Spring sprung and so did we!

Taking a Break

This past weekend Mom, Dad, Roger and I took advantage of the nice weather and went for our first hike of the season. We are very fortunate to live in the heart of Michaux State Forest which the Appalachian Trail crosses. With barely breaking a sweat, we logged 4.6 miles. Roger thinks that's 9.2 in Frenchie miles because of his legs are only half the length of mine. I tried to explain to him that it doesn't work that way, but reasoning with a bull head is like talking to a brick wall. 

With our first trip to the OBX just around the corner, Thelma Lou needs to start getting into shape (besides round) so that she can fit into her itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini. However, a hike of that length would've killed her. As soon as we get some nice weather during the week, we'll help Thelma Lou work off her extra winter weight by taking short walks around Carlisle while practicing our street smart skills. 

TL in her itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini

After our walk, we hopped in Mini Pearl, Mom's Scion iQ and headed to our kissin' cousin Carly's house and had a grand time racing around her backyard. 

Illustrating the generous amount of room in the Scion iQ 

Roger calls shotgun for the ride

Cousin Carly

Erin go bragh!

Who's your Paddy?

Who needs luck when you're as cute as I am?

Cabbage Head Jaxxon

Atticus begs Thelma Lou for a kiss

Safira quashes any idea of a kiss

Beulah Ruth poses as an Irish Woof-hound

Eat your heart out Pierce Brosnan

Green with Envy (and Ember)

Another busy weekend here at the Knowlton house. Yesterday Rog made his first therapy dog visit at Sarah Todd Memorial Home with his little Frenchie friend Ember. They had a busy day roaming the halls and visiting residents who needed a little K-9 companionship to brighten their day. Good job, Team Frenchie!

Roger wit his new friend Kim

Roger was a little embarrassed at first about having to dress up as a Leprechaun. He even tried screaming his head off to get the "abuse" to stop, but Ember finally was able to calm him down with a little French kiss.

Roger cries for help

Ember gives Roger a good sniff

Jaxxon, my BBFF or best boxer friend furever, visited today. We pretended that we were in the Food City 500 at  Bristol Motor Speedway racing around the backyard. 

Happy (almost) Animal-versary!

Even though Roger, Thelma and I enjoy playing in the snow, we say enough already. While Mom was kind of hoping for a Noreaster like the one that hit 21 years ago, we all are ready happy for spring and all the wonderful things that it brings like flowers and humming birds. 

M&D distinctly remember the Blizzard of 1993 because that's when they got hitched. After spending five days shoveling to get out and away from each other, Dad popped the question. Mom said she remembers it like it was yesterday. Dad said something like, "Well, I survived living with you the the past five days, I guess it's about time I make an honest woman out of you. What do you say you marry me?" (What a romantic!) 

Mom said, "Yes." They visited the local Justice of the Peace who performed the ceremony, stopped at the grocery store for steak and lobster, and the rest is history. 

So what does one buy a spouse to celebrate 21 years of marital bliss? Well, Dad and I worked our tails off this winter keeping the new driveway snow-free so that it didn't turn into a bobsled track. We had several storms that only dumped a few inches of feathery white fluff that made firing up the snow blower very impractical. Being a retired ice hockey player and avid Flyers fan, Dad mentioned while watching a game last week how nice it would be to have some NHL ice girls with their large snow shovels to clean off the drive like they do the ice rinks. 

NHL Philadelphia Flyers Ice Girls

So what does Big Brown, the friendly UPS driver, deliver today? Definitely not NHL ice girls! A ManPlow, of course! Happy (almost) 21st Anniversary, Dad! Nothing but the best for you!

Dad proudly displaying his new ManPlow

Remembering Ruth

So Mom stumbled across this cool video making software by Animoto while putting together a tribute to celebrate the life of Pappy John. Since she has a subscription for a year, we figured why not use it. I'm sure that you'll probably get sick of our videos before long.

In loving memory of Beulah Ruth
August 2, 1998 to February 19, 2008

A Paws-a-tively Great Weekend

This weekend was paws-a-tively great! Yesterday, I spent over an hour visiting with more than 15 residents at the Sarah Todd Memorial Home. We had a great time and plan to make bi-weekly visits. Roger can also join in the fun since he passed his therapy dog test back in November.

Roger getting his beauty sleep before Pawsabilities

Since I spent all day yesterday with Mom, she gave in to Roger's whining and took him to Pawsabilities today where our Dog Scout Troop 161 had an information booth and Triathadog course set up to help raise money for Susquehanna Service Dogs. Plus, Roger has a crush on a fellow Frenchie named Ember who was also helping at the DSA booth so I let him be top dog today. Of course, I did remind him who is boss by "ruffing" him up a little bit before he left for the day.

Newman "ruffs" up his little brother

I must admit that Rog does have fine taste in women. They really don't get much cuter than Ember. She's very smart, too. M&D like the fact that Rog wants to hang out with someone who has brains and beauty -- just maybe he'll learn a trick of two from her.

Rog checks out Ember's Pup Tent

Ember shows off her wheels

As you all know, Mom thinks it's great fun to dress us in costumes. Thank Dog she has yet to turn us into Tony the Tiger!

Happy Birthday to my Cousins

Ripkin and Maddux Richwine

Happy Birthday to my cousins, Maddy Moo and Riparoo, who are celebrating their 2nd birthday today. We're glad that Aunt Kelly couldn't decide which one of you was cuter so she adopted you both from Pet Match Maker. Good decision! You certainly made a nice addition to her zoo!

Obviously, Lily aka Phyllis, thinks she's a comedian. I'll tell you what's not funny is when that little black and tan ankle biter latches on to Mom's pant leg when she walks in the door. What is it with little dogs and the 'tude? Granted, the first year of her life was more than a little ruff having to fend for herself, tied out in the cold, but that's all behind her now. I'm thinking that the next time I go visit Aunt Kelly it's going to be with a colossal size wrench to adjust her attitude a bit.

 Daisy Mae

And then there's Daisy Mae. How could you not love a face like that? 

Time to howl. It's Mardi Growl!

Fastnachts

It's Fastnacht Day, aka Fat Tuesday. "Fastnacht" is a German word meaning "night before the fast," so it always occurs on Shrove Tuesday which marks the beginning of the traditional 40-day period of fasting practiced by Christians before Easter. In New Orleans the day symbolizes Mardi Gras — literally fat Tuesday in French — while in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the word Fasnacht is synonymous with the day to eat fatty, deep-fried donuts for good luck. Traditionally, fastnachts were made by Pennsylvania Dutch housewives to use up the remaining supplies of lard, sugar, fat and butter in the house before Lent during which time they were not to be eaten.

With eating being one of Thelma Lou's all time favorite activities, Fat Tuesday rates high on her scale of holidays to celebrate. Time to howl. It's Mardi Growl! Let the calorie consumption begin.

Did I hear someone say Fasnacht?

Little Man is a big hit!

I just want to give a shout out for my Little Brother, Roger Dodger Knowlton. After returning from Blue Ridge Dog Scout Camp last year where he finally earned his Dog Scout title, the editor of the French Bullytin magazine contacted him for an interview about his experience. Just last week, Mom finally received her issue in the mail. We were all pleasantly surprised to see that the editor included a photo of the entire Triple Threat lounging on the couch -- one of the things we do best.

Read the full article by clicking on the thumbnails below.