My sister had a Pebbles doll after the Flintstone baby in the 1960s. She had a bone in her hair. You could always tell a Pebbles doll. Elwood is like this. He seems to always have a bone in his mouth. I’m sure it would be one of the characteristics of an Elwood cartoon and he is very definitely a cartoon dog. The original cartoonist had a dog like Elwood I am sure.

Today Brian and I went to explore the river walk that runs between South Main and Harrison along the Chattaquine. That’s probably not how it is spelled but it is how it is pronounced.) It’s just a black-topped path along the riverside, a grassy bank separating it from the water. There are trees and ducks. The water flows over some debris creating tiny rapids and babbly. The path runs behind the CVS and the JAMA building. There’s a picnic table, too. I have plans for it. I hope Elwood and I can make good use of this area since we have no outdoor area near our apartment and this isn’t too far.

I’m posting this from my PDA. Hopefully this means I will be get back into posting on this blog more frequently. A week or so ago Elwood and I walked down East 2nd Street to Washington Street. We were avoiding 3rd Street which has a lot of people-centered obstacles on it. Elwood stoped. He was having trouble, I thought, with a pole. Yes,there was a pole. It also turned out there was a hole.My right foot went in. Fortunately, the hole had a bottom and didn’t go to China before coming to the end. I scraped my shin on the concrete and made Elwood take note of the hole. Then we went to the corner. Elwood was quite anxious. The day before he had rammed me into the planter there. The sidewalk is narrow so navigation is treacherous. ...

Sandi stopped by and we went to the farmer’s market. 3rd Street is blocked off for the birthday celebration for a few blocks. In addition to the birthday stuff, there is a one-block mini festival called “A Taste of Jamestown.” Local vendors, caterers and restaurants, are selling food. Apparently you buy tickets and pay for the food with tickets. Some picnic tables are set up. I didn’t buy anything. So we walked down the middle of 3rd Street. Elwood found this slightly irregular. I told him that as long as he was with Sandi, he could do this. ...

Elwood and I are getting ready to go to Fredonia to worship at First Baptist and celebrate Pentecost. Elwood’s preparation has been getting brushed. He went to the groomer’s Wednesday for a long overdue bath. (There was a 5-week wait. I didn’t want him to get wet during the very cold winter months since getting completely dry before going outside is difficult.) That got a lot of his fur off, but, apparently, he is doing some serious shedding. I opted out of my black pants to go with my red shirt. ...

The weather is better–much better. I haven’t had to wear a winter coat for several days. In fact, I haven’t had to wear a jacket today except for early this morning. Getting ready for church this morning, when I came out of the shower I found Elwood happily wagging his tail while sitting on the bed. Oh no, Elwood. I don’t think so! And at church, perhaps climbing in my lap, standing on the pew, looking to see who might be coming in the door? Oh no, Elwood. You had better wear your gentle leader. ...

Today I read the Gospel at the Easter morning service at ST. Luke’s. This meant walking from the chancel down the center aisle to the middle of the church. There was someone with the book and torchbearers, I think. Elwood did okay being part of the parade. Packs are good. When I came to the person holding the book for me to read, I stopped, stepped to the middle and told Elwood to lay down. ...

Dogs have a sense of humor. They do things and they’re funny. I don’t know if the intent is to make you laugh. I rather think it is to demonstrate how clever they are and how tuned into what humans intend to do they are. Today Elwood enacted one of those practical jokes dogs are so good at. I had been sorting the laundry, adding to a pile of clothes on the floor. When the pile was of sufficient size I intended to throw it into the washer. Well, this time arrived. I went to the pile only to discover a dog sprawled out on top of it. Ha~! Ha! I’m on the laundry you want to put into the washing machine. I don’t know how he managed it. I was able to get all the laundry out from under him without Elwood moving. Maybe he moved when I was at the machine. I don’t know. It’s all mysterious.

Actually, it’s a nightmare. Significant snow but now plowed. Cold. I had to drag out my heavy coat, boots, gloves and hat. Yuck! Especially since shirt-sleeve weather proceeded it. While the good weather lasted, Elwood and I were going on several walks a day which I thought would be good for both of us. He plagues me with his bone if he is not tired. I have been quite cross with him and of course he doesn’t understand why. Then I feel bad and apologize and he goes and gets his bone again. It’s hard to do anything when being poked with a bone. If I knew the game it would help. He is bringing his bone for outdoor play every time we go out–still. Last night we went to church, having gotten rides to and from. I could have never walked it with reasonable safety. When we got into the church, Elwood jumped up onto the pew cushion and began parading back and forth. I got him back down into the aisle. We entered the pew again and again Elwood jumped up and pranced on the pew. Someone offered the short pew where wheelchairs can be placed. No, we would get this right–dog on floor, person on pew. Three was the charm. He managed to do it right after coming back from Communion, too. What a relief. Now all we have to do is get through Easter morning church. We’ve never participated in the gospel procession before. At least there are no pews to jump on.

While we still had warm weather, the fire alarm in my building went off. It was 10:30 at night. What to do? Was it just burned toast? I pulled on some clothes, got Elwood and my purse, and went down the back stairs. This seemed the most direct if not the easiest way out. Around threw the alley and up to the front of the building to find 4 or 5 emergency vehicles and my neighbors. They checked the building. There was the smell of paint or polyurethane but no fire. We all went back in.