Sophie Lou

Cowgirl up! Have a great Halloween!

As mentioned in a previous blog, Sophie will often times lay in her bed staring at us while we sit on the couch.  There are times, however that she surrenders.

See Sophie?  That dog bed isn't so bad after all.... 

In the evenings when we are relaxing on the couch, we get a feeling someone else would really like to have the couch to herself:

Yep, she lays in her bed (as you can see, she has two) across the room and stares at us in an attempt to guilt us into moving off the couch so she can have it... The Golden life!

After many rainy, gloomy days, we had a break and saw the sun today.  We decided to take Sophie to the pumpkin patch.

Sophie and Dad

Sophie sporting her Halloween, "Bad to the Bone" handkerchief

Getting some love from a little girl who shouted over the entire pumpkin patch, "LOOK MOM, IT'S A GOLDEN RETRIEVER!"

Holding her down for one last pose before leaving the patch.

When there is something new in Sophie's surroundings, she feels the need to really "check them out".  This usually requires some close observing and sniffing.  The other day Sophie's dad brought in a bike trainer to tune his road bike before a biathalon.  The thorough analysis began immediately:

Keep a distance while observing the size of the unidentified object.

Taking a closer look

Observing how it works....

Succumbing to the mystery

Next weekend there is a big mountain biking event being sponsored by our good friends who own (the best ) bike shop in our area. In preparation for this big biking event, Sophie's dad has been busy building bike ramps for entertainment. 

The bike ramps were painted this morning.

Guess who wanted to lend a hand?!?!

She's such a good helper!  What would we do without her?

Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin'....That's our Soph

On the weekends, Sophie seems to know Mom and Dad have a little extra time for her.  We take Sophie to the farmers market, hiking, shopping at PetCo, etc. 

Even if we do not plan on taking her somewhere, she typically guilts us into it.  How, you ask?  The following picture should help explain the guilt trip Sophie gives us on the weekends:

That's right!  It's the big brown eyes every time. 

She lays where she can watch us get ready with eyes that seem to say, "Golly, gee, I wish someone would take me somewhere...."

Last weekend Sophie's Dad was in a bike race.  She and I helped cheer him on.

Sophie sporting her, "I must behave collar"

Hanging out with Dad after his race.  And, yes she did get to meet other furry friends.

The cheering section.

Dad finished 9th out of 17 in his first cycle-cross race. We were proud!