She Turned My Life Upside Down...But I Love It

"Ohhhh I thought love was only true in Fairy Tales and for someone else but not for me.  Oh love was out to get me that's the way it seemed and disappointment haunted all my dreams.  Then I saw her face now I'm a believer I couldn't leave her if I tried"...

The Story of Jessie Belle and Enzo Biscotti

I remember the date like it was yesterday it was a snowy day on November 30, 2011 I had just celebrated my 1st birthday when I joined a new online "social club" called Doggyspace.  There were so many pretty girls there it made my Golden head spin.  Being the handsome eligible bachelor that I was I started looking real close at all these lovely ladies.  Then suddenly this beautiful Border Collie mix with a sweet southern accent poked her head around the corner and smiled at me! Well that smile made me feel all light like I was floating about in space!  I couldn't sleep because all I could think about was this sweet southern Belle by the name of Jessie Belle.  She was on my mind during the day and all night.  I could not get her out of my head or my heart.  I had to think about what to do this was an incredibly big decision to ask a lovely young lady to be your "forever" girl.  So I waited and waited and waited and hoped that she would want me as her "forever" guy.  I turned 2 years old on November 27, 2012 and on November 29th I politely asked "Miss" Jessie if she would be my girl.  I was so nervous I carried my collar around and shook my toys while I awaited an answer.  I received that answer the next day on November 30th.  I sat at the computer and stared at her message that she had sent me.  I read it very slowly...It said Yes Enzo I would love to be your Forever Girl!  I jumped up and ran around the room...she said Yes, she said Yes!!!  That day was the happiest day of my life! 

Now came the tough part I am a mountain guy and she is a beach gal.  We are worlds apart and I didn't speak "southern"!  I was literally in a tizzy.  What do I do now!  I have a girl and I am to scared to talk to her!  I consulted with some of my "guy" friends on Doggyspace who told me Enzo if you can't talk to her then you will have to show her how you feel about her.  Hmm...I thought and pondered about how to show a girl how much you care about her.  Then it hit me!  I put on my best dressy tie to make a trip to the jewelry store and spent my cookie money on a pink promise collar with a big sparkly stone in it to send to Miss Jessie. 

Then I worried for days about what she would think about the promise collar...

Well in a few days I received a message from Miss Jessie saying how much she loved the collar and then I knew I had a companion for life.  She is my very best friend, my confidant, my girl.  Together we created and opened Enzo's Garage and Race Shop.  Later we planted a garden for her to plant her flowers.  I also built a picnic area with a BBQ so she could create her wonderful culinary creations to serve to the clients at the garage.  We have exchanged gifts and cards throughout the years and are the best of friends.  My nickname for her is Sweet Pea so every year she sends me "Spring" in the form of Sweet Pea seeds since Spring comes so late on the mountain. This is the kind of girl Miss Jessie is, kind, funny and loving.

So on November 30th this year we will be celebrating 6 wonderful years of friendship.  For those of you that are wondering there are no plans for a marriage between us.  We live miles apart and this way we are free to talk to other "guys" and/or "gals".  But we will always be a couple because Miss Jessie stole my heart and forgot to give it back.  And truthfully I don't want it back as it belongs to her. 

"You are in my heart, your in my soul, you'll be my breath should I grow old...your in my soul"

The Mountain Dogs Tackle A 14 Teener

It was a beautiful bluebird sort of day when Shyla, R, Molly, Maya and Enzo set out to climb the highest peak in the state.  They checked their packs making sure that they had all of the essentials for their trip up the mountain.  Enzo glanced over at the youngest member of their climbing party, Miss Molly who was completely inside of her pack with her head out and eating what appeared to be kibble!  Miss Molly I hope that you don't get hungry on our adventure because I think you just ate your rations for the trip.  Molly's eyes were huge as she licked her lips and her pack nearly fell over with the force of her butt wiggle!  But Enzo I was hungry now, right now I just want to run, play and explore the mountain.  Well alright I think I have some extra kibble just in case you need it.  Miss Shyla the most experienced of the expedition said to Enzo I think we had better get on the trail so we reach the summit before morning.  Yes Shyla I believe you are correct about the time.  Enzo shivered at the thought of hiking in under the cover of darkness and what may be lurking behind every rock.  He unzipped the small pocket of his pack and made sure that he packed his Binky just in case they ran into an unfriendly bruin.  He decided that you should never venture into the outdoors without a Binky or two besides maybe one of your friends might need a Binky too and he was polite enough to share.  He looked at his group of high altitude mountain friends and smiled to himself.  There was lovely Miss Molly who was frantically throwing things back into her pack while still being distracted by a bumble bee that was flying around the sub alpine flowers.  Miss Shyla was neat, tidy, organized and her chocolate colored coat gleamed elegantly in the mid morning sun.  She was soft spoken and smart.  Enzo had grown to trust her judgement as well as admire her intelligence.  He adored Shyla's brother R who right now was busy chasing butterflies with Molly.  He thought those two made a cute couple as he almost broke out laughing when he realized he was playing the part of a canine matchmaker!  A black lab and an Aussie now that is a pair!  Then he looked over at the matriarch of the expedition who was laying quietly on the ground beside Enzo.  Miss Maya thank you for coming with us on this adventure for we need your experience on the trail.  Enzo thought to himself, whew, I am sure glad that we have Miss Maya and Miss Shyla to lead the way because he knew that he had a terrible sense of direction and even got hopelessly lost in a corn field one time.  He was embarrassed to think that he needed to call on the Angels from the Bridge to help him find his way out!  He was still thankful that Judge Foley was not out partying that fateful day and was able to take his distress call!  

Miss Shyla stood up, stretched and barked ok troops it is time to hit the trail so put on your packs and we will head up the mountain.  They headed out almost in perfect cadence, nose to tail along the winding sub alpine trail lined with flowers and small pine trees.  Enzo sniffed the air and could smell the light scent of a small mountain stream, twisting and turning into the valley below.  The air was filled with delightful smells of deer, elk and squirrels.  WAIT...SQUIRREL!!!!!!  He felt a dog paw slap his butt and R who was right behind said stay on track Enzo no squirrel chasing today!  Oh phooey thought Enzo that takes all the fun out of it!

They walked and climbed for a really long time winding around rocks and through lovely fields of alpine flowers.  Shyla stopped and sniffed the air and turned to Miss Maya do you smell that?  Yes said Miss Maya and don't let Enzo get a whiff of it or he will need his Binky.  Miss Shyla laughed at the thought of her big Golden friend with a Binky shaped like human lips stuck in his mouth for the duration of the trip because he smelled a bear!  Maya and Shyla smiled at each other with the same thought that Enzo was big enough to pass himself off as a little bear cub!  But suddenly there was the big bruin grazing in the meadow beside them rolling over rocks to hunt for grubs and other tasty little insects. Enzo looked over and shivered.  He quickly hid behind Maya and keep his eyes glued on the bear.  Remembering his commands from obedience school he softly whispered in the direction of the bear, sit, stay, on by and a new one "go away bear"!!!  At that Shyla could no longer contain herself from laughter at her silly friend and unzipped his pack and stuck a Binky in his mouth.  Maya took the string and attached it to Enzo's collar so he couldn't lose it along the way.  The way she figured it the worst thing ever was to have a big dog on a mountain climbing expedition that is terrified of bears and loses his Binky!  

The sun was slowly beginning to recede below the horizon and the air turned crisp and the four friends were beginning to feel hungry and thirsty.  Miss Maya turned and told the happy wanderers that this was going to be where they camped for the night.  They had plenty of shelter among the boulders and and a small stream was nearby for water.  Enzo and R helped the ladies pitch their tents and lay out their sleeping bags.  Then Shyla went through all their provisions and set out bowls of kibble for everyone.  Miss Molly looked very worried that maybe she should not have eaten her kibble before the trip but was pleasantly surprised at the generosity of her friends as they carefully divided their kibble with her.  They ate in silence and then took a group trip to the creek for a long drink of water that somehow broke out into a game of tag!  They ran and played until they had no choice other than to crawl into their sleeping bags and fall into a deep sleep for the night.  The morning light lit up the sides of their tents in a deep rose color that sparkled on the mountain stream.  Enzo came out of the tent and looked at the beautiful sight that unfolded in front of him and had awoken the birds who sang a serenade in C for the lone hikers.  Enzo looked down into the valley and then to the summit of the mountain and whispered to himself...An angel robed in spotless white, bent down and kissed the sleeping night, the night awoke to blush the sprite was gone, men saw the blush and called it dawn...  It was indeed a beautiful sight but it made him wish that Miss Jessie was there to enjoy the view with him.  But he knew that she was safe on the island with her parents and brother Roscoe a long ways away from the bears...shiver.  

After splitting up the last of the kibble and sharing cookies the brave mountaineers started up the last trek of their journey involving steep traverses across boulder fields and loose shale.  The summit was not that far away but it seemed like hours before they reached the top.  They walked and walked until their paws hurt but the fearless four kept on trekking.  Suddenly they reached the end of the trail and everyone was left breathless including in a literal sense!  As they gazed north, south, east and west.  Wow what a sight they all said at once!  And in the words of CW McCall "My isn't pretty up here"!  The four friends stood in awe for many minutes soaking up every bit of the solitude that the mountain had to offer.  Then R turned to the group and said wait right here I have something to leave that will show the humans that us doggies were standing right here on top of the world and we did it without any fancy technology or human stuff but just plain doggy sense.  He reached into his pack and pulled out a very small flag so they did not leave such a large impact on the environment.  He carefully dug a small hole and placed the flag with a paw print and the four names of his friends on the top of the mountain.  He smiled and said now they will know that we were here.  The friends stood paw in paw and gazed at R's flag knowing that someday someone would write about their amazing accomplishment about the dogs that tackled and won the 14 teener.

Golden Kisses, 
Enzo 

Binkies And Bears

I admit it I am addicted to Binkies!  I found my first Binky in the church parking lot when I was around 2 years old and thought that was great fun to carry around.  This was in the summer and very soon after I met my first bear, nose to nose in our yard!  I was certain there was some sort of connection between the Binky and meeting the big bruin that didn't want to be my friend!  So ever since that day I have wanted my Binky when I smell bears in the yard.  Binkies are the best for emergency bear comfort.  My Mom has posted a lot of photos of me on the human site called Facebook with my Binky so my Doggyspace friends have mailed me a lot of new ones over the years.  I now have a big collection of Binkies including "lips", pink bears, a Binky Dog, a Binky Duck and even a Binky on a string that attaches to my collar when I go on Bear Patrol which is pretty much all summer and fall here on the mountain.

So I just want to say thank you to all of my friends who have supported my Binky addiction all of these years and in the meantime I am going to call a Binky support group at 1-NOB-INKY!  Some day I just might be Binky free!!! 

Hmm....Will any of you still recognize me without my Binky? 

Golden Kisses From The Mountain,
Enzo

On The Farm Raising Kane

Enzo its time to get up!  Enzo opened his eyes and blinked, why its still dark outside we should still be asleep Kane.  Kane barked loudly in Enzo's ear you are a farm dog today and we have chores to do.  A farmers work starts before the sun comes up and doesn't end until the sun sets.  Enzo yawned and stretched and wandered out in the kitchen where Kane's dad had set a bowl of kibble down for Enzo and Kane.  They both emptied their bowls in record time and set out at a run to the fields to start the chores.  First they checked out all the farm equipment making sure that it was all in the proper order and no varmints were hiding there.  Then it was off to the barn to chase the mice out so they would not eat the grain.  Then the next task at hand, Enzo thought was pretty fun since he was a bird dog and that was to chase the pheasants back into the field where they belonged.  Although this seemed a  little backwards to Enzo since he was trained to bring pheasants back it seemed odd to chase them away.  But he obediently did what Kane asked him to do since after all he was a guest on Kane's farm and he made sure that he was a polite guest.  In the distance Enzo watched as Kane's dad drove the tractor in what seemed to him "driving in circles" making furrows into the dusty earth.  Attached to the tractor was something he thought looked like a plow.  Kane caught the quizzical look and said yes Enzo that is a plow.  Dad is getting the ground ready to plant crops.  What is he going to plant asked Enzo.  This time it is wheat, the winter wheat has already been harvested and gone to market so it is time to plant more.  Do you grow toe-maters and taters on your farm asked Enzo?  Toe-Maters asked Kane?  What is that?  Enzo pawed at the ground and said thats what my mom calls tomatoes.  You know that round red fruit that humans put on hamburgers! (Yummmm....Hamburgers...drool fell lightly from both dogs at the mention of hamburgers)!  Yes said Kane I know what you are talking about now!  Come with me and I will show you.  We don't grow them as a crop but just in a small garden, with beans, peas, squash, carrots (ewww...Enzo whispered to Kane, don't tell my mom that you grow carrots, because she can't stand carrots)!  Kane smiled and told Enzo don't worry I won't say a word not even to my dad!  Enzo looked carefully at the beautiful garden with all the vegetables growing then it occurred to Enzo that Kane's garden wasn't in a "box" (a greenhouse) like his garden on the mountain.  Kane how come you don't need a greenhouse for your garden like I do?  Kane puzzled over this one but he said we will ask my dad tonight when he is done plowing.  Do you want to see our potato plants?  Yes said Enzo thinking about his own tater patch that he has planted every year since he was 2.  Kane proudly showed Enzo their potatoes and Enzo's eyes were huge!  The plants were over 2 feet tall and it was only early June.  How did you get them so big?!  Mine are only just coming up and my tomatoes are just baby plants.  Kane suddenly got it!  It has to do with the altitude that you live at Enzo.  You are way up high on the mountain and we are what you call lowlanders.  Our growing season is much longer than yours and summer starts much sooner so our veggies get a head start on yours!  So the mountain is not very good for growing good things to eat, at that thought Enzo looked sad.  Kane said Enzo your mountain has many things that the plains don't.  You can fish, camp and play in the woods.  You have beautiful scenery, mountain streams and very few humans.  Besides you can still grow your garden in a "box"!  Enzo thought for a moment about all the beauty of the mountain but then took another look at Kane's farm.  Beautiful gardens with flowers and veggies.  Flat beautiful landscape where you could see for miles filled with pheasants to play with and even better with the company of his good friend Kane.  

That evening after a big meal Kane, his dad and Enzo sat down in the living room, their eyes heavy from a long days work.  Somewhere there was the sound of a clock ticking and both Kane and Enzo were enjoying the gentle ear rubs from Kane's dad.  Enzo yawned and thought yes life on a farm is good and was so grateful to his friend Kane for inviting him for a visit.  Enzo started to fall asleep but as he did he thought to himself I wonder if I would make a good farm dog?  

Roscoe's Whale Of A Tale

The boat rocked and swayed in the biggest pond Enzo had ever laid eyes on.  Roscoe seemed totally unconcerned as steered the boat out to sea looking for the perfect place to fish.  Enzo wondered how big are these fish when he looked at the size of the fishing poles Roscoe had brought to use.  Enzo tentatively looked off the side of the boat just as it bounced over another small breaker.  Whats the matter asked Roscoe, Enzo you look like a "Dramamine Sailor"!  Enzo sighed and said this is not exactly what I had in mind when you asked if I wanted to go fishing!  I have never seen a pond this big before, are you sure you know where we are, as he squinted in the bright sun trying to see the other side of the pond, which seemed to be missing! Roscoe laughed at his silly friend and said you are going to have to look awfully hard to see the other side because it is a long ways away. 

Here you go Enzo handing him a very large fishing pole rigged with bait that Enzo had never seen before.  Drop your line in right there said Roscoe and you will catch a whale!  A whale ***gasped*** Enzo, oh my noooooo.  He had just watched a program about whales on the Animal Planet and there was no way he wanted one of those on his line!  How in the world would you land it he wondered.  But he politely did as Roscoe said and let the line sink slowly into the depths below. 

He waited for what seemed to be a very long time but suddenly there was a big tug on the line and the reel went Whirrrrrrrrrrrrr!  Enzo had to catch himself as the big fish was trying to pull him overboard.  Roscoe made a grab for Enzo's collar and held on as both of them were being pulled around the boat.  Wow Enzo you did catch something really big!  Just don't let me fall over the side Enzo said with his eyes wide open!  He whispered I don't swim very well.  Don't worry Enzo we got this and tightened his grip on his friends collar.  The warm breeze and salty spray from the ocean made him think maybe he did catch a whale!  He reeled and reeled and reeled until he thought his paws might fall off.  Finally they both caught a glimpse of the fish Enzo had caught and it was huge!  Roscoe looked off the side and smiled. Enzo you caught an Atlantic Halibut and its a big one!  After what seemed like hours and maybe it was hours Roscoe and Enzo landed the big fish and both of them looked at each other with satisfaction that they would be bringing home dinner for everyone tonight! 

So Enzo how was your first deep sea fishing trip?  Enzo?  Roscoe shook his head and thought his friend had way to much excitement today because he was fast asleep....zzzzzzzz.  Roscoe smiled to himself as turned the boat around heading back to shore.  I think I had better take Enzo fishing in the "small ponds" from here on!  And that is when Roscoe decided that Enzo was not cut out to be a sea dog like him! Yup his buddy was more of a mountain "trout dog"! 

"I Would Hammer Out Freedom"

"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it."

     ...John Adams

Enzo yawned, removed his glasses and leaned back in chair. He carefully closed the book he was reading about American history. With heavy eyes he dropped into a deep sleep...when suddenly he awoke to the sound of the cry The British Are Coming! Enzo jumped up knocking his three cornered hat over his eyes which hid the sight of an incoming musket volley.  He looked at one of his comrades and whispered what year is this? 1775 he replied and handed Enzo a musket and black powder.  Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes said the solider who was dressed in tattered clothes and rags for shoes. The battle raged in hito the night as Enzo drifted into another deep sleep.  He awoke this time in the farm yard of Wilmer McLean's farm on July 21, 1861 at the First Battle of Bull Run. Lots of shots were fired and Enzo looked at his tattered blue uniform. He thought to himself he was lucky he had boots. Many of the soldiers in gray didn't. He also saw young children with drums dressed in tiny tattered uniforms in the middle of the battle. Enzo's instincts made him want to protect the children but the battle raged on. Enzo continued his journey in time to end up standing in the rose garden of General Robert E. Lee while a tall man wearing a stove pipe hat spoke of hallowed ground and that we would not perish from the face of this earth. His next stop was Appomattox where General Lee surrendered to General Grant on April 9, 1865 in Wilmer McLean's parlor. What a journey thought Enzo but his time travel was not over. He awoke again and it was May of 1915 in a place called Flanders Field. He stood in silence as he saw the beautiful red poppies blooming in amongst the fallen soldiers. The price of freedom was becoming very real to Enzo but his journey continued to a place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Pearl Harbor. He watched in horror as the Japanese planes flew over he covered his eyes because he simply could not witness the sight unfolding in front of him. After a brief nap he awoke to the cold Korean weather helping his fellow comrades patrol the borders as they tried to prevent the division of Korea into two separate countries. Enzo wondered why humans liked to build walls. To him it seemed ominous and unfriendly. What if you needed to borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor he thought? No one seemed to let people climb over the walls. That's not very neighborly. Deep in thought he suddenly realized he was deep in the jungle of a place formerly known as French Indo China now Viet Nam. The year was 1965 and he knew he was scared. There were big snakes and tigers as well as people shooting at you. He wondered what are we fighting for? But it was all about freedom for all even for people far away that spoke in a language he didn't understand. Finally there was peace for several decades he thought. Then came 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan. It made his head spin and he longed for his own bed with the peace and tranquility of the mountain. These men and women that gave their lives for us are heroes and suddenly Enzo got the answer he had been searching for the price for freedom was not free. There were many sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy today. Enzo turned and placed a flower upon an unmarked grave and stood in silence this Memorial Day. 
May you have safe and peaceful holiday as we remember those that gave their all for us.  
Golden Kisses, Enzo

Which Photo Should I Use For My New "Glob"?

I need some help deciding which photo to use for my new "Glob".  Let me know which one you like! 

1.  INDIANA ENZO  I think I might need a smaller hat but I am a cool dog!

2. REALLY MOM  I have the eye roll down to perfection!  

3.  THE LIBRARY LADY LOOK Another eye roll photo!!

I will be looking forward to hearing what you think!
Golden Kisses, Enzo 

Enzo Consults Judge Foley About "The Blog"

Mommmmmm....I need a new pencil!  Mine broke again! 

Boy this blogging stuff is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think I need to consult with Judge Foley about this new fangled thing that makes the humans laugh. 

Enzo sat down at Judge Foley's big walnut desk and ran his paws across the smooth surface and suddenly his paw was stuck to the bottom of the desk.  Uh Oh...I think I found River's chewing gum again.  He removed the gum from the bottom of the desk and threw it into the nearby waist basket.  Then he needed to remove the gum from his paw.  Yuck he exclaimed its stuck to my fur!  Well I will just keep my paws in my lap while I discuss "The Blog" with the Honorable Judge Foley. 

Enzo folded his paws in his lap just as he heard the big heavy door open with a loud squeak.  He jumped and Judge Foley laughed.  Yes I meant to oil that last week and I forgot.  Enzo noticed the door wasn't the only thing that squeaked in the Judge's office just as Foley sat down in her big swivel office chair it let out a loud ear splitting "Squeak".   Enzo made a mental note to bring his tool bag with him next time and do some office maintenance.  Judge Foley smiled at Enzo over the top of her glasses and politely asked, now what do you need to know about blogging?  Well said Enzo trying to avoid eye contact and stared at his feet and mumbled what is blogging and what do I need to know?  Judge Foley leaned back in her chair and said to Enzo well it is a place where a dog can bark out their own stories and maybe even make a difference in the world.  Hmm...Enzo thought that sounded like a good thing after all he had a head full of stories that he could tell and making a difference in the world sounded like a positive thing to him.  Well asked Judge Foley is this something you would like to do?  Yes said Enzo it is.  Just one thing thats bugging me and thats the name "Blog".  It just sounds dumb.  But that is what it is called Enzo and I don't think it will change.  But you just said I could make changes in the world if I did this blogging thing.  Well yes but changing the the name may not be a good start.  

Enzo stood up and leaned on Judge Foley's desk and whispered this to her...
I would like to rename my Blog by rearranging the letters to spell Glob !  Judge Foley gave Enzo a  great big smile and opened her laptop and quickly typed an official document granting permission for Enzo from here forward to write Globs instead of Blogs !   Foley closed her laptop and said you know Glob does have a nice sound to it.  Enzo smiled and said thank you Foley and hopped into the wrecker from the garage and rumbled back up to the mountain to start working on his very first Glob!