Today started very slowly-Carol got up first, then we went for a walk. It is so great to just up and do that! Dogs of every size and color-out front and center,( I prefer to saunter to the side, taking a microscopic view.) Twice as many people, everywhere-walking, biking and driving, all together-all in unison-it just seems to flow.Add to it all the colors lining the sidewalks and the smells!!!!! don't get me started-Thai, Indian, Mexican, Hamburgers!!! And because there is so much humidity in the air, the aroma just hangs in the strangest places.
We got back and everyone was moving around drinking the dark drink-they seemed to organize, eat and get going in no time.
Nathan drove us to an address Barney was interested in visiting tomorrow-it is the Russian Oregon Social Service, he is interested in volunteering in the Russian to English classes, plus I hear chattering that I am to be groomed and pampered tomorrow (I can't wait, these groomers give massages!) We decided on a small outdoor cafe near the house and once again, I got to sit with everyone (on the floor this time-but Carol did bring my mat). The food must of been bad-Carol always gives me a bite but I guess today it wasn't good enough for me....they DID look happy when they finished, so I don't know.
Carol and Barney are getting ready to go to Lauro's, another eatery owned by Nathan's boss-mostly vegetarian (it COULDN'T be good!) but Jenny says they have "these thin little pizzas-and the fresh mango cocktails-that are to die for". As for me, the reason Carol got up early was to cook some fresh chicken for "yours truly"-think I saw fresh carrots and golden potatoes go in that mix as well.
I guess I will just kick back and wait for everyone to return and play with me-Wait a minute, here she comes with the leash-something about "dog park"-"in walking distance"-"get the purple squeaky thing so Jackson can fetch it"- this sounds like NOT kicking back.
Gotta go-
hear there is going to be a cookout this weekend and a trip to the rose gardens
Jack

Finally, a morning to sleep! Everyone did-then out the door to a great outdoor cafe. I got to sit at the table with everyone and eat chicken out of a plate like everyone else!!! I even tried avocado-it was ok, but I didn't want that next bite. The waitress brought me a bowl of cold water-never had that happen in Springtown!!!
Then we went to Home Depot for Nathan to get a hammer-I got to ride in the cart, down all the isles. Carol bought a potty seat and we all went home.
After Jenny and Nathan left for work, we went looking for flowers. It didn't take long, every house has some kind of happy plants, gracing their walkways,encircling the fences. Roses the colors of sherbert, lavenders of all varieties, showing off their different styles of blooms. Some areas had no flowers at all, just long rows of every shade of green imaginable.
There must be a million dogs in this town-at least I have counted at least 1000 different ones in this neighborhood alone!! They must really rule, because I see people picking up their poo and throwing it away! It must be contagious, because Carol has started doing it too.
I was quite grateful to finally get back to my cozy quilt-a nap was in order. When I woke up, Carol and Barney were out the door-Carol always tells me she is going for "food" and, well she always brings some back!! Tonight my chicken was laced with Tandoor pork and was extra special! She was especially happy because Nathan fixed special little plates of different foods for her and Barney to eat, while they sat at the bar and drank a really good Reisling.
Finally, Jenny came through the door-I was so glad to see her, I just love her so much, I couldn't get enough of her, I chased her all around the house. I was so pooped out I couldn't run much when Nathan came a few minutes later, but I was happy to see him too.
I hear we are going for another drive tomorrow, something about the Russians! Whatever, as long as I can sit on Jennys lap-it will be all good!
lovin it up in Portland-Jackson

Hi, there!!! Just ate a piece of grass in the forest and lost my lunch!! Really though, I am doing OK, just too much moving around, I will be glad when we can just stay in one place for awhile and I think I heard Carol say to Nathan that we will be here for another week-that seemed to make him very happy!
We are back at Nathan's home and he and Jenny hurried around here for a bit and then they got on their bikes and rode off to work. Barney and Carol are going to walk down to Nuestra Cocina, the restaurant to eat chili rellenos-the peppers are steamed, not fried!!! I guess I'll hang out here while they are gone.
The drive back from the beach was peaceful, we saw a whole field of red clover!! We went on a hike down to another part of the beach and I saw the biggest ferns and slugs-the slug was so big, Jenny had to take a picture of it!! Seems as though she has a collection of huge slug pictures!!!
Well, Carol has put my quilt on the sofa, for me to be at home on, so I'm going to stretch out and watch the fish tank for awhile-tomorrow we walk down to a sidewalk cafe for breakfast, maybe I'll be able to catch sight of this cute Boston terrier that I've seen around here- in fact, I have never seen so many dogs walking around one area in my life!!
Later-J-