We've Got Sunshine

Bold as Love

You know the saying, “tough as nails?” Whoever came up with it obviously never met Diamond – she’s on a whole different level of toughness!

When she got going around 8:00 am, she was stiff for a brief moment – but after taking a few warm-up steps, she was loose and ready for action (she was pretty much ready go right away, and looked up to say, “this isn’t necessary hooman!”).

Ones and twos were dispatched before she got to the park, where she took it slow while moving and grooving around the field. Her nose hovered mere centimeters above the ground, her paws gliding effortlessly over the morning dew.

There were moments she wanted to run, and she would’ve loved to chase after the rats (!) – but she accepted the fact that laying low in the shade was on the menu today. It certainly feels like summer – so no need to exert too much energy.

Back home, much water was gulped down and a treat enjoyed. She’s been insistent on cuddles at every moment, licking and booping her way into the most comfortable snoozing position.

Lots more rest in store for her today, but she seems to be herself (and probably a little annoyed at her overbearing dog walking pawtner). She will be overjoyed when she sees you later tonight!

Heads up: Sounds like your neighbors in 3A got a new puppy yesterday, who is quite vocal – it barks anytime there’s movement in the stairwell. Naturally, Diamond is super curious and gets quite jazzed when she hears it – so she may go flying down the stairs faster than usual with you. A solid “Leave it” and “Stay with me” should help her get on her way.

Rainy Dayz

The humidity was fierce today, setting the stage for thunderstorms that look like they’ll last well into the night. For Diamond, the humid air must’ve felt like wearing a winter sweater – but instead of snow, she got a downpour.

Just a heads up: It was a slow day for Sunshine here. It appears the awkward fall she experienced on the pavement this orning had a little bit of an impact on her right ankle/wrist (your left when looking directly at her). As the day progressed, she limped a little after waking up from her naps – but once she had a chance to warm up a little, the limp disappeared and she seemed to be herself.

Around 4:30 pm, she was woken up from her snooze with lots of cuddles. She seemed a bit stiff as she got up and going, but once she got outside she was cruising at a steady pace, eager to race ahead and get into her usual shenanigans.

It was a good time to go out – the rain had just taken a break, leaving behind waves of fresh smells. There was no rush here as commuter hour got underway. With all of the hustle and bustle and rumbling thunder in the distance, there was no need to push it too much.

The rain began to fall right as she returned, and she was ready for another snooze before heading back out around 8:00 pm. She was accompanied by her ducks for this one as the thunder, lightning, and rain filled the night sky. With all the elements swirling about, the park pretty much hers alone – but the fields were a bit muddy to be enjoyable.

Back inside, she turned into a total goofball while her towel worked it’s magic – she was quite the soggy doggy.

After her 5:00 pm walk, ice was applied to the paw/ankle area for a few minutes. Although not her favorite activity, she was a terrific sport while she was tended to.

She ate all of her food after her 8:00 pm stroll, which is another good indication she’ll be good to go soon. (Typically, if a dog is injured or sick, one of the symptoms to look for is loss of appetite. Between dinner and the amount of garbage she tried to pick up off the street this evening, I’d say her appetite is right on track).

In addition to the slight limp indoors, it seemed she may have chipped the dew claw (the toenail higher up on her ankle/leg) – it’s possible she landed on it when jumping after the squirrel this morning. I tried to take a couple of pics – last 2 below.

Even though she wants to play, jump on the bed, and goof around, we’ve kept it very low key tonight. She’ll be watched over carefully over the next 24 hours, and will certainly be taking it very slow while out and about. She hasn’t had any issues with the stairs, and definitely think it’s a good sign (among many) she’s able to walk around pretty normally after warming up.

I wanted to let you know about it, since she may be somewhat sore upon your return. If it isn’t obvious at this point, I have a tendency to be a bit overprotective and obsess over every little thing (Remember last fall when she cut her paw? I almost cried).

Perhaps easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. I know I wrote a lot about it, but I wanted to cover as many details as possible. We’ll see how she is after tons of rest and all of the TLC.

Such Great Heights

It was Diamond’s morning to shine, and she was ready to jam right from the jump!

Since she didn’t have a walk before bed last night (and since her walker was up at 3:30 am), she had a quick business trip around 4:00 am – it was pretty evident she needed to go, as ones and twos were quickly dispatched.

7:00 am rolled around, bringing along clear blue skies and sauna-like warmth. After an early morning nap, she was as jazzed up as could be, zipping to the park in speedy fashion.

When she arrived, she noticed there were a few other pups bouncing around the park lawn – she responded remarkably, and took a moment to relax under the shade before the crowds dispersed.

In mid-stride, she came face-to-face with a squirrel – sending her into an epic chase behind the baseball field. As the squirrel scurried up the fence, she made several valiant attempts to get on its level, nearly clearing the fence herself! She did land somewhat ungracefully at one point, but hopped right back up and continued her pursuit.

When the chase was over, she took a moment to catch her breath – but not for long! Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a delectable chicken bone nearby (it was about the size of a turkey drumstick to be honest), and made a dash to scoop it up.

She did manage to pick it up, but it was removed from her mouth and discarded in about half a second. After a quick, “No garbage, Sunshine!” talk, big smiles spread across her face – she thought she was just so darn funny. She certainly knows when to look cute and make one forget about whatever trouble she was getting into 🙂

After a bit more strolling and observing, she arrived back home to lots of cool water – she was one hot dog after all the excitement. Naps are in order before she heads back out soon!

Got the Life

Editor’s note: Fell asleep at the keyboard around 10:30 pm – seeing as it’s about 3:45 am, apologies in advance if this post is lacking in, “Making sense.”

Diamond was at her best and was feeling the most affectionate throughout the day. There was tons of cuddling and playful pup shenanigans – and a few treats sprinkled in too!

Similar to yesterday’s routine, she went out for a quick stroll around 5:30 pm to handle some business, noticing the lingering heavy humidity that clung to each step.

A neighborhood cat totally stole her attention here – she focused in with laser-like precision, not wanting to leave before getting a chance to say hello. Not sure if they would make the best combo, but appreciated her enthusiasm!

More cuddles and playing with toys was next on the menu. She knows how to get what she wants – usually, those puppy dog eyes and a wag of the tail helps her to get what she needs!

Her evening walk lasted for about 45 minutes, where ones and twos were accounted for. It was another busy scene at the park, filled with a few other dogs and folks enjoying the warm summer evening.

She was a total pro per usual, even if she didn’t get as much time on the lawn as she prefers. But she still got her fill of exercise, and was totally tuckered out after returning home.

A very sleepy evening for all – will be an early start today!

By the Morning Sun

Dawn trickled in like freshly cracked eggs into a frying pan, setting the stage for another warm summer morning. Diamond was sizzling with excitement at the first sight of sunlight, and couldn’t wait to get after it!

Out the door by 7:00 am, ones and twos were quickly taken care before entering the park (Side note: Folks have posted signs on some of the park trees complaining about dog etiquette. So we’re working on handling business before entering the park).

Her eyes began to sparkle when she realized the field was hers, immediately swooping in and burying her nose under the fresh morning smells. Realizing this would probably be the coolest part of the day, she didn’t hesitate to run around, her paws gliding over the grass effortlessly.

There was plenty of shade to chill under after her jazzercise session as the birds swirled around nearby, providing much entertainment while she relaxed. Commuters and summer workers soon lined the streets – her head tilted along with the flow of traffic, eager to get the best views from her comfortable position on the field.

By 8:00 am it seemed she had gotten her fill of the great outdoors, and she strolled home with her head held high and big smiles on her face 🙂

Awaiting for her indoors was fresh water and food, which she enjoyed immensely. She also had a treat for being so good while others ate – she is a very considerate pup.

Swaddled under cuddles, she drifted off into a cozy snooze, dreaming of all the good things that are still to come!

Summer Wind

The sun poured in through the windows and cranked up the temperatures outside – Diamond anticipated nature’s next move by chilling out, maxing, and relaxing all cool this afternoon.

Many naps were taken before her energy kicked up a notch or three, and around 5:00 pm she was roaring for more fun. There was a whole bunch of goofing around and belly rubs – she just couldn’t get enough attention!

She stepped outside around 5:30 pm and sensed it was commuting hour – her instincts seemed to kick into overdrive as she navigated the sidewalks. Her mind seemed to process every movement, her eyes and nose darting in every direction while she kept a steady pace.

The combination of commuters, exercisers, and heat resulted in a quickly tired pup, so she kept her time outside on the shorter end here. No luck with #2 on this trip – and since she hadn’t yet dispatched it today, plans were drawn up to try again in a bit.

Some fresh water and more attention helped her cool down not long after she returned home, and she took a short nap before dinnertime. A big bowl of food was quickly vacuumed up!

Around 8:45 pm she was blazing trails once more, this time over to the park. Dusk faded in like high tide, and the summer wind helped her find a comfortable groove.

The lawn was mostly hers, and she very much appreciated the wide openness for this outing. Since ones and twos were accounted for before she got to the park, she was able to snoop and scoop smells to her heart’s content.

From a distance, Diamond watched the fireflies dot the night sky with their brilliance, her ears perked way up while observing the local night life. The light traffic (both in terms of vehicles and people) was a soothing change of pace from her previous walk, and it was evident she was very much relaxed.

After returning from her journey, a bit more food and fresh water were exactly what she was looking for. She showed her appreciation for the satisfying walk and tasty foods with lots of enthusiastic tail wagging, snuggling up, and never-ending boops.

The joys of the day has her all set for some serious snoozing – she’ll be totally jazzed up for the next round of awesomeness in the morning 🙂

PS: Sorry I haven’t been texting – figured it wasn’t worth it to eat up your data with an, “All set!” text. Also, the time zone difference is real!

Another Scorcher

Like the early morning sun, Diamond rose to the occasion as her day got underway. Many cuddles were in order before she jumped out of bed around 7:15 am, her tail wiggling with eager anticipation 🙂

It was already 80 degrees when she stepped outside, and it seems it will continue to get hotter throughout the day. The morning provided quite a contrast compared to late last night, when she was able to chill on the basketball courts a bit before hitting the hay.

The park offered Diamond a chance to get some exercise, with lots of room to roam around and graze the smells. The field was mostly hers, so she found a couple of ideal spots under the shade to watch people and park critters go about their business.

She strolled around for about 40 minutes here with a cool, calm energy, never in a rush but always thinking about the world around her.

Back inside, fresh water was in order before curling up and settling in. Even with the recent stifling heat, she has done a tremendous job getting up the stairs – she hasn’t really needed any breaks between flights, which certainly speaks to her awesomeness 🙂

She definitely misses you much, and hopes you are enjoying your travels!

A Gem of a Dog

Like weather on the West Coast, the morning started off cool and breezy – but by afternoon, the sun had settled in, along with an uptick in humidity.

Diamond took notice, and got quite comfortable for some solid midday snoozing. She slept soundly until about 2:30 pm – the long walk this AM and warming temperatures made napping all the more enjoyable.

By midday, the crews had taken away most of the leftovers from the weekend festival, clearing some grassy goodness for Sunshine. As she tip-toed across the terrain, her nose got to work, scooping smells with expert precision.

A low-key scene meant much relaxing under the comfort of the shade, where she could take it easy and just observe her surroundings.

Before heading back home, she did her best to say hello to a squirrel. She hopped carefully around the trees and bushes while in pursuit – but alas, it wasn’t meant to be today.

Fresh water, cuddles, and more slumber were next up on her to-do list. It would appear she is totally in her comfort zone after experiencing the great outdoors 🙂

Around 7:30 pm she was buzzing with energy, having fully recharged after Snoozapalooza 2019. There was a big hop right before she burst out the building entrance!

Folks were ready to get active and exercise after the holiday weekend – no need for gyms, as the weather outside is conducive for outdoor activities. For Diamond, the increase of stimuli (compared to most evenings) consumed her senses.

She had her peaceful moments in her secret garden, finding some calm under the trees and giant plant leaves. Eventually, the amount of joggers outweighed any benefit she was getting from being outside – so she headed back home with food on her mind!

Heaping portions of food were enjoyed, and she smacked her lips in satisfaction after gobbling up some treats for dessert. Currently, she’s back to relaxing at maximum capacity with a full tummy and all the cuddles a dog can handle.

Sky’s the Limit

After a long holiday weekend, the 9-5 crowd was back in full effect, hustling to get to their destinations on time. Diamond was hopeful to get back to a bit of routine herself, cruising over to the park as soon as she got outside this morning.

Crews were busy tidying the place up, perhaps to her chagrin – each pile of trash offered a world of smells she couldn’t resist. There were tons of food scraps scattered throughout the park, but she did an amazing job resisting the temptation (except for one tiny piece of what looked like chicken, which was smaller than an M+M. Shouldn’t be an issue, but will keep a look out!).

Since she was unable to visit the park over the weekend, she made sure to soak it all up this morning. Her nose directed her to every nook and cranny she could get to as she dodged the cleaning crews and commuters swerving about.

There were some light rain showers here, but she didn’t seem to mind – she was happy to be back to familiar territory.

Over the weekend, Diamond had many dreams of chasing squirrels (she definitely was running/barking in her sleep :)! ). This temptation she couldn’t resist, as she hopped up onto a bench to get a better view of her bushy-tailed buddy. She’ll be thrilled when she has a bit more space to conduct her chases!

Ones and twos were all accounted for here. After about an hour of park shenanigans, she stopped by the basketball courts for a quick little run. The weather has been cooler with a little bit of rain – temperature wise, it’s pretty ideal for Sunshine.

She had tremendous energy this morning, her mind constantly sifting through all of the stimulation flooding her senses. There was no need to rush – she seemed to live by the philosophy of, “Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart’s in it, and live the phrase sky’s the limit.”

Back inside, she dried off with the help of her towel, showing her appreciation with constant tail wagging and big smiles on her face. She’ll be ready for more adventure in a bit – after her naps, of course 🙂