Monday, August 31, 2009

Goodbye Vacations, Hello Fall

Hi everybody! I had two great vacations in a row! The first vacation was to Mendocino, which was very picturesque, as promised. We stayed at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, which was SO dog-friendly! Dogs are allowed everywhere except the main house during breakfast. When we arrived, I peed in the Pooch Parking area:

After we got settled, we set off to explore the town. It was all foggy, as can be expected on the California coast. I was prepared with my fleece lined rain jacket. We had dinner at a cafe in town. They had a big deck outside with lots of heat lamps. Mommy and I were nice and cozy under the lamps, and Daddy was sweating! This was our appetizer:

The next day we went to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. It was really pretty and they allow dogs! We expected it to be foggy again, but it was actually really sunny and warm. I did a pretty good pose on this bench, don't you think?
Later that day we went to Big River Beach, which is where the Big River meets the Pacific Ocean, and had a picnic lunch. The Inn has its own private little beach called Buckhorn Cove, but you had to walk down the shoulder of the highway and then down a poison oak-infested path to reach it. No thanks! So we went to this huge beach instead. This was only the first day off of my official six-week crate rest, so I wasn't allowed to run and play all crazy-like. Daddy walked with me a little bit, but I tried to run the whole time! My legs were moving fast and my ears were slicked back, so I must have been runing, right? Mommy says I wasn't because Daddy was holding me back on the leash. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea for my back. I had to have a drink after that:
Boy, was I tired that night! When we're on vacation, I never get to take my mid-day naps, so no matter what we do, I'm always tired at the end of the day. I dug this little pile of covers on our bed all by myself:

The next morning we checked out of our Inn and went to another place for breakfast. It's called The Ravens and it's at the Stanford Inn, which is also very dog-friendly, by the way. We might stay there next time. It is a vegetarian restaurant, and the only restaurant in all of California that allows dogs inside to eat!!! I hope I didn't convince them to change their policy...as soon as we walked in the door, I squatted down and started to have a poop right in front of the front desk. Heh heh, oops. Mommy quickly took me outside, where the poop actually fell out, luckily. Anyway, they did let us inside after I was done! This is a picture of the dog dining room. Nobody was there because we were pretty much their last breakfast reservation. But you can see the hotel's dogs, Murphy and Gypsy. They were there to keep us company!

After breakfast we walked around the Stanford Inn's gardens. There were lots of good things to smell. I'm wearing my new coat in this picture. I actually didn't wear it the whole time because once we got there, Mommy realized that she hadn't made a hole in it for my leash. I think all coats for little dogs should have the hole pre-made right where the harness would be. Some of them have a hole at the neckline for the leash to attach to the collar, but I don't wear a leash attached to my collar. Little dogs often have problems with their tracheas. It's safer to wear a harness! But I think you can see how pretty my new coat is anyway:
Mendocino was really fun, and the whole town was super dog-friendly. We were home for only a couple of days before our next vacation, camping in Lake Tahoe!!!

We went to Emerald Bay State Park and camped for three nights in our gigantic tent! Daddy got a new warm weather sleeping bag that has an expandable zipper section. He got it specifically so that I can fit better inside with him. At first it didn't smell right to me and I didn't want to go inside. After quite a bit of coaxing, I finally tried it the second night. I approve, as you can see. And why won't Mommy stop taking pictures while I'm trying to sleep?!

We went on a great hike to Granite Lake. I got to ride in my orange backpack because I'm still not healed enough for real hiking. But I like to ride too, so it's okay. We met several people on the trail who remarked on how cute I am and how they wish their dog would ride like me!

On our last day there, we went to Kiva Beach, which is the dog beach in south shore. I didn't have any sunscreen on, so we tried to stay in the shade. I spent much of the time in my rightful place on top of Daddy:

I had TWO great vacations, and now this week Mommy has to go back to work. We sure will miss this summer. Even though Mommy has always been a teacher, this is actually the first summer she has taken off! Usually she does summer school or summer camps or something. I was very lucky to have so much time with her, especially since I had to have an unexpected back surgery. This year her teaching schedule is a teeny bit better than last year, so I hope we have more time together every day. I am such a lucky Poo!

Bye for now,
Poppy the Little Blonde Chihuahua

Pee Ess:
Later this week I will do a post about an "Oops I Ate It" award I got and and also about how I got my name. :) And I'm also going to enter the "ear"resistable ears contest!

16 comments:

Sketching with Dogs said...

Poppy, your 2 vacations look so much fun. We especially liked the place where dogs can go everywhere. We love your new coat with the flowers. You are walking really well after your surgery, well done.
Wags and kisses
Dinah and Bridget xx

Blogger said...

That is such a great vacation. Looks like you had a great time. Your fleece rain jacket is just so cute!
Sylar

Sketching with Dogs said...

Hi Poppy
We have given you an award, would you like to fetch it from our blog.
Wags and kisses, Dinah and Bridget xx

Lorenza said...

Hi, Poppy!
Thanks for sharing all those pictures of your 2 vacations!
Sure you had a pawesome time!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

My goodness!!! Those look like great vacations! We are very glad you had such a great time!!!

Tiffany and the Munchkins said...

Oh wow! That sounds like a wonderful vacation. It is so nice that those places were dog-friendly! Our Mommy really likes dog-friendly places and so do we!

We can't wait to see you entry for our contest!

Chihuahua kisses,
The Munchkins

Bijou said...

Hi Poppy,

I am glad you are doing so well after the surgery. We enjoyed the pictures and reading all about your vacations. I think I would like the beach visit the best, but the restaurant sounds like fun too! It would have been really funny if you had pooped on the floor. BOL

Wags & wiggles,
Bijou

Pedro said...

Poppy,

You were so lucky to go on two great vacations this summer! My mom had two great vacations but I had to stay home! So not fair.....

Pedro

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Tank woo fur sharing!

That trip looked furry pawesome!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Deefor said...

That was like a fashion shoot. How did your humans carry all your outfits? I love that restaurant with doggies inside. Good to see you out having fun.

Sketching with Dogs said...

Hi Poppy
We have just given you a pearl award for your lovely blog if you would like to pick it up.
Wags and Kisses D+B xx

Nadine, Chewy and Lilibell said...

Hi Poppy, Chewy and Lilibell here saying hi to a new friend!! Looks like you had a great vacation! It's not too dog-friendly up here in the north, Lilibell has already gotten kicked out of a couple of places where she wasn't supposed to go in, BOL, but that's Mom's fault for trying to sneak her in!

Come on by and check out our blog!! We always love new friends!

Waggles & kisses, Chewy & Lilibell

Sharon said...

Those are some great pictures of your vacations, Poppy! It looks like you had fun :) I'm glad you had such a good time!

<3 S and D

Tiffany and the Munchkins said...

Hi Poppy,

We stopped back by to let you know we gave you an award today! Come by and check it out.

Chihuahua kisses,
The Munchkins

Draco and his Mom said...

Hi Blondie...looks like a real fun vacation...fancy hotels and camping...my mom would like that alot...Mom also really likes your jackets...very posh...
Wags and Wiggles
Draco

Joe's said...

Wow buddy! You are such a lucky guy! Having two great vacations in a row is a not very common stuff and last but not least there is some
Viagra Online Without Prescription that is a huge relief!
Those pics are excelent!
Thanks for sharing!
God bless!