Dogs – Page 4 – This Rover

2020-07-302020-12-30

Every Old Smell is New Again

We’ve been taking our morning walks in the neighborhood for the last couple of weeks. We were going to head over to the Gathering Place this morning, because Wednesday is the day they reserve especially for dogs. I’ve never been there, and I was so excited, I don’t think I slept very much. Since I was up early, I figured my brother would be, too. He didn’t seem quite as excited as me, but he got up anyway, and we headed up Riverside Drive.

Well, I guess the Gathering Place folks are not morning people. It was closed! Maybe the sun was not technically up yet, but there was definitely light. We weren’t sure when it would open, so we decided to walk the tried-and-true Utica Square-to-Temple Israel-to-Cascia Hall-to-Nakatomi Gardens circuit.

After being gone for a couple of weeks, it’s always nice to get reacquainted with all the good smells. Plus, there are so many new ones! You know what I mean, right?

One great new smell: bacon! The Wild Fork was open for breakfast and, when we got out of the car, it hit us like a breath of fresh air! I don’t think the Gathering Place has bacon.

Temple Israel’s garden was beautiful, but their sprinkler system was going full blast, so we side-stepped it and headed toward Cascia Hall. There was a good crowd at St Rita’s Chapel for early morning church. Maybe one day I can go inside. I promise not to sniff around too much.

There was a group of young folks getting ready to play tennis. And we saw a sign we had never noticed before.

Oops! There goes our shortcut. Oh well, it’s a nice walk the longer way around – and more new smells!

After a quick swing through Nakatomi Gardens, we got back to Utica Square. My friends weren’t open at Anthropologie yet – they always come out to say “hi” if we’re there during business hours – but I think my brother finally understands why I always plop down in front of their door. Their air conditioner runs full blast and it comes out of the gap between and under the doors like an icy jet!

A pleasant reward for a walk well done!

2020-07-282020-12-30

Peach Perfect

If it’s summer is eastern Oklahoma, then it’s time for peaches!

We got to ride in the car to Livesay’s Orchards near Porter.

My brother calls peaches “God’s Candy”. I appreciate the clarification, because I always thought that was a little piece of Egg McMuffin that someone dropped on the ground. But, we all know that God has more than one favorite. He’s God, after all!

There were a lot of people buying peaches. Luckily, I didn’t have to bring my wallet. I even got to walk around in the orchard.

I thought I looked like Indiana Jones in search of treasure, but when the fruit started dropping out of the trees, I didn’t want to be Sir Isaac Newton!

The Livesays have a little schooner in their yard. I would like to take a ride in it sometime. Fortunately, though, no one wanted to hitch me up to it, because I had already had my exercise for the day.

These little wagons were more my speed.

If you’re near Porter, come on out and enjoy Summer – by the bushel!

2020-07-252020-12-30

The Talking Hockey Puck

Do you have one of these? They’re amazing!

I never even thought about hockey pucks having names, but ours is Alexa and my brother talks to her a lot. He asks her to add things like butter, bacon, and (my personal favorite) dog treats to our shopping list. That’s one less thing for me to have to remember. She can turn lights on and she even must be friends with all kinds of musicians. On many evenings, if my brother is going to be gone a while, he’ll ask her to get Brad Paisley and, a few seconds later, there he is singing to me for the evening!

Here’s something I thought about the other day: remember to always say “please” and “thank you”. Otherwise, you might forget to do that when you talk to people or dogs who don’t look like hockey pucks.

Alexa must work out a lot. She is a lot harder than other hockey pucks. The first (and last) time I tried to pick her up, my teeth were surprised. Now, she lives up on the top of the bookcase. I miss seeing her on the table.

2020-07-042020-12-30

Happy Fourth!

I love this day! The pretty flag with the stripes and stars is everywhere and the whole neighborhood smells like meat cooking. Yum!

Rather tricky out, because it looks like it would be cooler than it is. We got a nice walk in earlier, nonetheless. I still just can’t quite reach that water that the nice lion is trying to give me at Nakatomi Gardens.

There are little flags all over Utica Square. Even the moles are patriotic, I guess!

*The moles’ fireworks ought to be interesting. Be sure to wear protective eyewear.*

A fellow’s got to be careful when he’s doing his business around there: don’t want to disrespect the flag!

A little later, my Elder Brother is going to be heading out to watch some fireworks. When we first got together, he was concerned that I might get nervous around fireworks. As you can see from the Mardi Gras parade fireworks we watched on the boat, he needn’t have worried.

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

2020-06-292020-12-30

All About the Bass

Bass Pro Shops, that is. Every time we go through Memphis, I get to go inside the big pyramid on the river. There are waterfalls, fish, and all kinds of things to smell. I’ve been told it looks like the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World.

Well, did you know that there’s one in Tulsa, too? Bass Pro, I mean; not Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s not in a tall pyramid, but it also has waterfalls and ponds with fish. It also has more light, and there are those magic rooms that you can walk in, the doors close, and when they reopen, you’re somewhere else! Have you ever been in one of those? They’re amazing!

Golden Retriever in Bass Pro Shop — I like our boat in the District, but these would be nice for finding more fish that I could be friends with.

Speaking of which – when we got inside, I made a beeline for the fish area!

We took one of the magic rooms and, before you know it, we were upstairs, looking down on the store.

Wow! There were things I missed when I was looking at the fish.

Let’s explore what else is up here.

“A home where the bear and the buffalo roam…”

All in all, a good way to spend a lazy afternoon!

2020-06-282020-12-30

Ooh, Heaven is a Golden Earth

Before church this morning, we had a pleasant surprise. Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue (of which I am a proud alumnus) held a doggy birthday party for Dax, our oldest cousin. First, I got to meet some new friends.

Four golden retrievers — Pardon me, but you look (and smell) very familiar.

Dax turned 17 today! He was getting around great. Must be all that clean living.

A golden retriever with a birthday hat on — The birthday boy. Happy birthday, Dax!

Sharon and Dwight Yenzer were there with Abe and Toby Sue. I got to stay with them last fall while my Elder Brother, Doug, was coming back to town to pick me up.

Commentary by Dwight Yenzer, who was filming his own video at the same time.

Thanks to Woodland West Pet Resort for letting us play in their front yard.

Several golden retrievers and people — They were trying to get us to pose for a photo, but we had more important things to do.

We all sang Happy Birthday and then – treats all ’round!

A field of people with chairs and golden retrievers — Even the people got birthday treats.

Dax took me aside and I asked him the secret to his longevity. I was sure the answer was going to be “Have a drink out of the toilet and a piece of bacon every day” but he must not have understood my question.

Two Golden Retrievers — The birthday boy was giving me some pointers on a long and healthy life.

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10

Here I am: footloose and fancy free! Having a wonderful time at the doggy party!

If you’d like to donate to Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue, please click on this link. Thanks for your consideration. I am living proof that they do a wonderful job!