Showing posts with label travels with Charlie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travels with Charlie. Show all posts

Travels with Charlie: After the Groomer, Ready to Romp!

Friday, September 20, 2024

Ready to blow off  some energy
Photo by Gordon Snyder
By Gordon Snyder

Charlie spent most of the day at the Groomers getting sheared, trimmed, clipped, shaved, washed, cleaned, dried, brushed and teeth brushed.
 
After all this, his Groomer said he was a great guy. I’d say he just put up with everything hoping it would end soon.

After I picked him up, first thing was outside, after some quick sniffs and welcome relief. Then, we headed for a park to blow off some energy.

Ready to Romp!
Photo by Gordon Snyder

At the park, he was Ready to Romp!

Ready… Go!
Romping… His joy was wonderful to watch.

Posing to show new haircut
Photo by Gordon Snyder

After a while, I got him to slow down and show off his new Haircut.

Charles Posing...

Another unique day.


Cheers,
Gordon Snyder

"The Look" photo by Gordon Snyder

Bonus shot. Charlie giving us "The Look".


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Travels with Charlie: Fishin’ from Log Boom Pier

Monday, September 16, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Charlie and I headed to Lake Washington for an afternoon walk on this Beautiful Day.

Lots more folks and kids Fishin’ from Log Boom Pier than we usually see. All the benches and several prime spots were occupied mostly by anglers.

“Catch anything?” I asked one Dad and 2 Youngsters as they were leaving. 
He replied: "We each caught a couple of small bass that we gave away for someone to have fish dinner.” 
Nice...

We agreed that any day fishing is a good day, especially on a gorgeous day like this one.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Charlie and Drone Landing

Friday, September 6, 2024

After Labor Day Weekend, Charlie hung out with us when we flew the No Fence Wetlands Drone. These flights visually document the wetlands restoration current status after one year.

The wetland / pond reconstruction was completed 8/31/2023.

Then, many thousand seedlings were planted fall 2023 to establish new native ecologically relevant plants.

After flying an overview at 300 feet and then flying over ponds and plantings at 60 feet, the drone returned home.

I love this next sequence of photos of Charlie while the Drone is Landing…
(Two wildly different camera views. Me and Drone)

Drone photo of Charlie watching me taking photos of the Drone landing.

A moment later,

Here’s my photo of Charlie noticing the Drone getting close and he turned to watch.

Amazing Drone shot of Charlie watching and checking out the Drone landing at the same time.

Turns out, Charlie has been around these Drone flights since he moved in.

Another landing… No Big Deal.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Great Labor Day Weekend Roll

Saturday, August 31, 2024

After our meeting on No Fence Wetlands Vegetation Management Planning, we headed to our nearby Deary City Park in Idaho.

It’s a great place to hear the kids playing as you walk around. It will be packed this weekend.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Charlie thought it was a perfect place for a Great Labor Day Weekend Roll at our small town park.

He can’t resist that luscious green grass… Yep, you know he loves this.

Have a Great Labor Day Weekend Everyone,

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Happy National Dog Day Charlie

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Aside from eating, this is one of Charlie’s favorites.
Rollover - Rollover - Rollover -

Happy National Dog Day Charlie.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Always worth going for a walk with Charlie

Monday, August 26, 2024

By Gordon Snyder

Last weekend on a beautiful day, Charlie and I headed to Log Boom Park, but it was so popular the parking lot was full and cars were waiting for a space.

So… We headed to another park down the road.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

On Wednesday, we stopped by Log Boom Park again. Lots of parking spaces and an to my surprise > an empty beach.

Plenty of great smells for Charlie and super weather to watch for me.

One of the great things about wandering around with Charlie is… you never know what will happen.

As we headed back to the car, there was some music in the air.

Rockery Summer Music Camp musicians
Photo by Gordon Snyder

Turns out a group of young musicians from Rockery Summer Music Camp were giving a concert across from the Playground.

Can you imagine being a little kid swinging and climbing around while live music fills the air?
Priceless!

Always worth going for a walk with Charlie.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Grab your Raincoat

Saturday, August 24, 2024

A beautiful rainy summer day to stay inside.

But Charlie needed to get outside. 
His look said “Grab your raincoat and let’s go”.

He was right.
Get going and look closely, things were sparkling in the rain.

Summer Rain
Photo by Gordon Snyder
Plus, The fresh air also tasted great.

Grab your Raincoat and go take a look.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Invasive Blackberries are being removed

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

The recent hot weather had sent us to more shaded spots for our wanderings. Charlie and I had a chance to visit Horizon View Park on this perfect afternoon.. Over the last couple of weeks, fantastic progress in the park!

Photo by Gordon Snyder

A Great Surprise as we walked the path above the Playfield…
The massive amounts of Invasive Blackberries are being removed. These were huge impenetrable patches.

This area was covered 6 to 8 feet high. I always picked a few ripe summer berries when we walked by, but no way you could walk into it to pick more.

The Blackberry vines had completely taken over the shoulder areas that surround part of the court. It’s off to the right.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

No way anyone, other than a rabbit, could get thru any of it. Now look. Charlie is checking it out.

This area was totally inaccessible. Only that green path around the court wasn’t blackberry territory.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Heading away from the court… More Blackberry bushes have been removed as you walk by the court.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

And, wandering along, a huge area down the slope from the path is being cleared.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Next comes the hard part… Keeping the Blackberries from coming back over the next few seasons.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Let’s get thru this Storm

Monday, August 19, 2024

This recent massive lightning / thunderstorm used to be misery for Charlie. Shaking and Hiding was all he did.

But. Back on July 4th… Charlie learned Fireworks were coupled with treats and playing around. (Travels with Charlie: How Charlie learned to love fireworks. 7/5/24)

Now this current Lightning / Thunderstorm meant time for Charlie to take the leap from understanding Booming Fireworks to coping with Bright Light Explosions that shake our house walls and windows. I heard the storm was coming and got prepared with some training kibbles and apple chunks for soothing diversions.

Soon this monstrous storm engulfed us. Weather action all around us...

Charlie and I were in my basement office with the garden door open to the lightning, thunder and rain. 

Lots of weather everywhere.

Flashing Lights and Booming Thunder Cracks all around us.

Charlie did not freak out!

Photo by Gordon Snyder
He was hanging out in a favorite chair.
He already figured out that every storm event was followed by a crunchy treat.

He was correct. We enjoyed the storm energetic ruckus without any shaking fears.
Of course, he loved some treats.

Love 'tis weather.
Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: AppleSauce Time

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

A few weeks ago Charlie and I checked out a favorite wild apple tree. We wandered back there to check the apple crop.

I noticed a few apples already on the ground for the critters. But there were lots on the tree.

While Charlie sniffed around, I used the only bags I had to pick enough for Homemade Applesauce.

Now’s a good time to check out your favorite wild apple tree now while apples are still green. Ignore any that have insect or other scares.

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Here’s some of our good ones.

Chris will turn these beauties into an unbeatable treat.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Neighborhood waterings

Friday, August 16, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

A perfect summer day. Charlie and I hung out in our neighborhood.
Time for a little watering caught the sunlight…

Get outside and enjoy the small beautiful spots.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: One of Our Stops

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Charlie does his civic duty
Photo by Gordon Snyder

One of our stops today included this Ballot drop box before we headed to the park.

You can tell he’s ready to get going somewhere… Ok Charlie. Let’s go.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Directions to Lake Ballinger Wetlands

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Directions to Lake Ballinger Wetlands


Head to the Mountlake Senior Center (aka Lake Ballinger Center) and Clubhouse parking lot. Lots of shady parking is nice.


Charlie leads the way on the path toward Lake Ballinger.


Before you get to the lake, look over to the left. See the new structure?


That’s the elevated boardwalk over the wetland ponds. Just wander over to it. This is a passive park without lots of developed pathways.


You can see this new construction has minimum impacts on the area.


Charlie is loving this place. The wetlands soil water has kept lots of green vegetation vibrant during this hot weather.


Wandering across the elevated boardwalk, check out the pond to the south.


Don’t forget to scope out the pond on the north side.


Here’s the check dam used to regulate flow thru the wetlands ponds.


Time out for some Charlie rolling and loving the green grasses near Lake Ballinger.


View from path across the lake to the new pier at the beach area.


Continuing along the mowed path we leave the pond area.


Charlie Panting and Smiling as we head back the Center and Clubhouse.


On the way… notice the work done on Hall Creek and restoration plantings.


Lastly, we cross the new bridge and head to parking lot.

These directions are how Charlie and I get around the New Lake Ballinger Wetlands.

Stop by. It’s a Great place to spend some time wandering around.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: New pedestrian boardwalk over Lake Ballinger wetlands

Thursday, August 1, 2024

A beautiful boardwalk out over the wetlands at Lake Ballinger in south Snohomish county. 
Photo by Gordon Snyder

By Gordon Snyder

We headed to Lake Ballinger to check out the riparian ecosystem restoration. Charlie and I had wandered around outside the fenced reconstruction area a few times before this.

Now the area is open to the public.

A close up view of the foliage without disturbing anything
Photo by Gordon Snyder

We headed to checkout the new access to the wetlands area. There’s a new Pedestrian Boardwalk over a fantastic wetlands on the north end of Lake Ballinger.

This elevated boardwalk lets you walk “over” the ponds and banks without disturbing anything.

The folks who built this access did it without impacting and changing the sensitive environmental balance. Excellent work giving us a beautiful setting.

Ducks enjoying duckweed.
Photo by Gordon Snyder

Even a Mama Mallard and a couple young ones are enjoying munching some duckweed.

Great to have another natural area to explore…

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Road Rage has no Winners, Only Losers

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Police, fire trucks, aid cars responding to road rage incident in Lake Forest Park
Photo by Gordon Snyder

By Gordon Snyder

This afternoon Charlie and I were in my office before heading for a walk somewhere… The door was open.

We were startled to hear very loud yelling and the roar of a motorcycle racing up NE 204th from the intersection. Charlie barked and I looked from the porch to glimpse a motorcycle thru the garden bushes.

We stepped back into my office. A few minutes later, some emergency sirens got us back outside. Police and EMT / Fire trucks were setting up along 204th past where I saw the motorcycle on the side of the road.

Charlie and I, walking up the hill to get a closer view. A new type of Travels with Charlie for us to experience.

A motorcycle was on side of the road.

What happened? Seems this was another "Road Rage” incident. But right here on the road to the park?

Apparently, Someone made a wide turn off 55th Ave NE up the NE 204th hill that triggered the motorcyclist to race up the hill on the wrong side of the road yelling and kicking the driver's car door.

Turns out that action didn’t favor the angry motorcyclist. He made a sizable dent in the car door, lost his kicking shoe and then toppled his motorcycle…

He was taken away in the Shoreline Aid truck with significant leg injury.

I asked one of the Officers if he broke his leg?… He replied ”you could say that” with an I can’t say more gesture.

I asked if this was Road Rage? Again same response. ”you could say that”.

Officers set the motorcycle upright and placed the rider's shoe on the seat after the rider was transported for medical care. Photo by Gordon Snyder

The Officers set the motorcycle upright. See that shoe on the seat? They picked up a shoe he probably was wearing when he kicked the car as he raced up the hill.

Hmmm… Maybe Road Rage masked the Mass times Velocity relationship most motorcycle folks totally understand.

Road Rage has no Winners, Only Losers.

Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie - not on a hot day!

Monday, July 22, 2024

Too hot, Baby
Photo by Gordon Snyder
All these recent clear days of hot weather have sorta changed my buddy Charlies excited energy to get going on an afternoon walk. 

These hot afternoons he’s just comfortable snoozing in a favorite chair…

I don’t blame him. it’s hot out there and the pavement and paths soak up the heat. 

In the direct sun, it's bad for a dog's bare pads. 

I checked the temperature on the deck boards in the direct sun with an infrared thermometer… 138-140 degrees. Think about that. And it wasn’t even black pavement.

I wouldn’t step barefoot on anything hot like that. 

In the cool of the evening
Photo by Gordon Snyder
Neither should Charlie. He's is a smart guy, so sleeps thru the hot part and gets ready to go do something when evening cools things down.

Then we wandered around our neighborhood… Perfect timing.

Protect your Pet Buddies, Cheers,
Gordon Snyder



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Travels with Charlie: How Charlie learned to love fireworks

Friday, July 5, 2024

Charlie at Horizon View before the fireworks started

Story and photos by Gordon Snyder

During the afternoon before the firework explosions started, we headed for a Spectacular Independence Day Walk around Horizon View Park. Afternoon sun highlighted our lazy break on the grass. A few fireworks were popping in the distance, but not enough to bother Charlie. Yet...

Charlie has freaked out about fireworks since he moved in with us. For the 4th and New Years, we are always surrounded by blasting fireworks later in the evening. It sounds like a war zone. Charlie would hide in the basement bathroom. He felt terrible.

This year we tried a new approach to help reduce his Firewok's Fear.

Food not Fear for Charlie
After we finished BBQing some chicken. I chopped some BBQ thigh meat and put it into a bag for Fireworks Time in an hour or so.
 
My thought is: Charlie is a Chow Hound. Anything for Food. Food makes him focus on Food.

So maybe he won't fear the fireworks if there’s a tiny morsel of BBQ.

Slowly, as the fireworks began, we started a game BOOOM and a FOOD distraction…

After a big blast, I’d give him a tiny morsel. DIdn’t take long before Charlie began to forget the fireworks and was more interested in the treat. Soon he became more comfortable with the blasts because they were becoming a signal for some BBQ taste.

This next step blew me away. After a nearby loud one would blow up, we started playing by barking and chasing sorta like he does with a squirrel. He got excited when something blasted. He’d bark and scurry around a bit. Catch a piece of chicken and wait for the next explosion.

The evening was a beautiful success where we watched fireworks together (sorta) and he nibbled.

He never spent any time scared and hiding in the bathroom…

We all enjoyed this Independence Day. Hope yours was wonderful also.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Travels with Charlie: Our favorite park

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Charlie and I headed to Lake Washington to look and sniff around. At the end of the sidewalk is a bit of a hidden bridge with a great view of Little Creek inlet right next to the boats. 

The Pier in the background is a clue where we are?

Photo by Gordon Snyder

It’s one of our favorite parks to visit.

Walk out on the water at Log Boom Park.

Enjoy some outside time…

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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