveway just got paved, and Alpha said it had cooled enough for me to go on it. It is still nice and warm -- I consider it my own personal hot tub (kinda/sorta). And I'm really happy, can't you tell?

Froggy legs on the ground

After you go swimming in the pond, you need to roll somewhere to dry off. No towel? No problem! That's what the dirt and grass are for. And you finish it off with some froggy legs (hind legs stretched out in back while you crawl on your belly along the ground), and then stick out your tongue at the camera. Voila! Dirty, happy, wet, smelly, but cute anyways, dog. We love him anyway we can get him!

Chillin' in the command chair

Still at the cottage, and now Frito -- creature of habit that he is -- has decided to recline on the command chair. This time Carol is the lucky winner of the Frito presence. Why we call it the 'command chair' is another story.

I'm with my girl

It was a little grey outside, but anything was better than rain! We were up at the cottage, and Frito was doing one of his most favorite things -- takin' a ride in the big boat. And he's with his girl, so could life really get any better than this?

Frito and Froggy

This is one of Frito's favorite toys. You can see here he is trying to help Frito's leg heal (it is almost all better now). Frito really loves Froggy -- unfortunately, Frito really loves to try and kill Froggy. That's not really very nice. Ah, instinct is a tough thing to control.

The cutest guy around

Here's an early entry for the 10th. Just shows how guilty I was -- I need to get ahead of the posting curve. And blogger is not letting me set the posting date like it used to (OK, now I've figured it out).

Anyway, isn't this just the cutest guy around? I can't get over it -- he should have been in pictures -- oh wait, he is!

Frito and Mr. T

OK, OK, we're back. I was just informed that Alli had moved her "home page" from Frito-a-Day to Google -- talk about guilt. We can't have that, now, can we? OK, Alli, you can move it back now ;-)

In this new entry, we have Frito sitting by our newly finished pond. And in the background, perhaps you can see "Mr. T" -- that's one of the three turtles that now live in the pond. We also have lots of frogs, and literally thousands of tadpoles (from the Great American Toad mating, but that's another story).

Frito likes his wildlife -- so much so he'd like to have some turtle sushi. But we keep telling him "no". And Mr. T seems smarter than that -- usually stays in the middle of the pond, or more often than not, under water. Now the frogs ... let's just say its a good thing there are quite a few of them.