Dear Dog Diary:

Recycle dog Rusty here.

In a former life, I was a toaster. You know how Oregonians are - all green and sustainable....

Tiki Dude and I are surfing, or should I say, suffering snow in the yard.

Just so you know what we’ve been through, here are a few pix before, during, and now.

It’s Snowmeggadon - the biggest winter in decades.

The worst since our Surf Dog Diaries family moved from SoCal to the Columbia River Gorge 10 years ago.

We’re standing guard for the Surf Dog home office these days.

Kinda sad - fewer mammals around – just a girl and a dog and a cat. She’s out shoveling snow and scraping the roof – it’s too much work, if you ask me.

I think they’re all grousing around and mourning. They recently lost two geezer dogs. One, just a week ago, was surfing the yard. The other gave up in May. Dude and Elvis – twin bassets of different mothers.

Recycled, aka rescue dogs.

Now recycled again - surfing waves in the sky.

Tia and Doodle, author animals, mourning, not authoring. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, Dogdiary.org — **Tia and Doodle, author animals, mourning, not authoring.** Photo (c) Barb Ayers, Dogdiary.org

So Tiki Dude and I thought we’d pitch in.

I’m trying my best here to be cheerful but Tiki’s smile is a little scowly lately.

He’s trying to keep a stiff upper lip.

Here’s my happy ear flap up - crumb tray out look….

Would you believe – I have a defrost button!?!

We checked on surfboard dude in the driveway and here’s what he had to say…

And the BBQ boyz?

They’re pretty silent, too.

Momma quail yard art is almost visible again. Her kids, still under snow.

Thankfully, our actual quail neighbors still commute through the yard – not really interested in quail art.

And prayer flags?

They’re the only constant - they flitter and float. A little more lively than the rest of us. Of course, a roof overhead can’t hurt. Then again, they are hanging with icicles.

Here are the neighbors' cars.

Yard art, too.

Weird.

Frankly, Diary, it 's been ruff on all of us. We’re all family - all hanging together.

Trying to recycle our hearts and our smiles. To begin again.
I guess that's why they call it the ride.
The ride of life with a dog.
The Surf Dog Diaries.

Rusty

Dear Dog Diary:

I chew after every meal I enjoy my rawhide roll-up for 10 minutes. Working on it this way shows just how deft I am with my paw work. We boxers are known for this.

The only time this trait gets me into trouble is when I invite another dog to play. I whack another boxer on the neck or shoulders, and the game is on, running, chasing, batting at each other with our fore paws.

I tried this with my lab-in-law, Buddy, the other day. He is a nice guy but totally misreads it when I whack him. He mumbles and goes to hide behind a chair.

Oh, and I tried it with the office cat up on the counter at the vet's. This did not go well either, though he did bat at me and make hissy sounds.

I thought you'd like this photo. The vet liked it so much, I will be featured on the practice Facebook page for March dental specials!