Moonshine Grill - Downtown ATX

My parents have out-of-town visitors so they knocked off early from work on Friday and took us all out for lunch at Moonshine Grill.  I love going out to eat!

We were seated on the patio and I was one of three dogs there. I made friends with the dog at the next table. We were both tethered to the iron fence a few feet away from our humans' tables so were were able to visit with (sniff) each other. The server lady brought a water bowl for the two of us to share.  I think both of our parents were thankful that we made friends as we pretty much left them alone to enjoy their human talk.  

The server lady was very friendly and the service was excellent. First, she brought seasoned popcorn for the table. Good thing, too, because the humans were starving.  Mom looked me right in the eye and told me dogs don't eat popcorn but I caught a few kernels when the humans accidentally dropped them and, on the contrary, dogs DO eat popcorn!  

My parents and their friends feasted on warm bacon dip, pimento cheeseburger, Texas Akaushi beef meatloaf, jalapeño hanger steak, and breaded walnut chicken.  While I was occupied with my dog friend, I did occasionally give my parents my side-eye to see if they would drop any of that delicious food for me.  I am not allowed to receive food from the table but I should always be ready in case my parents change their minds one day.  

We got up to leave before my new doggy friend was ready to leave so I wanted to stay behind with my new friend. Mom told me I had to pose for my blog pic but I was mad at Mom for making me leave my new friend. To show her how mad I was, I wouldn't look at her while she was taking my pic.  Bratty behavior, I know.  But I am now a teenager (in dog years) and these are just really confusing times for me. 

Moonshine Grill is a great dog-friendly place with excellent service and wonderful food. Oh, and also, the building is on the Austin Ghost Tour so the place may be haunted. 

Numero28 - Downtown ATX

I LOVE SXSW week in Austin, Texas!  The city is so alive with new sights, sounds, and smells. I spent a lot of time this week in my kennel-in-the-sky with my face pressed  to the window as I watched all the excitement happening below. So today my parents finally took me for a long walk around the city so I could experience the excitement for myself.  There were so many people who wanted to stop and pet me. I was even asked to be in a group party pic!  I heard many bands playing as we walked by each venue. I am no longer afraid of these loud sounds because my parents have brought me to many outdoor concerts in the past. I strutted my stuff with my tail held high so my parents knew I was just fine with all the noise and the crowd. 

Soon Mom got hungry so we stopped at a pizza place called Numero28. We were seated on the patio and I was given my own  bowl of water.  Since there wasn't anyone sitting next to us, I decided to sit next to Mom. Our waitress, Mandy, thought I was so cute and she snapped a pic of the three of us. 

My parents split a huge Caesar salad and a  Formaggi pizza - that's a fancy word for cheese.  Mom is very picky and only likes cheese pizza so Dad always gives her what she wants when they share food.   Mom said if I was good she would give me her pizza crusts later as I am never allowed to receive food directly from the table. Needless to say, I was on my best behavior!  

Numero28 is a wonderful dog-friendly restaurant with great thin crust pizza and great people. The manager came out to say hello to me and he gave me a nice head massage.  I loved sitting on the patio and watching the SXSW people walk by.  They also have pasta dishes and other entrees on the menu that my parents want to try next time.  Great family dinner spot to put in our rotation.

Liberty Kitchen - Downtown ATX

My parents and I went to dinner tonight with my Aunt Michele and Uncle Brian.  They came all the way from Houston and they even brought a toy for me!  

We went to Liberty Kitchen right down the street from our kennel-in-the-sky.  We had a table on the patio because of course I am not allowed inside the restaurant.  We didn't mind as the weather was perfect for sitting on the patio. 

I was a very good girl for most of the dinner. But I was only a somewhat good girl when the food was served.  I did peek my head above the table and try to give Mom my paw to shake several times while she was trying to eat with hope that she would reward me with a taste of her food. But can you blame me?  They were eating lobster stuffed with bourbon soaked crab meat, gumbo, redfish, lobster omelette, and shrimp and grits. Everything looked so tasty!  

I received so much attention from everyone at the restaurant.  I don't know why, but sometimes I encounter drunk people who compare me to a skunk.  Drunk guy asked Mom if he could pet me and he told me I look like a little skunk.  I wanted to say, "Oh yeah?  Well, you smell like a little brewery." 

But we all had a very nice time and I am glad I finally got to meet my parents' very dear friends. Here I am with my Uncle Brian. 

P. Terry's - Downtown ATX

This morning I ran errands with Mom while Dad slept in thanks to something called Presidents Day. First we went to the dog store. Mom bought more treats to use at my obedience training and I picked out a plush soccer ball that I wanted. Mom kept taking the soccer ball from me and putting it back but I was just as determined so I grabbed the soccer ball every time we passed it. Mom finally relented and bought it for me. 

Then we went to fill the car with gas and have some breakfast. Mom drove through P. Terry's and ordered an egg sandwich.  When we got to the window a lady smiled and gave me a huge milk bone!  Mom decided we should not eat in the car so she parked and we ate on P. Terry's patio.  This was such a great experience that Mom says she will only eat at "Abby friendly" establishments from now on. 

Barking Hound Village Daycare - Downtown ATX

This morning I knew something was up.  I wasn't asked to go into my kennel after my morning walk.  Mom left my harness on while she finished dressing for the day. I knew I was going somewhere, I just didn't know where. 

Mom and Dad got their computer bags together and jingled their keys and just as I suspected, I was going with them today! We had a short car ride and arrived at my new daycare, Barking Hound Village. 

I was so excited to be there!  I could already smell all the other dogs and I needed to hurry up and meet them. I didn't even care to say goodbye to my parents even though Mom tried to hug me tight. I squirmed away from Mom and went immediately with Miss Sarah, my new daycare teacher. 

Miss Sarah took me to my own private kennel made up of soothing white picket fences.  No metal crates here at Barking Hound Village.  I am surrounded by my new dog friends who also have their own white picket fence kennels.  Inside my kennel I have a raised cot, my own water bowl, and a view of the TV which is tuned into Animal Planet (my fav).  Some of the other dogs have their own blankets and toys that they brought from home. I'll definitely need to speak to Mom about packing my  own blanket and toys to bring to daycare.  Miss Sarah told me to just relax for a little while and soon I will get to go to the playground with all the other dogs!  

Here I am with Mom and Dad on my first day of daycare. 

And here I am on the playground with my new daycare friends! 

A

Pawstin Dogwalkers - Downtown ATX

Mom has been very sick the last two weeks and Dad has been been working nights and weekends picking up Mom's slack at their law firm.  So I've been spending extra time with Samuel, my Pawstin dogwalker, and all of my dog-walkin' pals! My pals come to my kennel-in-the-sky with Samuel to pick me up for our walks. I show them all of my toys and Mason, the yellow dog, tries to sneak out with my favorite bone!  Samuel sets him straight though. I just love my time with my Pawstin pals!

Photo Shoot - Lake Mueller ATX

Yesterday after obedience school, Mom and I stopped at Lake Mueller for an impromtu photo shoot. Lake Mueller is the perfect place to strike a pose. In fact, Mom had her bridal portraits taken at this location last summer. Here I am posing in the exact same spot as Mom did in her wedding dress.  

Cibolo, Texas

This weekend I am staying with my paternal human grandparents while my human parents are away.  The other night Mom took me for my usual evening potty break but then instead of going back up to our kennel-in-the-sky, we walked to the parking garage and there was Dad with Grandma and Granddad waiting for me.  Dad put me into their car and Mom squeezed me real tight. Then they were gone. This was all very confusing to me but I think  I now understand.  I saw my parents on FaceTime yesterday and Mom cried and they both said they missed me so much so I'm sure my parents will come back for me. 

Anyway, we drove for a while and I was good on the drive.  We arrived at my grandparents home and I got comfortable right away. I am allowed to sit pretty much wherever I want.  They have a huge backyard where I can play. I like exploring their home, especially the waste basket under Granddad's desk.  Here I am with Granddad. Grandma is an avid runner and she took me along for a three mile adventure.  Because of my surgery last week, I had not really been out at all.  I really needed that!  Here I am after doing our three mile loop. I am just exhausted! 

Sun City, Texas

So I'm here at my maternal grandparents for the week while I heal from my spay surgery. Since my grandparents are retired, I am never left alone because if I am ever left alone, I will wiggle out of this damn cone and lick and chew my suture line. I have done it before and given the chance, I would do it again.  It's not that hard to put my paw in the cone and separate the Velcro.  But Lolo (Grandpa) and Lola (Grandma) have kept a close watch on me and my cone antics. Lola also put socks on my feet so I won't scratch my suture line. Between the cone and the socks, I've pretty much given up on playtime for now. I'm so ready to just be a normal dog again!  

As is the custom of her culture and generation, Lola has covered all of her furniture with sheets so I am free to sit or sleep anywhere I want.  Here I am sleeping on one of Lola's sofas. 

Lolo and Lola's neighborhood is very different from my own downtown neighborhood. The people we encounter on our walks tend to move slower and when we do stop to say hello, it seems their conversations take forever to wind down.  It's definitely a slower pace out here in this retirement community.  But despite the slow pace, I still like going on walks because Lola will take off the cone and socks for our walk.  Since I am pretty much a genius, I have learned to ask to go out more frequently, thus getting freed from the cone and socks each time I ask to go out. I think she's on to me, though.  But  it doesn't matter because I am almost done healing and then I can go home!  

Spay Surgery - Austin Urban Vet - Downtown ATX

Poor me. I went for my spay surgery and right now I am absolutely miserable. I am wearing socks so I won't scratch my incision and also a lampshade on my head so I won't chew or lick my incision.  But my surgery was necessary because, let's face it, I'm too young and cute to be a mother and  I am happy being the only dog around here and getting all the attention. Plus, can you imagine what the HOA would do to my parents if I brought a litter of puppies into our kennel-in-the-sky?  Anyway, I hope to heal quickly so I can get back to my wonderful, exciting life!

NYE Concert - Vic Mathias Shores ATX

Happy New Year, everyone!  For New Years Eve my parents took me on a long walk around Ladybird Lake. We stopped at the outdoor concert hosted by the City of Austin. It was quite a party!  3 stages with live music, food trucks galore, and so many happy people.  I am quite accustomed to this type of environment now so I was a very good dog. I trotted around with my tail held high and met lots of humans, especially the little humans.  Of course, we had to be back home before the fireworks started...for my sake. But I had a great view of the fireworks from my kennel-in-the-sky and I was not in the least bit afraid of the noise. In fact, I went to the window to see what the fuss was about, then went back to my kennel to continue my beauty rest. I hope we can make this our New Year's tradition so we can always ring in the new year together.