FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I guess it's time to introduce you to my family and friends of which I have many. We may get to introducing the human element later; right now I am giving my attention to the canine element.
This is Zoe (Princess Zoe to non-family members as she too is of royalty).
Princess Zoe was the proud owner of Thom's cousin Fran. While Zoe was a baby she was wise enough to adopt Fran. She knew life and service would be good in that house although she would have to accept a feline in the mix.
I never actually met Zoe, but I always heard about her. She lived in Arizona when I lived in Florida and we frequently exchanged small appropriate gifts via our staff.
Zoe moved to Ohio and I moved to Maine where we each experienced winter and snow for the first time in our lives. We both liked it. Wish we would have had the chance to romp together.
Zoe crossed the "Rainbow Bridge" a little while ago. She wasn't feeling well and at home all will be well while she waits for me and her Mom. Bye Zoe - Run free!

SOME SAD NEWS.
Last week I heard both my daddies crying. I don't like it when things are sad and I wanted to cheer them up, but I just didn't have the energy. The sad news we received was about my health. Dr. Teer checked my blood and found out I was anemic among other things. My kidneys needed attention by method of medication for my renal blood pressure. Now everybody in the house is on BP meds. We are aging together in a house full of love and we are all trying to do it with a little class.
After a week of new medicine and a new diet I am feeling a lot better and am not so darn sluggish. Just last night I had to shout (bark) at my Daddy Thom for not paying enough attention to me while he was cooking; and I coerced Daddy David into a game of "toss" and "tug" with my new toy I got from my Bangor Doggie-sitter. I must take control again as I am "The Prince."
Let me tell you of my new diet - Dr. Teer insists and I agree. It seems I am to have a lot of shrimp, fish, and lobster - Now, should I complain? Also the staff is required to serve me 3 times a day - small delicate meals, of course. With all this fussing, feeding, medication, exercise and love I am doing just fine.

THE WOODS IN WINTER.
Yes, I have decided - I do like the snow. I love it. It's especially nice when we go to Shackford Head and roam the woods in the clean, fresh, unsoiled snow. There are lots of animal tracks to sniff and all the new and wonderful scents that winter holds in this frosty ground covering. The squirrels and chipmonks are all still in hibernation and they can't tease and taunt me. In the summer they run about and annoy me; then run high up into the trees and chatter and shout at me. Somehow they know I can't climb a tree; although once I did make an attempt. Now - if I had my own cat, I could send him up the tree and teach those pesky squirrels a lesson.
I like the soft powdery snow the best. I can kick it about as I tromp along. I am not fond of the firm crusty snow that looks stable only to give way under my weight and plunge me belly deep into it's depths. It's a little humiliating. Ice presents a problem too and I have learned to navigate it successfully after many a trial and error.

THE STAFF INCREASES.
Mini-holidays, vacations and road trips are nothing new to me being the seasoned traveler that I am. I love hotels and I adore room service. Our recent trip to Bangor required my Daddies both to be absent for a few hours tending to business where I was not welcome (can you imagine royalty being excluded?) This required a temporary addition to my staff which was promptly resolved.
I met and became good friends with my companion and doggie-sitter, Auntie Deb.
Auntie Deb sat on the bed and on the floor with me and gave me her undivided attention for the whole two hours my Daddies were occupied elsewhere. Daddy Thom, who is usually quite reliable, forgot to pack my toys. Auntie Deb to the rescue; she brought me some squeaky mittens which I love and cart about everywhere. I even tried to pull them out of my traveling bag to show Kim, the hotel manager, while we were checking out. Oh - the good life!

THE WAIT AND ANTICIPATION ARE OVER.
So, this is snow. It's white stuff and it drops from the sky. It is cold on my pads, but not unbearable - perhaps a little refreshing. The air certainly is invigorating. The smells are much more pronounced and seem to linger longer. Snow - Huh! I think I like it. We shall see.

BLUE SKIES ON THE HEATH.
Here I am on the Heath with my Daddy David. You can see I am wearing my leash because the Heath overlooks a dangerous drop over very rocky outcroppings to the beach and sea below. I guess you could call the leash my "safety line", besides it helps me keep track of my staff; although I doubt they see it this way.
This is actually a small blueberry barren. Blueberry brambles turn a lovely scarlet color in the Fall and this lasts throughout the winter. Winter - Snow? I am still waiting.

Lounging in Style !!
One of the joys in traveling with David and Thom - elegant hotels. Of course, I love the room service too. The staff always fusses over me as they should. I am a well behaved and princely guest. Check in is always a great bit of pomp and circumstance for me as I amble through the lobby with all my regal bearing. I have turned many heads and elicited many compliments. I can never quite make it into the restaurant or the bar. The food smells entice me, but I can never manage to steer us in that direction.
At some of the hotels I am a frequent guest and well remembered.
It is all part of the adventure of our road trips. Thank goodness I was never acclimated to flying in a damn crate.
The last great trek was our permanent move from Florida to Maine. I still go to the hotel in Bangor when somebody is departing or arriving by plane and always get to stay overnight in cushy comfort. This I thoroughly enjoy.
We arrived in Eastport in mid September and my new live began at age ten. Being a sub-tropical dog, I found out I had a lot of adapting to do now that I reside in a seasonal climate. Again I ask, "What is snow?".