Cinnamon's Year in Review - 2015

It's getting to be the end of the year. It's a time I reflect on what brought me here... the times alone, on the streets of Santa Fe as the snow fell and it was getting very cold. I was adopted in the winter and so that is what I think about when I am alone in my cushy bed having trouble getting to sleep.

Life has been good since then. I've traveled across the country and had some wonderful experiences. 2015 was another good year. Here are my top memories of 2015:

THE BEACH! I love the beach with smells of dead crabs and drying seaweed. I love getting the sand between my toes. I enjoy going to Long Beach, Washington because they are very dog friendly. I've stayed at several places that accept dogs. My favorite things to do are to walk the Discovery Trail and run on the beach avoiding the waves. I don't even mind when the wind kicks up and I get sand in my eyes.

Here I am at the beach checking out the razor clams.

The Farmers Market Vancouver, my home town (now), has a great Farmer's Market. The best part about the market is that they allow dogs! Of course I am always on my best behavior there. I look longingly at each booth as we pass by in hopes of getting samples. And sometimes I do! My owner's favorite things are the flowers, jams and local produce. I like Olympia Provisions and the salmon people!

Here I am hoping for Salmon samples at the Farmer's Market

Dog Parks! This year I continued to enjoy the Clark County dog parks. Clark Dog Paw, a non-profit, works with Vancouver and Clark County to maintain the best dog parks I have ever seen. I like the Brush Prairie Dog park with green grass, lots of running space and a view of Mt. Hood. It's my happy place!

Here I am looking all gorgeous at the Dog Park.

Francesca I'll bet you are surprised that I would mention Francesca in my list of memories, but I have to. From the day we picked her up from Animal Control, she's been a problem. I've worked hard to train her... to let her know what is mine and what is hers. And to let her know when she has to stop bugging me! But now I call her my buddy. When she goes to Day Care (because she can't be trusted home alone), I actually am happy to see her when she gets home.

Here we are bringing Francesca home.

Christmas Christmas was pretty special this year. We had a visit from our Country Cousins which includes Indy! We also got PRESENTS! Christmas day was spent doing things we enjoy like opening gifts, playing with new toys, going to the dog park and getting some treats. I like Christmas!

Here I am with my Christmas gift.

There was much more going on in 2015, some good and some bad, but all in all it was a very good year. I am hoping that 2016 brings more travel, food testing and more toys!

Love, Cinnamon

Dog Abuse: Cinnamon forced to walk in the rain

I just couldn't write about this yesterday. I was just too angry. In fact, I was livid!

You see, my owner took me to the Farmer's Market here in Vancouver, WA because it was opening day. But she didn't check the weather report.

Now I love the Farmer's Market in good weather. I get treats and people admire and pet me. But yesterday taking me was a truly cruel thing to do. Imagine, I could have lazed on my bed in the garage instead. This is what happened:

It was raining cats and cats!

We parked near the Crab Shack after noticing that there were tons of fishermen out on the Columbia River in their little boats. They all were dressed for rain, wearing slickers and gum boots. They knew the fish would be running.

We got out of the car and as soon as we walked under the I-5 bridge, it started to sprinkle. Well, my owner didn't turn around. She told me it wouldn't rain hard... just a little. By the time we got under the train overpass IT WAS POURING! I ASKED TO GO BACK. SHE SAID NO!

So we walked up to the Hilton. i was getting wet all over. I tried to go inside the Hilton to join the gaming conference going on. It looked nice and warm inside. I could have rolled on the carpet to get dry. BUT NO! We were there to wait until the rain let up. Finally it did.

Here I am thinking of going in to the gaming
conference at the Hilton where it was dry.

So we headed over to the market. I was dripping wet and none too happy. A young couple petted me anyway. Things were looking up.

When we were at the La Center Heritage Farms Booth to buy a broccoli plant, it happened. THE HEAVENS OPENED UP AND IT POURED AGAIN!

This time we headed back to the car IN THE RAIN and took refuge at City Hall outside the side door. It didn't let up. I started shivering. So we kept walking IN THE RAIN and made it back to the car. I, of course, wanted to stop at The Red Lion to go inside. BUT NO!

Here I am in the car. Look how wet I am!

I was mighty glad to see my car. I hopped inside and my owner put a blanket around me and turned up the heat. By the time we got home I was still wet and feeling mighty sorry for myself. It rained again in our neighborhood but we were home. My owner rubbed me with a towel and I started to feel better (a treat would have been nice).

It took two towels to get me dry.

Then the sun came out! Hooray!

Finally the sun came out!

I went outside and trotted around the yard looking for the best sunbeams. My owner put the towel out on the deck and I laid on it and lounged in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.

I spent the rest of the day sunbathing.

All of that suffering for one puney broccoli plant. IMAGINE!

Love, Cinnamon

Salmon and Rainbows: A Great Vancouver USA Morning!

Here I am hoping for Salmon samples!

We went to the Vancouver Farmer's Market when it opened at 9 a.m. because it was still cool out. We looked high and low for our friends who were going to meet us there. We couldn't find them. By 9:15 I was tired of waiting and wanted TO GO SHOPPING!

I was hoping for lots of free samples. So I looked at each table to see what they might be selling. There was way too much lettuce and way too many flowers. I was hoping for something for DOGS! I got petted and met some nice children so that was good.

My owner bought some peaches and apricots from Maryhill Orchards. They had samples of nectarines but I don't like fruit so didn't ask for a taste. They were nice enough, but I didn't like their selection of food.

So once we got the fruit, we went across the way to A SALMON STAND! It was the Harvesters Catch Guy. Now things were looking up. I LOVE FISH AND I LOVE FISHING!

They told me they are catching Salmon up by Forks on the Olympic Peninsula (I'm actually going there at the end of the summer.)  I was thinking I might score a taste of Salmon. But it was all frozen and there were no samples. No smoked Salmon and no fresh Salmon for dogs. Drat! They were nice enough there and I got a little bit of attention. BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED WAS SOME SALMON! I think we'll have to buy a beautiful Salmon filet next time we go to the market.

Here I am getting a little attention from the Salmon guy.

I had fun at the Farmer's Market mainly because of the people. But there just wasn't enough being sold for dogs today.

On the way home we walked through Esther Short Park and happened upon a little Pride Festival. Rainbows were flying and people were setting up tents. Maybe they would have dog treats? I could only hope.

Treats or no treats, I had a great time going from booth to booth. Everyone was nice and full of pride. I fit right in. I'm pretty proud of who I am too!

So I spied a water bowl at a booth and really appreciated the dog water. I started meeting people at some of the political booths. I'm pretty political myself. After all, I run the National Headquarters of Dogs Against Fireworks. So I fit right in.

Here I am with my new friend and my new rainbow lei at the Pride Festival

They were really sweet to me at the Democratic Party booth. In fact they offered to deck me out in a rainbow colored lei. At first I thought it was something to eat, but once I realized it was to wear, I wore it with pride. I even had my picture taken with the cute woman who was working the booth. She liked me! I decided I made some good friends at the Democratic Party booth. Maybe they would help me with my campaign against fireworks!

So the day turned out pretty good. I got some great attention at the Farmer's Market and a beautiful rainbow lei at the Saturday in the Park Pride Festival.

I think this biker is headed for the Pride Festival!

On the way home I saw a rainbow mural.... I think I like festivals with rainbows!

Love, Cinnamon

Vancouver USA: After the Storm

This vendor was ready to sell early. But most were closed at 9:15 a.m.!

It's been raining hard lately. The ponds around town are full, the Columbia River is running high and I've been staying inside way too much!

However, at 9 a.m. when my owner called me three times to get out of bed. I ignored her. I couldn't believe there was anything worthwhile happening that early in the morning. I love to sleep in.

So then she came right up to me and said, "Wanna go to the Farmer's Market?" Well, yes, I did. So I jumped up and ran downstairs. Soon we were in the car, driving through the rain soaked streets enjoying the sun radiating down from the sky. It was NOT raining.

Here I am sniffing around the
Captain Vancouver Monument

We got to the Farmer's Market and I was stunned. Half the booths were covered. In the other half of the booths, the people were just setting up. I GOT UP EARLY FOR THIS? It wasn't really open yet. No samples, no smiling vendors, no dogs. And then I saw the sign.... IT OPENS AT 10 AM ON SUNDAYS.... NOT 9 AM. I was dragged out of bed and the market wasn't even open!

So we wandered around a bit. All of a sudden a nice man leaned over to pet me and asked about me. My day was getting good. I WAS GETTING ATTENTION! This is what I go to the farmer's market for (well, aside from the free samples.)

So then we decided to go for a walk along the river. We stopped and looked at the I-5 Bridge and noticed the Columbia River was running high and fast. Now there wasn't any flooding but the river was different.

The blossoms were out and I enjoyed the walk.

See how high the river is?

So then, after that (mis) adventure we went home and had breakfast.

All in all I have to admit that today is much better than yesterday. I love the Farmer's Market (when it's open!).

Love, Cinnamon

Cinnamon loves the Vancouver Farmer's Market

Today is a day I've been looking forward to. It is the opening of the Vancouver Farmer's Market. Yay! And, dogs are allowed! Double YAY!

Here I am getting ready to enter the market... and look for food samples!

However......... I didn't think the Farmer's Market would start so early. I was snoozing at 9 a.m. on this quiet Saturday morning and all of a sudden I was jolted from my slumber. "Wanna go to the Farmer's Market?" she said. Yes, I wanna go! But let me wake up first, please!

It didn't take long for me to wake up and get my harness and leash on. I was in the car and tried to act all alert and interested but found myself lying down on the seat and snoozing a bit more. We were parked before I knew it and it was time to hit the market!

Here's the sheepdog who greeted me. She was very nice.

We walked past the sign into the market and the first thing I noticed was that it was full of dogs. A huge elderly sheepdog greeted me. She had St. Paddy's Day regalia on. (Now I'll bet she got up earlier than I did to do that!).

We looked at plants, smelled the soaps and stopped to talk to the mushroom guy. Then we were down the next street so see what was there.

Here I am wondering where the "Dog Nip" was.

I was looking for someone, anyone, who would give me samples and I saw a sign for "Cat Nip Take-Out." I didn't see any cats around, thank goodness. I wondered where the dog booths were!

A stop at the Kolache stand was good. Someone dropped a Kolache sample and I snapped it up!

Here's the nice lady from the Washougal Lamb Farm

Then we looked at even more flowers and stopped to ask about local lamp chops. That's when I hit the jackpot! The nice lamb farm lady offered me a bite of their lamb sausage. Let me tell you... it was delicious. We got some lamb chops to take home. I doubt they will be for my dinner, though.

Here I am just before the nice lady gave me a sausage sample!

As we continued enjoying the booths, I saw a HUGE Great Dane puppy. His owners were getting coffee and he was hanging out at the market, his enthusiasm restrained by a muzzle leash. I could tell he wanted to come over and see me, though.

Here's that Gigantic Great Dane. I wonder if he got any samples?

The Farmer's Market was wonderful. So many people stopped to pet me. All the dogs we saw were on leashes and were well-behaved. There were little dogs and big dogs. I said hello to most of them.

I can't wait to go back! The market is held on both Saturday and Sunday.

Vancouver Farmer's Market

Cinnamon Goes to the Farmer's Market

Last year they had people cookies. Maybe this year they will have DOG COOKIES!

Our Farmer's Market here in Vancouver, Washington will open this Saturday. I plan to go! I love the people at the Farmer's Market. They stop and pet me and tell me how pretty I am!

Now the Vancouver Farmer's Market is not like the Farmer's Market in my home town of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In Santa Fe, they don't allow dogs like me.... NO DOGS!

They do allow baby bunnies at Easter time. Kids get to hold them. And they have special volunteer dog sitters to hold our leashes while our owners go inside. I always wondered what was inside... it must have been good to make it worth KEEPING ME OUT!

So I'm excited to go to opening day at MY NEW Farmer's Market. I'll be sniffing around to see if there is anything for dogs there.

Here's More Info About the Vancouver Farmer's Market