mumby road

Chili Dog Day

Looking through windows at bare trees dusted with snow; a small dog sits in shadow on a tan couch in front of the windows

Noice, Abe

Hard to imagine a sweeter time than the Sunday afternoon between Christmas and New Year listening to “My Bar’s Jukebox” and enjoying local IPAs in the backyard on a sunny 67(F)-degree day with my associate.

A small dog with curly fur stands on a patio next to an outdoor table and a large planter with flowers.

Grade-A stocking stuffer

A toy shaped like a dog, with an accordion-fold torso allowing odd shapes

Two-dog Christmas

Auto-generated description: A person with glasses sits on a red chair, smiling and holding a fluffy dog, with another dog wearing a sweater standing on the couch in the background.

What a Sweetheart

Archie

A 'smiling' tan Mini Golden Doodle dog

Pub Name

If I ever open a pub, “The Dog and Water” might be in the running for a name. 🐶

A small dog lying in the sun on a teal couch; in the foreground is a glass of water on a table.

Trout Mountain, 06.18.2024, 5:58 am /

Mountain in dawn sunlight; small dog in foreground. “Ya' comin?”

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Oak Leaf Hydrangea blooming in a backyard .

More sweet life.

The Sweet Life

A happy tan lying in the sun in front of a bright green door 🐶

Maggie
As an adult, my family has had three dogs. Sweet, sweet Maggie (officially, Margaret Rose) was the first.

Early Maggie (and early kids):
Three kids and and a 
sweet dog

Late Maggie:
A sweet dog

Morning, Archie (Morning Archie)
Small brown dog lying in a sunny spot on a patterned rug.

My Highest and Best Use
sleeping dog
  1. Archie.
  2. My leg.

Archie Daffodil

dog in foreground with daffodils in the background
📷

After an illness, walking the dog | Jane Kenyon
Wet things smell stronger,
and I suppose his main regret is that
he can sniff just one at a time.
In a frenzy of delight
he runs way up the sandy road—
scored by freshets after five days
of rain. Every pebble gleams, every leaf. 

When I whistle he halts abruptly
and steps in a circle,
swings his extravagant tail.
The he rolls and rubs his muzzle
in a particular place, while the drizzle
falls without cease, and Queen Anne’s lace
and Goldenrod bend low.

The top of the logging road stands open
and light. Another day, before
hunting starts, we’ll see how far it goes,
leaving word first at home.
The footing is ambiguous.

Soaked and muddy, the dog drops,
panting, and looks up with what amounts
to a grin. It’s so good to be uphill with him,
nicely winded, and looking down on the pond.

A sound commences in my left ear
like the sound of the sea in a shell;
a downward, vertiginous drag comes with it.
Time to head home. I wait
until we’re nearly out to the main road
to put him back on the leash, and he
—the designated optimist—
imagines to the end that he is free.

Christmas scenes 2023

handsome archie

a tan mini-goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle mix) looking upwards
🐶

If I were to open a pub, perhaps it would be "The Lamb & Puppy."

Sleeping mini goldendoodle dog on a blue couch with a toy lamb in its mouth🐶

Mini Goldendoodle dog asleep on a vibrant blue couch with a toy lamb it its mouth

Archie’s binky. 🐶📷

Less is more; Not.
Per my true love (via Robt. Venturi), "Less is a bore." Archie (and I) like it!

bedroom with giant green leaves and pink flowers on the wall, a blue flowered bedspread, an orange small blanket, blue pillows, and mini goldendoodle dog sitting on the bed
🐶 📷

archie's world
an image of a dog in a field compared to to an Andrew Wyeth painting

Pals or, maybe, Frenemies
Basenji and Mini Goldendoodle dogs sitting in chairs

love this photo 🐶

Chairman Archie presiding 🐶

“The meeting will come to order.”

Watch out for that dino-dragon, Archie!