About Feast Portland and a Starving Coon Hound

Here I am after opening a box of food.
I get two meals a day at home but add in lunch
at day care because I play so hard.

Hi, it's me, Francesca, the Coonhound. I'm writing today to tell you about yesterday. I didn't write last night because, frankly, I was too wiped out.

Yesterday started out great. I had breakfast and went to A Dog's Best Friend, my favorite Day Care. I go there once in awhile while my owner is away for the day. I run, play and have a nice lunch to sustain me through the day. So I was looking forward to playing.

Yesterday, lunchtime came and they didn't call my name. Whoa!!!! No lunch for Francesca? What was that all about. I hadn't a clue because I always get lunch at day care.

As the afternoon dragged on, I went up to the people that work there and let them know I WAS HUNGRY. I laid on their laps, made goo-goo eyes and even licked them on the face. And I still didn't get lunch. You see, not all the dogs want lunch there. So they didn't know.

By 4:30 I was about starved to death when my owner FINALLY SHOWED UP! I got a treat in the office and then jumped in the car. It was at that point that my owner and I spied MY LUNCH BAG in the back of the car. SHE HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE IT IN! I was so hungry I decided to let my owner know about it all the way home. I barked my loudest bark as soon as we left the parking lot. All the way down the street I barked and barked.

Am I dead? Starved to death?
You be the judge!

As soon as we got home, I ran to the dining room (I always eat just outside the dining room door. I didn't say hi to Cinnamon, I didn't run around the yard, I didn't pass go... I just got in position for DINNER!

I barked obnoxiously to urge my owner to hurry up and feed me. After all I was starving. Rather quickly I got my meal and enjoyed every morsel.

After dinner, I had a chat with my owner about her day. It was then that I found out what she had been doing AND IT MADE IT ALL WORSE!

She had been to Feast Portland events.... eating! Eating lots! First she went to the media breakfast at Gracie's at the Hotel de Luxe where they had pastries, French toast and sausage from Olympia Provisions.... she wasn't adventuresome enough to try the Octopus Benedict!

Here's what Octopus Benedict looks like. I would have been happy to have some.
The chefs at Gracie's know how to cook!

And after that she went to a luncheon sponsored by Washington Wines at Super Bite. Get this, it was a 15 course tasting lunch. Yes, 15 (that wasn't a typo). She enjoyed such delights as Salmon and Albacore Cerviche and Whole Fried Trout topped with crab and BBQ Beef Shortrib.... all things I would love to share.

A dog would love just a bite of this Fried Whole Trout
From Super Bite.

I love seafood. Super Bite knows how to make it pretty!

And after all that, she didn't bring us a thing! She did this while I was STARVING!

So today, Saturday, Feast Portland continues. This afternoon she is going to Smoked! where they have all sorts of grilled meats and dishes cooked over an open fire. I'm making sure I have dinner before she leaves.

And, I have a plan. I am sending her there with two sandwich bags... one for me and one for Cinnamon. I am telling her to fill them with morsels of meat from the famous chefs that will be there. Those little doggie bags from Smoked! should at least partially make up for my day of hunger yesterday.

Love, Francesca

It's Party Time at A Dog's Best Friend Day Care and More!

Hi. It's me, Francesca. I've got an exciting tale to tell. And Cinnamon didn't even get to go!

One Saturday I went for day care to A Dog's Best Friend on Hearthwood in Vancouver. Weekends are different there. There are more boarding dogs than day care dogs and less people. So I don't get as excited about going as I do when I get to go during the week! But this Saturday was different.

They were busy in the office area setting up tables. I was hoping it was a birthday party for one of the dogs and there would be tons of treats! I tried to watch what was going on and sniffed under the door to see if treats were involved.

A party on wheels!

Things got really interesting when a colorful van pulled up. It looked like it was going to be an art party. It said "Wine Fueled Painting Parties." Now I am not above trying to steal a swig of red wine if I see a glass out on the deck. So I'm up for that!

Would I get to do some paw painting? I'm good at putting my paws into something messy. I also am good at nose art. Would I be invited?

I had my lunch and no mention of inviting me to the party. Easels were set up and there was plenty of paints and blank canvasses. And I smelled something good. Mimosas, finger food and human treats. Apparently, much to my disappointment, it was going to be an art party for humans.

The party goers learned how to paint dogs.

So as I hung out with my friends, lots of humans drove up. These were dog-loving humans and they were going to be painting their best friends, the dogs! They were having a great time. Laughing and talking as they learned how to paint dogs. Some young people came to keep us entertained and I like that... very much. I asked one to sneak me some food and he wouldn't. He said the food was people food.

Artists at work painting their best friends.

Soon, the paintings were looking like dogs... all kinds of dogs. And I recognized some of them! When the party was just winding down, my owner showed up to get me. I was excited. Now I could see what all the commotion was about. I was wearing my turquoise Easter collar so figured I'd fit right in. I came rushing out the door (as usual) and stopped. People petted me and said I was cute. And I checked out the paintings as I rushed by.

I recognized some of these dogs!

Here's Alisha. I love the pink background!

Fantastic job!

And just before I went out the door I spied Alisha, my friend from the Riverview Vet Hospital. She and Dr. Kempner helped save me when I had pneumonia. She was painting a portrait of her dog. But then it was over and I hopped into my car to ride home to tell Cinnamon all about my exciting day.

You'll have to watch the Facebook Page for A Dog's Best Friend to see when the next painting party will be held. I already told my owner I want a portrait OF ME! I'll hang it in Cinnamon's and my room.

Love, Francesca

My First Day at Day Care by Francesca

Let me introduce myself. I am Cinnamon's intern, Francesca. Cinnamon is allowing me to write this, only because she is too tired from a romp at the dog park this morning to do much of anything. So here goes...

MY FIRST DAY AT DAY CARE

By Francesca the Coonhound

One day on the way to the post office, we stopped in to a very interesting building. In the building were many dogs. Big dogs and little dogs. And, there were people too.

We visited and then I was signed up for Day Care. It is a lot like pre-school. 

On my first day I was barely out of bed and Cinnamon's owner walked me several blocks to the building with the dogs. It is named "A Dogs' Best Friend."

I went inside and they took me to the back room where I waited for the other dogs to get there. I was very excited as each one came in. I played and played.

We had a lunch break and I got lunch and a nap. But I kept one eye open to watch the other dogs.

In the afternoon it was hot so we got misted with water out in the play yard. I played and played.

About 5:30 Cinnamon's owner came to get me. I got a treat in the lobby and then walked home with her. I was pretty tired.

I think this is why they enrolled me in Day Care.

Once I got home, Cinnamon was there to greet me at the door. We had some dinner and then lazed around most of the evening. Cinnamon said she got a good rest while I was at Day Care and wished I would go more often. 

So that is the story of my first day at Day Care. I can't wait to go back.

Editor's Note: I've graded this essay as a C. That's a pretty good start. She got the high mark for correct spelling. I marked her down for lack of descriptive phrases and repetition. Also, I'll have to teach her to use big words like I, Cinnamon, do!

OMG I am SO Exhausted!

Here I am tossing and turning, having dreams and totally exhausted. I'm too tired to tell you about my experience.

Exausted Coonie

I'm back but I'm too tired to write. Good night!

Cinnamon Goes to Boot Camp

Psst. It's me, Cinnamon. They don't allow cell phones and computers at this place so I sneaked into their office to let you know what's happening.

Well, this morning I knew something was up because my owner put my old collar on me... the one with the DOG TAGS. The DOG TAGS should have given me a hint about where I was going.

So after driving north on I-5 we got off and took some winding mountain roads to... Paradise Dog Ranch. Well, I'm not dumb. It sounded just like some sort of REFORM SCHOOL OR PARA-MILITARY TRAINING CAMP. There were plenty of woods and a real ranch house... and some dogs barking.

Brian (maybe he's the Drill Sargeant) took my food and welcomed me. Two older labs kind of told me I'd be OK. And then the BIG GATE closed. I was there for the duration. (To tell you the truth, I was a little scared)

I think it's some sort of BOOT CAMP. We sleep in special rooms that look like barracks and there are trails all around the woods. That is probably for the runs they make us do to build up our endurance. MORE PT DRILL SARGEANT!

OK, they are calling me. I have to go now. I'll tell you how it went tomorrow. I hear they let me out then.

Love, Cinnamon the RECRUIT?

Here's the Place. I'm in a one day accelerated Boot Camp (I think).
"I wanna be an Airborne Ranger... I wanna live a life of Danger."