Rainy Frigid Maine This Morning

Brave Cooper!

Cooper takes a flying leap off the dock to "save" Miss 6. Startled onlookers all hold their breath until he pops up like a cork. He can swim!

Shave and a Haircut

Meanwhile, back at Creature Camp our scrappy mini dachshund was having a scuffle with a newly neutered fellow camper. I don't know how the terrier fared, but Cooper went to the vet for a shave, wound cleansing and ten day antibiotic prescription. I had the feeling he thought it was totally worth it!

All better, happy to be home enjoying his sunbeam!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello Blogger friends! We are home from Costa Rica! I have a memory card full of amazing wildlife I hope to share with you soon!

Wishing everyone a Valentine's Day full of sweet surprises.

Creature Camp

Time Lapse

Yesterday was a very big day at the vet's for Cooper. A check-up confirmed he is a healthy little boy and four shots, a pedi and a microchip later he was home with a new toy for good behavior. Six hours later he was whiney and restless. We watched him closely, moments later bumps appeared all over his head and muzzle. It was like watching a dahlia bloom in time lapse photography. The on call emergency vet said "Benadryl" while moment by moment the bumps increased in number and size. Peter broke open a gel cap and smeared the recommended dose on a plate. I gave him a piece of chicken which he ate so we sprinkled bits over the gel which our small buddy eagerly lapped up. More bumps bloomed across his back and chest, but an hour later Cooper's muzzle looked like a dachshund nose again. We took turns holding him late into the night while the medicine did its job and his eyes finally grew heavy.

Our patient is wobbly today, but back to his sleek self and there is a new notation on his medical chart! It's worth noting that he has had these shots before and this was a new reaction.

A microchip is inexpensive peace of mind. A little lost dog was brought to our vet last summer. A quick scan found the owners, summer tourists, who live in Florida.

67 Years!

My parents' anniversary today!

Created with Zen Brush and Ghostwriter for IPad.

Snowfall

Today in Maine.

From my kitchen window.

"Outside? Me? You're kidding!" Cooper said soulfully (which is pretty much the way he says everything related to snow.)

Dachshunds have short legs!

Boxing Day

Cooper! Our first rate little box shredder and trash compacter. The gentleman always said that was part of the little dog's skill set!

What's On Your List?

Longest Night

The sun sets in Maine at 3:58 tonight...a long night. Safe travels to JCB and her gentleman!

Cooper for One Year

Two little milestones, not very big in the greater scheme of things. Today I have been blogging for two years and tomorrow is our first anniversary with Cooper, the little dachshund the gentleman placed in our care. It was a stormy drive from Maine to Boston's Logan airport and the ground was slick with snow and ice. A triangle of anxiety formed from Michigan, Washington D.C. and New England for the wee fellow locked in his crate, somewhere en route. Our GPS collapsed in frustration while we negotiated the spaghetti bowl of roads around huge cargo buildings searching for Delta. At last we were there with time to let Shiner, our shih tzu, amble on a patch of grass and locate a tree for future use, which I was pretty sure our new family member would need after his long flight. We paced, the plane was late, the plane arrived, and soon two brown eyes peered through the door; instant love. Below, a few highlights of Cooper for one year.

Cooper's first encounter with 11 year old Shiner who was not amused. Our idea was to introduce them on neutral territory before getting back in the car for the long drive back to Maine. The uppity shih tzu was not amused.

Instant bonding, in fact, Cooper is in a similar position right now!

Breakfast on a cold morning...it was about this time that Cooper had located all the heat vents. Click on the photo to see the temperature.

Cooper goes to Connecticut and meets Hazel, his soul mate

....and another!

The gentleman arrives for Christmas and Cooper's new life comes full circle.

Cooper discovers Mere Point, seaweed, salt water, shore scents,

islands,

boats,

and new friends!

The beginning of the Cooperdoodles!

A wistful goodbye to summer...

...and hello winter!

The worst Night of the Year

Perhaps it was the weather. Halloween was a lackluster affair with just a few frostbitten trick-or-treaters venturing up the old granite steps to the house. Normally we have ninety to a hundred little ghouls and ghosts. Even with the low creature count, it is still the worst night of the year for the dogs. Understandably alarmed by short masked strangers, three generations of very good dogs have left deep claw marks on our laundry room door from Halloweens past. The little wiener dog worked himself into an awful state...Cooper is extremely glad that's over!

Foot Loose

Of course we had to see it, but here's a link to the old "Foot Loose!" Happy Monday!

Time to Leave

Cooper bounds through the leaves on our last visit to the cottage of the season, closing week....and what turned out to be the only sunny day.

Fog rolls in and clouds gather. It's cold and raw and wind seeps between the windows and all the crack and crevices. The view outside is bleak!

Photo taken with my Ipad using an app called Paper Camera.

Cooper, however, is exhilarated by the rich heady scents of the wildlife that is already reclaiming the shore, now that most of the cottagers have left. Even inside, his nose leads him on a futile and frantic trail as he follows the comings and goings of critters taking refuge under the house. We are certain there is a skunk, raccoon or porcupine in residence beneath the floor boards. The animals must prepare for a Maine winter and so must we...time to leave!

Skitch

The summer of 2011 holds the record as one of our busiest. The cottage has been full since June with the result of very few blog posts from smilla4. My camera memory cards are full of days gone by and images of Maine's ineffable light...now to organize it all and catch up with everyone!

News of Android photography apps always grab my attention, so when I saw "Skitch" I knew I had to experiment. The app allows you to draw and superimpose text in a wide range of colors and styles on photos from your phone. I used a stylus (a challenge on a small cellphone screen!) for the quick "Cooperdoodle" but your fingertip will work just as well. Ooh...and it's free!

Also! Happy birthday to my little brother, celebrating a very grown-up number today! 

They Think I'm Cute

Dog Days of Summer

The Champ!

"No time for losers!"

"OK, I played with the ball."