Thursday, April 30, 2026

Shiny Art II


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another favorite. 

Shiny Art


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures don't really capture how vibrant and reflective the art was, or shiny for lack of a more sophisticated term. Here is one of our favorite pieces. 

Shiny Artist


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This years featured artists was Patrick Guyton who specializes in metal leaf in his art. They were very striking, one of my favorite installations yet. Right up there with KRE8 from a few years back. 

Shiny Party


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's that time again, the silent auction and artist party before Moonlight and Magnolias. The art was shiny so they had a glitter bar, where you could get all glittered up.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Pawfect Form


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear has perfected his chew holder technique. I promise every post will not be about Bear forever. But we love him, so there's going to be a lot of them. 

The Dog Whisperer











 

Dad and Bear having a little fun.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

DNDNDA


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if? 

Friday, April 24, 2026

Rainbow Butt


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one's for Mackenzie. 

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Morning Routine


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Mari and I get up in the morning and go through our routine to get ready for the day, a little man keeps a mostly watchful, kinda snoozy eye on us. 

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Watching Out


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to clear out all the windows today to make room for the window washers. Bear took full advantage of a window that is usually blocked by the portable air conditioner with the blinds down. It's almost enough to make us consider putting in a split unit so he can do this all the time. Almost. 

Monday, April 20, 2026

A New Coworker


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first got to work from home I had a special coworker to keep me company. Nobody can ever replace her, but that's not the point of getting a new pup anyway. You don't replace them, you just add to their legacy as part of the family. Having Bear around while I work is just as special. 

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Fi Watcher


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear likes to sit on his spot and look out the window. Here he's sporting his fancy new Fi collar we're trying out. Yes, we know we're going a little overboard on him, but we don't care.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

The Rig Is Complete


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The computer. The gaming chair, headphones, wireless mouse and keyboard, secondary monitor, all in place now anchored by this gorgeous, awesome display. Now, it is complete. 

Big Time Arrival


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have waited months for this to finally be available. My dream monitor. The 39 inch LG UltraGear 39GX950B 5k ultrawide monitor. I pre-ordered it and it wasn't supposed to be here for another month, but it came early!

Friday, April 17, 2026

Mama's Boy


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At night Bear shows who his favorite is. 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Couple Of Quacks


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the internet a wild duck can live for 5-10 years. So it's possible this is the same couple. But I saw these two lounging in the common area while walking Bear today.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

More Peckers


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes woodpeckers are my favorite birds. Yes I have many pictures of them in the history of this blog. Yes here is another one with a red belly on the suet feeder and a downy peeking down from above. Yes there will probably be more in the future. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Age Unknown


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear has now been to the vet and had his teeth cleaned. He's in good health aside from needing one tooth pulled and having an odd growth on his tonsil that we are having tested. He does have an elongated palate, which is normal for certain breeds, and that explains why he snorts. So it's not allergies or anything bad. 

A couple of things to note though, going back to my original introduction of him. Based on his teeth the vet thinks he is three years old, not one. So we are moving his birthday from 1-29-2025 to 1-29-2023. Also she does not think he's a corgi / shephard mix. She thinks he's more likely a Shiba Inu mix. But, whatever he is, we love him to bits!

Monday, April 13, 2026

Dirty Nose


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All dug out with a messy nose. A happy Bear. We'll probably regret this more when seasons turn muddy. But oh well, look at that face. 

Obsession By Bear

 
 
From day one Bear has been obsessed with getting under the deck. He will go out and dig almost every day, and I go and fill it back in. I know I could put a rock or something down, but it makes him happy and doesn't do any harm so as long as he stays away from trying to dig under the fence, And it's fun and super cute. 

 

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Chew Toy


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear enjoying Casie's gift on his favorite spot. 

Nut To Deer


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the same walk, I found a little heard of deer resting. I couldn't get them all in one shot but there were more behind the hill and up higher on it. 

That Nut


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been putting peanuts from Wild Birds out for the squirrels and blue jays. Out on a walk with Bear there's a little bridge down in the common area and I found this peanut there. I like the thought that it's one of ours, carried all this way by a hungry bird or maybe a squirrel looking for a place to bury it.

Saturday, April 11, 2026

The Long Road Home


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met with Ashley in Chattanooga today to drop Mackenzie off. We took Bear and he did his best but five hours in a car was a little much for him. We're home now. We love when he gets tired he just "splooshes" out with his feet splayed. 

Friday, April 10, 2026

Grampa Approved


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thumbs up. 

New Gamer


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear joins the fun. He looks good in a tiara. 

Still Gabbing


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Mackenzie visit, another round of Gabby’s Dollhouse, Meow-Mazing Board Game.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Behind The Scene


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mackenzie is finally old enough to qualify for some of the special behind the scenes tours at the zoo. So they got to go feed a giraffe. 

Zoo Paint


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to work so these are Mari's pictures, but she and Mackenzie hit the zoo today. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

The Price Is Family III


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some are sleeping in their spot. 

The Price Is Family II


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, not everyone is watching to be fair. Some are playing on tablets.

The Price Is Family













 

 

Just the fam settling in for lunch and watching the Price is Right, as is tradition. 

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

A Message Of Hope


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found this randomly painted on the sidewalk up the street. Even here in BF Tennessee, there are good people. It gives you hope. 

Another New Old View


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to this view. Some people say you shouldn't let the dog lead. Those people take life too seriously.

Monday, April 6, 2026

Grammy Tiny Hands


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gram's turn to hunt for marshmallows. 

Silly Sugar Source


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Easter Bunny brought this still game where you have to use tiny grabby hands to pick up marshmallows and shove them in your mouth. There can be no dignity playing this game. 

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Easter Dinner


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari treated Mackenzie, Dad and I to another great holiday meal. 

On The Hunt


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear helping Mackenzie look for Easter eggs. 

Easter Bear


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashley stayed over for Easter morning, and we all got up so Mackenzie could see what the Easter Bunny brought and then have a good old egg hunt. Bear's first Easter (with us). 

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Mackenzie and Bear


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mackenzie has come for another week so she and Bear get to meet. Instant bond. 

Friday, April 3, 2026

Screen Time


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only dog we've had previously that watched TV was Tara, but we have another entertainment aficionado. Of course it's always the quality of the show being watched the helps. 

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Secondary Spot


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fallback spot. 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

WOTM


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Bear era.