World of Octobers

We took advantage of the fair weather and traipsed around town this weekend and finally acquired a pumpkin among other things.

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a sight to be seen when the flowers are in full bloom but it has a certain charm during the fall season as well. Aside from our little group, everyone else seemed to be a photographer or was getting their picture taken. 

The dogs enjoyed wandering around and sniffing about. Our foster dog was a little afraid of the ducks and geese and carefully avoided them. He seems to have no prey drive whatsoever. He barely even glances at the cats and squirrels we encounter on walks. 

Mr. N? His terrier brain went into overload. Not to the point of diving after them (he is opposed to getting wet) but on land, he wanted to chase them very badly. One goose hissed at him and far from being afraid, I think it amped him up even more. No survival instinct, I tell you. 

There's a footpath across one of the ponds and Mr. N fell in the middle while we were crossing. It wasn't deep at all so he just got his legs wet but he wasn't happy at all about the "bath." 

Afterwards, we strolled around the nearby college campus. The dogs had a lot of fun frolicking on the grass and leaves. Then we went to the pet store where (with another gift certificate) the dogs got treats, a sweater and a jacket. 

I was thinking about how Onyxx owns nothing in this world. I know dogs don't really care about worldly possessions but it just seemed a little sad. Now he has a coat of his own that he can take to his next home. 

I think I may have to exchange the red sweater though. It's Mr. N's usual size in that brand so I didn't bother trying it on him but it seems a little short both in length and girth. 

On Sunday, we finally went to go pick out a pumpkin on Sauvie Island with some friends. It was way more crowded than we anticipated (it was foggy when we set out) but we didn't have to wait too long for a parking space. Once the rest of the group finished paying for their atrocious coffee, we headed over to the hayrides. The dogs seemed a little hesitant at first but got used to the motion. Onyxx seemed to enjoy it more but he also enjoys window watching in the car.

There were a lot of rotten pumpkins out on the field and of course the dogs wanted to inspect all of them. After trudging across a field, we located a suitable pumpkin in the next field and headed back. Only this time, the boyfriend was lugging a pumpkin so I was in charge of both dogs. 

He somehow found a seat on the crowded hayride and told us he would meet us back at the entrance. I reminded him that on the Titanic, the women and children went first and he just laughed and waved. 

Lugging two dogs is significantly more work than just one. The dogs got to sit on a hay bale of their own next to me as both of them wouldn't fit on my lap on the next hayride. Mr. N made friends with the woman behind us and used her for balance. Mr. N's former foster calls him charismatic and she's right. 

Did anyone else do any autumnal activities this weekend?