BEACH TIME
How wonderful! The days have been lovely and perfect for romping on the beach. If my staff pick the times appropriately there are no other dogs or people on the beach and I can run free.
I love the smell of the sea air, the feel of the sand between my toes, and the invigorating chill of the water if I decide to go wading and splashing about.
Oh, summertime - summertime. I Love it. Now if only the ferry would start running I could sail over to the Canadian islands for the day. When it gets really hot there is no better way to cool off that to take a ferry ride out on the cold waters.

HANGING OUT AT HOME
It's been a long time sine I have blogged. So, I guess it's time for me to try to catch up.
Winter has gone and Spring, although late, is really here now. In fact the past few days have felt more like summer. Thank goodness the column fans have been hauled out of the attic. Now at least the bedroom is comfortable for sleeping.
Early Spring is called Mud Season here on the island and I spent most of that time indoors. You know - chilling and watching TV, the usual. Aunt Cheri comes over for dinner and drinks often. She spoils me very nicely. I like to snuggle with her on the couch during the cocktail hour. Incidentally cocktail hour is extra snack time for me. Since I don't imbibe I have to do something to participate in the social hour.

SANTA CLAWS CAME TO MY HOUSE
The big day arrived and I did get goodies. And the goodies were all wrapped up in pretty paper that I was allowed to rip, tear and destroy. The good stuff was all inside and yet I still seem to prefer eating the paper. This is something I know I am not allowed to do and the stuff actually has no good taste. I just cannot resist the urge to eat the stuff. I did acquire a million plus points by not opening other peoples' gifts. After all the commotion of the gifts we had company and a really great meal. I do think I ate too much though. I think that's what you are supposed to do because all the humans did the same thing.

STRANGE CHANGES
Last month a few items in the living room started to disappear and my humans dragged this outside thing (I think they call it a tree) into the house. They spent an evening hanging shiny and dangling things on it which I was not allowed to touch or play with. I did sniff them out though. I have vague memories of this same thing happening about a year ago when the white stuff was on the ground. I was a lot younger then, but I think I got goodies out of the deal. Guess I will have to wait and see.

INANIMATE CREATURES
Before Christmas we went out to the tree farm to get my tree and this little fellow accompanied us home. He has eyes and he stares at me. He smells like a tree. I thought he could move, but it was only his decorative ribbon collar blowing in the wind. I confirmed he was not real when I bit off a piece of his belly bark and he gave no reaction. Oh well, I guess as long as he stays outside and doesn't eat my food he can hang around. Of course, I have learned I am not permitted to chew him up. I guess that's because he is defenseless.

TERRITORY INVASION
It was a bit much that I had to tolerate the sea gulls and watch them being fed each morning in my backyard. Also, I got used to the multiple bird feeders around the house. I even learned to ignore the birds and they ignored me. I could actually stand on the deck chair and watch them eat and they didn't become anxious. But - the other day I discovered the squirrels have decided to invade. They are always around the yard picking up left over birdseed and sea gull food. The little buggers have the nerve to come up on my deck looking for more food. One fellow sits at the glass door and stares into the house and into my face. I just don't know how much more of this I can take. I am being overrun by wildlife.

PAMPERED POOCH
Yes, I am a pampered pooch. That is as it should be. After all I am a Dalmatian. I have been described in many books as an ornament of the gentry and we all know ornaments must be cherished and well cared for. I certainly am.
I was also fortunate enough to be preceded by Prince Duncan who, after many months of hard work, had trained his humans to almost perfection. I only had to do a bit of fine tuning of my own. I pretty much run the place now and set my own schedule.
One touchy area is my bedding. I have this uncontrollable desire to chew on it and when I finally get it ripped open - well, then all the stuffing has to be removed. It's a challenge I cannot forgo. This behavior did not go over big with the humans. It seems dog bed cost something they call money. After I had eaten or otherwise destroyed three of these lovely comfy beds the threat was made that I would be sleeping on the bare floor - heaven forbid. For a week or so I was napping on the old new England plank floor.
Then my humans discovered an ad in the Orvis catalog for a indestructible dog bed. Supposedly I nor any other canine could chew through it. And if per chance I did, the bed would replaced with no questions asked. So, I was given another trial. Now let me get this straight. I could chew this sucker up with little effort, but I have opted not to do so. It's stylish. It's comfortable. It is even embroidered with my name. Besides I am not really fond of sleeping on the bare floor. I do love my Daddies and I think I am going to give in on this one. I know I can do it, but, oh, the urge to chew is still there and I must fight it constantly especially when nobody is watching. Wish me luck. It's coming into Winter now and I really would rather not be sleeping on the cold floor.