Jack's new title

Our daily (weekday) walk around town includes the stop at Great Harvest Company, where Jack gets his cheese stick ...(actually, we share it!!)

Today, one of the employees yelled...."Get the Cheesesticks...the Mayor is here"...so now Jack has a new great title!!

Jack to the rescue!

Jack is having a great summer...went to the beach and had a ball.. Even aunt Patty and Unle John came over for a night! This weekend at Independence, we were playing ball in the field and this little boy -- about 10.. Was playing on his skateboard .. He skidded off his skateboard and Jack immediately saw it and ran up to the little boy and started licking him. The boy was so cute... He yelled to his Dad ... This dog thinks I hurt myself and made sure I was okay!! Is this not the best...??!! Good boy, Jack! I was so proud of him!!

Jack !

Have not updated in FOREVER......Jack continues everyday to see the value of play AND work..and is so good and patient and kind ...and also fun and funny! He knows the way to Great Harvest, of course, and people are amazed at how he patiently waits while I go inside and get our "cheese stick" that we both munch on as we continue our walk around town!

This weekend, he had "enough" of just playing at Minto Brown...and ran down to do the whole loop down by the river and then through the fields...about a 3 mile jaunt. He loves this walk, and finally was able to do it, since the river has gone down. A little muddy in spots, but ok. I am sure we will be doing the walk later today also!

And lately, when I wake up in the morning, his shoulder and face is always on some part of my body...like he wants to sleep, but wants to be sure to wake up in case I leave without him!! Fabulous creature, my Jack!!

Soccer mom. .. Jack is now playing soccer! And quite good, too!

2 years of JACK!

Two years ago I traveled to Boring, Oregon to see my new puppy Guide Dogs for the Blind picked for me. Going into Karen's office I see this darling little dog who is sitting in the same room as a cat! As soon as he saw me, he starting wagging his tail, with a look of concern that he is hoping I am the one to take him home. I remember thinking, "he is too small for me", since he seemed so little (68 lbs!). Karen took me outside with him and practiced with us on the commands. She told me to go straight home and let him get used to just me for awhile, before meeting anyone else.

I got in the car with then "Nexus" and he laid on the floor in the backseat. I talked with him all the way back to Salem. He just laid on the floor, no sound at all. I decided to stop at Minto Brown Park with him, and we went for a walk. I called my friend Debi and she brought over Bearon, her German Shepard! Bearon and Jack played tug a war for about an hour...and he seemed to overcome his shyness. We "bonded" that day and afternoon. The next day, he came to the office and met everyone! What a fabulous dog he has been. I still have what his "raiser" wrote about him...."he is a sweetheart...has more personality and confidence than any other puppy I have raised" ..he loves being by your side."

Jack..you are a darling ....you are so good, and such a special creature....happy two years and MANY MORE!! xxoo Thank you, Guide Dogs for the Blind!

favorite dog related quote

We read this every night!!

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

Jack's Playtime School

Here is Jack at Dog Bark playing ...he is one of the few dogs that will go on this new piece of equipment, and for a large dog...amazing. He is having so much fun at Dog Bark...when I turn to go down the street (which is still 1.5 miles away, he starts "squealing" in the car!! There are webcams (www.thedogbarkdaycare.com) so you can watch him playing! It is hysterical. On Friday, he played with Sasha Fierce, a Boston Terrier, about the size of one of one Jack's legs. When I picked up Jack at noon, Sasha wanted to go home WITH Jack...so that was a struggle trying to keep Sasha contained! (Sasha's mom is a friend of mine, so they have met before).

The "Bark Rangers" (the girls who own it) say Jack is a delight and everyone loves him.. His first report card : Playfulness A+, Loveability A+, and Overall A+...."Calm, loving and well behaved..one of the sweetest dogs to walk through the doors"! Thank you, Guide Dogs.

Posting finally

It seems like Forever since we have posted.....as the family knows, I had a shoulder injury that sidelined me for about 2-3 months! The days were filled with Lifetime movies and treats, if you can call green beans and carrots treats. The high point was receiving the Dog Crown this year...I was getting depressed...and when Nikki and Ryan presented me with that big rawhide and the title, it truly was a turning point for me.

I think I am fully recovered, but mom is still restricting me some. Today I spent my first day at Dog Bark, a place where dogs go to play inside during the day. It just opened...and some of my mom's Capitol friends are going there. And they have webcams, so she can look at me there! Big doga and small dogs...we all play together!

More later! But I wanted to thank everyone for their love and support..I am on the mend!

xxoojack

Jack is three!

Happy, happy THIRD birthday, Jack!! What a lovable creature...here he is with his "toy of the moment" -- Blossom! Lots of love!!

Jack is three!

Jack and kids

Another one of those "heartwarming" stories to tell about the wonderful Jack. Last night at the park, there was an autistic child, and Jack ran up to him and played very nicely with him for about 20 minutes, was very patient when he threw the ball and just wanted to follow him around.

Needless to say, the mother was VERY appreciative, since she was on the phone with the doctor's office as Jack and I played with the 12 year old boy. I was soooo proud of my Jack !!

Jack's Thoughtfullness

It is getting COLD in the house at night...but so far have not had to turn on the heat yet -- which actually is a RARE occurrence on River Road, as everyone knows that visits. (The furnace man last year said he has never seen such a clean furnace!!)

So...much to my surprise at 3:00 a.m., when I let Jack out to do his "business"... he came back with a large chunk of wood and promptly laid it on top of me. Must be a hint to start the furnace!

What a darling, thoughtful creature..he continues to amaze me!

Hey Jack! Swimming finally!

Hey Jack, it's me Kennedy and I have Max here with us too...weighing in on you finally swimming in the river, right outside your bedroom door! Boy, it sure has taken YOU a long time to finally "get permission" to run down to the river and take a swim! Mom has finally "loosened the lead" on you...but she still goes down to the river WITH you, and you do wait for her, which is probably a good thing.

Max says he remembered being let out of car at the farmgate, and he would get in the river there and swim on home! He has lots of other stories, which we will share later -- like jumping on the countertops, etc. But, we are glad you FINALLY learned how to lick the bowl clean after cookie making....that took some time too!

Glad you are having such a fun summer...Max says he ncver went to Minto 2x a day and never got to go to the office...so he thinks you and I had it pretty good! But you are a great ball catcher and swimmer, we admire your athletic skills. xxoo

playtime is exhausting - read from bottom up!

The next second, fast asleep on Monkeybear!

Having fun playing with MonkeyBear......

Weekend

Dear Kennedy:

Did you and Poppy see ME this weekend, styling in the convertible?? Mom had her reunion in Portland, and since it was soooo hot, Aunt Patty took care of me for awhile and I got to ride in the front seat of her BMW convertible...with the top down! I loved it! Mom said that I and Patty looked really cool, driving downtown! Wish we had a picture.

xxoo

Jack

Jack's friend Babette

So, we were taking a break and watching a good Hallmark movie...when my new friend Babette came over....and started eating the roses...I did not even bark, not wanting to disturb anyone, trying to concentrate on the final 5 minutes of the movie....but, isn't Babette pretty?

My Jack

My little Jack....confident, eager to please, patient, fun and funny!, I could go on an on.

In the mornings, he waits for me to wake up, and then calmly lays there until I am dressed and ready to go. Then, he goes over to his "bin of toys" and looks around for a minute or two, trying to decide "which little buddy" to take to the office that day! We go to Minto, to play with Kate and Chumley, his two larger black friends! Then off to the office, where we go on a noon walk and then to Minto Brown after work.

What do I love most about Jack? Countless little things...the way he can assess a situation, and if he does not like it, will remove himself from the scene. How good he is around small children. How protective he is at the office of any noises. How he knows exactly the boundaries at home, how far down the driveway he can go. How he curls up and likes to lay his head on me when he first goes to sleep. How he remembers all his human friends and how nice he is to everyone, from the "beggers" on the street to the "shop owners" downtown that he sees everyday..he is soooo excited to see everyone at the law firm everyday too. Very atheletic -- he has won every tug of war game he has played . How he comes up and gives me a kiss after his nightly meal. And Kennedy -- I can leave butter out on the counter to soften without Jack jumping up and getting it!!! I could go on and on..but it is time now to go to the park and swim...you should see his running Bellyflops into the water...adorable!

One year!

Who is this adorable dog? Look at that expression.....now that I know him, he is saying "please take me and love me, I will be extra, extra good...I have been at so many homes, I want a good place to live and to be loved. I promise I will be good to you.

Tomorrow marks 1 year!!!! More later.......

Today we remember Kennedy

A full year has gone by....and we still miss our wonderful, loving Kennedy -- my first dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind. I remember picking up Patty and we drove out to Boring to get him. Kennedy was a "free spirit" at dog park, usually following his own "course" at Minto. Everyone loved him, he was so good natured, although he did like to "hump" other dogs -- and since his name was "Kennedy", EVERYONE gave him a "free pass"! The boys at the Nordstrom Cafe Window downtown Portland loved him...and would always say "hey Kennedy, pink cookie time" and we would have to stop and get one of those scrumptious Pink Cookie. (my friend Kelly brought him 2 cookies on his final day..his last food he gulped down!)... Kenendy could find "the Great Harvest" store in any city....we were walking in Bend one day, when Kennedy was leading me around, and he just stopped -- lo and behold, he led to the Great Harvest in Bend. He was a joy to be with and I loved him so much.

About a week before he passed, I was "taking a tub" one Sunday evening before nightfall and I heard him barking outside...I toweled off, and went outside, and two boys in a rowboat were struggling on the river...(no life vests, no shoes)...I finally convinced them to get over to my side of the river...which they finally did. I am convinced Kennedy's barking saved their lives, as they had missed where they were suppose to have taken out...and it was getting dark.

Kennedy..I know you and Poppy are together and watch Jack & I play everyday...we love you both and think of you two constantly xxooj

Mornings

Dear Kennedy...in the mornings, I am really good and try not to wake mom up, so I notice she is awake and so I crawl towards her...she is rubbing my tummy, when she sees these 2 HUGE deer outside the window. Not wanting to disturb me, thinking I might run towards the window and break it, she keeps silent -- the deer finally leave and she goes outside -- to see all her tomatoes and lettuce plants have been eaten!!

So, I think I should have been more aware and barked off those deer. My one year anniversary of being with her is coming up...I hope we don't make a trip to Boring!! So..that was the beginning of our frustrating day.

Today....though....she bought a new washing machine, so clean bedcovers are finally in our future! A TOP LOADER -- no more fancy machines. Now...the only thing left is to get the HUGE fir tree cut down so we have TV.

xxoo......jack