My Busy Days...Squirrels and Springtime

I really had a hard time this winter.  So now that it's warming up, the flowers are starting, mom and I are outdoors a LOT.  She rakes dead leaves and plants things, I supervise and keep the squirrels from attacking her.  I also monitor the birds.  The "regulars" are used to me and just go about their business.  They know I don't consider them worthy opponents.

Who IS a worthy opponent is Rocky.  He's the rottie a few yards down who is kept in a little pen all day.  He moans and cries and watches me run around, go next door for treats, nap in the sunshine on the soft grass, while he is stuck in that silly pen.  His mom never walks him either, he is so jealous of me.  I ignore him for the most part, but sometimes I run to the fence and bark at him 2 times.  Just 2..and always 2.  You dogs know what that means.  My mom doesn't but she thinks it's funny.

I am soooo tired now at the end of the day.  Mom keeps making me go into the house so she can paint her pictures of OTHER dogs and animals.  Meanie.  But I actually need the break, I have to keep one eye open when I nap outdoors...you never know when a squirrel might decide to attack!

Want to see mom's pet portraits?  She says they keep me in milkbones!  Thanks for visiting!  Otto.

Mom's Pet Portraits caught up...but we're Cold. Real Cold.

So Mom's all caught up with her pet portrait commissions from Christmas and is now back to a nice normal pace, not crazy-every-second-counts kind of drawing and painting.

So should be lots of fun time for me.

But she's COOOOOLLLLLDDDDDD!  I do nag at her til she walks me, but first thing in the morning is out.  We have to wait til she warms up.

And car rides?  They are afraid to let me sit in the car too long, so I've been home more while they go out and about.  Tomorrow she has a painting refresher class, and you know she's going to leave me behind at home. Mom says for me to invite you to visit her Fan Page for her Animal Art, by the way...

So I can't wait for the weather to get a little warmer, it makes my life less boring.  But I do have to tell you, those seats in the Subaru that warm up?  I really love that.  It really does make it cozy when I'm navigating to wriggle down into that nice warm seat.  Mom says the expression on my face is priceless!   Love Otto

Oh, this Snow! Mom's doing pet portraits and I'm stuck inside!

I love cold weather, never wear a coat and won't.  (I do wear my Chimney Inspector hat..on Santa Patrol).  But this much snow spooked me.  It came up way over my belly!  I wouldn't even help Dad shovel, which I usually supervise when it snows.  Instead, I laid on the couch looking really disturbed and upset...this was NOT regular!!  Luckily, even though we got almost two paws of snow (I mean, feet), humans made paths for us dogs so we could walk.  They used shovels and snow throwing machines that were loud like vacuum cleaners.  But they were good, I now have a maze out my backdoor to my driveway and then to the sidewalk, so I could take Mom out for her daily walk. 

Today, a great thing happened, my friend Chloe, who is a chocolate lab, came for a visit to her Grandma Pat's next door (tip...if you're in the neighborhood, Pat gives out biscuits if you sit by her door long enough).  And I just couldn't help but follow Chloe right into the snow to play.  We ran and jumped til I ran out of breath.  Chloe is a lot younger than me, so she can run longer than me, but not faster!

Anyway, Chloe and I decided we could be outside in this all day, but since we have a weird backyard that can't be fenced because of the driveway, Mom has to supervise us to make sure we don't go on our own walk without her.  And she usually likes to do this but she said, "Otto I have one more portrait of a yorkshire terrier to finish and I have to finish it today"..so that means I only get to go out on her 'breaks'.

No fair!  Just when I decided I liked being in the snow after all!

I'm lucky to get a walk...while mom does portraits of OTHER pets!

Yep, I remember this...she's in what she calls "the home stretch" doing pet portraits of OTHER people's pets, like this one. While I try and get her attention...strutting around with my ball and an enticing look in my eye...she just keeps saying, "later Otto I have to get this done".

I'm lucky she walks me. I thinks it's because she also has baked Christmas cookies. Otherwise, it's just watching her work. She says later...we'll see...

Mom's Pet and Children's Portraits - In the Philadelphia Suburbs!

Did you know this? Mom and I work on pet portraits and childrens portraits from our studio outside of Philadelphia! Actually, she works, and I supervise.

I get her out for a long walk every morning. AND I make sure we play ball outside in the sunshine in the afternoons. And I get to snuggle next to her when she draws on the couch, and on nice days we sit outside on the porch while she works on her pet or childrens portraits! I love having my mom home.

When she worked somewhere called an office, she would tell me most days, "Otto, I have to go to work, I'll be back tonight. Be a good boy". What boring days those were! And on weekends, she'd say "Otto, today is a Mommy & Otto day!" Those were the fun days.

Now, we have Mommy and Otto days every day. We both hope it keeps up!

Thanksgiving from a Dog's point of view!

The humans were all busy the past half week for "thanksgiving weekend", saying it was their "favorite holiday". For me? half and half.

The good half: My human brothers came home on Wednesday! So that means I got to go to the park a bunch of times..and for a car rides back and forth! They are so much more fun than when Mom walks with me. They throw sticks really far. The water in the creek was a little cold, but I didn't mind running through the shallow parts to get a stick.

I got to sleep with my human brother. (Don't tell, but I love him even more than mom....)

And DAD has been home for 4 days straight! No "work". (I hate work. Mom used to have to go there, too, before she started doing her dog art fulltime)...it's lonely when they go to work. Dad always has a milkbone in his pocket for me to steal!

I got to eat some turkey. Mom brought a care package home from "thanksgiving dinner" mmmmm....

Bad news: They left me alone ALL DAY on Thursday, and seemed happy about it. They came home and talked about how much fun they had with the family. Now I ask you...if family doesn't include me...how can it be fun. It was DARK by the time they finally got home with my turkey meal.

Mom used that vacuum cleaner a lot. She says I brought in a lot of dirt on my paws...I sorry! I hate that thing. It scoops up things and I am worried it's going to scoop up my toys!! And dad's socks, which are toys, too, right, doggy friends?

And now it's Sunday and human brothers went away to do whatever they do. Mom says we're going to spend the day outdoors today because it's sunny and warm and "we have a lot to do out there". Which is fun...but I also like to snuggle next to mom while she draws, but not today!

So I am glad that Thanksgiving means I see lots of the humans I love the most but that Thursday stunk. Oh well....now they're talking about Christmas..and I know for a fact they are always home with me on that day.

And I'll get to wear my "Chimney Inspector" hat again...

Old Dog - New Trick

Want to know how I'm doing on my new trick? Mom expects me to tap on the floor 3 times when she says "Count to three". And that's the only way she'll give me a bisquie. (Yes, fellow doggies, I did try to get them without having to remember this trick).

After this weekend, I can remember to sit and to lift my right paw and put it back down once. So I have half the trick down, only have to remember to tap the floor 2 more times.

Dad said instead of saying "Count to Three", she should say "What's the square root of 9?". But since Dad does math all day and Mom does her dog art all day, she says she doesn't really remember what square roots are and they give her the shivers to even think about them. So she's sticking to the "Count to three". That's okay with me! Just so I get my bisquies when I want them.

What are you doing today dog friends? Are your humans teaching you a new trick? Otto the Good Boy