I hope you all are having a great Christmas! I was excited going to sleep last night. Here’s how the boat looks.
Our Christmas decorations
Sure enough, after our walk this morning, we came back and saw that Santa had left me a new toy! It’s a big rope with a crinkly center. Hours of fun!
Oh, by the way, have I showed you the outside decorations? I think there’s a striking resemblance!
My brother smoked some cheese early this morning and then he smoked a beef tenderloin to take over to my niece and nephew-in-law. I got to be the taste tester! After that, I was ready for a nap!
When my brother got back, we took a walk. It was cold and windy, so we had some more beef to warm us up when we got back to the boat.
I love Christmas! It’s a time of the year when all my two-legged friends act more like dogs. They’re nice to one another, they have a sense of wonder, they like to be close together, and they love to eat! Just like God intended, if you ask me!
I’ll see you tomorrow with the start of my Twelve Treasures of Christmas.
Well, my brother and I are back in Washington, DC! Here’s a picture of us leaving the house last Wednesday:
Before I tell you about our adventures, a big “thank you” to my niece’s mom: she made me a nice blanket for Christmas!
It is very soft and it has pictures of the Pioneer Lady’s dog in a pickup truck on it! I think it’s time my brother and I got a pickup, but I think I’ll still let him drive most of the time. When you’re the driver, I think your passengers expect you to stay seated and not just decide to lie down whenever you feel like it.
Our first night, we stayed in Jackson, Tennessee. With my traveling bowls, I felt right at home!
Our room had a nice couch for me to sleep on – just like home and the boat.
The hotel folks had dog treats for me in the lobby and there was a nice courtyard to explore.
Speaking of the courtyard, I think the hotel was also called the “Courtyard”. What a coincidence!
The next day we got to my friend Tripp’s and his brother, Mike’s. They live in the Smoky Mountains. Speaking of another coincidence – the mountains were a little hazy!
We got to their house before they did, so I got to play in the backyard. I even got to “borrow” one of Tripp’s toys for the rest of the trip.
At first I thought it was a little lamb, but it’s actually a fluffy piñata, because it’s full of squeakers! At last count, I have removed four squeakers from it. What a nice surprise!
It’s always fun to visit them on Lake Douglas. Wait a minute – Douglas is also my brother’s name! This trip is jam-packed with coincidences!
On Lake Douglas
Well, I’ll keep you updated on our adventures on the boat, soon!
Wow! We’ve had an exciting past few weeks! My brother and I went to the boat! We left Tulsa on a Monday morning and headed first to St Louis.
The beginning of the journey
I was so excited that I spent the whole trip in the front seat. I love listening to music on the road. Some of it made me want to dance …
Dixieland Delight
Then, there were songs that make you think a little …
The Dance
We had lunch with my niece’s Godparents, the Hunts. Their daughter is my brother’s Goddaughter. I guess that makes me a Goduncle. That’s so exciting!
We spent the night in Louisville with our friends the Wilhelm’s. You’ve probably heard of Labradoodles and Golden Doodles. Well, their dog is a type I wasn’t familiar with: a Poodle. A very nice young man!
The next day, we made it all the way to Washington. Talk about a lot of familiar smells, and some new ones! The Washington Channel was even prettier than I remembered.
A-B Fairway at Dusk
We went over to our friend Guy’s boat, then met our friends Al and Alan for dinner. Fun times!
At Kirwan’s with my cousins Al and Alan
Oh, I almost forgot … I learned that leashes don’t make good dental floss. On Monday night, I chewed through mine when we were at dinner in Louisville. The Wilhelm’s dog let me borrow one of his for the trip to the District. It was a pretty pink one. Well, after dinner on Tuesday, I thought I would clean my teeth, and it snapped, too! I’m saving up to buy him a replacement.
After the long trip, it was a treat to go to the Dog Park in Shirlington.
Running free at Shirlington
There’s a pretty creek that runs alongside the park, but there’s a fence between them. Some dogs get to go play in the creek, but my brother, for some reason, was not interested in exploring.
Shirlington Dog Park
That’s OK, because what I really like to do is scratch my back. My brother calls it “tumping”. I’ll try to send you pictures from time to time. Maybe you can exercise along with me.
Winston scratching his back
It was good to see all the places at The Wharf again. When we go for our early morning walks, there are always some treats on the ground, left over from the night before.
At Pearl Street
I may not be that great at catching squirrels and rabbits, but I’m getting very good at sneaking up on pieces of chicken and ice cream cones!
On C Dock
Sometimes I like to sit on our dock and watch for ducks. Then, there’s also the pier with the fireplace.
On the Public Pier
There are so many places to look for treats. After a busy weekend, it’s almost like an all-you-can-eat buffet!
On the District Pier
Speaking of Buffet, on our first Saturday back, Alan and his friend Jodie gave a concert of Jimmy Buffett songs, and everyone sat out in their boats to listen. My brother and I snuck up on the balcony to get a better look.
Watching Jodie and Alan
Then, the next Saturday, our friend Mike and his jazz band played. After that, Al took us on a boat ride! We went all the way to Alexandria!
On the Channel
Back on our boat, my brother has rediscovered one of his favorite shows, “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine”. He told me he used to watch that show 30 years ago, and Hank is still going strong. He gets to go all over the place and fish. Maybe we can visit him sometime and go on his boat. After my trip to Alexandria, I think I’m up for anything! We’ve watched a lot of his shows this past week. My brother calls it “bench-watching” but we’re actually sitting on the sofa.
Well, I’ll keep you up to date on our adventures. I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner!
It seems like a long time ago now, but it sure was fun to walk in the parade at The Wharf. The beads were a little too fancy for my taste, but everyone seemed to enjoy hanging them on me.
