Hanging Out at Home on Starfish

Zuzu and Tootie are homebodies...well, Zuzu more so than Tootie.

Every morning, about an hour into our ritual of reading the latest happenings in the Key West Citizen while drinking several cups of strong Cuban coffee, Tootie charges out to the lanai and begins to make various sounds, grunts, moans, whines, and whimpers, to gain our attention. She wants to go for a walk. Zuzu, however, is not so eager to face the perils of the Sugarloaf Blvd bike path, but she will play along to support her sister.

The past couple of days, the rains have halted our morning walks and Tootie is beginning to wonder if we will ever get back on the path!

From her perch at the top of the stairs, she gazes down towards the boulevard wondering how many of her friends have been by while Zuzu nervously watches for speeding bicycles...yikes!

We manage to get outside a couple of times during the day, in between rain showers, to do their business in the yard. 

But most of the day is spent inside, sleeping wherever they can manage. Usually they are sprawled out on the master bed, but on this day they took advantage of the open guest room door! Ahh, the pillow-top mattress is sooo nice!

Soon the rains will cease, the sun will shine, and humidity and temps will climb and the mosquitos will be out in force, and we will once again go for our walks on Sugarloaf Key...much to Tootie's delight and Zuzu's dismay.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

Sunday Dog Walk

Zuzu and Tootie look forward to Sundays when they get together with their canine friends for an off-lead dog walk along government cut canal. They wait patiently for the rest of the gang to arrive...

and eagerly greet their four-legged friends: Bart, Pebbles, Hooligan, Oakley, Jack, Brandy, and Lady.

We sometimes have to wait patiently on leash at the start of the walk for everyone to arrive...

Kimberly reassures Hooligan while Edie arrives with Bart and Pebbles.

All present and accounted for, it's time to explore, sniff, and mark the mangroves.

Oakley was leading the pack for a bit...

while Pebbles and Zuzu explored the territory off the path.

With so many smells, they weren't quite sure where to start. Zuzu and Tootie always seem to hone in on the same spot.

This walk is perfect in the winter; nice breeze, few bugs, lots of smells, and a swimming hole halfway through the walk.

Bart managed to get away from Pebbles for a few seconds.

The canal runs long and deep, about 20 feet, and the current can be swift at times. This ledge provides a perfect spot for the dogs to get their feet wet or take a swim.

Zuzu and Tootie like walking around on the ledge and, when it's hot, have even dog paddled around a bit. On this day, though, Zuzu was more curious about the fish swimming around than going for a swim herself.

Edie seem to be sharing some sage advice with Tootie who seemed eager to listen.

Then Hooligan showed up for some Edie attention.

Not a lot of swimming going on, but they sure were interested in what Zuzu was doing.

When she first arrived in Florida, Zuzu wasn't too keen on the water. But now she will go in with little hesitation.

Tootie can't stand being apart from Zuzu...so off the ledge she went into the water.

Ahh, the saltwater feels great on the feet at the canine spa.

Hooligan was swimming a bit for therapy, it helps strengthen his hips, but Tootie wasn't going to join him.

Instead, she meandered over to see what Zuzu was up to near the mangrove.

Time to head back to the car...

where we play, drink some water, and enjoy treats from Edie.

Sunday dog walk is a happy time for Zuzu and Tootie. Smiles all around!

Winter Doldrums?

With the recent arrival of spring, we look back and ponder where the winter season has gone? It was a rather uneventful season; no snowstorms, blizzards, or ice glazed roads down here in the tropics, only the occasional pesky cold front ushering in brisk north winds forcing us to close the windows and don long sleeved shirts.

Our girls enjoy the break from the summer heat and sun and the lanai was their preferred spot to lime the winter days away. We, too, spent many afternoons relaxing on the sofa looking out across the water. Thankfully the sofa is large enough to accommodate the contemplative Wayne and his girls.

We continue to marvel at how far these two puppy mill rescue girls have come during these past two years. They used to hide out in the master bedroom closet, coming out only for a meal or a quick dash around the yard. At night, they would retire to their dog bed in the closet, not to be seen until daybreak.

Now they keep us within earshot or sight, follow us outside, and hang out with us around the house. Tootie has become quite independent and has developed a "go-with-the-flow" attitude about everything. She can sleep soundly and comfortably in almost any situation and environment.

Zuzu, however, is our worrier. She worries where we are, what we are doing, and if we are going to leave her. When we do go out, she has begun to exhibit mild separation anxiety; chewing the corner of the chair, chewing on a belt hanging in the closet, chewing the plug off of the fan cord...chewing her nervous energy until our return.

Alleviating her anxiety is our new goal, especially as we head into rainy season which brings the frequent thunderstorm. Not sure how we can modify her behavior, but we'll try. We were hoping Tootie would set the example of chillin' and relaxin' as only Tootie can do.

Zuzu is always on alert, always checking out the environment, protecting her house and her pack. Tootie is grateful and which is why, perhaps, she can lounge around and take frequent naps during the day.

So, with the arrival of spring, the nights are getting warmer, the days are longer, and the water temps are rising. Once the winds subside, we'll begin our frequent jaunts to Marvin Key. There will be less lounging on the lanai and more running on the sand bar! Well, maybe the same amount of lounging on the lanai. Tootie needs her beauty rest.

Happy Spring!

Family Vacation in Key West

A few months ago, this past November, Wayne's sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and mom came down from Maryland for an all-to-short visit. We prepared an action-packed itinerary for their first-time visit to Key West. We gave a brief tour of Old Town Key West, took a sunset sail on the Western Union,

visited the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key where Madeline and Lauren shook hands with a dolphin!,

played mini-golf at Boondocks on Ramrod Key, 

and took a trip out to Marvin Key, of course...

Edie and I planned a mid-afternoon trip out to the sand bar; a warm, sunny afternoon perfect for the dogs to play and for Edie to collect. Val and Kim followed us out on their boat bringing the total number of dogs to six: Lady, Brandy, Pebbles, Bart, Zuzu, and Tootie.

Zuzu always enjoys running with her friends at Marvin Key. Tootie, however, would rather stay on the boat but manages to enjoy herself in the pack nevertheless.

We all strolled to the other side of the sand bar, heading for the spot to collect horseshoes. Chris and the girls were enjoying the sun and the water. It wasn't too cold for them, probably warmer than the Delaware beaches in the summer. Meanwhile, the dogs amused themselves, playing tag and wrestling in the sand.

Once back at the boats, Tracy encouraged us to wear santa hats for our Christmas card photo. Reluctantly we agreed, and we are happy we did as the picture turned out great.

Then we relaxed for a bit, nibbled on some snacks, and enjoyed our conversation on this little spit of sand surrounded by turquoise waters just twenty minutes from home. 

Zuzu and Tootie, happy to be back on the boat, were nestled in their cuddy cabin while the other dogs played.

The sun started to sink lower in the horizon, it was time to head back for dinner. We piled on our boat,

and Bart was in good hands during the ride back to Sugarloaf on Edie's boat. It was another great visit to Marvin Key.

We're looking forward to the next family visit during which we'll be sure to take them to some of the missed sights in Key West, but we'll definitely make time for a return trip to Marvin Key.

A Tropical New Year

Three months since my last post! Not sure where the time went but the holiday season clobbered us over the head and it seems our time has been more scarce than ever. Thankfully, a comment from a reader who asked if this blog had ceased encouraged me to add this latest entry, Zuzu and Tootie bringing in the New Year at Marvin Key.

Our good friend Edie helped orchestrate this gathering on the remote sand bar on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Good friends and lots of four legged friends enjoying the sun, the warm air, and the sand on this first day of 2012.

We arrived shortly before Edie and her crew. Once anchored, Bart, Pebbles, Brandy, and Lady rushed over to greet Zuzu and Tootie.

While the humans helped Edie collect horseshoe crabs and such, the dogs enjoyed their freedom on the sandbar, chasing each other to and fro, playing tag, wrestling in the sand, and chasing the ever evasive birds.

We stood off to the side observing the dogs at play and trying to avoid the occasional body slam after running towards you at full speed.

Zuzu and Tootie were happy as usual, running with the group for awhile, then settling on the sand near us.

As we talked business, politics, and life in the Keys with longtime resident Pete, Edie's husband, the girls lounged next to us, enjoying the sunshine while watching the other dogs fight over the latest strange thing pulled from the sand.

Zuzu is still relatively svelte, but Tootie could use some serious dog play to help shed a few pounds. Now all we have to do is find a way to motivate her that doesn't involve food!

Zuzu watched attentively the other dogs. Tootie was missing her sofa and afternoon snack.

This is what we call the lazy butt or Tootie butt, her very undignified way of sitting. This posture surely wouldn't have been acceptable to Hungarian royal ancestors, but we find it too adorable.

Time for a walk to stretch the legs before heading back home. The tide was coming in, covering the sand at a surprising rate.

With Zuzu and Tootie seated in the back of the boat, we passed Bart, who attempted to stow away on our boat as we were preparing to leave, forward to Edie. Pebbles, though, was resting calmly (a rare event) on her boat unaware of where Bart was. 

This was a memorable New Year's Day, a perfect way to bring in 2012 among friends and family. Zuzu and Tootie had a great time riding on the boat and playing with their friends. We have had them two years as of January 2. It is amazing to see how far they have come and grown during the past 24 months. From a puppy mill to loving boat rides to Marvin Key. They are remarkable vizslas.  

Thank you for reading and following the blog. I hope to be more consistent with postings, documenting Zuzu and Tootie's experiences in the Florida Keys and our travels.