October 7, 2008-
Oh! the wind! Oh! the mud! Oh! the rain!! But, WOW the beauty it all creates!! I have never had my paws cleaned as much as I have since I arrived in Oregon. I actually dread going outside because of all the fuss Carol makes when we get back indoors! I mean I can get all that rain/mud/pine tar off on that big rug you bought for me and the chair and couch-didn't you go to all that trouble to cover it up for me to use??!!?? Get a Gripp!!
Today, we were up before sunlight! The trail we usually take up to the hotel was totally different to me. The foliage was smashed in ways I have not noticed before-the smells were fascinating-like nothing I have ever known before! I could of stayed alot longer, but nature called and I went to my "special " place in the "white garden". Carol likes for me to go there because the trash can is nearby (remember, Oregon is the place where dogs rule-their owners are ordered to pick up their poop and throw it away-so cool). Afterwards, we go into the hotel and Carol gets a cup of coffee in the room with the fireplace and sometimes we sit by the fire and I get to watch the flames pop out at us. When we leave, I like to go to the west garden to smell around the sumac tree-whatever lives there has an intoxicating aroma and the leaves keep changing colors-everyday it looks like a different tree!!! Carol likes the pink/purple garden-she just noticed the hydranges-she says she sees a different plant everyday even though we walk the trails everyday!!
She let me off-leash today and I ran and ran-then I saw the ducks!! whoppee! off I went-I chased them all back into the water-I'll show them quackers who the boss is around here!! Carol looked a little scared, but I came back-eventually! Hey! she isn't the only free spirit around here!!
Barney came home for lunch today!! two days in a row!! what a treat for all!! He is working on a handrail up in the mountains just 5 minutes from here-he is amazed that the house has a deck made of mahogany (wonder if that has piggy in it?) anywho-HE was impressed!! I think he likes working for the Bull Dog-they seem to like him-they just tell him what they want him to do and he does it and they leave him alone!!
A washer and dryer arrived last week, and that made Carol so happy-said she didn't have to ever leave the house to go to the laudromat if she didn't want to-especially on Saturday when we all like to go on scenic drives!! We went over a big green bridge last weekend to the state of Washington! I have been to 15 states now, and boy it was nice there!! They went to Dickies-a local produce market and Carol just loved it-lots of apples and blackberries-the pumpkins were of every size and color!! Looks like we will have pie soon-MY personal favorite!!
When we got home, I was just exhausted and one of my little pleasures is to stretch out all over their clothes -teach them not to hang up their stuff!!!
Well, the wind has been howling down the gorge, but now it has subsided a bit-Carol is coming at me with my harness, so it is time for me to run (just a little stimulus game I play with her, bless her heart!!) Gotta get......................love ya'll-jack

Sept. 30, 2008-
They are saying "you Texans have brought us Oregonians a heat wave"!! and we like it!!! As it is such a beautiful day, I have decided to stay out on the porch and watch the worker men do their thing. Carol has been looking for "studded tires" on the Internet (seems that is the way to maneuver around here in the ice and snow) and Barney is at work (he called at lunch and said everyone was out in the pasture looking at the herd of Elk roaming around).
We are going over the bridge to Washington to check out "Dickies", supposedly a great place to buy apples, pears and blueberries!! I love blueberries-frozen ones!!
I sleep alot these days as I can't roam around, but I have learned to listen to orders, like "stay, come and let's go" when I get to be off leash at night on the hotel grounds-then I run like the deer!!
Well, now Carol wants to check the new menu at the hotel-happy hour menu is half off-think I will have the short ribs!! They DO have a dog menu-check it out www.columbiagorgehotel.com
later, friends-jack

Sept. 26,2008-

It has been such a long quick week! and I had to go to the groomer AGAIN! seems my feet needed some attention! All is better. I am ready to turn in though-went to take Jenny and Nathan to the top of the bike trail-they took off and we all started staring at the ground! I have no idea what they are looking for but they are as serious as I am!! anyway-right when I was on the trail of some exciting scent, we all jumped in the car and sped down the mountain and like magic!-the kids popped out of the woods on their bikes!
Then I had to stay in the car until they got through with dinner-Nora's of course! They said something about Nathan doing an Indian sampler and that was what they were there for!
they returned to the car with satisfied looks on their faces, so I felt that all went well-NOW can we go home so I can eat!!!
When we pulled into the driveway, the hotel was all lit up with twinkling lights in the trees! they had erected a tent in the middle of the yard earlier in the week-so Carol suspected a wedding. Found our this morning that there were to be two weddings and the channel WE was filming one for their "10 best places to get married in the US" series. It was a great day for a wedding, whatever that is-it was a great day to be alive. I have alot more pictures of the wind surfers we saw today to show you tomorrow.............but for now I have to put my paws over my ears so I can keep out Michael Jackson's song "Thriller" (it is coming from the party in the big tent).More tomorrow- God bless everyone....jack