KAEDE AND FREDDY TALK ABOUT CHRISTMAS

 Freddy here.....our people, who are very nice by the way, do a very strange thing every year. They do it when there is snow on the ground and it's very, very cold outside. I know you probably won't believe this but they put a tree in the house. Honestly, a tree. Right in the house. No kidding. Have you ever heard of such a thing. And, I'm not allowed to pee on it. Look, look. Just below. There it is. That's the tree and that's our man watching Kaede kiss me.

Here I am. It's me, Kaede. Over to the right. If you think I'm not looking too happy you would be right. First of all they put a silly looking table napkin around my neck and pretend it's a very cool accessory. Not! It's a table napkin. Then they make me sit for hours and hours and hours while they try to take my picture wearing this ridiculous thingy. And they wonder why I look away every time that bright light goes off in my face. Ha ha - it's pretty funny really. I look away but Freddy. You won't believe what he does. Freddy.....well it's a bit embarrassing but I'll tell you. Freddy..just before the bright light goes of he.....well....he....ha ha ha...turns his head......looks down......and.....licks himself. Yup. And you know where he licks himself.....right? I think it's pretty funny. Then our lady sighs. She mumbles a bit and guess what? We're in another position. Then, you guessed it, right before the light goes off again, I decide to lay down and Freddy turns his head, looks down and, slurp, slurp, slurp has a little lick.

The pictures you are looking at on here took ages and ages. Freddy and I look pretty good considering we were bored senseless.
                                                                        

It's me again, Freddy. So, let me finish about this tree they put up in the house that I'm not allowed to pee on. Well, this is even more weird. They hang things on it. Not things like you'd see outside in a tree. No real squirrels that we could chase. No real birds that we could chase. Not anything that you see outside. Nope. They put balls on it. Yup, you heard right. Balls. And fake red flowers. And little hangy thingys. Then when they finish with that they put things under there. They put boxes that they decorate with paper. Oh, I almost forgot. They hide things in the box first. Then they decorate it with paper. It's almost scary. Then little things begin to appear all over the house. And, like Kaede already told you, the darned red napkins. I lose mine a lot but my people have a drawer full. I lose one. She finds one. I lose another one. She finds another one. People come over every day. They bring more paper covered boxes and we have to be good. We aren't allowed to sniff the boxes. We have to sit quietly wearing our table napkins. 

Finally it's all over. Thank doggie God. One morning it's just me and Kaede and our people. We sit in the room where the tree is and the paper covered boxes are opened. Inside there are what they call 'presents'. They seemed to like it. I kind of slept through most of it. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere. They give something to me. And then Kaede. We have Presents!! Our presents are hidden in a sock. Imagine that. A sock. It's a big sock. Mine is red. Kaede has a green one. Anyway, they hide something in the sock for us. They are called treats. I really like treats. Treats are one of my favourite things. They come in all sizes and they all taste so good. I have to 'perform' for my treats but I am happy to perform. I'll even perform in my red table napkin if I get a treat.

Hi again. It's me Kaede. Now you know the secret. It's the treats. That's what we're looking at. We're looking at the treats. If we sit there and stare at the treats it makes our lady and her flash very, very happy.

Until next time, good-bye from me, Kaede. And goodbye from me, Freddy, (the licker hee hee hee hee hee)

KAEDE AND THE BOAT

It's me. It's me. I'm back. I just read what Freddy wrote and I want to say this. I am not a whiner. Not like him. I run and play and jump around and try very hard to be good. I don't whine. I like the snow but that's not what I want to talk about. I want to tell you something else.

I'm going to tell you about the greatest thing ever. Truly, ever. In the summer time when it's warm our people bought a boat. That's right a boat. It's the most wonderful thing. Freddy and I go with them on the big water and we float. They eat and laugh and I watch the world go by. Freddy.....ahem....he just.....well....he sleeps.
Sometimes we stay on it for days and nights and then more days and nights and we sleep there. Our beds are with us and they somehow manage to bring our magic cupboard where the food is hidden. It's all good.

 There it is. There it is. There's our boat. Don't you just love it? That's our man human looking inside it. Don't you just love it?

 There I am. There I am. I'm on the boat. I love it on the boat. I'm on the boat and getting ready to set sail. Just kidding. It doesn't have sails but I'm on the boat. I love it.

 I love love love looking out the side. The engine purrs and next thing you know, we're off on the big water. I love it. I love it.

 Here is what I see. Don't you love it? I do. I love it. Love it love it. It's the big water. Our humans call it the St. Lawrence River. I love looking out the side of the boat. I do it all the time.

 See, what did I tell you. Here I am looking over the side of the boat. I love it love it love it. I'm a real sailor(ette) because I'm a girl.

Freddy comes too. That's him with me looking at the water. I love it love it love it. You would too if you could come on our boat on the big water.

Here's Freddy and he's looking out at the water too. Our people have so much fun on this water in our boat too. It's not just me who loves it loves it loves it. Our people love it and I love it. 

Til next time
Kaede

FREDDY DISCUSSES AGING AND SNOW

Oh my goodness, it has been a long time since I wrote anything. I am going to try and catch up with what is happening in my world, the world of Freddy, the handsome and exceptional Ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback.

I've had a couple of birthdays since we last met. My people say I am now a mature dog. I don't feel it. I still look handsome even though I am going grey around my lips. My people call it it muzzle but I know it's my lips. What do you think? I look handsome and young still, right? I think so.

I'm going to talk to you about the weather. You will remember that I came from California where it's nice and warm and sunny most of the time. Look at this picture. Does this look to you like California? No I didn't think so. Not only do my people think it's okay to LIVE in this they also think I WANT to go OUT in this. So, they take me out on these walks and set me loose thinking I'll run around and play. Kaede does, but I'm not Kaede. I'm not covered with lots and lots of brown fur. This boy is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and that's special. It also means I only have one coat. Yes, one coat. What's so hard they can't remember that? Huh. ONE COAT. Not warm.

Now this picture. This is better. Inside, snuggled up on a nice cozy rug, Kaede keeping me warm. That's what a boy wants this time of year. Warmth, warmth, and more warmth. Don't you agree.

Until next time........stay warm.....OR move to California.

From     Freddy

Gidget Has Moved In!!! by Freddy and Kaede

Gidget just appeared out of nowhere. Goodness knows what they were thinking but our humans brought her home. That's right. They brought her right into my house. They let her walk on my grass. They even gave her food from my magic cupboard. 

If you don't know who she is, well Gidget is a nuisance. She's six months old, wiggles around all over the place and she just plain got in the way. Look at this picture. That's Gidget standing near me. Don't you think she looks annoying?

I'm the big handsome Ridgeback on the left. Gidget is the dopey looking one.

She slept in a crate and cried the first couple of nights she was here. Sometimes she peed on the floor. Can you believe it? Our people just quietly wiped it up and took her outside. That's when I would come inside. She kept trying to kiss me. Here is another picture of her trying to look cute. Well, I have to admit it. She was cute and after a couple of days I quite got used to her being around.

Gidget looking cute.

 When we were in the house Gidget had to stay in the kitchen and family room because she couldn't be trusted. I already told you she peed on the floor? Well, I'm telling you again. She peed on the floor!!

Here I am ignoring her in MY backyard.

 If you notice, you will see that there are no pictures of Gidget taken with Kaede. Oh boy, oh boy. Gidget wasn't even allowed to sniff Kaede. Oh no. Kaede gave her that evil stare of hers with that weird blue eye, growled in her direction and Gidget would run as fast as she could in the opposite direction. I'm a bit more subtle. I just would wander into another room where Gidget wasn't allowed and sleep. Gidget was active so we went to dog park a lot. When we were there Kaede played with Gidget a lot and I did too but as soon as we got home she was sent back to the kitchen and got the silent treatment from us. A couple of times, though, I let her come up and lay next to me in the sun. She wasn't that bad really. Once I got to know her.


One day at the dog park a dog named Tater was there with his people. They are people who love Rhodesian Ridgebacks and had always wanted one. That's when our lady human told them about Gidget. Seems Gidget was only visiting. Did I hear right? Visiting? Hmmm, I was liking the sound of that. She's a rescue? She's a rescue and adoption applications are being accepted for her. Wow. My lady human was telling them how good Gidget was. Ha! She peed on the floor remember. But I wasn't going to draw it to anyone's attention if it meant she was going to live with them. They were talking about 'procedures'. They were stroking Gidget and she was being all cute and cuddly the way puppies are. 


A few days later our lady human and Gidget went for a walk and Gidget didn't come back. My lady human said that Gidget was last seen happily laying on Tater's bed and chewing on one of his bones. Tater sounds like a pushover to me!! Then both of our humans took down her crate, packed up her silly squeaky toys and her bed and drove away with all that in the car. Then they came home and washed the kitchen floor and got rid of ALL EVIDENCE that Gidget was ever here. Today we got this picture in the computer.

That's her. That's Gidget with her new friend, Tater. She doesn't look so bad after all.

 They said she's happy and Tater likes her. Well, Tater is still a youngster himself. Of course he likes her. And they will get to go on long walks and go to dog park and to the beach. Wow, good for Gidget. I think I liked her after all.


Gidget Has Moved In!!

Kaede here. Gidget came and ruined my life. Then she left. The end!!

Freddy's Exciting News

I have some pretty amazing news to tell you all. My man, who you have heard me talk about many times, decided to try an 'experiment'. He likes to ride his bicycle and he wondered what would happen if I went with him.

He didn't know that I was just going to love it to pieces. The first day we didn't go far. He walked beside the bicycle and I walked beside him while he held our leash. Well, let's face it, anyone can do that!! But he thought it was pretty darned good that I could walk next to a bicycle that he was rolling along so I let him praise me. After we walked around a bit he started to ride. Well, that was different. Walking next to wheels is not the same as walking next to legs. For one thing they go faster and I like that. I have very long legs and the people don't so we always go too slow for me. This bicycle business, I liked it a lot.

We rode down a hill and through a park that had grass in case I ran off after a squirrel (which I would do!!) and my man fell over or something. Then we went home. He was very pleased with himself that he had taught me how to walk next to a bike!! Please refer to my second paragraph - it's not rocket science - walking next to a bicycle. But, my woman human was all excited and he was all excited so I let them praise me to the skies then left them to it and went to have a nap.

That's not me, of course. But it's my man and my woman and their granddaughter showing off their matching helmets.

Now, he takes me all the time with him and we go on much longer walks. I love it. I get 'exercised' and so does he - that's a good deal, right? We don't have to go on the grass any more because I don't run off or run into the wheels, I trot along beside him at a respectable distance and watch the world go by. It's nice to spend time on my own with my man. It's nice too to do something that Kaede isn't pushing her nose into. She's not invited on a bicycle. Only me.

The only thing my man doesn't like is when I stop suddenly. And I stop suddenly every time we go out. You see, it's my bowels. Clockwork. And when a boy has to go a boy has to go.


The end.

Freddy Talks About the Beach

The beach. What can I say about the beach. It is the best place on earth probably. You can get dirty and smelly and there is always something to investigate. It's just plain wonderful.

Our first trip to the beach was probably the best. There weren't many people there because it was windy and people don't like it when it's windy. Our people unhooked us from their leashes and Kaede and I ran like the wind, jumping up and down, bumping chests and sniffing and smelling and running wild. She even ran into the water but not me, no siree, not this boy. I  don't like the water!!

After that first time we went to the beach nearly every day. We weren't allowed to be free anymore because the people were there. Lots of them. Lots of dogs too, walking along with their people, and lots of birds flying low. I don't bother much with birds but Kaede likes to chase them if she can. I kind of walk along at a nice leisurely pace with my man while Kaede and her lady go ahead of us and put their feet in the water.

 One day we met some fishermen. My man is interested in doing that so he talked to the fishermen and he was told they catch something called a Pompano. That's a fish. This person is sitting staring at the water hoping a fish will  jump up into her lap.

Here is a picture of the beach where we walked and walked.Don't you think it is just super?


I know Kaede thought I would talk about the beach a lot but no. I really want to tell you about the squirrels. There were millions in our backyard. That was the most fun thing in the world. The beach was good but the squirrels? Nothing better than chasing a squirrel up a tree and barking at him with my deep voice and scaring him to pieces. Nothing!!



Here I am on the back deck keeping an eye out for squirrels.

It didn't matter where I was or what I was doing (except eating of course) I knew when there was a squirrel around. I would rush outside barking my head off and chase that squirrel up a tree and sit under that tree to make sure he didn't come back down. Sometimes I almost climbed the tree myself. I did this six or seven times a day sometimes. I never got tired of treeing squirrels. Sometimes my people would try to make me stop but nothing could stop me. -people sure do make a fuss about being woken up in the middle of the night!! Even people who love you.



The best tree in the whole world.

I love, love, love this tree. Want to know why? Because it is in the backyard of the Florida house and the squirrels eat this. That's right they EAT THIS fruit. If they want to EAT THIS fruit they have to come into the BACKYARD, into MY backyard. Then I  get to bark and chase them. So, you can understand why I Love, Love, Love this tree. 

St Augustine loves Freddy and Kaede

It's true. St. Augustine loved us. We, Freddy and me, were treated like, well...like people.



We are on the bridge looking at the 'old' town of St. Augustine.



Almost every day this is what we did. First, our people would talk to us and say stuff like, "Walk? Kaede want to go for a walk?" "What about you Freddy? Freddy want to go for a walk?" Well, it was kind of embarrassing so Freddy and I would jump around all excited and they would leash us up. We figured that's what they expected so we did it every time. Danced the 'happy' dance for them.

Off we'd go through the streets where our house was and then over a bridge. The bridge was very long. My lady and I were both a little bit nervous about the bridge because it had a part where we could look down and see the water and I thought my paws would go through. They never did. One day some bells rang very loudly and we had to stop while that scary part of the bridge went up and some boats floated under. We just sat and waited.

On the other side of the bridge was the old part of St. Augustine. The streets are very narrow and there were always lots of people walking around. Lots of them stroked us and made a fuss about my blue eye. I like that. Freddy was popular because everyone seemed to know  that he was Rhodesian Ridgeback and I guess people in St. Augustine like those kinds of dogs. I like him too but, jeez, I'm very cute.

Walking through those skinny streets was lots of fun. There was lots to look at and see and so many really fabulous smells. After walking for a long time our people would take us somewhere they could sit down and drink or eat and Freddy and I would wait patiently at their side. Oops, ha ha. You know I meant to say that Freddy would wait patiently at their side. There was always too much going on for me to do that. I had to look around and check everything and everybody out.

Here is a picture of a restaurant we went to a lot. One of the people who brings food and wears a uniform said we were her favourite regulars. Ha! Regulars. Pretty cool.



This is the restaurant where we were 'regulars'.



While our people eat and drink the uniformed people bring us our own bowl of water. There were other doggies sitting at tables with their people but I was not allowed to go over to them and play. I could only look.



Freddy lounging, me not lounging. outside a restaurant.



When our people had finished their food it was time to walk back over the bridge to our Florida house. After a rest our people would put Freddy and me in the back of the car and we  would go to the BEACH!! I loved the beach. More about that later. Or,  perhaps Freddy can tell you about the beach when he writes. He's right beside me itching to get his paws on the computer. :)

Kaede Went on a Trip Too

Hi, it's me Kaede. I'll just continue where Freddy left off. Except for one thing. The reason I squish up in a small corner in the crowded car is because Freddy stretches out his very long body and takes all the room!! There, I said it.

Anyway, my trip was pretty much the same as his so I won't tell you about that. I'll start where he left off.

We are on the beach. The beach is really beautiful. There is so much sand and the smells. You can't keep up with the smells. They are everywhere. Lovely smells. Smells of birds and bird poop, feathers, bits of human food, fish, everything all in one spot. My nose was going crazy. My lady and I are pretty good friends, you know, so she is always with me. I keep myself close to her and make sure she holds on tight to my leash so she doesn't get lost. We like the water. The water moves in and then it moves away. It was hard to tell where it was going to be. Suddenly your feet are covered in water, then they aren't, then splash, the water was up to my face almost. We ran and laughed (yes, I laugh!!) and kicked up the sand. 

We watched the birds fly away in fright of me and got wet and ran some more in the sand. It was the best thing I had ever done, I think. There weren't many other people there so our people let us loose and Freddy and I ran as fast as our legs could carry us and jumped up in the air and down again and up and down and bumped chests. When we do that my lady always says that I play just like a Ridgeback. Well, I could have told her that. My mom was half Ridgeback after all.

Then we walked all the way back to the car and Freddy and I were wet and sandy but our people didn't care. They drove us to a place called a Taco Stand where they sat outside and had tacos and beer while Freddy and I laid at their feet and watched the world go by.

This was our first day in the magic place called St. Augustine. I think Freddy and I are going to like this place. There's nothing like snoozing at your ladies feet in the hot sun, your best friend, Freddy, snoozing at his man's feet next to you while the world just goes on by.

Pictures coming as soon as my human person shows me how to put them into the computer without any thumbs.

Until next time,
Kaede

Freddy Goes On a Trip

It's been such a long time since Kaede, my brown mutt friend, or I have written anything I hardly know where to start.

I know. I will tell you about our trip we took to Florida. Our people (who we love madly) packed up the car one day with suitcases. I was getting kind of nervous because I thought we would be left behind. But no. As soon as I saw them open the magic cupboard where our food is kept and put our food in the car I knew. Whereever they were going, we were going too. It was pretty squishy back there with all the luggage and the food containers but we didn't care. Kaede and I hopped up there and laid on our soft comfy beds and had a bit of a snooze.

It's easy to sleep in a car. I just stretch out and get really comfy. Kaede not so much. For some reason she squishes up in a small space.

We drove and drove and drove. We stopped and our people walked us around a bit and then they sat in the car and ate things. We got water. We drove and drove and drove some more until we stopped and went into a room. It was okay because our beds and food went into the room too. Our lady took us for a walk and when we got back to the room she and our man ate their food.

The next day was pretty much the same except I did notice it was getting warmer and our people weren't wearing as many clothes. We all slept in a different room that night.

The next day was glorious. We were in a place called Florida!! We didn't just have a room. We had a whole house with a backyard. Kaede and I ran around the house smelling and sniffing everything and our people made sure our beds were in the perfect spot. They brought all the stuff in and then we went for a walk. It was the best walk of my life!!


This is part of  the backyard. I'll tell you about the squirrels I got to chase later on.


We went to a place called a beach. There was sand as far as I could see. There was also water that I don't like and my man kept trying to get me to put my feet in it but I just wasn't going to do that. Kaede did.



Here we are walking along the beach. Isn't it just beautiful!!

 We walked and walked and walked and walked. It was so nice. The sun was shining on us and the sand was warm on my feet. It was wonderful not being in the car.

We were there such a long time. I think I will have to continue this story because my paws are getting tired from all this typing.

SINGING - by Freddy the Rhodesian Ridgeback

When my man human plays his trumpet, wowzers, something takes a hold of me, right in my heart. I can't help it. My muzzle points to the sky and out of the depths of me comes loud, wonderful music. I just let it rip without a thought for anything else. Always on key, hitting just the right note, singing to the wide open sky. I'm the big guy, the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Boom,there she is, Kaede,right alongside me, singing her little heart out. She feels it too, the wildness in all of us that has been tamed and calmed.

Together, the music takes us to another time and place. We're not sure where it is or when it was but it's in our souls and hearts and memories. It's somewhere wild and free where we run like the wind, we answer to no one, a place without fences or rules; we run the land living on our guile and wits.


Anyway, have to go now; they are opening the magic cupboard where the food comes from and I don't want to be late. Maybe being free and wild isn't all it's cracked up to be in my dreams. There's a lot to be said for a warm bed and three square meals a day.


Until next time, Freddy.

Afternoon Skiing with the Humans - by Kaede

It's been a long time since I have written about my life. Last time I promised I would tell you a bit about my life when I first went to live with my lady but that can keep. I am pretty excited to tell you about what we do here when it's winter time and there is snow. 

We go skiing. Well, I don't, of course. I run and run and run like the wind with Freddy. I jump on his head, we chase each other through the woods and it is just wonderful. We meet other dogs and greet and sniff them then we run on again.

That's me, see, in the front. You can just see Freddy and our human lady behind me. So much fun.

Once when we were out there, Freddy cut himself really badly on a branch in the woods. Our humans made him wear a t-shirt. I have to tell you, he looked pretty funny. So funny that I thought I would let you all see and decide for yourselves.

See, I was right. I was right. He does look pretty funny.  They posed him like that so they could take his picture. I think they laughed at him too!!

I'm also showing you a picture of me and Freddy with our winter coats on. Don't you think we look beautiful? Especially me. Pretty in pink, don't you think?

That's it for now folks. I'll do better and tell you more about my life very, very soon. Gotta' go skiing now.
Love from Kaede & Freddy

IN THE BEGINNING - By Freddy

         Once upon a time I lived with many other puppies who were called 'litter mates'. The other puppies had little collars around their necks but I was very special so I didn't need one. I could be told apart from the others without a coloured collar because I was the only boy who was in the litter who didn't have a ridge.

      That's me you see at the bottom right eating away with the others.
   When I became a bit bigger a lady came to visit. She stroked me and held me. Then she came again and played with me and my brothers and sisters. Then I started to like her and she 'chose' me. That meant that I was going to go and live with her.

      Aren't I just the cutest. Well, she thought so.
      When she took me home with her I got to meet the other pets in the household. First there was HarryBoy. He was older and really didn't like me much. I think I was there a long time before he would let me touch him. In fact, my owner took a picture so that the occasion was set down in history.

      There, that's him. This is the first time I was allowed to touch him. He pretty much stuck like glue to our lady owner and let us youngsters play away our days. In the corner of the picture you can see Kaede. Kaede was pretty cool. She is older than me by six months but anyone would think she's my mother the way she used to boss me around. When I lay quietly sleeping in my crate, the second I opened my eyes what did I see? Kaede's face with the weird blue eye staring at me. The second my owner let me out of the crate Kaede lunged for my back leg and held on to me while I went outside to pee. I liked her though. Here are some pictures of me and Kaede playing.

 We always had so much fun wrestling and chasing each other around the yard where we lived. It was warm there. Usually Kaede won the wrestling matches.

This time though, she didn't. That's me on top winning the battle. We had a rope that we pulled and tugged. Kaede is still my friend.
     Next time I am going to tell you about the move we made from southern California, where it was always warm, to Canada where sometimes it is very, very, cold.
     Until next time. Yours truly, Freddy

The Beginning

     I was born in a place called an animal shelter. My mother was a very beautiful black dog, called a Lab, and she also was part Rhodesian Ridgeback because she had a ridge down her back. She was a most beautiful and unusual girl. I don't know where she came from but she was found walking around the streets in a place called San Diego. That's in California.
     When I was very tiny, just days old, a very nice couple of people came to see me. They scooped me and my brothers and sisters up and my mother and took us to live with them. They had a place attached to their house called a garage and that's where we stayed.
     I don't really remember those people and I don't remember my mother or my brothers and sisters very well. I think I remember a warm pile of puppies but not much else.

         I was actually pretty cute. Anyway, after a certain amount of time in the garage with my family, a very nice lady came to see me. She cuddled me and held me and kissed me. I really liked her too. Then one day my brothers and my sister and I were taken to a place called a Vet's office. We were given shots. Ouch. They hurt. Then they gave me a needle that put me to sleep and when I woke up I had stitches on my belly.
       That very evening the woman who had come to see me so many times met me and my brothers and my sister. There were lots of people there that evening. I learned that we were going 'home'. I didn't quite know what it meant. Anyway, the lady who cuddled me carried me gently, because of my stitches, and put me in a crate in the back of her car. I was still very tired from the operation.

     When we stopped at her house I was amazed to see other dogs already there. One was named Simba. She was an old dog. Something called a Rhodesian Ridgeback. She was extremely beautiful and very kind. She cuddled me and licked me and lay next to me. She let me play with her toys. I really loved her a lot. There is a picture of her coming up.

      She was beautiful. Simba wasn't with me for very long. She was old and one day she got sick and our human woman took her to a place to make her better but she didn't get better. She didn't come back. My human cried but I comforted her.
     There was another dog there too. He was a boy Rhodesian Ridgeback named HarryBoy. He hated me. He didn't let me go near him. He liked Simba but he sure didn't like me much.
     I will show you a picture of him too but not now. I will write next about my first little while living with my new human woman and her two dogs, Simba and HarryBoy.
      That's it for now.
                                        From Kaede

Kaede Tells a Lie

     Well, well, well. What do you know. A funny thing happened the other day. I got my human woman up. The human man had already gone downstairs and left me and Freddy in the room on our beds to sleep. So, anyway. I got my human woman up by standing next to the bed and staring at her until she opened her eyes. That's what I always do. She got up and opened the door so Freddy and I could go downstairs.
     Our human man was laying on the couch and no one seemed to be very interested in feeding us so I went over to him and stared. That got his attention. He got up and fed us and then let us outside to our private backyard toilet area.
     As is our usual custom, we all go back to bed together so upstairs I go but the bedroom door is closed. Now, how's a dog to get back in there if the door's closed? I pace up and down in front of the door.
     Finally, the door opens up. But, instead of letting us in our human woman goes downstairs where Freddy is sitting at the bottom of the stairs and takes us into the room that has the magic cupboard with the food. When we get fed I sit like the good dog I am. Freddy doesn't sit until the food is in his bowl and ready to be put down in front of him. But not me, no siree, not me. The second we go into the room with the magic closet of food I sit. It works every time. And today was no different. I sat and sure enough she reaches into the magic cupboard and I hear the wonderful tinkle of the food hitting the metal bowl.
     Suddenly, and without warning, the male human comes out and says, "They've already been fed." Imagine my disappointment when I hear the food being dropped from the bowl back into the magic cupboard.
     Then they laughed. I heard my woman human say, "I can't believe Kaede sat there waiting for her food as if she hasn't eaten yet. What a little liar she is."

     Well I beg to differ. I'm not a little liar. An opportunist perhaps but certainly not a liar.
 

Freddy Has a Good Day

      I went for a ride with my man human. He drove for a very long time looking out the window. Then he would stop the car and write stuff down. Every now and then he would turn around and pat me on the head and say hello to me.

      When it was human lunch time he found a park and I sat next to him while he ate. He slipped me a little morsel of cheese. It was delicious. 

      We walked around the park then we got in the car and drove some more. We drove around for eight hours. He seemed to like being with me. I slept.


     

Kaede has a Better Day

      What a great day I had. It started off with me being a little upset because Freddy trotted off on the end of the leash with our man. I don't like when Freddy goes places without me because I always worry that he will get in trouble if I'm not there to look out for him.
      Anyway, off he goes, as pleased with himself as can be. I ran to the window and watched them drive off.

      The next thing I know my woman human is getting on the 'dog clothes'. Yippee, we're going somewhere too. She clips on the no-nonsense leash. That's the one that is very short so that I can trot along beside her. Off we go. 


      First we walk toward the park and on the way we greet our neighbour, Molly, who is a black beauty with some blond highlights. She is on leash too so we kind of play bow while the humans talk. Boy, they sure can talk. There is some yummy tall stalks of grass, you know the good kind that is sweet and juicy. Turns out Molly likes to chew on them too so we did that.


      Finally the human women stop talking and off we go again. We go through the streets of our town, the usual route, then suddenly we go a different way. We go along roads that I don't know and we walk at a pretty fair clip. That pleases me because I may not have mentioned this before but I am pretty energetic. I may be six and a half but I have plenty of get up and go.


     We walk for a long time when I start to notice things that are familiar. Well, what do you know? We have walked all the way to dog park, one of my very favourite places in the world. I can't believe it. There are only a couple of dogs there but I play a bit with them and wander around taking in all the wonderful new smells.


      My human sits on the bench and talks to another human woman. A black lab lunges at me but I just turn the other cheek. Guess that lab doesn't know that I'm allowed on the bench even if his human is there too. Oh, well. Sometimes these dogs think they own the place. I trot off by myself. It's the first time I have been to dog park without Freddy but it's okay. He's a bit of a stick in the mud anyway. All he wants to do is lay on the benches and sunbathe.

      (Me resting after a long fun day)

      My human clips my leash on again and we walk back home. It's been wonderful. Just her and me, very long walks and playing at the park. But, it doesn't end there. When we get back home she makes some human food and we sit outside in the sunshine while she eats and I watch the world go by. Then she slips me a treat. It's crunchy and orange and I kind of like it, I think humans call it a carrot.


      I don't think about Freddy all day because I've had so much fun with my woman human. Don't you just love her? I sure do!!!
 

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD DOGS

   

     Our human lady holds onto my leash and guides me out of the car, telling Kaede to stay. Kaede jumps out of the car anyway and is scolded because she has no leash on and is put back into the car to wait. I'm going first. I'm going first. I'm happy about that.
     She leads me into a room with steps that go up to a thingy where I guess I am supposed to stand. Sure enough, it's like the table they make me stand on when they clip my nails, which, by the way, I hate.
      I stand there, tail between my legs because I'm not liking this one little bit. Suddenly water comes down on me. Water!! I hate water!! I hate water a lot!! It comes down on me and she is making suds all over me. My fur is wet. I hate wet fur. I shake and the water and soap goes all over her. That'll teach her but, no, she just laughs.
     More water comes. I think it will never stop. Suds are everywhere. Then comes the water without the suds. I smell awful. I stink, as a matter of fact. It's like flowers. I am grateful when the water finally stops and wait to be unleashed so I can get off that table and run down the stairs and away from there. I've never in my life been so humiliated or unhappy. Then.....without any warning it gets worse. It get a lot worse. It gets so worse that I try to jump off the table. Suddenly, without warning and ON PURPOSE, I might add, hot air is suddenly blowing on me. A huge big round hose with air is coming on me. All over my legs, my belly, my back my fur is being dried. I was so scared, I tell you, I nearly fainted. I think she knew because she kept saying, in that nice voice of hers that she uses when she tortures me, "It's okay Freddy. There isn't that nice." Well, it wasn't nice. It was horrible.
     Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, I am finished and I am allowed to get off that horrible table and out of the horrible room. I get back to the car and hop in almost before the door is completely opened. I'm a big guy too but I jumped right in there. 
     Kaede took one look at me, smelled the awful flower smell on me and decided she was not getting out of the car. She planted herself firmly in the seat and held on for dear life. But, to no avail. Kaede was taken away to that place. 
     That was the best part of the whole horrible ordeal actually. I got to sit in the car and watch Kaede being taken to the chamber of horrors to be BATHED.

Freddy's Horrible Day

     I had a very bad day. A very bad day indeed. My owners, who swear they love me more than anything, threw me to the wolves. They abandoned me, left me out in the cold, turned their backs on me in my darkest hour. They tricked me terribly and I think that you, the readers, will take my part in all this. I think you will rush to Southern Ontario, find me, and take me home with you so I no longer have to endure this wickedness.
     First of all - the trick. They pretended we were going to have a nice day. They enticed me into the car, all smiles and happiness. We drove, the windows were down so I could stick my head out and let my ears flap in the wind. It was wonderful.
     Suddenly, and without warning, I might add, they stopped the car. Well, I knew immediately there was trouble. I had been here before and I didn't like it at all. I watched in horror as the car door opened and Kaede, that rotten little turn-coat, jumped out all smiles trotting around like we were at the beach or something.
     I knew better. I hid in the car but I guess they must have seen me because next thing I know they are calling me, "Freddy. Come on Freddy." In that sweet friendly voice of theirs.
     What's a boy to do. I slunk out of the car and let the lady hold on to my leash while she walked me to the gallows. Kaede just leaped along beside us, happy in her stupid way.

     Of course I knew it.  Slam. I was confined. I was in a KENNEL. They were leaving me. I saw the tops of their heads as they turned around and left me in that awful place. I went into the corner and that's where I stayed for the remainder of the seven whole hours I was there.
     It was awful and I think you would agree with me - it's no way to treat a wonderful boy like me.

HOW IT REALLY HAPPENED by Kaede

      

     For a few hours we were allowed to play with some very fun German Shephard Dogs. We had a very large yard to play in and when we were tired we got to go and lay down in our own private room. Freddy chose to sit in the kennel and not play with us because he is a big fat baby who misses his Mommy and Daddy. The very nice lady who looked after us kept stroking him and making sure he was alright. Hmmm. Perhaps he's not so stupid after all.

My Day In a Nutshell by Freddy

I pretty much go with the flow around here. I'm a pretty mellow guy who enjoys sleeping and snoozing. Every morning Kaede gets up first. We sleep on beds on the floor next to our people who are in their bed. Kaede stands next to our lady and stares and licks her until she gets up. On the third try I get up so the day really only starts when I say so. However, don't tell Kaede. She thinks she runs the show and that's fine with me.

When we've eaten and had our morning nap Kaede will ask to go out so she can check out what is going on in the back yard. Sometimes she just lays on the balcony. I prefer to stay inside and maybe look out the window. The humans will open the door for me and say, "Freddy. Do you want to go outside?" but when I hear the word 'outside' I run into another room. 

I like when our man human plays his trumpet. Something happens inside of me and I put my head up toward the sky and I let loose with a howl. It's quite a nice howl, if I do say so myself. In tune and everything. I close my eyes and I feel like I am the king of the world, just me and my howl. Once I start Kaede comes running into the room and begins her singing. She has a very bad voice actually and she never sings unless I do. She never sings alone. That's another thing that I am the boss of, just don't tell her.

I like going for walks and I like going to the dog park but not as much as Kaede. She just loves to run around and jump and play and she has a lot of energy. I'm more of a lap dog kind of guy but I'm pretty big to be a lap dog. I love following my lady or my man around the house. No matter what room they go to or how long they go for I follow them.

My favourite time of day is after breakfast when we all go back to bed for a few hours. My second favourite time of day is after dinner when I am sleepy and I can go to bed. Some times I sneak upstairs and get up onto the human bed. It's so comfortable and cozy and I don't understand why they always make me get off. When I hear them coming up the stairs I try to quickly get off their bed and pretend I wasn't doing anything wrong but they always seem to know. 

At dog park I like one or two of the dogs and those guys I follow around and play with. My favourite dog to play with, though, is Kaede. We run into each other and thump our chests. I also like it when my human does tricks with me. Sometimes she makes me sit and I get a treat. Sometimes she makes me go down and I get a treat. Sometimes she makes me stay and I get a treat. It's a pretty good life when you can get a treat for doing nothing, right? 

When the humans go out at night and Kaede and I have to stay alone I get very sad. They put a gate across the stairs and put our beds in a hallway and close all the doors. Once when they left us alone but didn't shut the bathroom door we got the toilet paper and ripped it to shreds. Oh yes, we chewed the toilet brush to bits and we knocked over the soaps. We also ate some books another time when they left a door to their office open. I guess they shouldn't have left us alone!!! But when they leave us in the hallway I shake and they give me a pat and tell me it will be fine, but still I am frightened.

The only time I am bad is when I get on the human bed or when we are outside and I see a squirrel. My human tugs on my leash and makes me stop trying to catch the squirrel but I can't stop myself. I am in a doggy frenzy.

Other than that, I guess I lead quite a slow paced and sheltered life. My humans stroke me a lot and they feed me every day and take me for walks and they never make me go outside if I don't want to except to the outdoor private toilet. I think they are very good people. They tell me I am great but don't tell Kaede. She thinks she is pretty special and runs things around here so maybe we should just let her go on thinking that.
The End.