A New Pal - by Zaphod

 Dear pals,

I apologize for the amount of cat content on this blog. I am sure the ghost of Lee is going to come and haunt the Lady. 

I am mostly indifferent to the Rivers. Styx bugs me the most. He will come into the closet and look at me However, my life hasn't really changed at all since they joined the pack and they mostly leave me alone. 

Enough about them. Let's talk about my other new friend.

Lady and Man have been having some trees removed. One of the guys who is doing it brings his dog Tri with him.

Tri is a very nice girl. She is 5. I am very interested in her and want to be friends.

Tri let's be friends

Tri isn't that into me. Her man said that humans had abused her before he got her. She used to be afraid of everything. She is making progress and is cleared loved. 

In spite of her past, Tri still loves people

Lady and Man let me sniff her a bit, and then make me move on. 

It has been nice to get to know her, even if I want to know her more. 

Tomorrow I will catch you up on our snow contest! 

your pal, the friendly Phod

Nature Friday - Spring is Slowly Springing

 Dear pals,

My front yard still looks like this:

However spring is starting to spring up. 

Lady needs to do some clean up, but do you see the lilies come up?

Our tulips are popping out too. 

Dirty to smell

The temperatures are looking ok with a little snow left. Lady just booked the tire change appointment (we have winter tires) for 2 weeks - will it be the right time? Will the snow all be gone before our first guess on April 14th?

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this event. 

your pal, with spring fever, Zaphod

Mischief Monday - Spring Fever - by Zaphod

 Dear pals,

First, Lady and I are sorry we haven't been around. Life has been busy and the grief can be very real at times and as much as we love you all and care, reading about other people's lives is too much. Thank you for understanding. Know we are here and thinking about you all.

Secondly, I have started having spring fever. When I was a bit younger, this meant every day I would want to be out and playing.Now as an older gentleman (I really don't like Lady calling me old man) if I have a spring fever day, I need to nap a lot the next day.

Come on Lady, there are places to go!

Take Saturday for instance. We had a couple inches of new snow and Lady and I went on one 20 minute walk and one 30 minute walk, and I was running and jumping over puddles and living my best life. The next day I hardly got out of bed. Mind you, it wasn't a good spring day. It was a gross, gloomy one with freezing rain (but not as much as they told us was coming).

We will see what this week bring.

your pal, the still can hop into spring, Phod

Mischief Monday - I Was Just Visiting - by Phod

 Dear pals,

You know I am a good boy and I have been really missing Callie and her people. The deep snow has kept me from going over and visiting them.

Last week, the people took me up to the sugar shack. Lady left me to sniff around while she went inside to say hi and when she came out, I was missing. She knew I couldn't have gone too far as the snow is still really deep in places.

After a short search, Callie's boy D called out that I was on the front porch. The snow is way to deep for Lady to walk up. She gave my leash to D and as he is a bit lighter at age 9, he brought me back to the driveway.

Then we went to hang out in the shack.

It was nice to see everyone, but it was a little hot.  So far it is not a great season, we will see if it starts to flow better.

your pal, the friendly neighbourhood Phod

Grief - by Zaphod

Dear pals,

It has been a weird week. Last Friday morning, I came to tell my Lady, Lee was not ok. I just came and gave a sad stare at my Lady and she understood. That is when Lady saw Lee really couldn't get up or really didn't want to get up. This led to a very long day where the people were sad, and Lee was just lying on her bed, not wanting to eat or drink (not even eat the pizza Man bought - it was good). Then the people left and came back without her. 

Checking out the melting snow

Since then, we have all be sad. I do look for her (especially when my people come back from going out, I wonder if they brought her back). I sniff her favourite pee spots to see if there is any fresh pee. I have accepted her favourite bed in the closet, when before I didn't like a bed in there. 

Mostly I keep to my routine. I spend most of the day in the closet, which is what I did before. I come out for short periods to eat and do my business. I tolerate extra love and my people trying to play with me. I take my short walks and hope to see the neighbours when I do go out. Other than a little checking, I seem to be doing ok.  Lady thinks that is because I understand in my own way.

Pretending to want to play to make my people happy

In Lee's honour, because she started this all, we will keep the name of the blog as the Hailey and Zaphod Chronicles. Both Lady and I are trying to figure out who we are with Hailey as our bosses.

Thanks again for all your love pals.

you pal, Zaphod, who is sad and ok

Visit Fail - by Phod

 Last Friday after my failed visit to the vet, I had a failed visit to see Callie.

What Cali, you want me to come and visit?

Man this snow is deep.

.

I am coming Callie!

Oh no, I am stuck.

Man to the rescue.

This is hard.

Who made the snow so deep?

Someone should make a path.

We are almost there. 

Sorry Cali, I will have to come in spring!

I didn't learn my lesson, later in the day, I got stuck outside our house behind the deck post. Lady had to come and rescue me and when she was trying to lift me up, I may have freaked out and snapped at her face as I threw myself backwards. 

your pal, Phod, who didn't have a good winter week. 

PS Go to Tuesday's post for our annual, when will the snow be gone contest! 

Mischief Monday - A Road To No Where - By Zaphod

 Dear pals,

I was so mad, I didn't talk to my Lady for 2 days. This is what happened. 

I am not talking to you Lady

Weather context: Tuesday and Wednesday had been mild days, so things started to melt. We had rain! Thursday, things started to freeze and it got snowy, so this made things slippery. 

Thursday night, Lady and I headed out for my Librela shot. The vet is about 25 minutes away. The roads weren't great, but Lady drove a bit slower and we were safe. We passed an accident. Just as we got to the edge of the town that my vet is in, the firefighters made us turn around, the road was closed.

For those of you who don't live in the country, sometimes the only road to somewhere is the highway. So with the road being closed, we couldn't get to the vet.

Lady pulled over and called the vet and said we couldn't get there. They were very kind and rescheduled for Tuesday. Lady called Man to let him know what was happening and then we headed back on the road.

Well, we got to the first accident we had seen and the firefighters told us we had to wait while they cleared it away. So we waited, very impatiently, for about 30 minutes. We were stuck on the highway between 2 accidents. The firefighters told us to be careful as the roads were very slippery. 

This was our view for 30 minutes - See the car way up on the snowbank?

From here the 25 minute drive took about 50. Lady went really slow. At times the snow was blowing in a way that she couldn't see. It is a curvy hill, mountain road she doesn't know as well for most of it. It was scary for her. We saw a third accident. 

At some time, someone pooped in the backseat and this poop may have gotten on my tail. There was no safe place to stop and clean up, so we just kept going, with the smell of poop. 

Finally, almost 2 hours after we left, we were home, safe. We didn't even really slip. 

I was so mad at Lady, I wouldn't even talk to her, especially after she cleaned me up. 

Lady would like to say, she had no idea it was going to be so bad. If she had known we would not have gone. It was the worst driving conditions she had been in all winter. 

you pal, Zaphod, who did not enjoy just driving around in a snowstorm to no where!

More Snow - by Phod

 Dear pals,

We got more snow last week. Not as much, but at least 5 or 6 inches. While in my youth I made lots of snow angels, in my old age, I stick to the face tunnels. It is best in the fresh snow. 

your pal, the snow loving Phod

Mischief Monday - I Got Stuck

 Deal pals,

This is a little embarrassing, but Lady said it is important to be honest and share our lives as they unfold. 

My backend is not as strong as it used to be. Sometimes the stairs seem too much for me. The other day I sort of fell on them when Lady was in a meeting and she raced out, headset on to help me (and then had to explain what happened). I can blame the steps for being slippery for this.

However, the other day I was out back and I needed to do all my business and I thought, I will follow this turkey tracks out into the yard a little and I got stuck.The snow was deeper than I thought and my back end was just not strong enough to lift me out of it. Lady threw off her slippers, jumped into her shoes and raced out in -14C/7F in her T-shirt to help me out. I did not like getting help, but I didn't much like getting stuck either.  She gave me a little time and then assessed me and knew nothing, but my pride was hurt. 

I have learned that the turkey tracks aren't solid enough for me. 

your pal, I can't believe I am getting so old, Phody

Nature Friday - Snow and More Snow! by Phod

 Thanks to my pals Rosy and Sunny who host this event in Gail's memory so I can share all my snow.

It snowed and snowed and snowed.

Last Thursday, it snowed a lot. The Man was told he had to stay at home. The schools near us were closed. Lady was working at home anyway. In the end, we got about 1.5 feet of snow.

We barely had that cleaned up when on Sunday we got another foot or so.

No one else in my house likes it, but I love it! Here are some pictures from all of this fun!

I do miss that I can't really go in the yard and must stick to the cleared parts

It was snowing so hard, we were turning white

The snow is 2 Phod's high!

Lady did knock this down, but it was cool

Helping shovel the back deck to keep the weight low

This weekend the people get to shovel part of the roof! They are not excited.

Plough update - Last winter our driveway was cleared a total of 6 times. To date, this winter, 18!

Must go back and play in the snow pals.

you pal, Zaphod the snow dog

Hey, Don't Forget About Me!

 Hi pals,

Just letting you know, I am still here. It has been really snowy and Lady and Lee said I can write about it all tomorrow for Nature Friday!

your pal, a snow lover, Phod

Nature Friday - Why Do You Complain? by Phod

 Dear pals,

We had another week of really cold some days (-27C/-16F) and a lot of snow a couple of days (10 cm /4.5 inches). 

You know the best part about new snow? It is the best snow to rub your face in. Rubbing your face in the snow is one of the best things in the world. 

Lady and Man and Hailey have not tried this, so they will have to take my word for it.  If you have some snow, I suggest you try it. It really is nice. 

Here are some pictures of the snow we got yesterday.  Lady says it is pretty if you don't have to drive in it.

Look at how big the flakes are on Lady's glove

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this event where I can share pictures of my winter. 

your pal, the snow angel maker, Phod

Trouble on a Tuesday - Different is Not Good - by Phod

 Dear pals,

I like my routine. In the evening I expect dinner, a walk, the people spending a brief period of time upstairs, before retiring to watch shows. I generally then go sleep in my closet because I can relax as all is right with the world.

You are doing things wrong

What I got on Saturday was not what I liked. 

First, I went out before dinner. Then I got dinner. Then the people took their dinner downstairs (which they rarely do) so they could watch something on TV while they ate. 

I am sitting between you and I am still not happy

I was not having this.

I went down with them and I paced,  and I got on and off the couch and I paces some more. I would not settle.

I only settled once Lady came back upstairs and did things that looked more like our routine. Then I could go to my closet to sleep.

Why do my people insist on doing things different?

your pal, Keep it the same pleaase, Zaphod

Slow - By Phod

Dear pals,

I feel like Hailey has been hogging the blog. She says she can because it was her blog first, and she lets me share it, when she wants too. I convinced her to let me have a turn.

As you know, I am an old Man now. I am doing ok. My Librela shot is helping. I can't walk as far as I used to, and I will admit, I am now really slow when I do walk.

Walking by Lady's embarrassing snowman. 

Hailey shared about her birthday adventure. I was a good boy, and stayed in the yard for a lot of it. However, I got a little worried about where my Lady went and followed her tracks. She found me coming towards her, as she was circling back. (I will point out technically these woods are ours, so I had not left our yard). Then she and I walked back to the house, where we found Hailey. 

Looking for my lost Lady

While I am the slowest, I will point out that Hailey is way slower than she used to be too, she just won't admit it.

your pal, the Pokey Little Puppy, Phod

Mischief Monday - A Pre-Holiday Scare - by Phod

Dear pals,

You know that I try to be a very good boy and make my people's lives easier, but sometimes my old body doesn't cooperate.

On the Friday before Christmas, I was feeling very poorly. I was really struggling with my back end. I wouldn't eat. I wouldn't poop.

Me passed out in the sun

Lady suddenly was a vet and gave me some gabapentin she had.  This was the best and worst decision. It was good because it did seem to help later, but in the short term, I was so stoned I couldn't really move. I tried and got myself in a bit of a pickle and Lady had to help adjust her 80 lbs of love, completely stoned out boy, which was funny and sad, while Lee looked on (Man was at the office, Lady was working from home).  After this Lady threw the gabapentin away and switched me to medicam she had for Lee. (again, she thinks she is a vet). 

It was a stressful maybe 48 hours for the people, who really thought they were going to have to say goodbye to me. This resulted in the purchase of a chicken for me (don't worry, Lee made me share). As you may recall, I am allergic to chicken, it makes me itchy, but I love it and my Man thought if this was the end I should get a special meal. What the chicken, and the medicam and the rest did, was get me to eat, and poop and within 72 hours, I was back to my old, old self.

It wasn't the best start to Christmas, but Lady says, more time with me was the best gift she could have gotten.

Even after all of that, I still got this kind of treatment on Christmas!

Your pal, old, but still going even if he is now a little itchy, Zaphod