A Very Bad Day- by Lee

Dear pals,

The trouble actually happened on Monday but I have been sooooo upset by it, I haven't been able to write about it until now.

The day started well enough. It was warm enough for a nice walk. I had breakfast, but then something strange happened. The Lady took just me in the car with her when she went to work. I was good in the car but nervous. I may have barked at some people walking down the street.

Then I arrived at one of the worst places ever, camp. My Lady had taken me in the car, on a stormy day to the city to go to camp. I was scared and mad.

A couple of Lady's coworkers went to the pet store and knowing I was there, snapped a picture of me (and by the way, got in trouble for it, but they said they knew me, even though I don't really know them. I guess this is what happens when you are famous). Can you spot me in the group?

After 87 million hours, the horrible Lady came and got me. We had to stand around while the person told her how great I was. Well I like to hear the good things, I wanted to leave.

We got back in the car and drove to another new place. A house. It was my vet's house. See he is going to be off attending to some health things for a bit (please send him some POTP cause he is a great guy), but the night before his surgery he had me over to give me my vaccines. 

Lady took horrible pictures of me (and not enough) because she was distracted talking to her friends. After my shots, which I didn't notice because they gave me some cat food as Lady forgot my treats (the best thing she did all day), I tried to play with the cat. The cat did not like it. He hit me hard in the face. Then I really wanted to get him. He was angry. I was stressed. Lady never let me on leash and in the end the cat was taken away. I had to sit with Lady in a living room by a fire for a bit while she and her friends talked. I think it was only slightly better than going to the actual vet clinic. At least there I am off leash.

Can we go find the cat?

Finally we left and I slept the long ride home. When I got home, Phod wouldn't stop sniffing me. He was so stressed during the day (as the power went out and he had to be in the cone and I was gone) and because of our food problems as mentioned Monday - he had many accidents in the house on Monday. Lady and Man hope this doesn't become a habit.

At any rate, I am apparently healthy and I don't have to face this kind of torture again for a year.

An angry but tired Hailey Bug

Wordless Wednesday - Rub My Belly

Phod and His Ball Video

This is Phod's favourite inside squeaky ball, that he only ever wants to play with when we both sit down to watch TV. 

"Come on Lady, my ball is way more fun then any episode of the Blacklist."

Mischief Monday - Finding The Right Food

Disclaimer: This post contains a non-graphic discussion about poop! Also, no specific foods will be named in this post as we don't want our feeding choices to have any influence on yours and we don't want to give any brand free advertising!

Man, I can't believe she is going to talk about my poop habits! 

For Phod's allergies, he needs to eat a fish based diet. We had found a Canadian high quality brand that they both did well on. Then we couldn't get it anymore, so for the past few months we have tried a lot of different foods. Note: We always buy high quality foods, but just because they are high quality, doesn't mean they are the best for us. 

Some of the first foods gave some of us very loose poop. So they were ruled out. Then we went back to a brand we used before Phod needed fish food, but got the fish food and both did well. Instead of doing the smart thing, and staying with this food, we thought we would try a slightly cheaper food. While the poops are not loose, there are a lot of them. Lee has been a once a day pooper (occasionally a 2 times a day pooper) her whole life and she has become a 3-4 times a day pooper. Phod, who usually poops 2-3 times (and always has), is going way more (harder to know exactly as he can go deep into the bush by himself). Then, on Friday, for the first time in over 6 years (he has lived with us for 6.5 years), Phod had a poop accident in the house while we were at work. (He thinks he is in trouble, but he is not, because for him to do this, we know he had to be desperate).

This lead Lady back to the drawing boards. We live very rural and Lady has a love for online shopping. So at 6 am on Saturday (yes, she was up, she had her 8 hours of sleep so was ready to go), she started looking for an online pet food shop. She found one that carried the great Canadian food (at a price slightly cheaper than she had been paying when she could get it at the store), that will ship for free (for orders over $79, so she bought 2 big bags).

We are all looking forward to having the right food and not to be having so many poop issues! We are also looking forward to trying online pet shopping!

FFF Nature Friday

Today we join Rosy's Nature Friday and  Yam's Final Fiction Friday.

The Rules for FFF are to take words from lines 8, 12 and 16 from page 87 of a book.

This month the words are from a book Lady snagged on the book exchange on the ship I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella.

This weeks words will be

line 8:  smooth and flat

line 12: procrastinated

line 16: balmy

Here we go:

On the weekend, on a fairly balmy winter day (balmy is relative when you have been in a deep freeze), the Lady and Lee went for a snowshoe. Phod was heartbroken that he had to stay home, but he really hates it.

Going with Lady on this day was acceptable to Lee as earlier in the week the Lady had gone by herself and made a trail (Lee knew this as she may have taken herself for a walk on it the day before). While it was not smooth and flat at least Lee didn't sink up to her shoulders in it. 

The snow had bent a tree and they had to walk under it. 

Despite the wind and weather this winter has brought, several trees still hold their leaves. 

Lee was very happy the Lady had not procrastinated going as they got to enjoy the morning sun through the trees, sparkle on the snow, and hear the wind blowing through the trees. 

They had a lovely time, and Phod was thrilled when Lady got home and took him out for a play in the yard.

Travel Thursday - Belize

Today is the third and final post on our most recent adventures, although as we are still deep into winter, pictures from the trip may still show up occasionally!

Belize was the one country we had not been too on this trip (and is the 30th country we have each visited). We had originally booked 2 different tours for the day, but because so many people really just wanted to sit on the beach at the private island we docked at, there weren't enough people. So we changed our plans to an Eco Tour at Monkey River. We were really thrilled with this change. 

Monkey River is a town of about 200 people. It only got electricity in 2010. The main source of income is tourism. I am sure the bathroom they took us to toward the end of the tour that was $1 a person is one of the biggest money makers in the town. Our guides were 3 local men, who while they had to pass 3 months of training as guides, were super knowledgeable. 

Here are some pictures from the tour. 

Me on the boat overlooking Belize

Monkey River was about 30 minutes by speed boat from the port

The Osprey - we saw him/her fish, it was so cool!

Can you find the bird?

A bird and a flower

If you look very closely at the top left of this picture, you see bright orange. That is one of the iguanas looking for a mate!

A turtle

One of the guides scouting the area - he caught so many things I would have missed

The American alligator

In flight

Part of the tour was a 30 minute trek into the jungle. Many of the people in our tour covered themselves from head to toe in bug spray. All the people who did this got bitten the most. One poor woman had an allergic reaction to her bites and they were all huge red spots. It looked painful. We didn't spray ourselves, and I think I got one bite!

In the jungle in Belize

Sorry it is blurry, but this guy was just on the path! 

The reason for the trek into the jungle was to see the howler monkeys. If you look closely you can see one. Our guides did everything they could, but those moneys would now howl for us! Regardless, it was really cool to see them.

Back on the boat . . . .

I so love the boat

While we didn't spend much time on the private island, we did walk around a bit.

The Man and Uncle Christ

Thought of Rosy, Arty and Jakey's mom when we saw this. It is not a real lighthouse, you can zip line out of it!

Us!

We hope you have enjoyed a little taste of the sun!

Wordless Wednesday

Tongue Out Tuesday - Zaphod

Trudging through the snow is hard work!

Mischief Monday - Mother Nature

This week's mischief award goes to Mother Nature. Last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, we had a big snowstorm. Overnight we got about 15 inches of snow, during the day we got about another 5 or 6, and then overnight Wednesday we got 1-2. It was a lot! It makes us especially envious of all our friends who are starting to see signs of spring in their yards. We are still fully in winter! 

We knew this big storm was coming so basically the city pre-emptively shut down. All the schools were closed, including the universities. Ottawa (as the capital of Canada), is a big government town and all non-essential employees were asked to stay home (working from home if possible). Garbage collection was delayed. Even Canada Post would not deliver mail that day.

Lady and Man both worked from home. While they were both working (and didn't just take a snow day), we all did take some time to play in the snow (and they spent a lot of time shovelling!)

There is normally a very big step from the deck to the ground. If a person was just to step out, they would sink to mid thigh at least!

front yard

You can see how high the snow banks are and how much snow is on the back deck

This picture (taken between the first time the Man snow blowed and the second) shows Hailey Bug digging through the snow to find some spilt bird seed! 

Nature Friday - From Mexico

Since people really enjoy our wild turkey videos, I thought they may enjoy some flamingos from Mexico! 

Travel Thursday - Mexico

Valentine's isn't a big thing in our house, because everyday is a day of love! But before we begin today's post we wanted to wish you a day filled with extra love! We love you all! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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While cruising, Lady and Man went to Chacchoben ruins. Lady had been there about 7 years ago with her mom and sister, but it was nice to go back!

They got other people to take pictures of them - rarely happens

Lady's fave picture of herself from this trip.

Everyone looking up at the spider monkeys! It was funny to see people who had been excited about a pyramid all turn to watch monkeys. 

As shared before, a monkey in the tree. The only reason Lady was sad to not have her heavy duty camera

These steps use to lead up to homes

Capitan Morgan pose on the steps to a home

Lady took this picture to try and show how steep the stairs are!

At the top of the stairs

The reddish stucco type materials pictured here use to cover all the structures

Fire ant hills. Lady managed not to get stung this trip. She usually does. 

Back at the port before going back on the ship, Lady and Man found some all corn tacos (Lady can't eat gluten, so this was exciting). It was the only food they bought off the ship and well worth the price. Tacos are one of the Man's favourite foods!

A sign in the port that made Lady laugh!

That was our trip in Mexico. Next week, we will share Belize, the only new to us country.