Ohio Adventure - Part 1

I decided to break up my adventure into to several shorter posts.

We had intended to leave on 1 March, but the weather along the travel route was going to be very bad. Snow and freezing rain, and Dog Dad says, if you don't have to drive in that stuff, stay home safe and warm. So after a two day wait, we departed on 3 March. The weather in Key West was around 79 F and as we drove through Florida, the weather was in the high 80s. We reached Valdosta, Georgia that night and the weather was cool around 52 F. Dog Dad put on the sweatshirt and blue jeans, and I just loved the cooler temperatures.

Are We There Yet?

At a Rest Stop in Georgia 

Rest Stops Were Fun

Taking in the Sights, Sounds and Smells

We left the next day about 9 AM, passed through Atlanta and made Cincinnati, Ohio on 4 March. Total drive time so far was about 22 hours. During the drive Dad at times got a little misty eyed as remembered previous trips with Essex and Deacon. It was getting dark by the time I made my first encounter with snow in Kentucky. The stuff is cold, and when I sank six inches into a drift I jumped up and Dad laughed. When we finally arrived in Cincinnati, I met Clyde. Clyde and I liked each other right away. Clyde told me about his memories of Great Auntie Essex and Uncle Deacon, and that I was a fine collie pup. The hoomans talked about them too. I could tell those memories warmed up Dad's heart.

Cousin Clyde Had Tall Tails To Tell

Clyde at Rest

The next day we drove up to the Cleveland, Ohio area. Tomorrow, I will show you some pictures of me in the snow.

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Oho Snow Storm

Well cyber-paw pals it is snowing outside right now. Yesterday the weather guessers were talking about a blizzard. I asked Dog Dad if they made peanut butter and cheddar cheese flavored. Dog Dad said it was the kind of blizzard that involved snow.

Well, there is lots of snow outside, but it is not quite a blizzard. I enjoyed the snow falling on my fur and getting my nose in the snow. Dad said we might need to shift travel plans a bit.

I have enjoyed the snow and romping around with my pals Gracie Lou and Cassie. Unfortunately, I won't get to see my pals tonight because the roads are snow covered and slippery. Sigh.

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Northern Ohio

We'll paw pals, Dog Dad and I are on vacation.  We are visiting his pack up north in Ohio.  I've gotten to meet Cousin Clyde, who told me stories about Great Auntie Essex and Uncle Deacon visiting.  Uncle Deacon used to play a lot with Cousin Clyde when he visited.  Then I met Rosie the cat.  I bark up a storm at Rosie at times, but for the most part I have been pretty calm.  I met Cassie and Gracie Lou in Northern Ohio.  Cassie told me more stories about Great Auntie Essex and Uncle Deacon.  I spent a lot of time playing with Gracie Lou, who is a tri-color collie.  Gracie Lou and I romped and ran in the snow.  It was pawsome.

The drive north seemed to take pawever.  Every time Dog Dad would slow down, I would get up and whine.  We would get out for walks about every other rest stops.  For the most part I would just lie in the back and sleep.  I got visit a lot the same rest stops that Great Auntie Essex told me about.

I did tend to bark and whine if I was left alone in the hotel room.  I was worried that Dad wasn't going to come back to me.  I don't mind at home because I that is home.  The SUV is okay, because it is my vehicle.  I saw snow for the first time in Tennessee. 

I am looking forward to spending more time romping with Gracie Lou and Cassie. I am enjoying the cooler weather and meeting new friends.  When we get back home, we'll post pawtographs.

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Brave Star's Furever Home

Well my cousin Brave Star is telling me that he likes his new home.  Thursday he visited the vets and arrived at his fur-ever home.  Bart Simpson welcomed him to the house, while Greta Garbo watched stayed in hiding to make just to make sure the Brave Star was okay.

20 FEB - At the Vets

Checking Out Bart Simpson from Above

After a Hectic First Day Napping on My Lazy Boy

Brave Star told me he likes to be called Buddy, like Essex's Brudder and Deacon's Pawther.  I think that name fits him just fine.  Right now he is getting use to his new home and trying to learn to understand cat.  Hope we can meet soon. 

22 FEB - Sporting a Vest

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Good Bye Lady I - 2000-2014

We received a sad call yesterday evening from north Florida.  We could hear the brave voice of their Dog Mom quiver as she told us that Lady I had crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Lady I was a happy collie with a heart of gold.  Her Dog Mom is very special.  She adopted Lady I from her initial family at the age of seven, because the family had to move and couldn't have a dog at their new home.  Next came Lady II adopted from a rescue, who crossed the bridge in 2012.  Gracie came to live with them in February 2013.  Gracie needed a lot of loving because life did not treat her well early on.  She couldn't have picked a better family.

Lady I -2010

Lady I , Deacon, Essex, Lady II - 2008

Lady I's Dog Mom is taking it in stride like Dad did with Essex.  Lady I was almost 14 years old and her Mom could see there were not many days left.  Gracie, Lady I, Dog Mom and the rest of their pack celebrated an early Barkday for Lady I the day before.  One thing we know about Lady I was that she was loved all her long life.  First by one family, then by a second.  That is makes any dogs life full.  To love and be loved.

Dad first heard about Lady I before Deacon came to live with him.  His next door neighbor knew he was looking into getting another collie and had met Lady I at the animal shelter.  Before Dad got over there, she was already adopted.  Essex and Deacon got to meet Lady I and Lady II many times until their Dog Mom moved away from Key West.  We kept in contact though.  Dog Dad, Essex and Deacon visited on their way up to Ohio.

Later on Lady I came to visit Essex and me in Key West.  Her silly Dog Mom even had me wear wings. Good thing all my fur prevented them from seeing how embarrassed I was.  I know that Lady I did a fantastic hurt paw trick.

Essex Watches Sherman Try to Play with Lady I

If you get a chance stop by and offer a kind word to Gracie and Dog Mom.  It will mean a lot to these kind souls. Here is the link to their blog: dscollies.  A great collie has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Sick Day

Well folks today was a good news, bad news day.  Good news Dad was sick, so he didn't go to work.  Bad news Dad was sick and I didn't get to go to the Angel Paw Dog Park.  I just got to sniff around the patio and check things out.  I went on a couple walks with Dad too.  For the most part Dad stayed in bed, drank orange juice, had soup and had some NyQuil.

Sniffing Around the Patio

I have some new Snow Bird Pals at Angel Paws too.  Here are some pictures of Buster and Salem taken earlier in the week.  Buster and I play at times, while Salem doesn't like playing much.  Buster is almost two years old, while Salem is nine.  Buster is a Australian Shepherd and Australian Cattle Dog mix, while Salem is a Border Collie mix.

Buster with a Bottle

Salem Checking Things Out

Salem Sitting Down

Hopefully Dad will feel better tomorrow.  So while he'll go to work, I'll be able to visit Angel Paws and romp around with my pals.

Dog Speed,

Sherman

500th Post - Brave Star

Can you believe this is our 500th Post.  Dad likes doing something special for this type of post.  So today we want to tell you about Brave Star.  Our cyber paw pal Tim up in Miami is excited that a collie puppy has chosen to come live with him.  I know that Brave Star must be brave because their pack includes two cats.  We wonder how the cats will treat Brave Star.

Brave Star - 15 February

Hopefully, I will be able to meet Brave Star this year.  I bet he will be a lot of fun.  As you can tell he is growing fast.

Brave Star & Tim - 2 February

Brave Star Sleeping - 25 January

Dog Speed,

Sherman