Outdoor Living, Red Dog Style

Having spent the last three years under the wise tutelage of the Red Dog, Shiva's Mom and I are anxious to show-off some of what we've learned from her about being - and staying - in the moment.  To that end (and with a little help from Shiva's Mom's Pinterest addiction) we created an evening-oriented outdoor living space reflective of our shared interests.  It's a place to enjoy good food, cold drinks and great friends.

With that, we give you what we like to call:

Tiki Top* Southern Appalachian Backyard Beach Bar/Beer Garden/Somewhat Vegetarian Grill:

The flaming tiki torches give the flower bed a pleasing Polynesian jungle vibe, don't you think?

Edison lights make pretty much anything look cool...even our backyard.

Note the metal shed in the background. Classic relics such as this are considered by some to be the apex of Southern Appalachian lawn architecture.

Like many things of (relative) beauty, Tiki Top is best viewed in dim light, which unfortunately further dilutes my already rudimentary photography skills.  It really is something one has to experience in person.

This endeavor also will allow me to unveil/pull from mothballs the vintage tiki bar my lovely wife found for me a few years ago in a local antique & garage sale store.  No longer will it be a combination storage unit/art table/cat perch; rather, it once again will serve its intended purpose as a funky-cool Mai Tai delivery device!  Check it:

Can't you just feel the Tiki vibrations already?

* For those unfamiliar with our hometown, it is known - among other things - as Rocky Top.  Hence, our choice to combine our love of all things Tiki with our landlocked Tennessee home.

University Study Yields Encouraging Results

Recent findings of almost two years of study at the University of Windsor in Ontario on the cancer-fighting properties of dandelion root have shown enough promise to earn the scientists substantial grants for further research.  The entire article can be found here, and it's this kind of outside-the-box thinking that can lead to fantastic breakthroughs. 

Please send this research team positive thoughts as they delve deeper into what looks like potential hope for all those fighting this terrible disease!

Just Read New eBook Called What the Dog Ate...

And we LOVE it!  Our review of this new novel from Jackie Bouchard is here and you can buy it here for ONLY $2.99!?  What a steal!  All in all, a fantastic summer read and well worth the price. 

You get this cool picture AND the book for only $2.99!

 
If you like Jackie's writing, please visit her blog Pooch Smooches.  It's a lot of fun, and she's a fellow tripawd lover, so you know she's cool!  WOOF!!

Is 3 Years Really Possible?

Even our most loyal friends and readers are shocked to learn that the third anniversary of Shiva's osteosarcoma diagnosis and subsequent amputation has come and gone without the usual fanfare.  But really, what more can be said?  At this point, even hyperbole fails to capture the magnitude both of this achievement/happy accident and our gratitude.  After all, this is a dog that "should" have died in 2009 and gives new meaning to the term "outlier."   

Therefore, we choose instead a simple, heartfelt 'thank you' to all those who have been with us at any point along this journey, and move on to sharing with you what keeps her engaged and around.  It really begins and ends with her girls.  Without them in Shiva's world, who knows?

Shiva and Kennedy, one of her favorite reasons for living.

Shiva and her beloved Olivia, along with that pesky kitten.

There are others to be sure; the little ones are just the most important.  Here are a few other shots of Her Royal Redness enjoying her Bonus Time in the sun.

Basking in her yard.

Willing me to put down the camera and pet her.

Come to me, squirrel.  You know you want to.

Enjoying a sunrise together.

Resting on a trail in Ft. Pulaski, Tybee Island, GA

As close as we could get to Tybee's beaches with a dog.

She's done a thorough job of showing us how to be in - and enjoy - the moment.  If this happens to be her final Spring (which we've been saying for three! years now), let's enjoy the heck out of it.  Hope we see you soon!

Back to the Thinking Spot

 As long-time followers of the Red Dog Blog know, one of Shiva's very favorite places to be is along the shores of the Tennessee River at a place she likes to call her Thinking Spot.  Due to the unfortunate mix of our busy schedules and her advancing age, she doesn't get to visit as often as she'd like.  We vowed to change that.  The Red Dog approves.

Can't you feel the "deep thoughts" flowing?

The Red Dog loves her some geese.

You're alright, you know that?

Is that goose poop I smell?

Okay, so not all her thoughts are that deep...but, still.  The Red Dog loves this spot like few others.  It takes a little more time to get there that it used to, and we always need mom to pick us up in the car...but it's so worth it, don't you think?