Oscar's trip to the North Pole

Dear Oscar, friend of 13 1/2 years, went to the North Pole to work for Santa yesterday. His great big heart literally grew too big and surrendered peacefully during a visit to the veterinarian. He was a wonderful companion for my wife, Lynn, and a faithful traveler of over 99,000 miles with me in The Wonder Egg. His tail was wagging until the end. He brought joy to many around campfires and at hospice. His departure was swift and peaceful.

His legacy shall continue . . .

Hitchin' Post

So we're going down the road and Pete says "Oscar, Look!  A missile is about to take off right in from of our eyes!!!!"

It was everything I could do to stop Pete from hyperventilating right there on the spot.  "Woah, Pete" I said  "Keep your hands on the steering wheel and take some deep breaths."  Then I put a paper bag to his face and said "Here, breath into this." I told him he was acting like a dumbbell and it was merely an old mothballed missile from bygone days, put on display near the Marshall Space Flight Center by Huntsville, AL

After mumbling something about "I'll dumbbell you, you little fuzz face." Pete said "No hard feelings Oscar, you were right, as usual."  He told me that he had picked out just the perfect campground for us to spend the night.  Later, as we pulled into the campground, Pete took my picture next to this strange looking dog picture.

We set up camp next to the lake.

After setting up our campsite, Pete said "Hey Oscar, lets go for a walk.  I know this great hitching' post you can sit by for a while and watch all the local wildlife."

 

For being a dumbbell, Pete can sure be pretty nice sometimes. 

Sudden Illumination

As we go down the road of life, it is important to be mindful of your surrounding environment.  Sometimes, simple things will suddenly appear that cannot help but put a smile on your face such as this distant field of Rapeseed flowers in Tennessee being illuminated by a burst of sunlight.

Be Present

Be Mindful

ENJOY

Oscar's Writing Lesson

I opened up The Wonder Egg's door early this morning and found this stuff!

 

Pete said it was something called snow and that it would be a new and wonderful experience for me.

With a huge grain of salt, I hopped out and discovered all this white stuff is cold!  To make matters worse, I couldn't find any green grass to finish off my morning walk (if ya know what I mean).  So after some explanation and a "little" demonstration, Pete showed me how it can be done in emergency situations.  So I did . . .

Look Pete!  I can write too!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Pete's lost.  I think Pete has lost his mind.  I think Pete can't read a map anymore.

I think I wanna head south.

Panther Creek State Park, TN

Pete and I pulled into Panther Creek State Park, Tennessee this evening and while he set up camp, I went for a nature walk.  I found this old wooden bridge spanning the creek which sorta rocked as I trotted across the babbling creek (that was the creek babbling, not Pete, which is usually the case)

Our campsite backed up to the creek, if you look close in the background, you may be able to find Pete tending to his campsite setup duties.

After a while I heard a bunch of giggling and came upon two young people, side by side, in hammocks strategically stretched over the creek bed . . .  that would be "Panther" Creek.

I know it's no longer April 1st, but I couldn't help myself . . . I mustered up all the strength I had in my puppy voice and yelled PANTHER!!!!!!

Then I ran back along the creek bed real fast, listening to the splashing and sputtering behind me. 

hehehe, I love nature walks.

We be Camping!

Well, Pete managed to get me out of the buzzing bluebonnets without either of us getting stung. Hoooraaaayyyy!

He also took my advice about going camping, so here I am, watching the world rotates as the golden sun sinks below the horizon.  It's my favorite time of day, a time to reflect on all that's good and to be thankful for everything and everyone (even Pete).

He was nice enough to get me this cool little chair to sit in as I guarded the campsite.
(I sent Pete out to gather firewood)

There might be hope for that guy yet.

Pete and his STUPID Bluebonnets!

Pete is such a goofball.  He's all proud of himself for tossing out a bunch of bluebonnet seeds in his back yard and then doing nothing.  That's it, he did nothing at all.  Mother Nature did all of the watering, while Pete sat around and did, you guessed it . . . nothing.  So once a year he carries me and plops me down in the middle of 4000 square feet of sickeningly sweet smelling bluebonnets that are buzzing with a billion buzzing bees.   

Let me outta here Pete and lets go CAMPING before I get stung!