A Life Aquatic

A Place in the Shade

2010-06-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite spots when it is hot. The kayak gives me really nice shade, and the air comes up off the water through the trampoline, and cools me off. Mom says this is like natural air conditioning. I don't know what that is, but I know I like it!

My New Friend

2010-06-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

This is my new friend Vanity. She lives with the man who owns the boat next to us. They do not live aboard, so I don't see her very often. But when she comes to the boat, we have fun. We race each other up and down the docks, and my mom sometimes takes us both for walks around the marina.

Mom says Vanity is a mini Schnauzer. If you want to know more about them, you can check them out at the AKC web site. She is very cute, and very sweet. She would not stand still long enough for my mom to take her picture with me, so this was the best she could do.

Isn't she cute?

Snap Happy

2010-02-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

**Sigh** Mom got a new camera, and you know what that means. She is snap happy. She took this pic of my cute little face today, and wants to show it off.

She also took this pic of "Lady Liberty", a mini version that stands watch over our marina. She tells me that it is not quite the same as the big one, but I still think she is cool!!

Fair Winds, and thanks to Lady Liberty!!
Holly

TRAPPED!

2010-02-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

Need I say more?

I'm a Lucky Dog!!

2010-02-06T05:14:00.000-08:00

How would you like to be this eagle??? On a nest, in this cold and snow? I guess I am one lucky dog. I have a warm place to live, I only have to go out in the cold weather once in a while, unless I WANT to play in the snow. But, this poor bird!!

Here is a photo from the website of Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. My mom and dad took a trip here a few years ago. They took me too, but I could not get out of the car. Mom says they saw lots of beautiful birds, and even some kind of endangered squirrel.

Blackwater has a web cam where you can watch the eagles and ospreys too, when they are nesting. This eagle is sitting on two eggs, and we all hope they will be fine in this terrible storm. But we know this pair are good parents, and will not leave their nest.

You can watch them too; just click here to see the webcam: Friends of Blackwater.

Fair Winds, and stay warm in the storm!!

Holly

More Snow, and More on the way!!

2010-02-03T05:21:00.000-08:00

Yipee!! More snow!! I am the only one on the boat that is happy about this. Dad has been cleaning snow off the boat all morning, and moved some off the dock too. Mom says that this is her version of hell - not flames and hot, but lots of white fluffy stuff, and cold.

Personally, I think it's GREAT!! It is so much fun to ROLL in, and to CHASE snowballs, and RUN in, and....and.....EVERYTHING!! I don't even have to get all bundled up, like my mom and dad, to go outside!! YAHOO!! LET IT SNOW!!

As you can see, I'm liking the snow!!

(Mom's comment: MAKE IT STOP!!!)

Fair Winds, and enjoy the snow!!

Ice, Ice, Baby

2010-01-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

We have had fierce winds here for the past several days. My mom won't let me play outside on the boat or the dock, since she is afraid I will get blown away!! It is awfully cold too, even more so with the violent winds.

When we get winds like this here, the water comes up over the main dock. Thank goodness we are protected at the other end of the dock. The water sometimes comes all the way over, from one side to the other, then freezes. My dad has been putting down salt when this happens, so we have a clear path to the gate.

The outside dock is covered in at least 3 inches of ice. Look at these bikes!!

Can't wait till spring!!

Fair Winds, and no more fierce ones!

YAHOO!!!!

2009-12-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

This is what happened in our neck of the woods on Saturday. I LOVE IT!!! Snow is my favorite, next to playing in the water. Mom doesn't like it, she thinks it is too cold. But, I think it is major FUN!!

Our boat was totally covered in snow. It was like a cave, with snow covering the windows!!

Check this out! I could hardly walk in all this snow!

Fair Winds!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2009-12-12T14:25:00.000-08:00

Today, December 12, is my birthday. I am now 5 years old. And where did I spend this special day???? In my crate, at our land-based house, while my mom and dad went Christmas shopping. What kind of birthday is that? But, my mom did get me a birthday present. She got me some of my favorite bones, a whole bag of them!!! Yahoo!! Allll MINE!!!

Can't wait to see what she got me for Christmas......

Fair Winds!!

Holly, the Sailing Schipperke, on shore leave

A Holiday Wish

2009-12-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

My family and I went to our land-based house for a long Thanksgiving weekend. It was nice! I had lots of room in the house to run and nascar around, and my toy box to raid, too. I forgot I had so many toys!! We had visitors, and lots of good food to eat. Of course, I only got a little bit of turkey, so I can only say that I saw lots of food.

But, it was not all good. My mom went to visit one of her former clients, from when she was a dog walker. This family has two golden retrievers, Maddie and Murphy. This is a picture of them; Murphy is on the left. I can tell you that Murphy is a perfect gentleman, as I have walked with him a few times. My mom sometimes took me with her on her route, but Murphy was the only dog I could walk with, since the others on her route were not nice to other dogs.

Recently, Murphy's family found out that he has bone cancer. My mom says when she saw him the other day, that he was in a good mood, and seemed happy. His hind legs don't work right, tho, so he has a little trouble getting around. She says that his family has not decided yet what kind of treatment he will have, or if he will have any at all. Murphy is 10 1/2 years old, so they are more concerned with quality of life for him.

So, my holiday wish is for Murphy. I wish that he will live a long time, and continue to be a happy dog. I wish that someone finds a cure for cancer, so that dogs like Murphy (and people like my mom) don't have to deal with this terrible disease. I wish Murphy the best.

Fair Winds, Murphy - we love you!!

Falling Off the Edge

2009-11-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

My blogging friend Bob the Pitbull, wondered how I keep from falling off the boat. Well, Bob, the simple answer is, I learned the hard way. Mom found this picture of me on our old boat, and as you can see, I was very brave (or silly) about going all the way out on the bow pulpit to stand. One day I fell off. I also fell off twice trying to get on the boat. I jumped, but didn't make it. Fortunately, I fell into the water, so I did not get hurt. But I learned that I must wait for someone to lift me onto the boat, so I don't miss. I also fell off one time when we were at anchor, when I was chasing some water down the side. It was fun, until SPLASH. My dad yelled "Dog overboard", and came to rescue me. Luckily, I knew enought to go to the ladder, because when I swim with my mom and dad, I go to the ladder when I am tired. So, Dad plucked me out of the drink, and I learned another valuable lesson.

On our current boat, I have learned I can put my toes only so far before I start to slip. So, I go no further. Also, even thought my dad put a set of stairs by the boat, I ALWAYS wait for someone to pick me up. I have a friend named Gizmo, who used to jump off his boat and run away all the time. I'd NEVER do that, since I know I can fall.

So, there you have it, Bob. Sometimes you have to fall, then you learn what not to do. I am now pretty savvy on the boat, and know my limits.

Fair Winds, my friend!!

My Favorite Heron

2009-11-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

We had a visitor this morning - a great blue heron. It was just hanging out at the corner of our slip. This is the kind of bird I REALLY like to chase. I try to sneak up on them, like a cat, but they always see me. Then, they SQUARRRKKK, and take off. Noisy birds, and cranky too. But fun to chase!

It was only here for a few minutes, then flew away. Too bad I missed the chance to chase it off!

Fair Winds!

Holly

One Month Aboard

2009-10-30T12:47:00.001-07:00

Well,

We have been living aboard for almost one month now. I do have to say, life is pretty good. I can hang around outside whenever I want (as long as it is not raining; Mom has this thing about having a wet dog inside). I chase ducks and herons, bark at other boats, and generally have a good time. When the sun is out, I can relax and veg in the warmth, and even when it is not so warm, I still like to see what is going on outside in the marina, and on the river. So much to see!

My mom took this picture today. It shows me doing one of my chores. We have to fill water tanks every now and then. My job here is to watch the hose, to make sure it is doing what it is supposed to do. I need to make sure it is putting water in the tanks, not fooling around doing other hose stuff. After all, the hose has a job also.

I think I like being a live aboard dog. My mom was not sure about it for me, since I am a crazy dog, and I love to run and play. Not much room on the boat for that, but lots of room on the dock! Plus, I am closer to the ducks that way. I'm supposed to keep them off the dock, and the boat, too. They poop all over the place, so we don't want them around, even though Mom thinks the babies are cute.

Fair winds! See you next time!

Rainbow's End

2009-10-30T12:37:00.001-07:00

Mom says some people believe there is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I don't know about pots of gold, but a pot of dog food sounds really good to me. We took this picture after a rainy day, when my dad spotted the rainbow. I think it is very pretty, but how do you find the end of the rainbow? It looks close, but I think this rainbow's end might be in the water. I like to swim, but I don't think I could find a pot of dog food, or gold, if it is under water. Could you?