When researching Cattle Dogs, one may find the words “high energy” or “busy” or even “hyper” to describe them. While Pongo can be a very busy boy, he is also one of the laziest Cattle Dogs I have come across.
Atypical?
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The Amateur
The word “frisbee” has to be spoken with care in this household. Just mention of the f-word can throw Pongo into convulsions of excitement. Pongo loves playing frisbee. And while he will be no professional disc dog, that boy sure can fly!
There’s no doubt that after a session of frisbee, we always have one happy and worn out dog.
One Last Hurrah
It’s that time again…when the dread starts mounting and the countdown begins. I’m way past the countdown part though–I’m grasping at my final hours of summertime freedom. Yes sadly (at least for me), I head back to work tomorrow. As usual, summer break has flown by; it feels like I just got out of school and now it’s time to go back. Not a good feeling.
I wanted to make the most of today and the nice weather we had this morning, so Pongo and I walked the mile, from the Kincaid Chalet, down the Coastal Trail to spend some time at Kincaid Beach. We were so fortunate in that we had the whole beach to ourselves!
Pongo enjoyed wrangling his log in and out of the water…
While Mama tried to capture a very distant Mount McKinley and Mount Foraker.
The frisbee came out and Pongo quickly discovered: sand + mud = one very nasty and dirty frisbee.
But he used his problem-solving skills and made sure that frisbee was clean each time he brought it back.
Washing off the frisbee though didn’t necessarily mean that Pongo also came out clean.
But we tried to rinse him off every now and then, too.
Pongo and I had a wonderful day at the beach-enjoying our last day of summer break!
Late Bloomers
Our garden has been a true testament to the mostly dismal summer we’ve been having. Plants that are typically mid-June bloomers have just started to show their true colors this past week.
I’m just thankful they finally decided to bloom so we can enjoy their beauty for the remainder of our short summer.
Dog Jog
Anchorage’s 18th annual Friends of Pets Dog Jog took place yesterday. And while Pongo is not quite ready to participate in the Dog Jog, I truly believe some day I will be running the trails with my sweet Cattle Dog pal by my side.
To get in some exercise before Steve and I stuffed ourselves at Kincaid Grill, an early anniversary celebration in case Steve is out of town on our true anniversary date: August 1st, Pongo and I decided to do our own Dog Jog yesterday…Pongo style.
Beauty and The Beast
After a long night of managing Pongo’s restlessness because of fireworks going off around us, I woke up to grey skies and 50 degrees…again. I was tired and a little bit weather cranky but knew Audra was going to be waiting for us at the Gold Mint Trailhead. So, I packed up the car and made the venture to Hatcher Pass. As we drove further North and further from Anchorage, blue skies started to peek in-between the grey. I started feeling hopeful that we may actually get to hike in some decent weather. By the time we arrived at the trailhead, the sun was shining and it was absolutely gorgeous! I can’t believe I even thought about not going…I wouldn’t have missed this hike for anything.
Beauty
Greta and Phoebe
Audra and the girls
Cooling-Off
Pongo showing me he really doesn’t like having his picture taken.
Columbine
My attempt to get a picture with Pongo–he was having none of that.
Dwarf Dogwood
Alaska Spirea
Success! I got Pongo to sit still for the 10 seconds it took to shoot this photo.
The BEAST
I’m not too sure what jumped out and got Pongo: a rock, a log, an animal he found in the brush? I didn’t hear him yelp or cry and he wasn’t acting any different until we got home. He was walking a little funny and I thought he was just tired and sore. But as I was brushing him out, I came across this nasty beast that took 2 staples and a week’s worth of antibiotics to tame.
Our poor boy is now having to wear the donut-of-shame.
And is having a hard time getting comfortable.
I’m sure though he has absolutely no regrets about running, jumping and zipping around having the time of his life.
Independence Day
Hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!
Mantras
I have a love-hate relationship with Alaska. I love the beauty and splendor of what surrounds me. I love the uniqueness that comes with living in Alaska. I love the small town feel even though we live in the biggest state in the United States. The people are down-to-earth and no-nonsense.
On the other hand, I hate how isolated we are. I hate the road system consists of basically 3 main highways: one going South to Homer, one going North toward Fairbanks, and one going Northeast toward Canada. To get down to the Lower 48, you can always drive the AL-CAN or take the ferry but count on at least a 4-5 day trip. And, who has that much time when you only have a week or two for vacation? So, what do I hate the most about living in Alaska? I hate that the only quick way out of Alaska is to fly and I HATE to fly.
I’m a terrible flyer. I get anxious and panicky days before we have to fly. It’s on my mind constantly. And as the time to fly nears, I get worse: racing heart at just the thought of take-off and landing, sweat pouring from my pores at the thought of the small bumps we always encounter, and let’s not mention the bigger bumps that pilots like to call “minor turbulence” those thoughts bring me to tears.
I know…I have a serious problem.
When I’m lucky enough to have my husband with me as we fly, poor Steve ends up with nail marks in his arm and a mess of a wife. He reminds me that “flying is safer than driving” but that gives me no solace; give me a car and an open road and I am a much happier camper. But when I have to fly alone, which I have had to do the past couple of trips, I do my best to hold it together. I load up on the Cortisol Manager and even order a drink or two to calm my nerves. I set my watch to my destination’s time so I know exactly how much more time I have to endure surging through the air at 500 miles per hour, 37,000 feet above the sweet ground.
Years ago, I learned a mantra that I teach my elementary school kids when they are feeling anxious or upset. It’s one that I use myself and will even admit to them that I use it when I am feeling scared and uneasy: like when I am flying. This mantra runs through my head as we take-off, during each bump we hit, when I feel my heart racing because there’s a strange noise, as panic sets in because I am stuck in this plane, and when we land. It has gotten me through many-a-flights and will hopefully get me through many-a-more…like the one I am on now…
I AM SAFE. I AM CALM. I CAN HANDLE THIS.
Happy Birthday, Pongo!
Our sweet boy Pongo turns 3 today. From the day we brought him home to this moment, we have seen immense amounts of change in him. He’s gone from a nippy, pushy little tyrant to a kiss-giving, goofy little man who will only sometimes now push the limits just to see how far he can get…but that’s also a Cattle Dog for you!
To start off the birthday celebration, Mama made sweet potato/pumpkin cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and topped with meaty treats for Pongo to share with his doggie friends at daycare yesterday.
Note to self: do not use peanut butter frosting on cupcakes and then try to stuff them into the tiniest treat bag known to humankind.
Pongo’s favorite part of baking…licking the spoon.
Our plan for this morning was to try breakfast at the Glacier Brewhouse (so not worth it but glad we tried it so that we can cross it off of our breakfast dining possibilities) and then go for a walk downtown. Unbeknownst to us, or maybe we are just really out of it, a HUGE festival was going on downtown: Downtown Summer Solstice Festival. It was starting to become a madhouse by the time we were done with breakfast and ready for our walk. Pongo can handle lots of people but was pretty stressed out as we were dodging dogs left and right. We got as far as Town Square where we quickly stopped to enjoy the gardens, and then hightailed it back to the car because it was too much for Pongo; he just wasn’t enjoying himself. We were able to snap a couple pictures before our retreat.
Anchorage has been experiencing some phenomenal, well-deserved weather these past couple of days. Weather nice enough to pull out the pool for Pongo’s birthday enjoyment. We did add water, incase your wondering.
Pongo also got to play a little frisbee.
And then watch for squirrels while resting.
Pongo’s last mission on his special day was to help Mama and Papa nab all the mosquitoes that latch onto Pongo’s underside for a free ride into the house. He’s actually a very good bug catcher, if he doesn’t spaz too much when he hears the “Get the bug” command.
And now, we have one pooped birthday boy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET PONGO BOY!
Here and Now?
I’ve always heard that dogs live in the here and now. Don’t worry about the future. Don’t worry about the past. Pongo has proven that it’s all a big myth. This dog worries about things that are about to happen and lets these events turn his whole world upside down.
Last night, I was packing my bag for a quick trip down to Seattle to visit Steve’s family. I am usually not the one to pack bags and leave for trips–that’s Steve. Pongo saw what I was doing and immediately put his long face, mopey ears, and worried eyes on. Bags being packed equals someone is leaving, and that just does not sit well with Pongo.
Pongo curled right up next to Papa when Steve got in bed, as I was still packing. It’s a rarity for Pongo to snuggle with Papa in bed. He is usually sleeping right on top of me every night and trying to snag some of my pillow. But last night, he wanted nothing to do with me. He is breaking my heart with his worried looks and little sensitive, hurt soul.
I wish he would buck up and realize that Mama will come back!
The Pongo Experience 