Double Good Luck?

After a day of high winds and rain, the sky cleared in the early evening and gave us a beautiful double rainbow. (The second rainbow is barely visible on the right side.) Django’s dad snapped a picture of it over Red Head. Hopefully another good omen.

There’s an additional surprise in the picture.  Can you spot it?

Dora heard Jason on the dock and had to have a peek.

Good Luck

According to legend, a bird on your boat is good luck. We have had several over the years. This afternoon a beautiful tiny black bird with gold markings was flying around the salon. It landed near the window in the mezzanine. Jeff opened the window and the little guy eventually flew out unharmed. What about the kids you ask. They didn’t bat an eye.

We are leaving soon to head north out of the hurricane zone. We’ll take this as a good omen.

Quarantine

The kids have been making good use of their time in quarantine.

She’s 7!

Today is Dee Dee’s seventh birthday.

Dee Dee joined the crew on aCappella under the tutelage of First Mate Dylan. Life has never been the same.

After weeks of brutal heat and humidity, there is a break in the weather. The crew is enjoying sitting out on the back deck again and the sisters even played some bitey face at the dog park.

Happy Birthday, Dee Dee! We all love you, even Dora...

A Gentle Giant

Django often comes to the dog park on the weekend. Dora featured her friend on the blog just last week.

Dora and Django always have a good time.

Today Dad decided we should let Dee Dee join in too. We’re not sure if it was the training we’ve been working on or just the fact Django is twice her size, but Dee Dee was the perfect dog park buddy. What a good girl.

Dora Too!

For the past few weeks Dylan and Dora have been tearing up the dog park with a new friend. A sweet boxer named, wait for it.... Dora!

Dora and Dora love to play bitey face and chase and tug-of-war. The girls had so much fun the two Doras even started meeting in the afternoon for a second play date.

But alas, all good things must come to an end. The “other” Dora’s parents are leaving this afternoon making this morning the final play date, for awhile anyway.

Stay safe, Dora, until we meet again.

Runs With the Big Dogs

Django is one of Dora’s dog park buddies. Dora loves Django.

At something over 150 pounds, Django is a bit bigger than Dora... That doesn’t deter Dora.

Distancing

Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora have been living with the changes caused by the Coronavirus. They are doing their part where they can but this “social distancing” thing has them a little confused. Are their “6 feet” calculated in the same way as “dog years”? Does that make a foot enough?

In reality, things have changed mostly for the better with the Red Head crew. They are enjoying even more time with Mom and Dad than usual. The crew never could figure out why they would ever be left alone.

Unfortunately, their Bahamas trip has been canceled. Red Head will be staying in a Key West for now until the situation becomes more clear - if it ever does. For Mom and Dad it’s a very different place as this lively destination turns into a ghost town.

The crew’s schedule is unchanged - up at 6 am, breakfast, short nap, trip to the dog park and a walk, spending the rest of the day guarding against pirates (plus a few more naps), supper, and then cuddle time with a Mom and Dad until bedtime.

No worries, we’re all doing just fine. The Red Head projects list is steadily shrinking. There are lots of new recipes to try - Mom has learned how to make seitan. Dad has been tearing up the guitar. There are books to read, movies to watch, and kids to play with. While it may not be the winter we had planned, we are healthy and have the resources we need. With so many facing so much worse, we feel extremely fortunate. Looking forward to the good times ahead.

Sweet....

The weather is just not looking good for a Bahamas crossing. The Red Head crew hasn’t quite given up yet. Meanwhile, Dylan and Dora cuddle up while the winds howl.

Still aDORAble

It’s been two years since Dora came into our lives. Since that day nothing has been quite the same. But wouldn’t change it for the world. We love you, sweet pea!

Goodbye, Izzy, Until We Meet Again

Sadly, this morning was Dora and Izzy’s final romp here at Key West. Izzy’s parents are heading out tomorrow to visit the west coast of Florida.

The girls have certainly had a great time tearing up the dog park every morning and old man Dylan enjoyed watching them. Dora is gonna miss her BFF. We’ll see you again, Izzy, hopefully real soon. Safe travels.

Hurry Up and Wait

The Red Head crew has been busy getting ready for their trip to the Bahamas. Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora have carefully watched over provisioning. Dylan still isn’t sure there’s enough dog treats but then what really is “enough.”

Mom and Dad procured a red wagon to help Dylan make the 1 mile trek to and from the beach and have been practicing. They’re not anticipating problems with the “to”, however, at nearly 13, Dylan may find the “from” more challenging.

Dora has been working out at the dog park with Izzy every morning to ensure she is in top physical condition.

There’s been a dinghy ride to make sure all is working well with the crew’s local transportation.

Jasper, docked behind Red Head on OLOH, had his dad capture the event.

With all preparations nearly done, the crew is now waiting for good weather. While we had hoped to leave Stock Island Marina Village by March 1st, weather has us waiting. But no one is complaining. What better place to wait than Key West!

Poor Girl

Not much new has been happening with the Red Head crew. Dog park in the morning. Walks, toys, and naps in the afternoons. Until today.

Unfortunately, Dora had to go into the cone of shame. She developed a couple of irritations on her paws that she just will not let go. As you can see, the cone has had some use. It has been worn at one time or another by each of the crew members. Dora’s not happy but we’re pretty sure she’s going to live...

Going to the Movies

Who needs to see an Oscar winning movie. We have the best entertainment right here. Dylan, Dora, Izzy, and Django tearing up the dog park!

Too Brief...

The kids had another visitor on Red Head. Mom met DJ (Debbie) about 30 years ago when they were both working as sales managers at Apple. Some friendships just stick. It’s been too long (BD, before Dora) since we were together, so the entire crew was thrilled when she decided to visit us in Key West.

We had a great time doing, well, not much of anything, but Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora loved the extra attention.

Almost as much as they liked the special handmade treats that DJ brought.

The visit ended way too soon. The crew was sad to see her go.

With a final farewell as her plane took off over Red Head, we are hoping to be together again soon.

DJ, the kids wanted you to know the Bahamas are pretty great...

Gracie

Even the most casual follower of TakingPaws will have seen many pictures of Gracie and the crew romping on the beaches of the Bahamas. Dylan, Dee Dee, and Gracie have spent countless hours swimming after the bumper, taking dinghy rides, and gazing at each other across the bow. They were quickly dubbed “The Three Amigos.” There have never been better buddies.

Just before Christmas, we received the sad news that Gracie had crossed the rainbow bridge. It left a huge hole in our hearts. Last weekend Gracie’s people came to Key West for a visit. We enjoyed good food, some Dark ‘n Stormies, strolling through the downtown, and, of course, reminiscing about Gracie. So many good times, so many wonderful memories.

We miss you sweet girl.

She’s Still Havin’ Fun

Dora has still been making her daily trek to the dog park. It doesn’t really matter who turns up, she still has fun. The past few days she’s been playing with Dory, a guest at the hotel.

And if no other dogs arrive, she finds other ways to entertain herself...

Seriously?!?!?!?

What did Mom just say? She asked for just one dog to be injury free. Dora cut her paw at the dog park this morning and is now in a sock like Dee Dee. Dora doesn’t need a cone, yet. Although we do now have three cones onboard. But it looks like Mom will be playing nursemaid to the entire crew for a while. Sigh...

Really!?!?!?

Two out of three of the Red Head crew are wearing cones of shame. We tried to avoid it - we really, really tried.  But Dylan started scratching at his incision in the middle of the night. And Dee Dee kept getting her sock off to chew on her paw. They have no one to blame but themselves...

That leaves only Dora cone-free. If she ends up in a cone Mom will be taking a long vacation...

Dylan’s Terrible Day

Dylan had a growth behind his ear that had been problematic. Today he was scheduled for surgery to have it removed. It required putting him completely under which was a bit concerning for a 12 and a half year old dog. He has a pretty big incision along with medication for the pain. But that’s not why his day was so terrible...

Prior to surgery, Dylan couldn’t eat anything after bedtime and his surgery wasn’t until 11 am. That meant over 12 hours without food or treats. An empty food dish, now that is truly horrifying.

He came through with flying colors and was even released early. Dylan is happy to be back on the boat with the rest of the crew.

But best of all, Dad gave him some food. Of course, Dee Dee and Dora thought that was pretty unfair.

We're all glad to have it behind us. There’ll be no dog park until the stitches come out but Dylan will definitely be getting some extra love (and maybe even some extra treats, after all, he does have some making up to do).