OSCAR ATE MY MUFFIN

Delicious Winter

Snow may not be everyone's preferred taste, but January in New England without a crisp blanket of white feels utterly lacking. Even after the sparkly silence of a city-mandated snow day has dusted off to expose sore shoveling muscles, lost mittens, and street-parking contests - you can't ignore the magic of winter... Just bundle up and keep those noses and toes toasty, dear friends!

Wicked Wonderful Autumn (Part 5)

Well, friends, it's happened... we've reached the end of our Wicked Wonderful Autumn-Inspired week of posts (brought to you by the letter "W"!)... It's been a JOY to work on this series (and reminisce about some of our favorite parts of the season), and we couldn't think of a more appropriate way to close out this project than to hunker down in front of one of Oscar's favorite things in the ENTIRE WORLD and settle into a good, well-deserved snooze. There's just no denying it - as a November drizzle starts to fall outside (and it actually is doing that, right this minute... ugh) the Warmth of a Woodstove is damn hard to beat.

Till next time, dear readers - we wish you bright days ahead and hope you find plenty of ways to appreciate your own highlights of the season, anytime, anywhere, and any season in which you see them.

Wicked Wonderful Autumn (Part 4)

Today's autumn-inspired feature (brought to you by the letter "W"!) needs little introduction - here on the East Coast we only wait all year for sweater weather! (if only Oscar were as big a fan as I am of accessorizing - winter would see him wrapped up in neck scarves like a Siberian prince!) 

*Before one makes a crack about toggle-jackets for creatures without the thumbs to work them, the Beast and I would like to remind everyone that not all canine clothing is silly and superfluous - there are a legitimate number of dogs out there with natural coats not befitting for their environment, and for these pups, a barrier against the elements, or simple added layer of warmth, can mean the difference between an uncomfortable dash around the block or a more pleasant, extended stroll (and when it comes to the deep dark depths of winter, every extra minute in the sunshine and fresh air helps). So if your companion is a sleek-coated, low body fat, sensitive soul, don't hesitate to help a critter out - zip, button or velcro him or her up into some Woolly Wear and get outside!

A Big Red Dog Meets the Giant of Boston

Last summer a mural went up on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, just next door to South Station. Created by the twin Brazilian street artists known as Os Gemeos, the work covers the entire 70 x 70' asymmetrical end of a Big Dig ventilation building and was erected in conjunction with a first ever solo show here in Boston. The ICA has long since moved on to other artists, and it took us until just this past February to pay the outdoor installation a visit, but I can safely report - it's one of the most beautiful, breath-taking pieces of art I've ever seen. Maybe it was the contrast of a vibratingly bright jam of colors against the dull grey skies that day, maybe it was the mural's sheer size and perfect framing by the surrounding city towers - whatever the combination, this epic urban friend literally stopped me in my tracks. Oscar, oblivious, but a true sport, squinted against icy precipitation just long enough to capture a portrait before trudging over to a trash can for a quick pee.

Dubbed "The Giant of Boston" the massive reclining figure is rendered in quintessential Os Gemeos style, with it's canary-yellow skin, eclectically patterned "pajamas", and shrouded head. One needn't look hard to see a history of similar characters throughout the Twins internationally recognized urban art, yet the mural still caused quite a silly fuss directly after it's completion... (Boston, c'mon). 

*The Giant of Boston will only be up until November of 2013 - if you can swing it, we highly recommend you pay this beauty a visit yourself...

And regardless of controversy, Oscar and I are indisputable fans...

Blanketing Nemo: in Praise of Obtrack

Thanks to winter storm Nemo, over 24" of pretty glorious fresh powder fell on Boston Friday night. It was a proper blizzard, with clapbord-rattling wind and impressive drifts. The city, erring on the side of prevention, shut down public transit and enforced a 24-hour driving ban - effectively creating a blustery ghost town, with only the occassional public works pick-up sloppily shoving through the accumulation. By morning, the main streets had been reasonably maintained, but just about everything else (parked cars, sidewalks, front yards, back decks and garden gnomes) was positively burried. Some sidestreets had yet to see any kind of plow. For this Vermonter, the morning brought with it a wonderland.

Oscar quite obviously dissagreed with my enthusiasm.
But the Beast was a sweet-faced trooper and trotted along with his pack as we skiied our way through the kingdom, admiring the magnificence of the occassion.


For all his weight and serious-ness, Oscar is not a terrible toughie. Maybe I had something to do with that, though I get a sense the Ridgeback breed is rife with divas. On top of an embarassing sensitivity to wet feet, and disgust at any amount of precipitation blowing into his eyes, the Beast is not well insulated against wind and freezing temps by his tight, short coat; if he's not keeping up a vigorous pace, he gets cold, fast. Fair enough, my boy, fair enough. For this reason, we've got a couple coats in rotation - they don't make a sub-zero day a sauna, but they extend his tolerance long enough for a decent walk.

And not a winter walk goes by that he doesn't get a compliment on his wardrobe...


Years ago I discovered Swedish canine coat company, Obtrack - it was love at first sight of their smart, red-on-black tailoring, and I've been a devotee ever since. Full disclosure - these coats are expensive, and a rip or tear will prompt an appearance by your sewing kit before you reach for your credit card to order a replacement. In my humble opinion, they are also worth every penny. For starters: they fit like nothing else - even with shoulder-drawstring panels, velcro collar tabs, and an adjustable buckle over the back to secure the belly panel, the coats come in 13 sizes! meaning a much more exacting fit for your pup than traditional S, M, L. Also: they're DEAD SEXY. AND: they put up to wear - after 5 years of trail runs, Northeast winters, run-ins with barbed wire fences and wrestling with honest to goodness "animals", Oscar's Skrylle was only just this season replaced. His Rogle will need updating in another year or two, but it's still the snuggly go-to when the Beast spends a chilly day in the studio with me.

I sing Obtrack's praises whenever possible, though I have yet to see a SINGLE dog in person wearing one, or even a distributer (I ordered Oscar's coats direct from the Obtrack online shop). I assume they are more common across Europe... guess for now the brand is just our little not-so-closely-kept secret (Obtack, if you're reading this post - you've found your next US sales rep).

And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, we thought a little blatant brand-love might be apropos: 

Remembering Summer

If you live anywhere in New England, you know it's been FLIPPING FREEZING for the last week or two. The kind of cold that renders sunshine "ineffective" (apparently that's a weatherman term - and shockingly appropriate!). The kind of cold that crystallizes your tears as you weep at the numbing of your fingers and toes. The kind of cold that makes any activty that doesn't include a roaring fire and volumes of hot chocolate seem downright foolish.

Consequently, if you live anywhere in New England, you may also be finding yourself... day-dreaming of summer...


Oh dearest Vermont woods, your wintery beauty is breathtaking indeed, but some days... some days, it's July's verdant spires and sun-splotched trails that sound the best...

Snuggle down and stay warm, friends.