Trees and more trees

A few weeks ago Mama had me looking at all the new trees that were planted along part of the Barnegat Rail Trail. On one of our walks we counted 157 new plantings. A week later, Mama notice more trees were added to the collection.  There is a variety of new trees--Scarlet Oak, Platanus x Acerifolia, Maple Red Sunset, Willow Oak, Maple October Glory, Pitch Pine, and Sweet Gum Happy Daze. We hope they all survive the winter and they grow into beautiful trees shading the trail.

Woof, woof till later, 
Zoey

Trail Tales...

Good day to everyone,

We have been walking every morning and sometimes in the afternoons/evenings. 

We just take a different path now so we haven't seen the regulars on the trail. 

We met a group of roosters and chickens! I had no idea what the critters were so I took Mama at her word. They weren't afraid until a pickup truck stopped to talk to us about them, which prompted the birds to run for safety under the trees. 

We never know what we are going to come across on our walks. 

Last week we found a really great rock and we re-hid it although it killed Mama to do so. 

She loved it. Hope someone finds it and does the same. 

We also found this rock the other day in the Shop Rite parking lot. We are going to add this to a few others from last year and take them down to the new Waretown Rocks collection by the bay. 

Today we found this one and re-hid it in Shop Rite parking lot. . 

Here are some new pics of me and Oreo (my neighbor). 

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey

More tails from the trail

Mama parked the car in a different location this morning so we could venture on a path of the trail that we haven't explored this season. We met a woman who told us about free coffee at Wawa today. So we went and she was right--free coffee--any size you want. Not sure if all Wawas are participating. Unfortunately, no treats for pups:(

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey

Exciting walk on the trail...

We have been enjoying walking the Barnegat trail. Every day Mama adds more steps because she is in another Fit Bit challenge with cousins, so you can guess who else is in the challenge without volunteering to join. Yep, me. I really don't mind though...I get to smell a whole lot of new scents. I try rubbing myself in some of them until Mama sees what I am about to do and puts a stop to it. Some times she is just no fun!

The other day we had an exciting hike--we found our first painted rock for this season. Mama moved it to a different location (because that is what you are suppose to do). It was raining out so when she picked it up the blue paint colored her fingers. 

We walked all the way to the Wawa and discovered the pony and donkeys are still on the farm I told Mama that is the tallest dog that I ever did see and she told me not to be silly because I saw the same pony last year. Hmm, maybe I should remind her of the many things she forgets!

On this particular day, we walked really far. I was exhausted when I arrived home. I swallowed my breakfast practically in one gulp, searched for my most prized possession, and then planted myself on a comfy blanket to take a much needed nap. 

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Here I go...bragging again....

This is the most I have ever walked on the trails with Mama. It is about 3.5 miles in little over an hour and a half! (The more I walk the more I have to stop to sniff.)

Here is the reason why Mama made me walk so much.

Last night she and Dad had a delicious dinner at Aunt Joan's house.  The menu was loaded with calories--fried chicken, potato skins, cannoli cake, which sounds like a feast to me. Oh yeah, broccoli was included too; can't forget the healthy stuff. Mama usually never eats like this anymore but she enjoyed herself and then complained that she ate it all.  Dad has this reminder that he gives Mama once in a while--it is called his 80/20 rule--once in a while it is okay to indulge.  I agree with Dad--I would love to indulge 80% of the time! Oh no, I think he means 20% of the time is acceptable to go off track.

Anyway, the important question is: Do you think I was offered any of the yummy fried chicken or potato filling with cheese and bacon--nope, not one morsel went in my mouth! Yet, I had to walk extra this morning to burn off some of Mama's extra 20% of calories.  Doesn't sound fair to me.

I don't plan on breaking anymore of my records so Mama better not have any plans on over indulging again.

Exhausted...I think I will rest my sweet head for a few hours. 

Woof, woof till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Bragging time again...

I may have been pooped but I still had my wits to find my red ball. 

I can collapse just thinking about my new record walking the trail with Mama last Sunday. 

Ready to hear how many steps? We walked 7,425 human steps in a little over an hour. Thank goodness Mama has to work tomorrow--hopefully she will not be dragging me to beat the new record. 

Wake me up in a few hours!

PS: We are always exploring new paths along the trail. There are so many that I bet people aren't even aware of them.  Last Sunday, while working on breaking my record, we took a detour from one of the side paths and came across an area that Mama doesn't think we saw before but I disagree. (Mama's memory sometimes is not up to speed.) I think we found this area last year...but I wasn't in the mood to bark at her so I just let her think it was a new spot. Anyway, here is a picture of the homestead. We walked around for a while and we never came across a canine.

Woof, woof till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Yikes, I broke my record again!

We walked this morning 6,781 human steps in a little over an hour! My stamina and patience are really increasing...there were times when I dug my paws into the gravel and said, " woof, woof, NO Mama, let's turn around." I couldn't convince her, she said, "let's go Zo, we can do this;" me being the wonderful, loving dog that I am looked at her and realized she was not stopping...so off I trotted with my special Mama to do some more walking and sniffing. In my head, I kept listening to my mantra...I want to go home, I want to go home...

Home I am!  Just look at me, of course, my ball is right next to me but I am not getting up off this floor until tomorrow (or at least until I hear the ruffle of the treat bag).

PS: We didn't locate any painted rocks this morning:( Maybe tomorrow, one could only hope.

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth (one tired pup)

Barnegat trail painted rocks

Mama and I have been taking long walks along the trail this week. I broke my own personal step challenge today. I walked 6,407 human steps this morning! I wonder if I should double that since I have two set of legs?

The other day Mama noticed a few painted rocks scattered along the trail. The rocks weren't there the next day so she assumed people took them (they are very hard to resist). Monday morning on our walk, we came across this adorable rock and Mama couldn't resist taking it. Under the rock it says "Manahawkin rocks."

Mama knows there was a campaign in Lacey that someone was painting rocks and leaving them around the area. She has no idea if it is the same artist; Mama wants to thank the artist and she hopes we find more treasures on our hikes.

Here is another one we found...

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth