Counting Down to...TEN

OK, so this is all about me, Jake, again. But it's for -- I think --- a REALLY good reason: tomorrow, January 1, 2012, I will be TEN YEARS OLD.

Just Harry and I -- and the Flat Guys -- have lots to tell you about how we all have spent the last two weeks of December. The Flat Guys went to St. Louis for a quick trip with the folks. And then we got to go to Orlando to spend Christmas with our sister and her new husband.

We'll tell you about all that later (if our Mom remembers we have a blog). But for now I've been pondering what it will be like to be in the double digits. Mom still calls me her puppy. Is that OK for a ten-year old? Will I have to be more serious?? Will I have to yield more territory to my brother who seems to be getting more pushy???Maybe not. After all, my grandpaw celebrated his 100th birthday this past September, and he still has a great sense of humor and enjoys life and, thank doG, gets to do pretty much what he wants.

So I think I'll just continue being me, and enjoying life! What do you say, everybody?

Let's stop to send our love to everyone who's not feeling so well, pause to remember our good friends who said good bye this year, and open the new year with fresh hopes for -- this is for you Archie -- peace in the world. And if it's not too much to ask, an end to the mean-spiritedness that seems to have permeated daily lives. (OK, and maybe lots of treats and regular tummy rubs!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!

Jake (and Just Harry and Mom and Dogdad)

Just Harry Demands Equal Time

So, has anybody noticed that our last three blogs have been all about Mr. Adorable, Mr. One-Ear Up, Mr. Perfect, aka Mr. Jake? Well, I live here too, And I can sit in a chair.

And I can look adorable even if both my ears usually stay down .

And I can get into the cushions. But when I go after the cushions, I really go after the cushions. Can Mr. Perfect achieve this degree of remodeling? I don't think so.

Just sayin'!!!

Just Harry

Another Day, Another Cushion!

Not quite sure how he does this! I keep telling him that this is MY chair -- but he has his own ideas.

Joan

Wordless Wednesday: Jakey in the Cushions with SQRRL

Ever hopeful. Ever thankful!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Jake and Just Harry

Finally! Flat Jake and Flat Just Harry Tell Seattle Tales

Uh, Mom, our flat selves don't have tails.

Of course, not, Flat Boyz. But we're talking tales, not tails...Remember, like the Heron-Cam used to do when Jake and Just Harry couldn't be present.

OK, Mom, we get it!

So, hello everybody!!! Here we are (two months ago) in Seattle, Washington, for the annual seaport convention that Mom always attends.

The first thing we did when we got there was to go to the famous Public Market.



On the way, we saw this interesting sign...but somehow we never found the shop because the humans were distracted by a French restaurant where Mom ate escargots (and drank lots of wine).
And then they were distracted by the amazing fish and flowers and exciting ambiance. We were shocked to see that our Dogdad has his own fabulous fish shop!!! The flowers, grown nearby and not imported from Colombia the way the flowers at home are, were spectacular!!! Huge bouquets for $10. We bought some for the hotel room -- and then stopped to sample some delicious cookies!

The next day was September 11 -- and from our room we could see the American flag at half mast on top of the Space Needle. It was an emotional moment.
We visited Washington University... where of course we saw our first president, for whom the university (and the state) were named.

The grounds of the university and the buildings are impressive. Lots of the buildings are named after one of the uniiversity's benefactors -- including Bill Gates and members of his family.Not all of those on the campus were students or faculty members. We found splendid Canadian geese -- including one who reminded us a bit of Ms. Lacie, our Lakie friend ... An exciting museum -- the Burke Museum -- that features Northwest native art is right next to the main campus of the university. Of course, knowing how much Mom loves that art, we had to visit.





Mom and Dogdad each had their eyes glued for their special interests. For Mom, it was the gantry cranes at the port.
For Dogdad, it was the articulated buses...
And the monorail. The convention included three delightful evening events. First a cocktail reception at the Space Needle, where everyone (except us) watched the sunset, ate prodigious amounts of oysters, shrimp, and Dungeness crab, and then viewed Seattle by moonlight.
Next evening's event was at the Aquarium, where jelly fish, star fish, and a seductive octopus were the stars.

And the third evening event was held at the Museum of Flight, a gala, where everyone (except us) sat and ate under an array of airplanes -- including a drone.
















Seattle is a fascinating city, and is proud of its world-recognized companies: Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks... as well as the original Nordstrom's, which is in an elegant plaza, with an extraordinary bird. (Did Mom buy anything? We're sworn to secrecy.)

And those are our Seattle tales, two months late for reasons beyond our control.

Flat Jake and Flat Just Harry