Yogi Chronicle

Fun with Blogger!

2008-10-27T11:27:00.010-04:00

I apologize if this post seems incoherrent. Mom has had some issues with blogger today and had to remove a bunch of old pictures to make room for the new ones, which seems to confuse them. Anyway, last Friday Mom and I went back to Borderland State Park. This time, though, we went on one of the side trails, which the book described as "canine fitness trails." The vet thinks I am pudgy, so Mom wanted to make me work more.

Someone has cut an awful lot of wood.

This is a path. Mom thought you'd think it was pretty.

Me!

Sniff.

French trail, huh?

Maybe there will be some wine and cheese!

No wine, but there is water coming up from the ground.

Drink!

Sometimes there were bridges.

No cheese yet, but I'll keep looking!

They weren't kidding about this being a fitness trail!

It was a really pretty trip, though.

See?

Look at me!

Is there someone French behind the tree?

Pretty leaves.

Mom really liked them.

Me!

Pretty scene.

This doesn't do justice to the height of this drop off.

If we go this way, there's a raccoon?

Down!

Grin.

Now we're on the Split Rock Trail.

More bridge.

Me.

This was actually the last picture we took.

Blogger rearranged things though.

This is ok, because I am a free-form doggy.

Another split rock.

2 trees or one?

Off Leash Doggy!

2008-10-21T11:45:00.008-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went back to Bare Cove. It was a lot of fun. I saw some friends and got to be an Off Leash Doggy.

The bird in the middle was different. Mom wanted to take its picture.
This was some pretty scenery.
The bird got jealous. Here it is looking at us.
And here it is posing.
I don't know what it's doing to the seagull, and I don't want to know.
I went for a swim.
Interesting tree and concrete.
There were a lot of big crows. This one was pretty.

Off Leash Doggy!
I was so good!
I came when I was called and everything!
Hey, is that my friend Trey?
Stick.

Pretty marshland.
Still pretty, but with a bird.
Me and Trey in the water.
Me running.
Me, Trey and our new friend Kodiak.

Swim!
Sniff!
Me and Kodiak.
You can't quite tell, but we're both holding the same stick and paddling along together.
Dogs run about.

I don't know the name of the little black-and-white. Maybe it's Roxie?
But we all had fun.
Swim!
Sniff!
Greet!

Wompatuck in the Fall

2008-10-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Mom took me back to Wompatuck. It's been a while! It's such a beautiful site, we were both very happy to see it in the fall. We met a new friend, a black lab named Jura. Jura was more interested in leaning on Mom and getting scritches than in playing with me, but that's okay. I love him anyway. I love everyone except horses. And zombies.

This was our first sight upon embarking on the path from the car.
Path.
Another path view.
Me!
I'm such a happy dog!

Mom says she had a bush like this in the front yard growing up.
She associates it with her mom, although she's not sure why.
Stroll!
Another path.
Bridge.

Smile!
Huh. According to the smell, this fence post is the property of Jura the Dog.
Big smile!
This was just a really pretty little glade or whatever. Mom is weird, she really likes this stuff.
Rock with a thing on it.

Look how good I am, not menacing the thing!
I wonder what the thing is.
?
Lonely little bunker.
Dog going down the hill!

Among the leaves.
You take too many pictures, Mom!
Brackish water - my favorite! Mom wouldn't let me go for a swim since I had a bath yesterday.
There are no wires connected to this.
Pretty scene.

back to Turkey hill

2008-10-14T11:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom took me back to Turkey Hill. We'd hoped to see the American Holly Forest, but were thwarted by our lack of a map. However, we still had a good time. I had a little too good a time. You'll see more about that later....

Come on, Mom. Turkey Hill won't climb itself!
Pretty tree
There've been a lot of people here!
Beautiful leaf. I didn't even try to eat it.
Turkey Hill.

Pretty leaves.
You'd think Mom got enough leaf peeping in this weekend.
View.
Nike building. It is not a jail.
There was actually livestock at Weir Farm!

These are sheep!
And a cow!
Did they come over here?
View.
View.

I love this!
Mom likes vistas.

I like walking.

Another pretty tree.
Me.
Smiling!
Path
Mom likes the berries.

This is really pretty. I didn't eat the part that got et!
Guess we won't be going this way!
You knew I'd find it.
Splish.

Path
Look how dirty I am!
The horses left some presents.
I got a bath when I got home, but it was worth it!

Why does every trail spit us out onto a highway?
Back the other way.
Pretty.
Me.
Pretty.

Bare Cove again

2008-10-09T11:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom was feeling very, very sore from our adventures with King Philip the day before, so she brought me to Bare Cove Park. She didn't think she was going to have to pick me up and throw me over anything there! Before we left, though, she picked up a choke-chain collar for me. I don't really mind it, and it makes a great jingly sound when it clinks against my tags! We met my friend Whitney while we were arriving. It was good to see her.
Here I am in a field. Mom didn't know about the spot on her lens until she took the pictures off the camera, so she apologizes in advace.

Here is me looking all romantic.
Aren't I the prettiest thing?
I don't know what kind of bird this is.
Cormorant maybe?

Naturally, I went for a swim.
I dearly love a swim.
What do you see missing from this picture?
Mom let me go off-leash for a little while. I was such a good dog I came right back when she called, even without a little doggy friend to keep me nearby.
Someday we'll take this path, but not today.

Pretty vista. With a black dot.
Me.
I'm so happy Mom's not mad anymore!
Look how I smile!
And prance!

It started out as such a good day!

2008-10-08T04:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday started out as such a good day. Mom took me someplace new and, really, very exciting. According to the Dog Book, this place was the site of an 18th century inn that was a notorious hangout for highwaymen. Highwaymen is a polite way of saying "carjackers." Mom says it's a racial-class thing, then she goes into a bunch of mumbo-jumbo on the subject that knocks me right out. Anyway, when the building was abandoned it fell down, and when they went to clear the debris and make it a park they found skeletons in the foundations of the inn. Lots of 'em. Skeletons involve bones, so Mom and I decided to go see what we could find.
King Philip Woods conservation land. Apparently Sudbury was a hotspot during King Philip's War. When Mom got home she researched the area. King Philip (aka Metacom) may have ultimately lost the war, but he sure won the battle in Sudbury!
This is a very helpful map board.

Thank Someone for these!
I like the new site.
Is this the foundation?
This is a beautiful scene.
Mom likes red leaves best.

But the rest of the pond was pretty too.
I haven't found any bones yet, but there was plenty to roll in!
You saw this coming.
I love the water!
No bones here! Mom says that in a bog I wouldn't find bones, just soft parts preserved like in a pickle. Sounds good to me! I'll roll in them too.

Nothing here though.
Maybe this is the foundation?
Or this? It looks like a door jamb.
This does not.
I'm getting so good with these plank bridges! Mom gets worse. She slipped and fell into the muck!

I'll help you out Mom!
Maybe this is the foundation?
Roll!
Roll!
Well, we haven't found anything to commemorate the highwaymen/carjackers or their victims, but this guy apparently died on this spot 300 years before Mom was born. That was about 100 years ago as it is!

This could be the foundation. It's certainly got a corner!
I loved this site!
Me.
Another doorjamb-looking thing.
Is there a bone for me?

What's under this giant mound, I wonder? Is it a bone?
Not here, at any rate.
Flat stone. Could it have a sordid history? One involving bones?
Mom says it's in poor taste to steal bones, that the skeleton might get mad.
I don't care. I'll take the bone and play keep away with it!

Someone lined these logs up and let them get all soggy. They'll never burn now!
I'd run off and make the skeleton chase me.
Balloon.
Another stone wall.
What does this hide?

What caused the red stain on this stone?
No bones here either!
There is a perfectly round hole in this tree, though.
We'd already seen this! Going this way would just turn us around in a circle!
This is not where we started.
The trail had spit us out in what looks like a different conservation area, but was really someone's back yard. We had to go back along a very busy highway. Mom kept me on a short leash, which I fought, and made me heel, which I fought. I wanted to be on the other side of the road - the cars and trucks didn't scare me. Mom didn't like it and kept tackling me to make me stay away from them. Well, I didn't like that either and eventually slipped out of my leash. Boy was Mom mad! I've never seen her so mad! She threw me over the guardrail in no uncertain terms and yelled at me the whole way back to the car. She says if I ever get a walk again I'm getting a choke chain and that's all there is to it. That doesn't sound like much fun!

She got over being angry by the time we went to bed, though, and I slept with my little paws in the air and a big smile on my face.

Elm Bank Reservation

2008-10-06T12:42:00.000-04:00

On Friday, Mom took me someplace new: Elm Bank Reservation in Dover, MA. Wow, what a place!
This used to be someone's house.
Now it isn't.

This is some kind of shed. Note that the sky is relatively blue.
I sniff.
I love it here!
I don't know what this is, but the soccer fields were dotted with them.
Squirrel.

Pumpkin patch!
Pugs! We met new friends, Chowder (right) and Bruschi (left).
My dad loves pugs.
I love many things Dad loves, like almonds and cashews and the lake and my mom. Therefore, I also love pugs.
Someone has way too much free time.

The Reservation is also home to the Mass Horticultural Society.
There were lots of pretty flowers.
It is on the banks of the Charles River.
Don't you just want to jump in?
This is a pretty leaf and berry combo.

Mom took this picture for Dad.
Mom wouldn't let me jump in the river.
The ice conditions were so unsafe that they took it all away!
I don't know why I couldn't go in.
There are even stairs for me to use!

Don't you want to jump in too?
I'm getting a mixed message here...
Look how dark it's gotten already!
This is the path.
It took us a while to find the path.

But we found it. Yay!
Mom says the river is gross.
She often says I'm gross.
Wouldn't that be a perfect match>
It looks like there's something under the water. What if it's a stick?

The colors were all pretty though.
I don't know what this is.
See the brilliant colors?
Mom likes them.
I don't know what this is either.

Mushrooms!
It started to rain on us.
Landscaping.
More pretty leaves.
Yesterday Mom brought me a present!

Webb Memorial State Park, Weymouth MA

2008-10-01T11:23:00.000-04:00

Mom took me for a walk on Monday, but forgot to put the card in the camera. Did she ever make up for lost time at Webb Memorial Park yesterday!
Boston Harbor Islands from the parking lot.
Me, poking around the picnic area.

Birds in flight.
Pretty foliage.
Me being regal.
More pretty foliage.
Mom really likes fall. That's Hingham in the distance and a buoy in the water.

Thank you Mr. Ambler!
Isnt' this path pretty?
Scratch!
More pretty foliage.
What the...

I like this place!
Pretty leaves.
See?
I wonder what caused this?
Aliens or zombies?

Wow, what a pretty overlook!
See? That's Boston off in the distance.
Pretty flowers.
In a green setting.
Bridge. Glad I'm not on it!

Another Harbor island.
Wow, this is great! It actually tells you why they named the overlook after him! He sounds like a great guy.
Pretty flowers.
Bird.
Islands.

Again.
Shore.

Another Ambler.

More birds.
Me!
Pretty.
Another bird.
More flowers.

Net.
Looks like a fishing net.
Swim!
Mollusc.
Shoe.

Detritus.
It goes on forever!
There's a lot of garbage here.
I don't care though - I'm happy!
Odd kind of mollusc shell.

I really want to get out to that brown thing over there.
I pulled and pulled.
Doesn't it look exciting to you?
More garbage.
I wonder what it was?

Me on the shore.
Boston.
We saw this from the ground!
Hancock Tower. Uncle Troy works there.
Can I eat this?

Yay! Waves!
I love waves!
See my smile?
Happy!
Derelict picnic table.

Yet more garbage.
Me!
I wonder what this used to be?
Dogs aren't allowed on the harbor islands.
Crane. It killed 3 people so far this year.

Huh.
Almost looks like a structure, doesn't it?
Driftwood.
Me!
Pile o shells.

Me!
Yogi on the cliff.
I wonder what that's for?
What is this?
Obelisk.

Wow, this spot is historically significant. If it wasn't for this spot, we'd all be eating Spotted Dick every night.
Pretty.
Zombies are in here!
What a great and heroic man.
Fishing boat.

See?
Flowers.
Crane.
Ducks or geese or something.
More pretty flowers.

Flotilla. I wonder what they'd do to the lawn?
Flower.
Very pretty one.
Cutest dog ever.
I bet she's going to hose me down when we get home...

Off Leash!

2008-09-25T10:25:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Mom took me to Bare Cove Park. She wanted to work me out really well so I would be tired when she had to cook. Little did she know what fate had in store for her! I did get to swim, but I met lots of friends too. I met another Golden named Whitney who was very nice, and I met a 4 month old labradoodle named Greedy, and I made friends with a poodle who was my age. Her name was Trey. I slipped out of my collar and ran around with Trey for a long time, even teaching her to swim!
We've never seen this structure in the Weymouth Back River before.
I went swimming.
I love to swim!

This is my friend Trey, shaking off after I taught her to swim. Her person told Mom that she'd never gone very far into the river before. She had a great time.
Me and Trey.
Trey and me.
Both of us running to greet the little dog.
Back on my leash - I'm such a good dog!

I came when Mom called me right away.
She was worried, but I made her feel better about it.
I tried to get back in the river.
Mom thought this would be a cute picture - it looked so very Fall.
Okay, Mom, I'll pose for you just this once.

Hawk Hill

2008-09-24T11:21:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Mom took me for a walk again. We went to the Braintree Pass part of the Blue Hills, where we found our way to Hawk Hill and back again.
Here I am.
This is one of the paths. Mom thought it was pretty.

This is another shot of the path.
Mom liked the way the fungus was growing up the side of this tree.
Stone wall.
Pretty leaves changing colors.
See?

Again.
I tried to give Mom this stick.
Hole with some interesting tunnels.
More leaves.
Someone arranged these in a row, but we can't figure out why.

Great Esker Park

2008-09-20T10:52:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom took me someplace new: Great Esker Park in Weymouth. It was a very nice park. At first we thought it might be closed, but that didn't turn out to be the case.

Here I am on the path.
Weird zombie art.
This says we're about to get on the Reversing Falls trail.
View from the esker.
Another angle.

This is all part of the Weymouth Back River... you'll have heard of that.
Yogi on an Esker smiling.
We didn't go on the Twin Oaks trail until later.
A family of cranes.
Maybe they're egrets?
The Weymouth Back River again.
You knew.
I don't know which way this is supposed to flow, so I don't know if it's reversed or not.
Does this look familiar?
We've seen the same thing from Bare Cove park, which is just across the river. We thought it was a loudspeaker, but it's a nest!
Back in the river.
Mom likes aquatic birds.
This one flew right over our heads.
It's pretty, I guess.
They don't like to play much.
Roll!
And back to your regularly scheduled frolic.
One of the cranes is flying!
This is a different crane.
We watched each one take off.
Mom is really into them.
Someone probably needs these.
Was Auntie Chris here?
splash
Will a crane come and play?
I love the water.
I smile!
I became enamored of this rock.
I tried and tried to pick it up.
It didn't want to be picked up.
But I won eventually!
I still don't want to be a crab.
Me smiling on the esker.
Remember this? That's bare cove park!
I love Bare Cove park!

Back to Borderland

2008-09-18T02:05:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went back to Borderland State Park to see how it looked in the fall.

This is a bird eating out of a feeder.
This is me! I love Borderland - it's so pretty!
See how happy I am?
I'm very excited by what's over there.

This is very pretty. It would be a better picture if the hose wasn't there....
Stairs.
This looks like a sofa!
This is a bench - funny, isn't it?
There's a pool here?

Oh. It doesn't look like a pool.
Who's that over there?
Face!
Smile!
I see a kid...

Quick! There might be people!
Field. You can see Fall is coming.
Swamp Trail.
They weren't kidding.
I know there's muck over there.
Geese.
You knew this would happen eventually.
Across Pud's Pond.
Duckies.
They're kind of cute.
Mom really liked them.
Leaves.
Red leaves.
A pretty lane.
Me on the lane.
I made a new friend. This is DaVinci. He is as big as my muzzle.
Isn't this gorgeous?
I wanted to jump in.
Mom wouldn't let me.
She says there are Rules.
More geese.
Hey, let's climb this hill!
Hut.
From inside the hut.
Pretty!
Sometimes Mom takes pictures just to see what things are.

Look up!
This was some water I could go in.
It was so nice to get a little wet.
I like to drink.
I don't know what it is.
Cave. Do you think Osama's in there? Or Cthulu?
lotus flower.
Crane.
Nice of the crane to pose, wasn't it?
Path.
Again.
Lodge.
Me!
I hope this fire had a permit.

Back to Tucker Hill

2008-09-18T02:05:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, Mom took me back to the Blue Hills. There wasn't much interesting on the trail, but Mom got some pictures of me looking cute.
See? Cute.

You don't get much cuter.
Okay, this is a goofy picture, but I'm smiling, and smiling dogs are C-U-T-E.
Now I'm cute and going the other way.
I'm cute and alert.
We didn't go that way. We don't know why it's there.

Yogi Goes for a Swim

2008-09-16T03:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was very warm for September, so Mom took me back to Plymouth Beach. She wore her "bathing suit," which is really just a pair of shorts that come a little past her knee, and her croc shoes so she could wade out a little farther with me.

Here I am on the beach!
Playing with the waves.
Bobbing for bobs.
I love the beach so much!
I started pulling toward the water as soon as I got out of the car.

I expected this to float away but it was actually rooted there. And it was very pretty.
I poked it with my nose anyway.
This is a different kind of seaweed. I don't know why it's red.
I waded out onto these rocks.
There were lots of little kids there today.

Right now I can see one off in the distance.
It was a windy day.
My ears flopped back!
I loved it.
On the sand.

Clams.
They look pretty, except for the cigarette butt.
Back in!
These were clearly carved by zombies.
What I don't get is, why?

I don't think I'd like to be a crab.
You either wash up on shore and dry out, or you get eaten by a seagull.
I wouldn't mind eating one though.
I thought those were natural, but when we found this spent squeeze of lemon I wasn't so sure anymore.
Why are these holes here?

They were clearly cut.
This one goes all the way through!
Can't catch me!
Caught you!
Gallop.

Splash!
What's this?
Maybe if I poke it...
Look! There's water under these rocks!
I can pretend I'm a mountain goat.

There's a lot less sand under this rock than there was when I started.
Mighty Yogi!
On the sand again.
Look! A little kid with a bucket!
Scratch!

Swim!
Swimming is my favorite hobby.
I could do it for hours!
Wink!
Smile! Yogi loves you!

That was the funniest thing ever.
I'll swim to England with Mom!
Oh... England is far.
Guess I'll stroll on the sand instead.

Look how clear this water is.
I don't know what that line is.
But I'll swim over and find out!
See?
I will sleep well tonight!

And I will splish about in my dreams.
What do you mean I need a bath?
I love the beach!
Don't you want to come swim too?
Look!

Dirty dog

2008-09-15T11:36:00.002-04:00

Dad made a mess.... but I made it bigger!

Dirty dog

2008-09-15T11:36:00.000-04:00

Dad made a mess.... but I made it bigger!

Bald Hill Reservation, Boxford MA

2008-09-13T12:49:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, there were men working on the heating system. I don't know what they were doing, but it made a lot of noise - especially when they set off the smoke alarms, over and over. This distressed me, so Mom decided to take me someplace far, far away. She needed to go to Arlingto anyway, to shop for something, so we went even farther north: someplace called Boxford. There were supposed to be the remains of the houses from this family that once owned the property, and even the family cemetary, but we didn't find any of that. You'll see why. Even so, we had a great time.
There was supposed to be a map here. There is not.
Hey, look! New smells!
Obstacle.

Swamp!
Path. Yes, it is a little flooded.
I love this place!
Stream.
You knew this would happen.

I wuffle the water and make bubbles.
Hey, what's that over there?
The path went up and down.
Stinking Filthy Muck!
I love Stinking Filthy Muck!

See how filthy I am?
This kind of a mess takes work! But I wonder why the path is now Stinking Filthy Muck.
See? We had to go around.
That made us a little lopsided, which was funny.
Ah. A beaver dam. I wonder if beavers like to play?

here is the path again.
And a different swampy lake.
More of the path.
More of the Yogi.
The whole place had this very New England, HP Lovecraft kind of feel to it.

We tried to figure out what this had once been.
Happy Yogi!
Roll! Roll Roll Roll!Roll.
There wasn't anything but dirt here, don't worry.

Fallen tree.
Is Cthulu in the pond?
I'd better check.
Something was here. Was it a deer, maybe? It's too small a print to be a horse - and that's good, because I hate horses.
Wall.

Come on, Mom!
The intersections were supposed to be labeled, but very few actually were.
More wall.
Can't have a walk without a stone wall!
Stuff.

Bridge.
We don't know where this is supposed to go.
Why is it that every trail we take tries to spit us out on a road?
We walked along the road. There were chickens!
And some kind of odd looking black ducky.

They were cute.
Mom is even sadder that they didn't get the house in Boxford that they'd looked at all those years ago, because they could have had a goat.
The goat wasn't very happy to see the Yogi Dog.
I wonder what's in here?
There's our car, finally!

Turkey Hill!

2008-09-12T17:02:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, Mom decided I needed to burn off some energy, so we went back to Turkey Hill.
This is a pretty fungus.
Mom had never seen a fungus like this.
The leaves are starting to change colors here.
Here I am on the path up Turkey Hill.

Was this here last time?
Thank you Mr. Hubbard!
The view from Turkey Hill.
And a windmill.
This is a whole new path! I wonder where it goes!

And what's over here?
The path goes up!
The path leads to the abandoned railroad. I've seen this before.
But wait - what's over here?
Come on, Mom!

Hey, this stick tried to bite me!
Just so cute.
Path.
Lady, would you stop taking pictures and walk already?
This is the first thing we saw telling us where we were.

We are on James Hill Lane.
This is another intersection.
Up.
Red leafies.
James Hill Road led to One Way Road. The One Way is up.

Pretty berries.
This was unexpected.... the trail spat us out onto a road!
Fortunately the road was right by Turkey Hill.
Turkey Hill has lots of pretty views.
See?

Mom likes it up here.
Don't you?
Huh.
Me!
Someone lost a fishing pole.

Wompatuck in the Fall

2008-09-09T11:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went back to Wompatuck State Park. We haven't been there in a while - Mom was waiting for all the kids to go back to school, so it wouldn't be so crowded. Here are some pictures!
Here is me not eating the daisies.
I'm so happy to be back here!
I wanted to jump in, but it was too high.
These leaves are turning yellow.

Mom is sad that it's already fall, but on the plus side she's got apples and pomegranates again. And there will be more red in the future. Mom likes red.
See? Red.
No, Mom, I'm not coming back up there. You come down here! (This didn't work, for the record. But I tried.)
Okay, I'll come back up.
My leash got tangled near the brook a little further down, and Mom had to come untangle me. This is the view from where I got stuck.

Mom wouldn't let me go toward the brook if there wasn't a very clear path anymore after that. Here I am on a bridge. I'm so proud of myself, because you know I'm scared of bridges!
Mom just thought this view was pretty.
I'm coming back!
Into the brook!
Stick!

Sniff sniff sniff.
What's that over there?
Or up here?
Another pretty view.
I heard the roaring water again.

I look so happy when I scratch!
Caution tape? I wanted to go under it, but Mom said she'd cuss and swear if someone else did that, got into trouble and then needed taxpayer dollars for a rescue. I didn't understand that. I'm a dog.
Leftover from the zombies.
I'm drinking zombie water!
More debris.

Scituate Driftway

2008-09-06T10:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom planned to take me back to Stoddard's Neck. It was very hot, and she wasn't feeling great so she wanted to take me someplace less strenuous and where I could get wet. On a whim, though, she decided that we would make another attempt to find the Scituate Driftway. For a while it looked like we would be lost again, but then suddenly she found it. Yay!
This is the view when you first arrive at the Driftway. The Driftway is at the mouth of (I believe) the North River, but it could be one of the many Herring Brooks that are really rivers and permeate the South Shore.
This is another view.

This is me, not waiting for Mom to take more pictures.
Sand can spit?
In case the print comes through too small to read, this is a warning from the coast guard saying that 9 people have died here over the last 10 years and that the currents are dangerous and can change at a moment's notice.
This is me not reading the warning.
Mom couldn't keep me out. I told her it would be okay, because she wouldn't let me go in where I couldn't touch the bottom and I had my leash on.

I love to swim.
That looks grim, doesn't it?
Shake!
Mom's going to take me on this, isn't she?
Wow, this looks grim!

Back into the river.
Whee!
Is this structurally sound?
Get me an engineer.
I don't know what this means.

Winking!
View from the rickety dock (which actually held up quite well.)
I don't know what this is, but it's definitely cultivated.
It is on AJ's Memorial Trail.
I don't know who AJ was, but someone misses him very much.

I'm very grateful to them for giving us this pretty park, though.
This observation deck looks less scary.
This is debris.
This is reassuring....
Dog in the sand!

Path.
Scrubland.
Me on the path. Note the red leaves already!
More debris.
A tent.

It seems to be empty though.
Me.
Me on a dune.
I like it here.
It's kind of windy.

More reassurances....
Mom says if kids are using it for target practice they need to keep practicing.
Sniff.
Another path.
Me.

This is a view across the marsh. It's a country club. The Driftway wasn't in the GPS, but the country club is!
These are more houses across the way.
This is some open space.
These are reeds. Mom thought they were pretty.
I like the open space though.

I would run and run across it.
Then I would run and run back.
But I'm on a leash.
I'm okay with that.
What's over here? Can I lick it?

I didn't try to jump in, believe it or not.
I look so cute in the brush!
From a distance, this looks rickety, but up close it looks okay.
Pole.
A sandy path.

Do we have to?
I'd rather stay down here in the shade.
Oh, fine.
Road.
Zombie picnic?

I don't see any brains.
We don't have to climb the stairs, do we?
Pretty foliage.
More pretty foliage.
Mom likes foliage.

Can we get down from here?
View from the top of the stairs.
Me.
Hey, what part of "No Wake" do you think doesn't apply to you?
There's a sign that says "No Wake" very distinctly.

I read it myself.
More pretty foliage.
Can we go back in the river?
Gull on a pole.
Going home!

Brant Rock beach

2008-09-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

I must have been a super-duper good dog, because yesterday Mom took me to yet another beach! We went to Brant Rock Beach which is in Marshfield. Well, Brant Rock used to be its own town but that's beside the point. Mom brought me to the beach access point, but there was a problem. The stairs were scary and I just absolutely would not climb them.
Don't these look scary? After a few tries Mom gave up and we found another way to get to the beach.
We got there through the public boat launch place. It smelled a little funny, but I'm a dog and don't much care.

After all, the waves play chase just the same.
I wonder if this is Brant Rock?
Where did the water go?
Chase!
Caught.

Plymouth Beach

2008-09-04T12:15:00.000-04:00

I must have done something really, really good. I wish I could remember what it was, because as a reward Mom did something wonderful yesterday. She took me to the beach! I love the beach! I was so happy I didn't want to leave.
This is the surf.

It was loud and wonderful.
This is the view to the right.
Look at all this sand!
What's that? The surf wants to play?
It's chasing me!

Wow! This is the best!
Maybe I can chase the surf.
Your turn!
Look at all this white stuff!
It smells funny.

The sand under my paws is moving!
It's coming for me again!
Let's run!
Look how happy I am.
Wave.

This is far away. I think it's Duxbury.
What do you mean, the ocean doesn't get tired?
Splash!
I am the happiest dog in the world.
My mom loves me.

Frolic
Smile!
Prance.
Wuffle.
Run.

Wow! That's a lot of wave!
Gallop.
Stand.
I caught you!
Splash.

Explore.
Play.
Splash.
Wave!
I'm all wet!

This is the best!
Tongue.
So happy!
What's over there?
Paw.

And what's over there?
I'll chase it!
Look at that sky!
What's in the sand?
There are rocks I can climb on too? Oh boy!

Crevasses and everything!
Seaweed.
Crevasse.
Sniff.
Hole.

I am Yogi. I am regal.
And happy!
Check out the splashing around this rock.
It is just a rock.
Scratch!

Doggie Play Time

2008-09-02T11:34:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, I got a special treat. Not only did my best friend Eden come over to play, but I met a new friend. Meet Sophie!
This is Sophie. She is a couple months older than I am and is a Giant Schnauser.
This is Eden drinking from my Muttini.
Here I am. Mom was cooking up a storm, so we all came inside and ran circles around the island to help!
Here you can see all three of us.

This is Sophie again.
And this is Eden.
Sophie decided that the water dish was hers.
Here are Sophie and Eden.
Here is me and Sophie.
Yesterday Mom and Dad had a party and grilled some meat. Dad spilled some of the meat juice on the floor and tried to get me to drink it. But I am a good dog and left it alone! Mom was very proud of me.

One place, two days

2008-09-01T00:26:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, Thursday, Mom decided to take me for a walk someplace new and different. We were going to go to the Braintree Pass section of the Blue Hills, but this time we were going to a) bring the map, and b) follow the Braintree Pass a little farther than we had in the past. Unfortunately, there were some paths that did not appear on the map, and we wound up taking a much shorter walk than intended. However, Mom brought me back to the same spot the next day and we took the route we'd intended. It was still short, but at least we did what we set out to do. Here are some pictures from both days.

Yogi Walks!
Yogi Sniffs!
Yogi Smiles!
Come on, Mom, let's go!
Yogi Scratches!

This is the side path on which we turned. It was the wrong path, but it was a path.
Hey, I'm a star!
They aren't kidding!

These are from Friday.
Hey, weren't we here yesterday?
Who cares? There's water here!
The water is so clear!
Not for long, though.
I made a mess!
The ubiquitous stone walls. That's an awfully big word for a dog, isn't it?
This isn't a wall, it's a structure! I bet zombies built it!

Arlington, MA

2008-08-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Mom and Dad had a bunch of errands to run north of Boston. They decided to bring me with them and take me for a walk in a park where they used to live, in Arlington.

Wow, what is this place?
Guess I shouldn't lick this, huh?
Good thing it's locked!
The red stick is useful, though.

This is me on the path.
Aren't I cute?
The path goes up.
More of the path.
I'm king of the hill!

I sniff on top of the hill.
See?
This is down.
So is this.
This is a theater for the zombies. I wonder if they watch zombie movies?

What's over there?
We think this might be a mushroom.
This path goes out!
This is some kind of zombie torture device.
They train their faceless zombie army here.

There's always a stone wall.
This stick jumped up and bit me!
Mom says this is for chopping off heads.
I don't even want to know what this is.
It's creepy!

I'm scared of it!
This was on the ground underneath the thing.
This is a pole. We don't know why.
Look at me smile! Rock.

Swimming dog!
Mom tried to stop me at first.
Then she saw another dog swimming and said okay.
I'm so cute!
I love the water.

See?
This is a thicket on our way out.
Mom likes red things.
This is the sign at the entrance.

A tidal disappointment

2008-08-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom took me back down to Bay Farm in Duxbury. She was very proud of herself for finding it with no GPS! She wanted to take me someplace pretty, but someplace that wasn't too strenuous. I really exhausted myself on Sunday with my best friend Eden! Anyway, it was even less strenuous than I expected: the tide was out and I couldn't swim. We still had a good time though!
Isn't the field pretty?
There were some new flowers that weren't there the last time.

Here I am!
This is a bee.
This is two bees.
This is a different bee. This is a close-up of the different bee. Mom went on a bit of a bee spree, I guess!

This crab was a victim of the tide.
See? Low tide.
I wonder what's in this hole in the ground?
I'm so happy!
This was someone's tennis ball once.

This was a mollusc.
These are water birds of some sort.
Mom thought the one in back was a buoy until she looked at the pictures this morning.
One of them can fly.
This is a better flight picture.

The muck smelled like low tide.
I kind of sniffed at the ball, but I didn't take it.
I'd really like to go farther out there.
Can't I please go for a swim?
I'll sniff the puddle.

Yay! Just a little farther!
What's that there?
I might not be able to swim today, but I love my mommy. She takes me places.
I wonder what left this paw print!
That can't be mine - I'm just little!
Isn't the field beautiful?
Mom felt bad that I couldn't swim today, but we had a good time anyway. We always do. I love my mom.
See my big smile?
This is fluff, but it doesn't come from a bird.
It comes from this pod! I wonder if it will hatch pod people?

A steep climb, and a new best friend!

2008-08-25T11:28:00.001-04:00

What an exciting weekend! On Friday, Mom took me to an obscure part of the Blue Hills. We'd been there before, but Mom forgot to bring her map. She had planned out a route, but we got turned around trying to avoid a small child. He was a very nice small child, but Mom didn't think that it was the safest thing around under the circumstances. Anyway, we couldn't completely avoid the kid but we got lost, and did a lot of climbing.
Lady, this is the only pose you're getting from me. Be happy with it!
There's something under this pile of leaves.
This is the path? You've got to be kidding me!

I'm part mountain goat, despite the tag that says I am officially a dog.
Come on, Mom! What's the hold up?
Down.
This is the view from the top of the steep steep hill.
It's a beautiful view. Not worth the stress of the climb, but a beautiful view.

Yes, we really did climb this. Mom was worried that I'd accidentally knock the little kid down the hill.
It goes higher?
Mom did not write this grafitti.
But a Golden Retriever really is the incarnation of Love, so it seemed appropriate.
What do you mean we have to go up again?

Whatever you say, lady!

After that, Mom stopped taking pictures and started concentrating on getting us home.

On Sunday, my Auntie Carol brought me a surprise: a new best friend.
This is Eden.
She's an 8 1/2 year old Doberman, and such a sweet and good dog! She was so much fun. She was very patient with me and let me chase her around all day. I love Eden.
This is me and Eden begging for a treat.
See how happy I am? I smile.
I learned how to be a Good Dog from Eden.
She was a very good teacher!
We both begged.
When we begged, we got treats.
Aren't we cute?

A special treat for me

2008-08-22T10:42:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went back to the original part of the Blue Hills that we'd been to, the part by Houghton's Pond. I don't think that we'd been there since she got the new camera! Anyway, we had a great time. Mom had originally planned to take me on a much longer loop to tire me out, but as it turns out it's just as well that she didn't. There was a wonderful surprise waiting for me!
This is me not long after we arrived.
This is a mess. I like a mess!

There's a dragonfly here somewhere.
There he is!
Here he is at another angle. He's very pretty. Not pretty enough for three pictures in my opinion, but mom likes pictures of bugs.
This is the trail marker that tells Mom that we've gone on the wrong trail.
These are pebbles scattered about the middle of the trail.

I don't know what this is, but it sure does stand out!
This is the source of the pebbles.
This is me being enthusiastic about something, I've forgotten what.
This is me licking my nose at a crossroads. We went right.
This was my wonderful surprise! We met a seven month old sheepdog named Dora. She's absolutely beautiful, with great markings and the most stunning blue eyes. She's so good that her mom can let her off leash! She wanted to play, and we played for a while on leash and then Mom actually dropped the leash for me so I could run around with Dora. We were so happy to run and wrestle together! I love Dora.

After Dora and I parted ways, I found some muck to splash in and some water to drink.
Drink!
You can see the primordial ooze on my leg. It smelled like sulphur.
This is the path before us.
It took us someplace we already knew - one of the picnic areas near the pond! Yesterday must have been the best day ever.

Bird Street Conservation Area

2008-08-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I had an adventure. It was more of an adventure than we bargained for! However, first we had something to do. They had to give me my flea and tick medication. I don't like getting the Flea Goo.
When I saw them both coming outside with the goo in Dad's hand, I ran to the other side of the yard and refused to come when called.
You can't make me come!

Oh, well, if we're going to play soccer, I'll come back for that.
I love soccer!
My way of soccer playing is kind of special...
I don't dribble. I just take the ball and sit there with it.
Those weasels! They lured me in with the soccer ball and gave me the goo!

If I roll and roll, maybe I can get rid of it.
It's worth a try, anyway.

Not long after this, we went to the Bird Street Conservation Area in Stoughton.
There is a park inside the conservation area dedicated to the memory of "all the deceased veterans of Stoughton." Of course, you can only get to the park through the Conservation Area, which has no maps, no parking of its own and nothing to indicate that the park is there. This seems like a silly way to commemorate the veterans who didn't make it home, but what do I know? I'm just a dog.
I love this place already!
See how happy I am?
This is a helpful sign, isn't it?
Dragonfly.
This is the same dragonfly. He decided to pose for Mom's camera.
This is a water tower. On our way here we met a man, his two daughters (we assume) and a very playful Boxer mix named Caesar. The man told us all about sassafrass, and that there was a lot of it growing by the water tower.
He was right!
We can't get any closer to the tower.
I guess this is the end of this trail.
One positive aspect of our soggy summer is the plethora of pretty fungi.
Mom wants hair this color, but suspects she may be too old and pudgy to pull it off.
This is an historic stone wall. We know it is historic because the Stoughton Historical Society put up an 8 1/2 x 11" flyer about it, but the rain washed away most of the words. So we don't know why it's historic, but it's historic.
I love exploring. I didn't stop pulling Mom the entire time!
I got a little wet.
We don't know what this is supposed to signify.
I rolled in the pine needles.
This is the lake.

This is a box. It indicates zombie activity. It's been a while!
This is the inside of the box.
This is the lake again.
This is something in the lake. It might be a turtle.
These are lily pads.
This is across the lake.
This looks ominous....
I'm smiling!
This is a trail marker. This is important...
We're still on the trail. A trail, anyway.
Guess we shouldn't go this way!
Here I am being King of the Hill.
This is the view from the top of the hill.
Mom said not to jump in, but I did it anyway.
These are odd trail markers...
Mom didn't know what had been in these buckets, but she didn't let me drink any more of the water we found that day.
This is a birdhouse.
This is a gun range. We had somehow gotten so lost that we strayed onto the property of the Stoughton Rod and Gun Club or some such thing. The book had said that we should expect to get lost, but not this lost! Mom called Dad, who looked for a map online and told us how to get back to our car. Fortunately, the shooting range was deserted. Maybe no one goes shooting in the middle of the weekday. Either way, we probably won't be going back, because Mom prefers that neither of us ingests that much lead. But it was a very pretty site, with lots of sassafrass, and we had a great time.

Not many pictures

2008-08-20T11:46:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went back to St. Moritz. Unfortunately there aren't many pictures, because the camera was full. This is too bad, because I was such a good dog! I sat, I came when called, I avoided ALL the brackish muck and I even (miracle of miracles) heeled.
Water lillies on St. Moritz pond.
Me.
Water lily.
Pretty pink lillies.

Stoddard's Neck Again

2008-08-19T11:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went to Stoddard's Neck again. She'd read that it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year, so she wanted me to be able to swim. We made some new friends even before the first picture was taken. The first was an 8-month old bulldog named Rocco. He eventually wanted to be more than friends. I didn't mind, but Rocco's dad did! Then we met a pretty little pit named Sammy. Sammy likes to run around, and I was on a leash so we didn't get to play much.
Here I am after meeting Sammy and Rocco, going to the river. I was so excited I almost pulled Mom's arm clean off!
Ah, into the river at last.

I'm so happy to be here!
I swam.
And I swam some more.
Here is where I saw another dog. I don't know her name. She was chasing balls that her person threw.
Doesn't she want to play with the Yogi dog?

Her loss!
Oh, come on, you know you want to play.
Or maybe I'll just splash among the grasses.
Here is where we saw a little puppy. He was a Yellow Lab, which looks a lot like a Golden Retriever at that age. He was 8 weeks old. Mom did not take his picture for fear that his mom would think we were Weird.
Pirates!

Cutest Dog Ever!

2008-08-18T10:59:00.001-04:00

Are clothespins edible?
Smile!

Two walks!

2008-08-17T10:59:00.000-04:00

This is really two posts in one. On Thursday, Mom finally had the chance to take me for my first walk since she got back from vacation. There weren't many pictures because we got very, very lost. What should have been a one hour or so hike turned into a three hour hike. When she realized that we were lost she stopped worrying about the camera and started worrying about how to get us home. On Friday, Mom took us back to Bare Cove Park.
Here we are at the new park. I'm so happy to be walking again!
These are the trail markers.

This is Water Hole One. What a romantic name for a water hole!
And here I am in Water Hole One.
I like to drink from the water I swim in.
I also like to splash around in it.
Here I am trying to go vertical.

Mom just really liked this picture of me.
Here I am being King of the Rock.
Here I am swimming. Guess where I am?
That's right - the romatically named Water Hole Two! Isn't that amazing?

Now we start to get into Bare Cove Park.
Mom was not happy when she saw these leaves turning red. I don't know why. Red is her favorite color!
No, the camera isn't fuzzy, I am. This picture shows how much I need a combing.
Here I am scratching.
This was an odd sea bird Mom saw.
Look at its neck!
Here I am along the trail to the river.
Here I am on the edge of the river.
And in I go!
I swim.
Isn't this the cutest face you've ever seen?
Here it is closer.
Even I didn't want to go in this.
Here I am being happy.
This is a pretty view.
These are some stairs from an old abandoned building.
Yogi being Yogi... that's me!
A different shot.
This is a cultivated garden.
There's a butterfly somewhere in all this.
It's really pretty, trust me.
I think that people left these in the garden when their dogs died. This makes Mom sad.
This is a little doggie statue.
This is rubble.
We don't know where the rubble came from.
This is a pretty tree.
See? It has red in it!

Stoddard's Neck

2008-08-11T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. Mom went on vacation, and the sitter wouldn't let me use the computer. Something about not having opposable thumbs... Anyway, before Mom left, she took me to a new place. These are the pictures from that new place.
As soon as we got there, I made a beeline for the river and jumped right in.
There were other dogs, but I was more interested in the river.
See how happy I am?

This is the view from one side of the beach when we got there.
And this is the view in the other direction.
Someone probably needs these.
Okay, I'll get out of the river.
Pretty flowers.

Hah! Right back in.
Isn't this the cutest face?
I tried to drink the river.
Tennis ball.
This can't seriously be a bridge.

You can't expect me to walk over it.
There has to be a way around this.
Shake!~
Some kind of water bird.
Edge of the beach.

What in the world is this?
This is the decayed remains of an old barge.
Someone left a bunch of bowls around for us dogs.
Rock.
I really like this place, Mom!

See me smile?
This is an old foundation.
There's some kind of egret here.
And I'm off again!
I like to swim.

Debris.
The egret is there.
You can't see him really well, I guess.

Debris with a nail in.
It's an awfully big nail.
Here's the egret again!
He got to be friends with me.

More debris.
There was a lot of debris.
Egret!
He flew around a lot.

I sometimes think I can fly.
Mom says that's why I have to be on a leash.
He's very graceful, isn't he?
I don't want to know what this is.
It doesn't smell like anything, but it looks suspicious.

Egret again!
Here he comes!
This is a view of what's across the river.
This is a pile of junk.
This shows us that this hummock belongs to McCarthy.

Another bowl.
This is a map of the area.
This is a view from the top of McCarthy's Hummock.
In another direction.
And another.

A very odd day

2008-07-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

There are no pictures from yesterday's walk. Mom and I went back to the Chickatawbut Overlook section of the Blue Hills. We walked down one side path, where we found a couple of men in differing states of dress. I wasn't sure what was going on, but Mom turned around and went back to the trail head. She took the next little side trail. We got about five minutes down the trail when she started hearing noises that made her uncomfortable. So we turned around and went back to the trail head, although I fought that because I really wanted to know what could be making those noises off in the woods! We went back and took a third trail. You guessed it - more men, also in differing states of dress. Lather, rinse, repeat. After the fourth time we had to turn back, Mom decided to just put the camera in her backpack. She said some things just don't need to be captured for posterity, and we run a G rated site here! I didn't understand. We still got a decent walk in, though, and we met a couple of families with young kids while we were at it. I love kids, and they love me.

In case you need a photo fix, here are some pictures Mom took last night.
This is Big Sister Minette with devil eyes. She gave me a kiss last night. She's much nicer than the Boy Cat.
This is me.
Is it time for baseball yet?

Cow Tent Hill eventually

2008-07-30T10:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom tried to take me someplace new: the Scituate Driftway Conservation Area. Unfortunately, the Scituate Driftway Conservation Area is not in the GPS, and some construction in the area resulted in road closures, police men guarding barricades, and our getting very lost without finding the Driftway. Mom then decided to take me to Humarock Beach. There was more construction and more road closures and more barricades and more getting lost, but this time we found Humarock. Unfortunately, we also saw a sign that stated that dogs are not permitted on the beach between 10 AM and 6 PM, and a police man there to make sure that this stayed so. By this point we'd been driving around for a while so Mom took me for a little walk up and down the road. I made a deposit on the no dogs sign and we got back into the car. Eventually, we came to someplace Mom thought looked kind of promising: Cow Tent Hill. It was a tiny little piece of conservation land, very tiny, but mostly vertical. There aren't a lot of pictures because we didn't do much, but Mom took a couple snaps of me later just to get you your Yogi fix.
This is where we were. It is in Duxbury. I was excited to see the cow tent, but Mom said it didn't smell bovine at all.
I sniffed and sniffed for some trace of cow.

I was just happy to be out of the car!
This is the view from the top of Cow Tent Hill. Note the distinct absence of cows. And tents.
There is a hut.
Here I am in the yard.
Here I am being cute.

Jacob's Pond, Norwell MA and a baseball game

2008-07-26T12:20:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mom and I went someplace new: Jacob's Pond in Norwell. I don't know who Jacob was, but it was nice of him to let us use his pond.

We are here.
The blue dots mark where the trail is.
See? Blue dots.
I like to go to new places.
Dragonfly. Mom tried to get more pictures but they moved around too much... kind of like me!

I have jumped into Jacob's Pond.
Something rotten. It doesn't seem to have fallen from this tree, though.
Muck!
This is my footprint in the muck.
Someday future paleontologists will theorize about the feeding habits of the mighty Yogi.

Why is there always a bridge?
The feeding habits of the mighty Yogi include grass.
What's that over there?
I don't know what this means.
Pond view? Where?

Ok, I get it.
I like Jacob's Pond.
I like to splash about.
Derelict building. I wonder if there are zombies?
What's that out in the middle of the pond?

Maybe it's Jacob!
Oh, come on, Mom.
These rocks are slippery!
I can climb down.
Mom, do we really have to?

I am the world's cutest dog.
A new trail! Yippee!
Mom said no.
This is not a bridge.
It is nothing more than a couple of elderly rotten pallets.

Puddle.
Kind of a deep puddle, really.
Drink!
I wonder where this goes?
Stick!

Er, this is not a path. This is a road.
The path dumped us out of the park.
Yes, this is definitely a road.
We made it home eventually, in time to watch the Sox-Yankees game.
I like to snuggle.

I also like to watch the game.
I'm very excited.
Foot tug!
Who knew Mom was this flexible?
Feet are gross.