It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Well, I promised you some excitement and last evening we had excitement big time! The phone went off with a flood alert, the skies darkened, and we heard some thunder rumbling in the distance. It was time for "weather dog" to spring into action and find a safe place in El Shacko. But where to go?

Francesca jumped up on the couch and I watched the skies.

Francesca, the big baby that she is, decided that any place our owner was, would be safe. So she jumped up on the ottoman and went to sleep. Me? I continued to watch the skies and look for a safe place.

I was on the ottoman first as it gave me a good viewpoint of the sky,

Francesca started snoring.

Soon the thunder and lightning were right here! It was loud. First I laid down next to the bed between it and the wall. But that wasn't a secure feeling for me.

Then I asked to head outside to get inside the car. But that wasn't in the cards as we weren't parked next to El Shacko. My owner said no, because it had already started raining.

As the heavens opened up and it poured, I decided the back of the closet under the baby stuff stored there might be the safest place. While Francesca slept peacefully, I kept my eyes open in case we had to evacuate. 

I guess this was the safest place.

Within about an hour, the rain stopped and we went outside for some short walks. All was well and we had survived!

It's Flooding and We Got New Raincoats!

Well, you all know that Cinnamon and I live in Southwest Washington right across the river from Portland, Oregon, right? Well, in case you haven't heard, we've had so much rain that it's flooding in some places, including streets near me. So we've been sticking close to home lately.

I don't mind the rain. I pretty much ask to go outside whenever I'm bored. That can be about 10 times in an hour! So my owner has let me out in the rain and has a pile of wet towels to show for it.

Ding Dong... the doorbell rang. And on our porch a package appeared. It was from Lands' End. We opened up the package and saw two yellow coats. Oh no! Cinnamon had told me about coats. She doesn't like them. But our owner thought having us wear raincoats would save on towels.

I was the first to try the yellow and blue coat on because Cinnamon was sulking in the corner. She knew what was coming. It fit perfectly. It is held on by velcro. Now I wasn't sure I liked it when I first went outside. But when I realized that my whole back was kept dry, I decided to allow the wearing of the raincoat. I posed for a picture in my new coat:

Here I am looking all nautical.

Then Cinnamon tried hers on. She wasn't pleased. Here is her picture (check out her expression!)

"Get this thing offa me", she said

So we walked around the yard trying to get used to the coats. Miracle of miracles, both of us found out that we weren't so wet. We could stay out longer and sniff around for wet squirrels and such!

Here we are all suited up for whatever the storm will bring.
Cinnamon thinks her coat makes her look fat!

When we went back inside, our owner took the jackets off and hung them up to dry. No towels! So that's my rainy day story.

Love, Francesca

Cinnamon has S.A.D.

See, don't I look sad on this rainy day?

It's wet. It's raining and I just want to stay indoors. I go outside only for the bare necessities. I go as quickly as possible.

When I left Santa Fe, my home, we were in the midst of a multi-year drought. I was used to dry, sandy terrain. I was used to sun. Once in a while it snowed. But that was alright because it was NOT WET! But this stuff in the Pacific Northwest is really wet. And, to add insult to injury, the wind blows 40 m.p.h. and blows the rain right into my fur.

All I feel like doing is sleeping. It's been dark outside for two days. It rains most of the time and I haven't seen the sun in those two days. I haven't been to the dog park and I haven't been out walking because my owner went wine tasting near McMinnville. I'll bet it was SUNNY there!

So what will this first winter in the Pacific Northwest bring me? Right now I feel Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) coming on BIG TIME

And to top it off, I still don't have my bed back and am sleeping on a quilt.  I think I'll go back to sleep now!

Love, Cinnamon on her quilt coming down with S.A.D.

What a lie! It was supposed to be cool here!

OK, I have endured a trip from Santa Fe to Vancouver, WA and was promised, in return, a much cooler, greener environment. Well, right now I'd agree that it is greener. But cool? NOPE! It was 95 degrees today and there isn't any river running through this property!

Mornings are ok. It is cooler and perhaps good enough for a little romping. But come afternoon it really heats up. I just gave up today and plopped down on the carpet like that old Millie dog that visited me. I JUST PLOPPED. TOO POOPED to play!

I am drinking plenty of water, but that doesn't help. Maybe I need to go back to the beach on Haida Gwaii. Yep, that's where I should be. I can go fishing, crabbing and wading.

I hear that it will be cooler by the Fourth of July. I surely hope so. This weather IS REALLY BUGGING ME!

Signed, Cinnamon, The Hot Dog in the "Couve"