Yesterday the sun was shining and the air was warm so Sid and I took a long post-dinner ramble through our neighborhood. We made a point to venture down some streets we’d never been on before.

We were greeted with lovely sights and smells in the form of Spring flowers.

Like bees, we bounced from flower to flower and we eventually ended up at one of my favorite parks, River Park. Sid got to go off his leash and explore on his own for a bit.

After debating which way to go he eventually led us to a lovely spot of the park filled with red and pink flowering trees.

We even found some Lilac bushes which are one of my personal favorites. I had to lift Sid up to smell them though because they are out of normal muzzle reach.

Have you had a chance to see and smell any spring flowers yet?

Sid and I hope you all had a nice Halloween and that your treat bounties were plentiful. Sid did enter the South Andersonville Neighborhood Association’s dog costume contest again this year but the weather was really lousy. It was rainy and cold so most dogs were soaking wet and shivering. I think Sid’s lion mane came in handy as it kept the water off his face and kept his head toasty! We didn’t win any of the prizes but I think Sid enjoyed parading around with the other costumed pets.

Fall is in full effect here in Chicago and despite the lousy weather on Halloween day every other day has been exceptionally gorgeous. We took a trip to a park that is about a mile away from our apartment and flanks the Chicago River. It’s the aptly named “River Park”.

I love that retro-looking sign!

Sid had a great time running through the fallen leaves and sniffing all those fragrant Autumn scents.

Although he was able to get pretty close to the river there was a fence that prevented him from taking a dip.

River Park is filled with trees of all sizes. Many of them were lovely shades of orange and red. Have the leaves started changing color where you live?

We’re going to try to get over to River Park at least once a week to see all the trees change color this month!

Hi there my loyal ‘Slopers’! Sorry for taking so long to get this post up. I had all the photos ready to go but then my Dad got sick so I’ve been on call for nursing duties the last few days. The nursing just means lots of extra naps, even during the daytime! Can’t beat that, right?

Anyway, I probably built this up too much in my last post, but I did really go on an expedition this past weekend, though it might not have really been a RAMPAGE or THRILLING or TURBULENT.

My Dad and I started out on our usual after-dinner walk, but then we just kept on going! It was the first warm-ish day we’d had for many months so with a spring in our step, we strolled all the way to River Park. I know, it’s pretty much the most generic name for a park ever, but it actually is a really beautiful park the runs right along the Chicago River (which explains the name I guess).

As soon as we got there I noticed there were all these gigantic brown bean-pod things on the ground. I eat green beans from time to time so I thought they would taste the same but boy was I wrong. They were pretty disgusting, although I still tried to eat every single one I came across. I was hopeful there might be one that tasted as good as a green bean. No such luck.

Then we strolled around under the trees for a bit and took a few posed pictures. My Dad tricked me into thinking he had some baby carrots with him which is why he got me at the top of my posing game. I don’t know how I fell for that again – it’s definitely not the first time he’s pulled that move. Next time we do this I’ll be sure to make him stop by the fridge before we leave so I can WITNESS him actually putting the b.c.’s into his pockets.

Head on:

Profile:

And full-body, with a three-quarter twist (one of my specialties):

We then trekked over to the river. There’s a fence that blocks direct access to the river so I wasn’t able to go for a dip, but it still was a pretty sight, especially since the sun had begun setting. I can’t wait to go back again (if the weather here ever decides to cooperate!).

This week, with all the thunderstorms passing through the Midwest, we seem to stuck in the “April Showers” part of Spring. However, this past weekend, Sid and I were able to enjoy a rain-free, clear, sunny day at River Park – named as such because it is adjacent to a stretch of the Chicago river.

Sid was super excited because I had brought the bag of baby carrots along so we could do some Spring training. He’d gotten a little rusty being cooped up most of the winter. We began the training session with some of the basic moves – like “down“.

When I don’t have a treat in hand, Sid will eventually lie down, but he does so very begrudgingly – or sometimes he’ll just sit and dip his head really low (it’s actually extremely adorable). But today, when presented with a b.c. as a reward, Sid fully descended tout de suite.

Next we tried “stay” and “come“.

Here I come! Now where’s my treat?

Finally we worked on the “jimmy” – the adorable move made famous by Puglet.

You’re almost there, Sid, just get your head a tiny bit lower.

There we go! Don’t forget to turn those bright eyes up…

Perfect! I think a look that cute deserves FIVE b.c.’s!

P.S. Thank you all for advice / suggestions re: Sid’s “barking problem“. The DAP Diffuser arrived a couple days ago and it’s been plugged in ever since. I also have put some soft classical music on the radio whenever I go out for a while. So far, things have been good!