There was no question about who would be Sunday Dog this week when our old friend Petie began doing a spring fling dance around our gang of dogs walking on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
It's a good thing his person Chris is a runner because she really had to move to keep up with him.
The joyous smile never left the face of this gorgeous Shiba Inu.
Finally, on request, Petie slowed down long enough to let me take a couple of still shots.
Now, the kicker of this story and what had his dog walking pals laughing at his antics is that not only is Petie 15 years old, but he's also been known as the neighborhood dog who loves to sit and relax and hates to walk.
Maybe he's just wanted to dance and prance all these years. Or maybe he spent the whole frozen winter choreographing the dance he did for us last Sunday.
Way to Go, Petie! See you soon.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
There was no question about who would be Sunday Dog this week when our old friend Petie began doing a spring fling dance around our gang of dogs walking on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
It's a good thing his person Chris is a runner because she really had to move to keep up with him.
The joyous smile never left the face of this gorgeous Shiba Inu.
Finally, on request, Petie slowed down long enough to let me take a couple of still shots.
Now, the kicker of this story and what had his dog walking pals laughing at his antics is that not only is Petie 15 years old, but he's also been known as the neighborhood dog who loves to sit and relax and hates to walk.
Maybe he's just wanted to dance and prance all these years. Or maybe he spent the whole frozen winter choreographing the dance he did for us last Sunday.
Way to Go, Petie! See you soon.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
With last week's return to cooler temperatures, the opening of the magnolia buds along Commonwealth Avenue slowed, but it is happening! And, if we get a sunny day or two, we think the spectacular display should peak this week.
Right now, there are a few early bloomers ready for their closeups. The white magnolias, like those above and below, are the first to bloom and a few have already begun to drop their petals.
There is the slightest tinge of pink even in the whitest of the white blossoms. It's fun to notice things like that when you move in for a close view.
With last week's return to cooler temperatures, the opening of the magnolia buds along Commonwealth Avenue slowed, but it is happening! And, if we get a sunny day or two, we think the spectacular display should peak this week.
Right now, there are a few early bloomers ready for their closeups. The white magnolias, like those above and below, are the first to bloom and a few have already begun to drop their petals.
There is the slightest tinge of pink even in the whitest of the white blossoms. It's fun to notice things like that when you move in for a close view.
This week, someone placed roses on the paving stones that The Garden Club of the Back Bay members added among the plantings around the sculpture.
These stones were put in place to make it easier for people to have photos taken of themselves or their group with the statue. Ed and I often volunteer to take these photos with visitors' cameras and we're fairly sure other neighbors do the same.
This was not among my favorite sculptures when I first encountered it, but over the years I've come to associate it with the people who take time out of their few hours in Boston to stop and pay tribute, have a photo taken for the folks back home, and, in at least one instance, stand with tears in their eyes looking up at a former President of Argentina being honored in a foreign land.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
This week, someone placed roses on the paving stones that The Garden Club of the Back Bay members added among the plantings around the sculpture.
These stones were put in place to make it easier for people to have photos taken of themselves or their group with the statue. Ed and I often volunteer to take these photos with visitors' cameras and we're fairly sure other neighbors do the same.
This was not among my favorite sculptures when I first encountered it, but over the years I've come to associate it with the people who take time out of their few hours in Boston to stop and pay tribute, have a photo taken for the folks back home, and, in at least one instance, stand with tears in their eyes looking up at a former President of Argentina being honored in a foreign land.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Whether you're coming to run or watch the 2015 Boston Marathon or just want to log some miles, it's an exciting time to visit the city. And, we hope this piece will help all the runners who are new to the city, here for a vacation or business trip.
Right onto Hereford Street – Less Than a Mile to Go!
I remember my first Boston Marathon as a spectator – I've yet to put in the training needed to actually compete. Penny and I booked a hotel room for the weekend and left the car parked. We took in the runners' expo, pasta supper, and other pre-race activities, then watched a spectacular Boylston Street finish.
As an out-of-state runner staying near Faneuil Hall, I still wanted to get in a run or two, but wasn't sure where to head.
Now, as a Boston resident, I can recommend a couple of my favorite routes.
Charles River Run …
If you're a visiting runner staying anywhere near the finish line, you can't beat a daytime run along the Charles River. It offers great views and a more open course without having to constantly cross roadways. This multi-use path is shared by bikes, blades, skate boards, dogs, and walkers. It can get congested as the day wears on but, who knows, you may find yourself sharing the trail with some famous, elite runners. It's easy to make any number of loops between the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river by using the many bridges along the way.
From Back Bay, you can access the Charles River Esplanade from Massachusetts Avenue, Fairfield, Dartmouth, and Arlington Streets. If you head west from the Massachusetts Avenue ramp you can also use the parcourse workout station that's located just up-river. Click here for photos and details including a map to find it.
Morning Run Along the Esplanade
Parks in the Heart of the City
For a tree-lined route, try the Commonwealth Avenue Mall – not a shopping center, but a park – that runs down the center of this residential street. At Commonwealth and Arlington, you can enter the pristine Public Garden for a slower pace. Moving through the center of the Garden will lead you across Charles Street to the Boston Common.
Inside tip: Local-isms
Mass Ave = Massachusetts Avenue Comm Ave = Commonwealth Avenue And, it's Boston Common (singular) not Boston Commons
Whether you're coming to run or watch the 2015 Boston Marathon or just want to log some miles, it's an exciting time to visit the city. And, we hope this piece will help all the runners who are new to the city, here for a vacation or business trip.
Right onto Hereford Street – Less Than a Mile to Go!
I remember my first Boston Marathon as a spectator – I've yet to put in the training needed to actually compete. Penny and I booked a hotel room for the weekend and left the car parked. We took in the runners' expo, pasta supper, and other pre-race activities, then watched a spectacular Boylston Street finish.
As an out-of-state runner staying near Faneuil Hall, I still wanted to get in a run or two, but wasn't sure where to head.
Now, as a Boston resident, I can recommend a couple of my favorite routes.
Charles River Run …
If you're a visiting runner staying anywhere near the finish line, you can't beat a daytime run along the Charles River. It offers great views and a more open course without having to constantly cross roadways. This multi-use path is shared by bikes, blades, skate boards, dogs, and walkers. It can get congested as the day wears on but, who knows, you may find yourself sharing the trail with some famous, elite runners. It's easy to make any number of loops between the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river by using the many bridges along the way.
From Back Bay, you can access the Charles River Esplanade from Massachusetts Avenue, Fairfield, Dartmouth, and Arlington Streets. If you head west from the Massachusetts Avenue ramp you can also use the parcourse workout station that's located just up-river. Click here for photos and details including a map to find it.
Morning Run Along the Esplanade
Parks in the Heart of the City
For a tree-lined route, try the Commonwealth Avenue Mall – not a shopping center, but a park – that runs down the center of this residential street. At Commonwealth and Arlington, you can enter the pristine Public Garden for a slower pace. Moving through the center of the Garden will lead you across Charles Street to the Boston Common.
Inside tip: Local-isms
Mass Ave = Massachusetts Avenue Comm Ave = Commonwealth Avenue And, it's Boston Common (singular) not Boston Commons
All over Boston, we are seeing collateral damage as the snow melts. Everyone is complaining about the litter left behind by irresponsible people and the trash that was never picked up by the city. But, in some cases, the damage was done as the city cleared the snow.
You may be surprised to see a shorter bench on the Hereford to Gloucester block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
The other two sections of it were destroyed by a plow cleaning a path in the park. The driver decided to push the excess snow off to the side and took out the bench as that was done.
And, as the big snow harvester cleared the parking lanes along Commonwealth Avenue in the latter days of the snow removal, the machine shredded the No Parking for Snow Removal signs that were placed in the snowbanks. Now, they are chewed up splinters of wood and cardboard that will remain scattered on the grass as it emerges.
With that in mind, be careful as you walk your dogs on the Mall. We are spreading the word among park regulars and will try to pick up as many of the dangerous slivers as we can in the days ahead. Earlier this week, we met a new neighbor and her dog while she was filling a shopping bag with litter.
So, as the warm up comes, put on your work gloves, grab a bag, and a pair of long tongs (kept for this purpose) and do the "Duke Walk." If you don't know about that, it is named after former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis who walks the walk instead of just talking the talk. More on that here.
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Notice the buds on the trees as you look up this week to avoid falling icicles and snow slides. Most years, we begin our hunt for the first signs of spring in gardens on the sunny side of Boston streets just after Valentine's Day.
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, grab a bag, and 
(kept for this purpose) and do the "Duke Walk." If you don't know about that, it is named after former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis who walks the walk instead of just talking the talk.