Ho ho ho - it's nearly Woof-mas

It has been quite a busy weekend. The human are getting ready for Christmas (which I think should be called 'Woofmas') ... this has involved:

> putting up coloured lights on the verandah (that took Jude an entire day - and she climbed up and down the ladder about 100 times)

> cooking shortbread - I fully support this activity because Jude gives me the ones that get a bit too brown (Craig used to get these but he shot himself in the foot by saying that they were too thin and tasteless, so now I get the bounty - he he he

> getting ready for a trip to Point Lonsdale.

So, with the getting ready for the beach the humans bought a queen-sized inflatable bed, Jude is a bit like that princess in the story about the princess and the pea - she says that she needs a supportive bed because her back got so banged about with falling off horses when she was younger. Falling off a horse sounds ike a pretty stupid thing to do to me. Anyway, they inflated the bed yesterday for a practise and I love it! It's just the right height for me to clamber onto and so big that I could bring all of my toys onto the bed and still have lots of room for me to sleep comfortably! I'm going to try and convice Jude and Craig to let me sleep on it when we come home from the beach. In the photo below you'll see me trying to express my requirements to Jude (who was testing the matress). 

Well I'd better get back to work - Craig has just given me a carrot to eat. He thinks that carrots keep my teeth clean.

Woofs

Toby

Haircut or massacre?

Woofety greetings!

I need your opinion - have I had an expensive haircut this week, or been caught in a massacre? You be the judge ... look at the photo below then compare it with the photo on my last post. 

Grr, Toby

My colorful garden

Woof oh - hello. Just reporting in from my very colourful front garden - regular readers will know of my strong commitment to gardening, and generally making the world a better place ... (what's that? I'm not a politician? OK then would you believe that I like messing about in the garden?). 

I've been working hard with Jude on planting and caring for some bright colourful flowers. I especially like helping with the watering - I bite the water as it comes out of the hose or watering can, to make sure that it doesn't batter the flowers around too much! I'm sort of a filter! I'd like to help with digging holes for new plants but Jude is quite discouraging ... not sure why.

In the first photo you'll see me looking at the yellowy-orange paper daisies - they make a strange crinkling sound when I bite them and they prickle my mouth so I'm keeping clear of these flowers. 

In the second photo I'm checking out some of my favourite purple blooms. I've found that they taste quite delicious so when the humans aren't looking I nip into the garden and nibble a flower or a few leaves. Delicious! 

The pink flowers are good too. In the picture below I'm trying to hypnotise the plant into growing quickly. I stop each day and give it a burl of my most concentrated thoughts - no luck so far but I'll keep trying.

We have visitors staying with us at the moment - I'll see if I can get a photo with them and feature it on my next post.

Now I must rush off and have a sleep.

Best wishes - Toby

I've been bad!

I'm sorry to report that I've been a bad boy! Yesterday afternoon I was cranky that Jude wouldn't take me out for another walk (after all, I'd only been for two walks that day) ... I took out my frustrations by taking Craig's favourite Merrell boot into my bed and chewing the inner sole. Worse - I got caught in the act! I got a hard smack on the backside from Craig. Oh, the shame of it all!

Jude said it was partly Craig's fault and that he should have put his shoes away in the wardrobe - but I note that he didn't get a smack!

Later I was trying to get back into the humans' good graces by being super good and compliant. When Jude wrapped a scarf around my neck I left it there for ages, and even sat still to have my photo taken. You'll see from my face that I was still feeling very sad.

Here you'll see me wearing a lovely scarf ... I just hope the other dog's in the neighbourhood don't find out about this!

Woofs
Toby

I'm having a grrrreat week!

We're just back from a few days in Mansfield, where we stayed at a lovely B&B - Rosedale House (see picture below). I think it was lovely because it was a dog-friendly place and I was allowed inside (yay!). The house was large, well equipped and had a beautiful big log burner. It was very quiet, and had fabulous views to Mt Bulla. The best thing about the place from my perspective though, was that there wasn't a dog-proof space outside, so I had to go everywhere with Craig and Jude - it was brilliant!!! 

Jude and I went for long walks each morning to buy the papers and get Jude a coffee - while Craig got the fire going (or so he said ... I think he just slept in, and stoked up the fire at the last moment). I had to go with them when they went out for lunch - which meant that they had to sit outside the 'Produce Store' no matter how windy it was - lucky it wasn't too cold. The food must have been delicious there because I didn't get passed anything. LOTS of people stopped to give me a pat and say how cute I am. I must say that the people of Mansfield seem particularly insightful! 

Craig took us on a walk around a local wetlands - a place he'd read about in the visitor informaton centre. Jude found out later when chatting to a local that the wetlands are infected with tiger snakes and that the locals don't go there when it's warm because the snakes come out to sun themselves! Maybe Craig was trying to get Jude and me killed for the insurance money - I think I'd be insured for a large sum, not too sure about Jude! 

Anyway, we had a great time. I'm even getting better at clambering in and out of Jude's car, which I have previously mentioned I didn't like. I've worked out that it's better to go with the humans (even if the car's suspension is a little firm) than to stay home alone or worse, be sent to a kennel. 

While we were away I must have really bonded with Craig and Jude - they went out this morning and bought me a smart new bed! Jude had been worried that I was getting too big for Ted's old bed ... How cute do I look? I got other booty from the petshop too - my special very expensive dog food, some new charcoal biscuits (not sure why they got the charcoal flavour?) and a new hair brush. 

So all in all I'm having a GRRRRREAT week. Hope you are too.

Woofs,

Toby

Bathurst Day!

Jude was laughing her head off when she saw this Mark Knight cartoon in the newspaper today ...  The humans think this Bathurst thing is a big deal - they were watching qualifying and practice sessions with great interest over the past few days - lots of 'arghhh's and 'eeeeks' when drivers crashed - which happened a fair bit from what I heard. Don't tell anyone but I think Bathurst is a bit boring! It goes on all day and no-one in this house wants to throw the ball for me while they are watching. I'll have to see if I can time things for the ads. 

Went for a walk early this morning, so the humans could be home in time for Bathurst. The only thing that might make this a less boring day for me is if Craig shares some of his delicious 'big race breakfast' with me 

Woofs,

Toby

Plant is blossoming

Hi ho and woofs!

I've just been enjoying the evening on the verandah - noticed that one of Craig's plants has flowered. It looks good - I just wish it wasn't so high up on the wall because I'd like to taste it.  Turns out Craig is a good at gardening ... who knew?

No post on my blog would be cmplete without a picture of me ... so here it is. If I look pensive that's because I'm thinking about which toys I'll be taking on holidays next week. We're going to Mansfield, to a lovely dog-friendly place. Should be fun - though Jude is a bit worried about my smelly farts. Ooops!  Woofs, Tobes.