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Dog Diary

The ride of life with a dog
  • Surf Dog Diaries - dog blog
  • The ride of life with a dog
  • HANG 20 - DOG BEACH, CA
  • HANG 20 - DOG RIVER, OR
  • ABOUT US
  • BarbAyers.com
  • GIVING BACK
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Dogs ride the ups and downs with us. Real life Surf Dog Diaries

Meet writer dogs. Rider dogs. Best dog friends. Surf the couch, the www, or a wave. Wave back at us!

It's all about the ride. The ride of life with a dog.

Yes, that's ice on our steps. Tiki dude and me, Rusty, recycled toaster dog, at the home office of DogDiary.org. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Yes, that's ice on our steps. Tiki dude and me, Rusty, recycled toaster dog, at the home office of DogDiary.org. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Snowmeggadon: will it never end? Yard art speaks out

Barbara Ayers February 24, 2019
Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

 

Dear Dog Diary:

Recycle dog Rusty here.

In a former life, I was a toaster. And scrap metal.

We Oregonians are way into reuse and recycling - so now I have a new life. As yard art.

Tiki Dude and I are surfing, or should I say, suffering, snow in the yard. Lots and lots of snow. In the Columbia River Gorge - surf dog central - normally.

Here are a few pix before, during, and now.

It’s Snowmeggadon 2019 - the biggest winter in decades.

Tiki Dude and Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Tiki Dude and Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Tiki Dude and Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Tiki Dude and Rusty. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

We thought two years ago, Snowmeggadon 2017 was bad. Snowpocalapse! It snowed for three months straight! There may be something to this global warming thing. Because winters are not normal anymore.

Ask any person about shoveling snow, every day, for three months and see how they react.

This Snowmeggadon hasn’t lasted as long (yet) - only three weeks so far, with no sign of stopping- but the dumps are way higher, way deeper every day. You can’t go anywhere, do anything, move. You’re just stuck.

It’s late February! It’s supposed to be over!

So, we just hang out. Yard art for Surf Dog Diaries.

Watching, as the girl runs around, shoveling snow. Again.

The dog and cat guarding the house, inside, warmed by the fire. Not motivated.

Snow day! Tia and Doodle, author animals, inside. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, Dogdiary.org

Snow day! Tia and Doodle, author animals, inside. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, Dogdiary.org

Now she’s scraping the roof – there’s a thing called snow load - too much snow can cave your roof.

For sure this is too much snow.

Tiki Dude and I thought we’d pitch in and do the Dog Blog.

I’m trying my best here to be cheerful but Tiki’s smile is a little scowly lately.

He’s keeping a stiff upper lip….

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Ooh! Sunshine came out for a moment!!! Here’s my happy ear flap up - crumb tray out look….

Hey, would you believe – I have a defrost button!?! We may have to try it out this winter.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

I checked on surfboard dude in the driveway and here’s what he had to say…

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Nada.

Guess he’s the strong, silent type.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the BBQ boyz?

They’re pretty silent, too.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

 

 

 Momma quail yard art is almost visible again. She’s just peeking out.

Her kids, still buried under snow.

Thankfully, our actual quail neighbors still commute through the yard – their food is buried, too. So the girl puts out seed every day for them.

And defrosts the hummingbird feeder.

 

On the front porch are the prayer flags. They flitter and float. They’re a little more lively than the rest of us.

Of course, a roof overhead can’t hurt.

Then again, they are hanging with icicles.

Prayer flags, front porch. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Prayer flags, front porch. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Here are cars.

Now they’re yard art, too.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, www.DogDiary.org


Snow day! It’s super fun at first.

But then you want it to go away after about a week. Like normal.

Day after day, snow and snow and snow, just wears you down.

My tail’s drooping a little here.

I may be a little rustier than usual.

We’d appreciate a normal winter, is all.

Can you help us with that, Diary?

Rusty

Tags dog thoughts, dog friends, Dog diary, surf dog diaries, Barb Ayers, Barbara Ayers, author dog, winter storm, snowmeggadon, snowpocalypse, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon snowmeggadon, dog stories, dog mom Barb Ayers, dog friend, coping with pet loss, Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, dog river, Hood River OR, Pacific Northwest, small town, changing seasons, my best friend, my secret diary, secret life of pets, secret life of dogs, www.dogdiary.org, photo essay, Oregon snowpocalypse, snow day, dog blog

I'm worried about my big brown friend. I'm worried about surgery Thursday.

Barbara Ayers January 28, 2018

This is Klaus, my big brown friend.

This is his signature Zen brown dog deep thoughts by Klaus pose.

I love Klaus. He's a big, brown happy-go-lucky guy. With a big dog smile and a big warm heart- always happy to see you on the trail.

But Klaus is really getting old. His coat is changing from brown to yellow. I'm really worried about him. He can't do all the things he loves to do anymore.

That's the only thing I don't like about being a dog. The 7:1 dog rule. Every year, dogs get seven years older. Who made up that stupid rule? Can we please change it?

Big and brown. Size, shape and color

When Klaus' mom Carole adopted him as a puppy at the shelter, the sign said he was good with cats and would grow up to be a medium size brown dog. So they took him home -medium was just right.

But.... turns out, he takes up the entire back seat!!  You have to fold down BOTH seats to make him fit! He is Huge. Not even a little bit medium.

Not that size matters. Except when it comes to heart.

Color matters - in a thank God we're not all the same kind of way. All of my friends have color.

                                                                      &nbs…

                                                                                                              Eloise and Klaus    Photo (c): Barb Ayers DogDiary.org

Headstrong women

Speaking of not being dull... Klaus has a sister - Eloise - she is headstrong. In a good way. She just can't stand being on a leash.

                                                                      &nbs…

                                                                                                               Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

That just could be the new definition of headstrong. I'd call my mom headstrong and she doesn't wear a leash either.

Meanwhile, Klaus is always so Chill.

 

The friends we make - the crap that happens....

Klaus and I love walking our favorite trail in our home town, Mosier, OR in the Columbia River Gorge. The most amazing place on Earth.

Right next to that spot where, a year and a half ago, the oil train derailed.

Point is, crap happens.

Me and Klaus on the trail in our hometown- Mosier, Oregon     Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Me and Klaus on the trail in our hometown- Mosier, Oregon     Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

We're on the journey together. The ups and downs. The ride of life. Not every moment is perfect.

I am having surgery this week. They are removing a tumor from my head. I'll be in a cone of shame for several weeks. So, you may not see much of me for a while. I'll do my best to write and tell you how it's going, but mom is a total wreck. Even though she's headstrong. 

We had a rough vet year last year, after losing my two old dog bros within months of each other. I'm only 6.5 (45 in dog years) - it's not time for me to fall apart just yet. I was hoping to avoid the vet and old age altogether.

Whatever it is - we face it together.

Thanks for being there.

Doodle

Tags dog diary, best dog friend, dog lover, Doodle the doxie, dog beach, Hood River OR, I love dogs, I heart dogs, cute dog story, cute dog pix, the ride of life with a dog, Oregon, Columbia River Gorge, Barbara Ayers, dog mom Barb Ayers, day in the life, dogs on vacation, diaries by dogs, rescue dogs, Writer dog, author dog, surf dog diaries, my secret diary, my best friend, the diary of dogs, secret life of dogs, dogs are family, secret diary of a dog, fur baby, dog blog, dog thoughts, dog river, Dogdiary.org, doxie wawa, chiweenie, brown dog, stray dog, aging animals, coping with loss, Mosier OR, Barb Ayers, dogdiary.org, Surf dog diaries, I love my dog
The Hook - where beginning surf dogs learn. And where all species are drawn back each sunset. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

The Hook - where beginning surf dogs learn. And where all species are drawn back each sunset. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Dog River surf dogs - windsurfers, kite surfers, SUP pups, 4-legged, 2-legged and salmon surfers. Farewell to summer in Hood River, Oregon

Barbara Ayers October 28, 2017

Summer road trips mean dogface grins - on all kinds of species. All roads lead back to Hood River,  Oregon - the windsurfing capital of the world. Small in size, huge in spirit, it is the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.

No surprise then, Hood River was originally named Dog River.

Read More
Tags Hood River waterfront park, Hood River Event Site, Hood River OR, Visit Hood River, Surf dog diaries, surf dog mom Barb Ayers, Barbara Ayers, Dog diary, Dogdiary.org, dog blog, dog river, Dog Beach, dog thoughts, Portland Oregon, Columbia Center for the Arts, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Friends of the Gorge, windsurfing dog, kite surfing, SUP dog, pup SUP, standup paddleboard dog, stand up paddle boarding, Mount Hood, nature lover, writer dog, best dog friend, Pacific Northwest, I love dogs, Oregon, surf dog diary, diary memoir, outdoor adventure, Tyson Poor, photo essay, small town diary, small town USA, rescue dogs, dog days of summer
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Surf Dog Diaries  |  Barb Ayers, San Diego, CA and Mosier OR.  |   All content and images (c) Barb Ayers, copyrighted, all rights reserved