You call THAT a surprise?!

 Remember that surprise Mum told me about?


The one I thought couldn't possibly be another brother?

Uh-huh.

Yeah, it's another brother, all right. And this one is BIGGER THAN ME.

 BIGGER. THAN. ME.

You want me to befriend whatnow?

His name is Toby and he's a spotty horse type called Appaloosa. Mum says he wants to be friends with me.

I'm ignoring that until you shrink it to acceptable proportions.

Mum says that just like I have to be nice to Kipper even though he's grumpy and never wants to play Wrestle, I have to be nice to Toby. What good is that going to be? Toby DEFINITELY looks like he'll be no good at Wrestle. Look at those ridiculous long legs! We're not even going to get into that face. 
Even Dad is pleased Toby is here as apparently horses mow grass so we will never have to use a lawnmower again.

Friends??? Hard pass.

Mum just laughed at me. "You'll get used to him Maya."
Here it comes...
"Remember, worse things happen at sea!"
Yeah...

Christmas Markets

In keeping with our Summer routine of evening Adventures (as mandated by the heat) we went to the Night Markets very last one for the year. It was for Christmas, and Mum did buy some Christmas presents, but otherwise, it didn't look very Christmassy to me!

We stopped by the stall of the group who rescued my oldest brother Kipper from the pound - Australian Working Dog Rescue. They were busy raising money to help rescue dogs and showing people how great it is when they adopt a dog, but of course there was time for a photo with me!

I was very impressed when Mum and I brought a raffle ticket, they knew to put my name on it! (Mum let me use her phone number, though...)
After we said goodbye to AWDRI and we were done with the night markets, we walked a bit further down the Strand - and right at the end of our night, we finally found something Christmassy!

Christmas lights!!

Besides, Mum said this week I get to help her put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house for Christmas! She also says she has a surprise in store... last time I heard the word 'surprise' I wound up with a new, grumpy older brother who never wants to play with me (Yes, that's Kipper... I know he's old and blind and deaf but he really isn't very much fun...) but this wouldn't be another surprise like that.

... Would it?

Evening Adventures

Our Adventures of late have been largely confined to the evenings - it's Summer again and exceptionally hot. Mum has a pool for me outside and a special cool mat for when I'm inside, but if we go on Adventures during the day we almost melt.

EXCUSE ME. The CAT is on my cooling mat!!
I'm never going outside again.

Last night, we had a long adventure. It started with a trip to a place called Bunnings, a human store that dogs are actually allowed inside. Only if wearing a muzzle though...

Mum. People are looking.

I did get some pats from the nice staff members though, so I suppose wearing the muzzle was acceptable. After we brought stuff at Bunnings we went to the Strand! It was lovely and cool there because of the wind. I guess everybody had the same idea of coming down at night as me and Mum did, because there were plenty of people there to admire me.

Also giant coconuts.

We walked down the pier which is funny at night. It's too dark to see the water, you can just smell it and hear the waves down below.

Mum always lets me stop and have a rest break at the Strand. This time I made found a very comfy bed.

Sooo comfy.

After our Strand walk, we stopped by Grandma's place and got some trees. (Mum got cake, Goldie and I got dog treats.)

Notice which dog is sitting politely for treats.

It was quite late by the time we got home, but I don't at all mind Evening Adventures.

Hard at Work

Mum and I had a really long adventure today! On the days where she doesn't have to go to Work and help people pick the best dog toys and treats (She knows which ones are the best because I help her figure them out of course) we have started doing a different type of work. This work is basically where we go sit at a table somewhere and Mum uses her laptop for a couple of hours while she mutters nonsense to herself. 

Here I am helping.

 I don't mind guarding Mum while she works, because it's still fun to watch people and dogs walking by. Before we start and after we finish Mum takes me on a walk too! After we packed up I thought that was it for our Adventure of the day but instead we stopped by the beach and met Grandma and her dog Goldie!

Even though there were lots of other dogs so I had to stay on my lead, Goldie and I played some.

 After the beach and Mum using up three towels to dry me after my swim, we went back to Grandma's house where she cooked us some food and we watched TV for a while. (I didn't actually watch TV as I was so tired by this point and from all the snacks Grandma gave me I fell asleep). By the time we went home it was completely dark, but it was still a great Adventure. 

Adventures everywhere!

So in the last week, a lot of Adventures happened. But there was also something strange that happened, which was that my brother Zeke got a big lump under his chin. Mum didn't even take me with him when he went to see the vet, so I was pretty worried about him. The good news is that he's back home now and feeling better. I am a little jealous of the special meals Mum makes for him though.

Anyway, I had a couple of playdates recently, one with Austin and one with Goldie. Austin came to my place and even though it was a bit hot we did play a little.

The Amazing Levitation Austin!

Race time!

Then me and Mum stopped by to see Goldie, Grandma's dog. We played a little as well, even though I was getting a bit tired by then. 

 

We also had a Sunset Beach Adventure! It isn't really warm enough to swim properly during the evenings anymore, but Mum does let me paddle, and there's always lots of things to sniff!

Okay Mum, I'm tired of posing for your sunset photos, let's GO!

Mum, something is wrong... somebody ELSE shredded this coconut!

We also had a River Adventure. Even though there was kinda something important missing in the river...

I'm sure there was water just here last time we came...

I found some small friends in the trees by edge of the river bank, too.

MUM there are POSSUMS in this tree! Let me chase them!

 Mum was a spoilsport and wouldn't let me offlead to chase and bark at them though. But still, even without any water around, that made for a pretty exciting River Adventure!

The Apex Adventure

This weekend Mum and I went on an amazing Adventure, going somewhere totally new to me, Apex park, by the river. Mum says she used to take Zeke there all the time because they used to live nearby, which is part of the reason Zeke is such a good swimmer. (He taught me to swim as a puppy). 

 I most certainly did NOT fall in. It was on purpose.

First, we explored a track alongside the river, where there were plenty of good things to sniff, plus there were some pretty impressive trees.

Like this one, growing over the water

And this hollow tree, growing on a little hill of its own

There were lots of excellent places to explore, and Mum even let me walk out on a few of the sideways-growing trees over the water. I kind of think she knew I was considering jumping in though...

 There were bridges and boardwalks over some sections. I didn't really understand why, but Mum says sometimes when it rains there are lots of little creeks running down to the river, so then you need bridges.

After our bushwalk, we checked out the park further down. 

I don't know what this is, but I want one.

 I enjoyed the park very much. So many things to climb!

One of these too, please Mum!

 Of course, we had to stop for a rest break!

With a river view

 Before we left, Mum took me down a little ramp to a dock right by the water. She warned me it was cold, but then, she doesn't have fur as warm as mine. 

Okay, so how wide is this platform?

Not that wide. (Also it was a little cold...)

All in all, Apex Park was a really fun place for an Adventure. It's a pity it's such a long car ride away, but then again, I suppose we are lucky we have a beach, river and a park near our house in the first place.  

 

Adventures at this years' Pet Expo

Pet Expo time again this weekend! It was way bigger and better than the last two we went to, plus, it took place at Jezzine Barracks, one of our favourite places. There was just one problem... Mum made me wear this T-shirt... 

Mum I want to choose my own clothes.

Unfairly sloganed T-shirts aside, I did have fun. We saw Creative Animal Portraits (my official photographer), Hear No Evil Deaf Dog Rescue, Australian Working Dog Rescue - that's who saved my newest brother Kipper and brought him to live with us - and lots more groups. I got a lot of attention and pats (which covered my t-shirt with fur, take that Mum!)

My new favourite human from Western Suburbs Vets!

I also got a special Pet Expo lunch, a whole sausage just for me! 

 

Mum usually saves the last bite of her sausage for me when we are at special events, but her idea of one bite and my idea of one bite are two very different things.

Mum, there's no meat on that. Put another sausage on it!

 Mum wouldn't let me snorkel in the water bowls though. She told me to quit playing in the water, and stop drinking it all so the other dogs could have some.

What? That sausage made me thirsty.

There weren't just dogs at the expo, either!

All in all it was a pretty fun expo, and already I can't wait for next year!