Friend Date

It's been a while since we've blogged! My how time flies when you're busy-- this holiday season has been crazy for us!

I moved desks at work so Ellie no longer sits by her best friend Sadie. Unfortunately, she is very antsy and bored at work now that she has no buddy so I have to leave her home during the day instead. However, Sadie's mom said that we should still have play dates so that's what we did this weekend!

Sadie's mom came and picked Ellie up and took her over to their house where they have a fenced back yard. Not only did Ellie get to spend time with her best bud, but she got to explore the outdoors without a leash! It definitely made me very happy!

Exploring the yard

Snuggling with her best buddy

Ellie's typical work day

What's on the agenda:

• Potty
• Come inside and kiss Sadie (black doggy friend) hello
• Greet human coworkers
• Sleep on the floor
• Go on a walk with the dog walker and some 4-legged friends
• Sleep in my bed
• Play with Sadie
• Sit in on a meeting (I climb up into an office chair to sit) ;)
• Sleep on the floor some more
• Make out with Sadie
• Whine when it's 4:58
• Go home at 5pm

We had a merry, poopy Christmas

Ellie got Chuck-it balls in her stocking, she LOVES these!

Finally back to the digital world after a few days off, and I must say, it was very nice not checking e-mails, tweets, facebook, etc. for a little bit!

Since we were going to be gone from the house from 8am until 10:30pm, Ellie got to tote along for all of the Christmas festivities.

1. First stop was my mom's where Ellie was bullied by a Rat Terrier half her size for most of the morning. He is very territorial and not a fan of new friends so he followed her around all morning, growling, while Ellie was just trying to avoid him and find a place that she could hang out without getting bullied.
The back yard was usually the best bet. Of course, while I was going out to pick up after Ellie, I stepped in one of the other dog's poop!


2. Next stop was Chris's parents where Ellie got to play with her good friend Fonzie, the 100 pound Golden Retriever. We put them in the back yard most of the afternoon while everyone else was opening presents.
When I finally let Ellie back inside, I noticed that the sides of her neck were crusty. I assumed that it was drool from playing with Fonzie until someone asked if it was poop. A quick sniff of my hands confirmed and Ellie had to get a bath!


3. Last stop was my dad's. Luckily, we avoided any more poop here but had a fun time with the whole family: me and my two sisters, and five step sisters - that's 8 girls all together which only happens at Christmas time!

We had a very long day but it was full of family and fun. Ellie's favorite part? Balls of course!

Weekend outdoor adventures

On Sunday I decided to get up and outside early before the day got too warm, so I took Ellie to Marymoor dog park bright and early in the morning.

When I first got Ellie, she loved to play with other dogs and go say hello to every dog and person she saw. These days, she seems more interested in claiming the entire 42 acre park by leaving her mark.
She marked...

Said hello...

And marked some more.

On the way back, we went to a blueberry farm where I picked around 2 pounds of blueberries to make some yummy treats! Ellie was very good and hung out in the grass while I picked.

Wordless Wednesday: I'm tired of puppy-sitting.

Ellie had a fun day playing with her new puppy friend

"enough already."

Ellie and a Frenchie

Getting to come to work with me every day, Ellie has met many French Bulldogs (they seem to be popular pets around here!)

Today she met Bella for the first time who is a puppy somewhere between ages 12-15 weeks, I'm guessing. Bella gave Ellie a run for her money and totally wore her out! Ellie was chasing her at the beginning, but as she got tired, she would just worm around on the ground and allow Bella to climb all over her :)

Spongebob Stalks Ellie

I was just going through some videos and found this one of Ellie attacking a mylar balloon of Spongebob that I never posted up! Watch the ending where he follows her... lol.

Mt. Si Adventures and Hungry Dogs

Ellie checking things out

Today, Ellie and I went on a long hike at Mount Si which is about a 45 minute drive from Seattle. It was a warm day at about 70 degrees, but with the intensity of the hike, I was sweating, and Ellie was panting, like crazy!

The whole hike is 8 miles round trip with a 3150 ft elevation gain.

So the hike itself was fun, tiring, interesting. We met so many dogs and I was amazed at how nice they all were! Every single dog we passed (except one that was in the arms of its owner) sniffed noses with Ellie and they were all so surprisingly pleasant. Usually on our hikes, we'll get a couple of dogs that growl or lunge at her, but not today. Maybe people are finally learning to only bring socialized dogs out hiking :)

When we made it to the top of the hike, Ellie and I sat and ate some snacks. I saw a few Vizslas sitting on a rock nearby with some people and thought that they were super cute, maybe a little underweight, but nothing more.

Skinny lost dogs on the mountain

Later, some people walked by and noted aloud how cute the dogs were, and the people next to the dogs said "yes, they are cute, but they're not ours. We can't find the owners."

No wonder they looked so skinny! As it turned out, they got hold of the owners and the dogs had been missing for two days. They live near the trailhead so the dogs must have wandered off and followed some hikers up the mountain. Poor babies! I offered them Ellie's last Milkbone and treats, feeling bad that I didn't have more to give. They quickly gobbled them up.

Mama and her son cuddling

Once I learned that the other hikers were going to bring the dogs down to the owners at the bottom of the mountain, I felt better and continued to explore what I thought was the top. After Ellie and I climbed a bunch of rocks, I realized that there's what's called the "haystack" which is another 300 foot rock climb!! "I have to go up there!" I thought to myself.

The "haystack". If you could see the people at the top, they would be little dots.

We followed some trails and climbed up some rocks until we reached the base of this "haystack". As I looked up, I realized that it had quickly turned from a hike to a straight rock-climb. I knew I could spider my way up there, and Ellie might be able to manage as she's pretty resilient.... but I worried about the descent. A 4-legger going face-first down a steep rocky mountain didn't sound safe. So we turned around (I'll have to go back there without Ellie sometime).

View from the top (iPhone doesn't do justice)

After the hike, I went to my mom's where Ellie got to play with my mom's dogs and my sister's dog. I got to eat some yummy dinner :)
Now I'm expecting sore legs tomorrow!