Mueller Park

Last week, we took one last trip up Mueller Park Canyon for the season. I don't know why we don't go up there more often...it is close to home, the scenery is beautiful, plus they allow dogs!

We decided to go up for a quick campfire dinner with my sister, Beth, and her boyfriend, who is also named Mike.

The leaves were absolutely beautiful. This picture does NOT do it justice. Beth and I agreed that these were the best fall leaves either of us have seen this season. I was disappointed that we got there so close to dark because it made it difficult for me to take any good pictures.

Mike and me roasting marshmallows.

I tried to get a good picture of Faline, but she wouldn't look at the camera. She was too interested in watching what was going on at a neighboring site.

Mike and Beth with their marshmallow.

Hopefully next summer we will make the time to go up the canyon more often. It is so nice to enjoy the campfire, good food, and fun with family and friends on a nice evening.

Mueller Park Canyon

On Tuesday, I surprised Mike by taking him up Mueller Park Canyon to make dinner over a campfire. Mueller Park is so great because it is super close to our house, plus they allow dogs, so we were able to bring Faline.


Faline was quite the little explorer. She loved wandering down by the creek and scampering over rocks and logs. Mike started joking that she has '4-wheel drive' because of the way she was able to climb up some pretty steap areas.

Our dinner was pretty simple - we just had hot dogs, chili, and chips, plus treats from Parson's Bakery for desert, but it was so fun. It was so nice to go up the canyon, enjoy the cooler weather, and be able to just relax.

New Appreciation...

This past weekend, Mike and I had a small taste of what it would be like to have three "children". My family went out of town, and we watched Mookie and Abbie for a few of the nights that they are gone. Not that I am meaning to compare dogs to children, but taking care of them was a lot of work! Mookie, Abbie, and Faline each have their own distinct personality and needs that had to be met. There were definitely times when I felt like I had to play referee between two "children" and then comfort the one who didn't get her way. This weekend gave me a whole new appreciation for stay at home moms...I don't know how you do it everyday! Mike and I decided that the dogs will have us well trained for parenthood when that time comes around.

Sweet Faline

I just had to post these pictures of Faline. This is her new favorite place to look out and keep an eye on the neighborhood. It all started with me being cooped up in the office doing homework. Faline doesn't usually like to hang out by herself, so she came in with me. She recently discovered that she is tall enough to stand on the back of the futon and see what is going on outside. I think it is adorable!

An Update on Faline

I am pleased to annouce that Faline is finally starting to grasp how to use her doggie door properly! She will now go through the door if she is highly motivated (i.e. she goes out if there is something outside that she wants to bark at or she comes in when she gets cold outside). Hopefully, she will keep progressing and we will be able to stop chaining her up or keeping her in her pen. If she only would realize that it is for her own good...

Faline's Easter Gift

Mike and I recently discovered that Faline was using our living room as her personal litter box. Needless to say, this has resulted in a huge effort to clean our carpet and remove her 'scent'. So...a little advice to anyone who may be in a similar predicament: over time, corn starch and Natures Miracle will slowly bring up dog urine from carpet.

So, Faline has had some house restrictions. For the meanwhile, she has lost the privilege of being left unattended in the house. If we leave, she gets to stay in the basement or in the backyard. We also decided that Faline would get a little 'gift' to assist her in her restroom efforts...we bought her a doggie door. Now, you would think that it would be fairly easy to train a dog to use a doggie door, but no. She does not quite get the concept that she can push the flap forward and move in and out as she pleases. She will not go in or out unless we hold the door flap open for her.

So, the moral of the story is...if you feel that you need an added form of birth control, all you need to do is buy a dog (or just watch ours for the afternoon).

Our Little Girls

Mike and I have two dogs, Mookie and Faline. They are both sweethearts!

Mookie is a four years old Whippet/Sharpei mix. She loves everyone. Unfortunately, she doesn't live with us right now (she lives at my parents house), but hopefully that will change...right? Mookie has been through a lot with me and I like to say that we helped each other out of a rough patch in our lives.

Faline is a one year old Miniature Pinscher. She can be very sassy, but we love her anywany, and I am sure that she would go crazy without us. Faline loves visiting Mookie and having another dog to play with. Faline also loves to snuggle...she will come lay on your chest and fall asleep. It is very sweet.

Right now, I consider Mookie and Faline to be our practice children, while Mike says they are birth control. They teach us a lot of patience and responsibility. Sometimes we feel like we need to find a babysitter for Faline on weekends, but it is definately worth having these two girls in our lives.