I can't believe I've already had him this long. I remember being so impatient, waiting for him to arrive. I couldn't even sleep the night before I got him.
It was a pretty day today, so we went out and took a bunch of pictures on the front lawn.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
5 months!
Today is Spike's 5 month day!
I can't believe I've already had him this long. I remember being so impatient, waiting for him to arrive. I couldn't even sleep the night before I got him.
It was a pretty day today, so we went out and took a bunch of pictures on the front lawn.
I can't believe I've already had him this long. I remember being so impatient, waiting for him to arrive. I couldn't even sleep the night before I got him.
It was a pretty day today, so we went out and took a bunch of pictures on the front lawn.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Walk to cure Diabetes
Today, Spike and I attended "A Walk to Cure Diabetes" this morning, which was hosted by The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). I only found out about it yesterday and managed to get $165 in donations. Not bad for such late notice.
When we arrived at Scera Park, there were TONS of people, games, free drinks, doughnuts etc. We even saw Grizzbee the Grizzly (Mascot for Utah's Hockey Team; The Grizzlies)
David Osmond sang the National Anthem! It was pretty neat. I wanted to take a picture, but the camera I brought was spazzing out. I brought my cheap-o kodak digital camera because it is small and easier to carry. But the thing died after about 12 pictures ON A FULL CHARGE. Not happy-making.
They had a "warm-up" where they had everyone do the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, and the "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" Dance. I was going to do the dances with everyone, but the loud music and all the people dancing around seemed to confuse Spike. He was looking around wondering what was going on. So I sat on a chair, being his "Calm in a storm".
Grizzbee and a volunteer doing the Chicken Dance.
Spike wondering what is going on.
Spike did really well on the walk. We walked along State Street, which was a good experience for him. It was his first time walking on a busy street like that and he did wonderfully.
Here is Spike with the shirt I got!
Overall, we had a really good time. I would like to do it again next year!
When we arrived at Scera Park, there were TONS of people, games, free drinks, doughnuts etc. We even saw Grizzbee the Grizzly (Mascot for Utah's Hockey Team; The Grizzlies)
David Osmond sang the National Anthem! It was pretty neat. I wanted to take a picture, but the camera I brought was spazzing out. I brought my cheap-o kodak digital camera because it is small and easier to carry. But the thing died after about 12 pictures ON A FULL CHARGE. Not happy-making.
They had a "warm-up" where they had everyone do the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, and the "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" Dance. I was going to do the dances with everyone, but the loud music and all the people dancing around seemed to confuse Spike. He was looking around wondering what was going on. So I sat on a chair, being his "Calm in a storm".
Grizzbee and a volunteer doing the Chicken Dance.
Spike wondering what is going on.
Spike did really well on the walk. We walked along State Street, which was a good experience for him. It was his first time walking on a busy street like that and he did wonderfully.
Here is Spike with the shirt I got!
Overall, we had a really good time. I would like to do it again next year!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Fun
Yesterday Spike and I walked over to Heritage Park a couple blocks from my house. He had a good time sniffing around, and I had a good time taking pictures of him.
Here are more photos of Spike in my backyard I took a couple days ago.
Today at puppy meeting, Spike was a good little boy. We worked on dog distractions and then played an obedience game. Afterward Megan had us take a group photo. So I'm excited to see that.
Spike and Journey seem to really like french kissing and playing around with each other. Hannah took a few photos of the two of them together, so I'm excited to see those, also!
It's sad to think that today was probably the last time I will see Journey. He is leaving on Friday for the High School program. Hopefully he'll be a good boy for his new handler.
Here are more photos of Spike in my backyard I took a couple days ago.
Today at puppy meeting, Spike was a good little boy. We worked on dog distractions and then played an obedience game. Afterward Megan had us take a group photo. So I'm excited to see that.
Spike and Journey seem to really like french kissing and playing around with each other. Hannah took a few photos of the two of them together, so I'm excited to see those, also!
It's sad to think that today was probably the last time I will see Journey. He is leaving on Friday for the High School program. Hopefully he'll be a good boy for his new handler.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Long, long day.
Today was a long, tiring day both for me and Spike. We went to both of my little brothers' football games. We sat through a good 5 hours of football altogether.
The first game was over in Alpine. The game itself was 1 1/2 hours long, but Justus, my brother had to be there an hour early to warm up. So we were there in the hot sun for about 2 1/2 hours.
The second game was at Juan Diego High School. Like Justus, my other brother Shea also had to be an hour early to warm up. Then the game was about another hour and a half. 5 hours total.
During the game, we were sitting on bleachers. It was so hot! We ended up bringing a towel for Spike to sit on so he didn't burn his little paws. The temperature outside wasn't too bad, but as soon as you got to the bleachers, you have all this sun reflecting onto you, and it was torture! I kept giving Spike water every ten minutes or so, and I drenched him in water a couple times to help cool him down. It was ridiculous.
On the upside, I got a little bit of a tan and I now have a flip-flop tan line.
After the games, we headed to The Pie Pizzeria for lunch/dinner. It was Spike's first sit-down restaurant outing and he did wonderful! He slept the whole time. Poor guy, he was so tired from all the heat.
We unfortunately forgot to bring the camera, so I ended up taking the above picture with my cell phone.
I actually just found these pictures of me and Liberty. I don't remember them at all. These were taken about a month before my parents sold her. This photo was taken just up the street from where I live. My horse was boarded in Lindon at the time, and I would make this 20ish mile round-trip from Lindon to my house a couple times a year. I would usually pack a lunch and some water bottles and eat while riding. It was just me and my horse (and occasionally my Aussie, Shelby). I would ride along the canal, and it was always my favorite ride. You can see my Aussie in the photos.
I miss those days.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Liberty
A year ago today was the last day I saw my horse. Her registered name was Sweet Maybeline (Because it looked like she had eyeliner) but I called her Liberty. She was born 4/23/93, so that makes her currently 16yrs. My parents unfortunately had to sell her for financial reasons. (However, they never talked to me about it, and being clueless in the horse industry, sold her for 1.5k when she was worth at least 5k.)
When we bought her 8 years ago, she was a 7 year old green-broke retired broodmare. She had been used for nothing but breeding at U of U previously. They used her for breeding because of her rare set of markings: Ice caps, medicine hat, "eyeliner", and overo. These markings are hard to come by all on one horse. My parents bought her for me (And for that I will always be grateful) and I finished her training. (Yes, I was only ten and trained a horse.) She was a speed demon and wanted nothing to do with moving slow.
By the time I was 13 we were entering local horse shows and would frequently bring him the blues for speed events. And because of her flawless flying lead change, we would occasionally bring home he blues for reining.
I loved that horse so much, and I wish I could have her back. But I know that she is at a good home with good people somewhere in Southern Utah.
Me and Liberty. I was about 15 in this photo.
Waiting to do barrels. That is my sister on back. I was about 14.
Booking it to the end. I had lost a stirrup, which is why I'm not sitting correctly. :]
Good view of her "eyeliner".
Me when I was ten with a horse I learned to ride on. In the background you can see Liberty. This was taken a couple months before my parents bought her.
I had to show this one. haha. This is Chester, a Shetland pony cross I helped train. The owner wanted him broke enough to teach her little 7 year old daughter to ride on. I rode him about as often as I rode Liberty for a couple years. My feet almost skimmed the ground when I rode him. I always rode him bareback since any saddle that fit me wouldn't fit him. And most of the time I was too lazy to get a bridle out.
I was probably about 14 in this photo.
When we bought her 8 years ago, she was a 7 year old green-broke retired broodmare. She had been used for nothing but breeding at U of U previously. They used her for breeding because of her rare set of markings: Ice caps, medicine hat, "eyeliner", and overo. These markings are hard to come by all on one horse. My parents bought her for me (And for that I will always be grateful) and I finished her training. (Yes, I was only ten and trained a horse.) She was a speed demon and wanted nothing to do with moving slow.
By the time I was 13 we were entering local horse shows and would frequently bring him the blues for speed events. And because of her flawless flying lead change, we would occasionally bring home he blues for reining.
I loved that horse so much, and I wish I could have her back. But I know that she is at a good home with good people somewhere in Southern Utah.
Me and Liberty. I was about 15 in this photo.
Waiting to do barrels. That is my sister on back. I was about 14.
Booking it to the end. I had lost a stirrup, which is why I'm not sitting correctly. :]
Good view of her "eyeliner".
Me when I was ten with a horse I learned to ride on. In the background you can see Liberty. This was taken a couple months before my parents bought her.
I had to show this one. haha. This is Chester, a Shetland pony cross I helped train. The owner wanted him broke enough to teach her little 7 year old daughter to ride on. I rode him about as often as I rode Liberty for a couple years. My feet almost skimmed the ground when I rode him. I always rode him bareback since any saddle that fit me wouldn't fit him. And most of the time I was too lazy to get a bridle out.
I was probably about 14 in this photo.
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Down" and other cute stuff.
Spike was introduced to the "Down" command a couple weeks ago. Yesterday he did it without being manhandled and he has been doing so about 80% of the time (with little to no distractions) since then. He seems to like doing it.
Spike never liked his Nylabone until Meade broke it in for him. I was amazed to see him actually using it.
Spike loves to be under my bed. He will often crawl under there and fall asleep. He will usually take a couple of his toys with him and leave them there. This is Spike getting his toy out from under the bed. It's probably hard to see. Sorry!
Spike never liked his Nylabone until Meade broke it in for him. I was amazed to see him actually using it.
Spike loves to be under my bed. He will often crawl under there and fall asleep. He will usually take a couple of his toys with him and leave them there. This is Spike getting his toy out from under the bed. It's probably hard to see. Sorry!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor Day!
Today my family and I went to Antelope Island. It was incredibly fun! For you Utah people that like hiking/biking, trail riding on horses, boating, etc, I suggest you visit Antelope Island. It was only my second time being there (My first being when I was about 12ish) and I had a blast. It's such a beautiful place, and I would love to make regular trips there.
Spike seemed to enjoy the hiking, but didn't like being in the water so much.
(Click photos for full view)
Here is Spike on our way over to the water. It was about 1/2 a mile walk. The first 300 yards or so was really soft, fine sand. So we all decided to walk over barefoot since our shoes and flip-flops kept slipping off in the sand. Huge mistake. With each step we took there were more and more rocks in the sand, and with each step we took, the rocks got sharper and sharper. At one point the ground was basically just dried up mud and it felt like walking on glass. My feet hurt just thinking about it. But the closer we got to the water, the soft sand returned, but there were still tons of rocks in it, and it still hurt to walk. Never doing that again.
Here is Spike in the water. Being the Great Salt Lake, I didn't let him lap it up. (Not that he'd want to!) He wasn't quite sure what he thought if it.
There is so much salt in there that when his collar dried, there was a layer of salt crusted onto it. I ended up putting it in the washer at home. There was no hope of getting all of it off by hand. I'm also probably going to have to condition my leather leash. It was kinda stupid of me, taking it into the water.
We forgot to bring Spike's bowl with us over to the water, so this is how I ended up giving him water.
Eating dinner after his "Fresh Water shower".
This was after we returned from swimming in the lake.
After his shower, the wind was blowing pretty good and Spike was shivering like a leaf. So I went to the car, grabbed a spare towel and wrapped him up in it while I ate. Cute, yes?
Here is my sister, Rian with wrapped up Spike.
She claims she doesn't really like Spike, but the fact that she held him to help warm him up says otherwise.
He is thanking her for the love. :]
Spike and my brother, Shea ("Shay" like Shea Stadium) on our way up to Buffalo Point.
Spike on our way up to Buffalo Point.
Another photo along the way to Buffalo Point.
At the top of Buffalo Point.
Me and Spike at the top of Buffalo Point. Ignore my face. By the time we got there, I had sweated off all my make up and my hair was so wind blown that it looked like I just got out of bed. :]
When we got up there, Spike was so tired. I set him on this rock, and he just slumped down. The next three pictures are his progression--
There were quite a few Sunflowers at the top of Buffalo Point.
I hiked that in FLIP FLOPS. Hiking wasn't on the agenda for today, so I obviously wasn't prepared, haha.
It's much steeper than it appears.
While we were there, we saw a couple Bison.
We also saw an Antelope!
We also saw a Coyote! But unfortunately it was too far away to try and get a photo.
Here is a photo I took on our way off the island. I took it from a moving car, to bear with me. This picture was the only one of my "in a moving car" collection that was worthy of showing.
When we got home, Spike got an extra conditioning bath. He passed out on the floor afterward.
Compared to today, tomorrow is going to be boring, and I am not looking forward to it.
Did anyone else do anything exciting for Labor Day?
Spike seemed to enjoy the hiking, but didn't like being in the water so much.
(Click photos for full view)
Here is Spike on our way over to the water. It was about 1/2 a mile walk. The first 300 yards or so was really soft, fine sand. So we all decided to walk over barefoot since our shoes and flip-flops kept slipping off in the sand. Huge mistake. With each step we took there were more and more rocks in the sand, and with each step we took, the rocks got sharper and sharper. At one point the ground was basically just dried up mud and it felt like walking on glass. My feet hurt just thinking about it. But the closer we got to the water, the soft sand returned, but there were still tons of rocks in it, and it still hurt to walk. Never doing that again.
Here is Spike in the water. Being the Great Salt Lake, I didn't let him lap it up. (Not that he'd want to!) He wasn't quite sure what he thought if it.
There is so much salt in there that when his collar dried, there was a layer of salt crusted onto it. I ended up putting it in the washer at home. There was no hope of getting all of it off by hand. I'm also probably going to have to condition my leather leash. It was kinda stupid of me, taking it into the water.
We forgot to bring Spike's bowl with us over to the water, so this is how I ended up giving him water.
Eating dinner after his "Fresh Water shower".
This was after we returned from swimming in the lake.
After his shower, the wind was blowing pretty good and Spike was shivering like a leaf. So I went to the car, grabbed a spare towel and wrapped him up in it while I ate. Cute, yes?
Here is my sister, Rian with wrapped up Spike.
She claims she doesn't really like Spike, but the fact that she held him to help warm him up says otherwise.
He is thanking her for the love. :]
Spike and my brother, Shea ("Shay" like Shea Stadium) on our way up to Buffalo Point.
Spike on our way up to Buffalo Point.
Another photo along the way to Buffalo Point.
At the top of Buffalo Point.
Me and Spike at the top of Buffalo Point. Ignore my face. By the time we got there, I had sweated off all my make up and my hair was so wind blown that it looked like I just got out of bed. :]
When we got up there, Spike was so tired. I set him on this rock, and he just slumped down. The next three pictures are his progression--
There were quite a few Sunflowers at the top of Buffalo Point.
I hiked that in FLIP FLOPS. Hiking wasn't on the agenda for today, so I obviously wasn't prepared, haha.
It's much steeper than it appears.
While we were there, we saw a couple Bison.
We also saw an Antelope!
We also saw a Coyote! But unfortunately it was too far away to try and get a photo.
Here is a photo I took on our way off the island. I took it from a moving car, to bear with me. This picture was the only one of my "in a moving car" collection that was worthy of showing.
When we got home, Spike got an extra conditioning bath. He passed out on the floor afterward.
Compared to today, tomorrow is going to be boring, and I am not looking forward to it.
Did anyone else do anything exciting for Labor Day?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
So, I lied. I got Spike back today. :]
Here are some pictures I took of him last week at Thanksgiving point:
After Sammy's comment on my previous post, I was curious to see what Spike would look like if I really did dye him black. So I manipulated a photo of him. It only took about 30 minutes. It has about 7 layers on it. Lots of dodging/burning, desaturating, erasing, painting, cutting, pasting, etc. I actually completely recolored Spike's eyes: they didn't look like a black dog's eyes. I got a little lazy towards the end if you can tell by his outline. I might go back and add more detail to his face later. If you click on the picture, I believe you can see the full view.
Doesn't look as real as I would've liked, but it works.
Here are some pictures I took of him last week at Thanksgiving point:
After Sammy's comment on my previous post, I was curious to see what Spike would look like if I really did dye him black. So I manipulated a photo of him. It only took about 30 minutes. It has about 7 layers on it. Lots of dodging/burning, desaturating, erasing, painting, cutting, pasting, etc. I actually completely recolored Spike's eyes: they didn't look like a black dog's eyes. I got a little lazy towards the end if you can tell by his outline. I might go back and add more detail to his face later. If you click on the picture, I believe you can see the full view.
Doesn't look as real as I would've liked, but it works.
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