Red Dog Routine

Zuzu and Tootie are all about routine. Up at first daylight, outside to do their morning business, back in for a breakfast helping of warmed brown rice with either chicken gizzards or thighs mixed with some dry kibble, then off to the lanai for the post meal nap. 

One could accurately assert that Zuzu and Tootie have developed their daily rituals by observing our routines. We are very much creatures of habit and find comfort in the predictable. Up at the same time every morning, feed the girls, relax on the lanai with a cup of coffee and read about the latest dysfunction or the newest scandal reported in the Key West Citizen as well as savor the comments of the daily grumblers and malcontents in the Citizen's Voice column.

The morning routine.

It is very familiar to Zuzu as she heads for the patio door (which is sadly closed during the humid summer months) after she eats her breakfast and patiently waits for us to open it with coffee cups and newspaper in hand. 

Zuzu and Tootie will spend the morning either hanging outside and sleeping on the lanai, or sprawled out on the bed in our bedroom. Occasionally, they'll hang out with us in the office while we work.

Lunch time...back on the lanai where we eat the usual, granola, plain yogurt, and a piece of fruit, and Zuzu and Tootie are at our heels knowing they'll get a little snack, too.

Tootie has a built in clock set perfectly to her stomach. Starting around 5:30pm, she'll come into the office and start barking, letting us know that it's time for dinner. We tell her not now and five minutes later she's back, barking once again. This continues until their dinner time, around 6:00pm. After dinner, the ritual continues with a mandatory car ride and, when the mosquitos aren't too thick, a walk around the Bat Tower. Tootie and Zuzu enjoy their car rides as they get to tear into a cardboard box or tube filled with gizzards and treats during the ride. 

Zuzu and Tootie have come a long way from their days spent hiding in the closet only making an appearance at meal time. The slowly progressed from the closet to the bedroom to spending more and more time with us. Now, they follow our every move and sometimes compete for our laps and attention. They are still not without their issues. Zuzu still fears the dark, needing a lot of encouragement and the lure of a gizzard to go outside before bed. Zuzu also fears thunderstorms, but her reaction to storms is improving. She no longer runs and hides in the closet at the first sound of thunder; instead, they retreat to the kitchen or find us for comfort and reassurance.

Zuzu and Tootie still react to change with caution. They much prefer the expected, the routine. Any deviation from the routine is cause for concern in their minds, but change is good. With minor changes in the daily routine from time to time, they are beginning to realize that what is different, new, or unexpected is not bad. These experiences, we believe, will only make them stronger and more confident.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's almost time for the evening routine...relaxing on the sofa with Zuzu and Tootie snoozing on the rug at our feet while we work through the latest crime drama series available on Netflix instant view.

Dog Day at the Beach: Snipe Point

After a week of unpacking, sorting, and rearranging furniture, it was time to relax. We arranged a date with Michael and Layne, one that involved a boat ride to Marvin Key for some swimming and relaxing in the sun. I checked the tide table and set up a time to arrive at the sand flat close to low tide. I was doubtful, though, that the sand flat would be exposed since it was a rather high low tide. Sure enough, as we approached the back side of Marvin Key, there was no sand, only turquoise water. "Where to now?" I asked everyone. It was decided that we would meander out to the Gulf, our first trip beyond the back side of Marvin. And, who better to explore with than Michael and Layne, well seasoned boaters who sailed from Santa Cruz, California, through the Panama Canal, and explored most of the Caribbean Sea before settling here in the Lower Keys.

My apologies for the persistently annoying spot in the center of my pictures.
Unfortunately, it's unreachable somewhere inside the camera lens.

I had an vague idea where the channel was to the Gulf. I followed the chart and the GPS and found the narrow opening of the channel leading north to the Gulf. We then followed, at idle speed, a path of crab pots.

Layne, who learned how to read the waters sailing the Caribbean with Michael and their two dogs, kept a watchful eye of the varying shades of brown, green, and blue ahead, skillfully guiding us down the center of the channel. Michael was positioned nearby on the bow also pointing the way and recording the whole adventure on film (digital, actually) for one of his future essays in his blog, Key West Diary. He posted several about our trip. You can read one of them here at  http://conchscooter.blogspot.com/2011/05/dogs-of-snipe-key.html.

Zuzu and Tootie have really gotten used to riding in the boat. We rarely keep them on a leash now while we're underway since they are usually camped out in the cabin or at my feet. We did buy them life jackets during our trip to St. Louis with a gift card from mom and dad. We now have to get into the habit of putting them on while they are riding in the boat.

We continued through the channel, which was fairly wide at this point. The lighter green then brown water, indicating shallow water, was comfortably off our starboard side. 

And there was plenty of wiggle room on the port side as well. Still, it was a leisurely trip through the channel towards the Gulf.

We weren't the only ones cautiously plying the waters. Just ahead of us was another boat heading towards the channel leading to Marvin Key. The captain of that vessel asked his companions to stand on the bow to keep an eye on the water depth.

We emerged from the channel and admired the open Gulf of Mexico in front of us. Off to our left we could see some boats anchored just off Snipe Point. It wasn't too busy and looked like a perfect spot to let the dogs run on the beach and play in the water. Comfortable with the depth, we planed out of the channel and headed towards the beach.

Wayne tried to get a picture of the pod of dolphins we passed, but he could only get a couple of fins peeking out of the water. They came pretty close to the boat. Afraid I was going to hit them, I slowed down abruptly (sorry Layne, I meant to warn you) to see where they were. Of course, they kept their distance and remained out of harm's way. They are probably quite used to the great number of boats buzzing around these waters.

The shallows extend quite a ways out from the beach. I putted in as far as I could, then shut off the motor, trimmed up, and let Michael pull us in as far as he could. The plan was to unload the dogs and gear and, as the tide was heading out, one of us would pull the boat back out to deeper water for anchorage. I managed to anchor the boat in 5 feet of water, in line with the other boats, but finding firm sand to plant the anchor was a challenge.

Back on the beach, the gang set up their chairs under a tree.

You can't beat the view looking out across the beach and the shallow water to the Gulf.

Wayne played the part of beach bum very well.

It looks like I'm consumed by my phone. I wasn't completely lost in technology but was merely trying to figure out how to send a picture or our view in a text. Once sent, I enjoyed the scene along with Zuzu and Tootie who kept an eye on the activity around us. It was rather quiet, unusual for Snipe Point as this is the preferred weekend destination for Key Westers and local teens. At this time of the morning, there was a group of three couples who were kayaking the back country (Zuzu and Tootie left to explore the beach...we found hanging out with them, sniffing their kayaks for food or treats), a woman was floating on her raft while reading a book, and a few people were swimming around their boats. 

It was a very relaxing morning at Snipe Point. We enjoyed the view, the sea breeze, and the warm water. It's hard to believe that this tropical island paradise is just a twenty minute boat ride away from home.