Monthly Archives: June 2007

Woofstock

Family Life, Photon

The crowds at Woofstock 2007
Woofstock 2007: (L) The crowds along Front Street. (R) Laura and Photon.
Laura On Saturday all four of us went down to Front Street near the St. Lawrence Market to experience Woofstock, a weekend street festival for dogs and their owners. The event is huge; thousands of people and their pooches strolled the streets and checked out the doggie wares being hawked. We picked up some treats and toys at discounted prices, and got lots of nice freebies from various vendors (all sorts of treats, zippered carrying bag, nylon leash, magazine).

Photon and Jon both behaved magnificently and neither got freaked by the crush of people and the multitude of dogs. We left after about two hours when the crowds were getting noticeably larger, so we missed the stupid dog tricks contest and the beauty contest. Apparently this festival has been happening for several years, but of course if you don’t have a dog you are totally unaware of its existence!

Spelling Test

Jon

Jon (Jon’s spelling test of June 8. The words in bold are the actual spelling words; he has to write a sentence for each showing that he knows how to use them. We’re wracking our brains how to teach him the meaning of one of this week’s words: spectrum. —L)

I understand how to play the Wii.
I can’t remain after school.
Let’s capture some animals.
He went down in the valleys.
The Lion King takes place in Africa.
Zoos have wild animals in captivity.
I complain about my dinner.
Humens are primates.
She walks with a funny gait.
The dog strayed away.

My reading

Family Life, Jon

Jon I like to read the story After the Dance. Today I read the story The Big Orange Splot. It was ritten by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. This story is in the book Wheels and Rockets. This weekend I’m going to spend some time with Photon. I’m going to cuddle him. I love spending time with Mom and Dad on the weekends. Tonight I’m going to watch Between the Lions one.

Jon

My weekend

Family Life, Jon

Jon (For non-Torontonians, the Big Carrot is our local health/organic grocery store on the Danforth. They carry all sorts of crunchy snacks that Jon loves, including pepper potato chips. Yum! —L)

I had a great weekend. I like to play some Wii. On Sunday I went for a walk. I like to get a snack at the big caret. I love to get some pappered chips. The pappered chips look really good. I watched the weather channel. Tonight I’m going to cuddle photon.

Jon

David Barker

Family Life, Jon

Jon (Jon loves pointing out to bald men that they have no hair. This is not something that we encourage. —L)

David Barker has no hair because David Barker is balled. I like to play some Wii with David Barker. Jonathan was having a turn on the Wii fitnis test. When Jonathan was done the Wii fitnis test it was Daddy’s turn. I like to do power throws. I like to check out the weather on the Wii. Tonight I’m going to watch Between the Lions one.

Jon

Our graduate redux

Family Life, Photon

Photon's Family Dog graduation picture
Photon and Laura with our course completion certificate.

Laura Tonight we finished our second obedience training course at Who’s Walking Who with a round of doggy games: relay races (dog has to come and then sit on command before a teammate can go); musical mats (dog heels with owner; when music is turned off, dog has to get to a mat and lie down for a set length of time.) Peter and Jon came to this class to watch and cheer us on and fun times were had by all.

We’ll definitely be taking an intermediate course in the fall because it’s fun and can lead to other interesting dog activities such as agility or rally obedience. I don’t think I’ll be going into canine freestyle (aka dancing with dogs); champion dogs in this sport are jaw-droppingly talented, but there is something inherently cheesy about doing dance routines to songs from Grease, or dressing up like Russian Cossacks. I like to think my dog has some dignity!

Who’s Your Daddy?

Photon

Peter
Photon and her Dad, Max

Peter We dropped in on Stoverly Aussies on the May long weekend, just to say hi and introduce Photon, who had left them just newly rechristened from the puppy name Mango.

If she remembered her birthplace, she didn’t show it. And she and her Mom kinda sniffed and then couldn’t be bothered to socialize. She checked out one of her mom’s new puppies (scroll down on the link), but they weren’t in any way interesting—and this is a dog that find blowing leaves, bits of turf, and all squirming small mammals intensely interesting! There must be some intense scent instincts there.

She met her dad, who was a bit more social, and so we established that she’s a hair tinier than him (she’s much smaller than Mom), and that’s pretty much as big as she’s getting. A wonderful size. Thanks for the visit, Sue!

Two more days until she can go out for runs!!