Vendredi ou la Vie Sauvage? Tous les Deux!

Warning: Gratuitous dog photography to follow...

So, today I kindly gave myself the day off, and spent it catching up on all the things I've been letting slide. This included washing my floors, and hanging out with the furbaby.

For many, Toronto calls to mind a monolithic concrete jungle with little green space, but this is simply not the case. Right beside my apartment is a veritable forest over 125 years old! Sherwood Park serves as a green respite for Yonge and Eglinton-ites, but it is also an off-leash park, which really appeals to my city-dog. We try to get over to the park at least once a week...understandably more often in the summertime, and less so in winter...It's a great opportunity for Loki to run free, and to socialize with other dogs which helps to teach him his place in the pecking-order of life...God knows we let him forget all too often...bad over-indulgent owners!

It's such a beautiful slice of the city that it's easy to forget I am mere feet from bustling Yonge St.

Sitting nicely, waiting to be set free...


No longer able to contain himself, he takes off at warp nine...


Altogether lovely to have such a perfect picnic spot steps from home <3


It really was a quintessential autumn morning...









We're working on developing patients...


So dressed up for the occassion...


As if to remind us that we, in fact, were still in the big city, CP24 and City TV newscasters were everywhere, as were volunteer search teams and police officers. Apparently there was a body-search going on in the forest...I guess you can never really have it all.

As an aside, my prayers are going out to young Mariam's family, please send yours as well.

Meet Loki...The Boston Terrier

Allow me to introduce my new Boston Terrier, Loki!



We brought him home today, evilly ripping him from the loving arms of his breeder from Belleville. I was a little upset about him leaving his family, but I heard from good authority that it is not as traumatic as it may seem. The breeder, Cheryl, kindly sent him home with a family-scented blanket, which he promptly pooped on. I've had to wash it, so now that safety net is out the window! He doesn't seem too anxious right now, so hopefully he'll be alright through the night.

I have been busily stockpiling for the necessary supplies over the past few days, and frankly, I've spent a mint setting up home for this new addition. I got him an adorable argyle collar, leash, and blanket set from Bark and Fitz. I also got the necessities, such as a crate, bed, house training supplies, food, etc. I would really love to get him one of the elevated dog bowls from Trendy Pet:



but given that Loki cost about a million dollars we don't have it in the budget right now. Enter: another one of my favourite sites, Ikea Hacker which, as the name indicates, shows tons of cheap and chic new uses for plain ol' Ikea furniture. On the site, I found this tutorial to make this elevated dog feeder:



It has inspired me to try one of my own...for when the little boy gets bigger. There's time yet!