Adventures of Sam

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

2007-03-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

This is my special friend, Goat. She's kind of like a dog, but not really.
She always sticks her tongue out at me. I think its because she likes me.

Sunny morning, snowy morning

2007-03-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

It has snowed on our little springy parade.

This picture is from one week ago, down at our favorite park.
Daffodils were getting ready to bloom.

Things were getting green.

This morning, its chilly and white.

But still . . . not too shabby.

Rain and Sun

2007-02-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Today we're having April weather. Rain, then sun, then rain. Sometimes hail. This boot was found on a walk. I always take an interest in footwear.

In our garden, all kinds of things are poking up.

Its technically winter, but this is the city of gardens.
Next week Victoria will be showing off with the annual flower count.

Lazy Dog

2007-02-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hello there.

I've been having a lazy winter, and I know you haven't seen me too much.
So to bring you up to date, let me show you what things are like around here.

We had some wild weather this winter.
It was hard to go for walks in the park.
Trees had fallen across most of the paths.

And some of the paths are in rough shape too!

Here I am sitting at Sitting Lady Falls. After the rain of the winter,
the falls are thundering.

Well, I'll try to come back soon and show you what Spring is like out here.
Check in with me now and then. Now, back to my nap!

Christmas Wrapping

2006-12-29T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Just hanging out here, playing with my new Christmas presents.

I'm still a little tired from all the excitement.

Looks Like Winter

2006-11-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

By Monday, we had a good layer of
fluffy powder on top of the wet stuff.

They don't have much in the way of
snow plowing here.

You gotta watch for those falling branches!
Maybe this isn't the best time to go walking
in the woods.

Back at home, there's a whole yard full
of snow -- no footprints, just powder!

Makes me want to run like my tail is on fire!

Snow!

2006-11-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

Well, even though I haven't said too much about it,
its been raining around here almost every day for about
a month. Finally we got something besides rain!

Snow! This is yesterday, when the snow was wet and sloppy.
Its already a lot of snow for Victoria, but this was just
the beginning.

Here's our yard in the snow. More pictures to come later!
(As long as the power doesn't go out again)

On Patrol

2006-11-15T22:18:00.000-08:00

Where are you Mr. Deer? I know you were here!
I know it! Come out, come out, wherever you are!
I just want to be your friend!

[Moments earlier. . .]

Exit, stage left!

Poppy Dog

2006-11-11T11:41:00.000-08:00

I kept hearing that a lot of Canadians buy puppies
from veterinarians and wear them on their collars.
Canine friends,don't believe the stories. Its actually
poppies, and they are sold by veterans.

But it is true that people wear their poppies here.
Starting in October, you start seeing the little
red flowers pinned onto shirts and jackets.
By remembrance day, everyone's got one.
Its a nice thing.

Facing the Elements

2006-11-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

Fright Night

2006-10-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

Uh oh. This could only mean one thing.

Halloween is not the best day of the
year for dogs. People dress up scary.
Doorbells ring all night. And up here
in British Columbia, people set off
fireworks too. You got your dog-scaring
trifecta right there.

Oh well, just have to grin and bear it, I guess.
Happy Halloween!

October Surprises

2006-10-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

I've had a lot of fun lately taking my dogfather
for his walks. Its good for him to get out sometimes.

One afternoon we saw this funny big bird.
Dog-dad took lots of pictures.

The next morning, we had another exciting walk.
We got caught in the rain, but when the sun came
out again, everything looked really pretty.

Home is where the pillow is.

2006-10-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me while I was on vacation?

I stayed down here with some new friends.
No internet for a week!

This is my host Daisy. At her house you play
all day long, and they let you sleep on the furniture.

It's fun for a while, but when you get home
you need another vacation!

The First Thanksgiving

2006-10-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

... in Canada! I am thankful for

my new fence! Now I can explore the yard
to my snout's content.

sunny days in October walking on the beach.

Now if someone could just put one of those plates
on the floor, I would really be thankful!

An Island Fall

2006-10-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Fall has been good to us so far.

The evenings are getting shorter, but there's
still time for a walk after dinner.

You just have to enjoy it while it lasts.

While you were out

2006-09-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

Front door closed, 1:49 pm. One minute later . . .

Survivor night!

2006-09-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

Cue theme music . . .

I hear next season is going to be dogs vs. cats.
Game on, Monty!

How to Make a Hot Dog

2006-09-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

pant. pant.

pantpantpantpant

giant...head...so...heavy...

thunk.

Speaking of Mail

2006-09-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

While we're on the subject of mail,
here's a look at our daily mail walk.

We walk down to our mailbox
on the corner.

Sometimes there's even something for me!

And thanks for the comments readers.
Good guess, A.T-S. Reader, FOG rhymes with DOG!
You win a great big yummy Sammy snack.

Reader Mail

2006-09-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to an alert, tech-savvy reader, I have modified my blog settings so you no longer have to have a blogger account to leave comments for me. Who has the time for that, eh? So don't be discouraged, go ahead and give me your two cents.

Oh, and as for what rhymes with dog? Lots of things! But maybe you can see what I was thinking of in this picture. Hint: Its something that's wet like my nose and makes it hard to see the sea!

What Rhymes with Dog?

2006-09-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

When Sammy Met Sally

2006-09-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

Sally is my new friend.

She lives just up the street.

I think she's pretty cute.

Iron Dog

2006-08-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. Just back from a trip to Penticton,
BC, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.

August in the Okanagan means two things:
Peaches, and the Ironman triathlon.

In the spirit of the Ironman,
I competed in three of my best events:

Car rides,

Walks,

and Naps (my best event).

Little Glimpses

2006-08-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Editor's Note: There are some things Sam won't ever tell you about.

The bathroom, for example. Just not on his radar.
He only comes in here for baths, and that's not by choice.

Or the repainted yard sale dresser. What's a dresser to a dog?
He lives a simple life of few possessions.

And then there are the things that Sam just never finds out about,
like this visitor in the back yard.

Into the Great Wide Open

2006-08-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, at the beach, the water
seems very far away.

On the way to the water, you can find
some interesting things.

There's plenty of room to run!

And usually there are friends to meet.

Sometimes I just need some quiet time.

Chez Moi

2006-08-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

Bienvenue! (Just a little bilingual content --
this is Canada after all).

Thanks to the nice friend who painted my picture.
Good job with the ears, eh?

Here's where I dictate my blog (I can't type very well).
Excuse the boxes.

The living room is getting comfy.
I like to stretch out on the rug.

Peaches you can pick from the sofa!

My New Blackberry

2006-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

We stayed at our new house last night.
Our morning walk was to Tower Point.

The herons were out fishing.

Later, I went out in my backyard. Here is what
it looks like from the squirrel-viewing deck.

I was very good in the yard
while my person picked blackberries.

Later, I smelled something yummy.
If I am very, very good, maybe
I will get some of that?

My bowl is right over here. . .
Hey, where are you going with that?

Hello. Nice to Sniff You.

2006-08-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

Dogs here seem to speak the same language
as they did back in Boston.

My new friend J comes to visit me while her human
works on building things at the new house.
She stole my chewy, but she didn't really eat it.
I guess it wasn't as yummy as it looked.

Great Pod Almighty

2006-08-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

Sigh.

Wild Kingdom

2006-07-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

I thought I would edutain you today with a few facts
about the animals that live here on Vancouver Island.

First some of the things we don't have:
Skunks (good news. too stinky)
Porcupines (very good. too pointy)
Grizzlies (also good. too scary)
Heartworm (yay! wait - no yummy Heartgard chewables for me?)

Now, some of the things we do have:

Eagles!

Seals!

I don't have pictures, but so far we have also seen
deer, otters, and alligator lizards.

The other thing we have here are really big kitties called cougars.
I don't want to see one of those!

Salty Dog

2006-07-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

The big lake here is funny.
The water keeps chasing me when I try to go in.
And when I take a drink -- blech!

I'm starting to get the hang of it though.
The sandy beach is my favorite place to go wading.

Before you look at this next picture,
you might want to grab a towel.

Note the impressive propeller-like ear action!

Dogs on Logs

2006-07-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? Oh, just a little busy
working on the launch of my new magazine
for dogs, S&T (Snout & Tummyrub)

Today's big outing was to:

Albert Head Lagoon!

Well, the Lagoon itself is kinda off-limits,
but I can run on the beach.

I thought those people were dogs. They played with me!

Then I met a real dog, Snoop. She has lots of energy,
racing all around and over the driftwood logs.

She pestered me until I played with her. Kids!

Walking to Niagara Falls

2006-07-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Goldstream park is another good place for a walk.
Tonight we're going to Niagara Falls.

Yup, this is it!
Hey, if you don't believe me, look it up.

A Busy Afternoon

2006-07-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

12 p.m.

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

Squirrel Patrol

2006-07-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

My morning schedule is pretty hectic.
I guard the deck door.

I monitor the area for any unusual activity.
No one gets past this dog.

Hey you squirrel! Don't even think about it!

Sammy Heaven

2006-07-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is the park near where I'm going to be living.
This is where I will go on my walks.

Tower Point

Witty's Beach.
The only problem here is that the water tastes yucky.

Moonrise over Witty's Lagoon

My New Island

2006-07-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

I'm very busy on my new island. Every day I explore new places.

I can't post all the smells on my blog, but here is the view from Mill Hill park.

Penticton Dog Days

2006-07-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

It was hot when we arrived in Penticton.

I went for many a wade in Okanagan Lake.

When I wasn't trying to chase Rudy, I found a little nook in the yard to lie in.

Canada is a wonderful place where all citizens are entitled to free Jane Siberry concerts.

Oh Canadog!

2006-07-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, back to my big trip. After stopping for a walk at Grand Coulee, we got back on the road.

The sun was setting as we headed up the Okanogan River valley in Washington toward Osoyoos.

I had to wait in the car at the border. But take note fellow canines -- they didn't even check my paperwork!

My first walk as a Canadog, by the Penticton river channel.

Montana Standoff

2006-07-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

Editors note: This is backtracking a bit, but here's Sam's encounter with a Montana squirrel. There was a lengthy standoff: the ground squirrel knew exactly how long Sam's leash was.

Finally, he made a dash for our picnic.

Heading for the Border

2006-07-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

Grand Coulee Dam! We're going to Canada today!

Montana and Wyoming

2006-07-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

The Beartooth Highway took us way up high in Montana.

And down the other side into Wyoming on a winding mountain road.

Good dog, Bad Lands

2006-07-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

Waiting. With my pillow.

We crossed the Missouri River without seeing any snakes.

The Badlands don't have much in the way of shade.

So I stayed cool inside the car.

Onward to South Dakota

2006-07-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

Minnesota is pretty. That's where Auntie Jennifer comes from.

One time I threw up on her carpet, but she didn't get mad.

If I roll in the grass I don't have to get back in the car right away.

In Mitchell, South Dakota, I searched for bunnies.

I found a big one outside our motel.

Pennsylvania to Wisconsin

2006-07-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

Another big ride!

To tell you the truth, I didn't see much of Pennsylvania, except for the rest areas.

This is my comfy back seat. I think I slept through Ohio.

It was a day of many rest stops. The people get to eat lunch and I go for a walk.

Most of the time this is my view. I think this is Illinois. Or Indiana.

Wake me up when we get to Wisconsin.

Some of you may be wondering if we're ever going to see any good sights. Don't worry, it starts getting good tomorrow.

The Big Ride: Massachusetts to Pennsylvania

2006-07-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Here I am, ready for my ride in the car.

We drove for a long time. Mostly it was rainy. I took a lot of naps.

I think this is our new apartment!

Are we there yet?

2006-07-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sam's story starts with a car ride. It seemed like a pretty normal car ride, except that they were bringing a big bag of kibble with them this time. Also, the people gave him a fancy vest to wear in the car. It looked pretty handsome on him.