Sandwiches, Soups, Salads...and a little sweet music...

(Thanks for the video, Grandpa Bob!!!)  ;)

dog blog

When Alpha says, "Hey, Mack.  How about hopping in the car and going camping?"  I hear Alpha say this to me, "...Mack.  Mwa mwa mwa mwa car mwa mwa mwa?" and frankly, I'm just excited that Alpha has spoken to me about the car and I'll do anything she says.  Little did I know we'd end up actually riding in the car and stopping at nothing short of doggie heaven!

First we ride in the car for a long time.  I'm not too thrilled with the long car ride, but all my people are there telling me I'm a good boy so it's all good.  When we get there, there's food.  And crabgrass.  And other dogs.  And deer.  And fish.  And water.  Like I said...Heaven.

First I get to swim with some of my favorite kids in my favorite old lake on top of a mountain.  Fish are jumping, my kids are laughing, and the water is plentiful and delicious.

 Then we walk around and I find a scrumptious random knee bone of some scrumptious, previously eaten creature.  What luck!  Yum.

 Then I agree to pose for a darling photo because Alpha asked me to.  And because I'm, well, darling.

 ...wait...was that a bee?

 Later, there's a bunch of chillaxing in the shade...my favorite past time.

 Then, of course, there's the fantastic stream with actual fish, actually jumping, and people actually NOT telling me to get out and don't lay down in the stream.  So I stay in...and watch the fish...and lay down in the stream.

 But man, did that wear me out and turn me into Harry the Dirty Dog.  Luckily, my people don't mind my new color scheme and cuddle with me anyway.

 The next lake we find is great too...wait...is that a beaver?  

Yes, it is a beaver.  Hooray!

 Later it rains so we hang around in the camper and the people have fun messing with me.  But I don't mind.  I enjoy a good swaddle when it's cold.

I think some of my best memories were just made from start to finish. 
That car always takes me to good places.  Wonder where we'll go next!?!

salad anyone?

beets, lettuce, carrots, bell peppers, corn, sunflower...and some yellow raspberries hiding in the back 

baby bell peppers...all together now...awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!  So cute!

Gotta love a pika...

...basking in the clouds on Trail Ridge Road

 

Sophie-Julia Backstroke 7/13 Meet

Racing in the same heat...against each other.  Sophie-Lane 2 & Julia-Lane 4

Sophie Freestyle 7/13 Meet

Sisters. On the same relay team. Ya'll better watch out!

2nd Place!  Woot!!!

I don't write eloquently enough to express the impact of seeing painstakingly preserved sites like Gettysburg and Antietam. I'll never forget the sound of a booming canon demonstration as I looked over the corn field where the Battle of Antietam took place, nor the sight of thousands of fireflies dancing over the Rose Wheatfield after dark, each paying a silent, sparkling homage to the 4,000 men who perished there in the battle at Gettysburg.  The courage and fortitude the citizens showed so long ago is humbling, and I appreciate the sacrifices they endured more now than I ever did before. 

Plus, Pennsylvania loves their ice cream shops and we had the best ice cream ever! 
What a wonderful trip!

Day One:
Visit to the Cyclorama, museum, bus tour, a hike and visit to the National Cemetery

  Day Two: Lovely drive to Maryland to tour/hike Antietum, dinner at Gettysburg's Farnsworth House (built in 1815 & riddled with bullet holes), back to Rose Wheatfield to watch the sun set & check for ghosts after dark.

 Go if you can--it's amazing!