Many of you noticed that we were absent from Martha’s blog photos from her birthday weekend at Skylands. We were actually with her there for a couple of days, but so many people arrived at Skylands to celebrate Martha’s special day, that we opted for peace and quiet and drove back to the farm with our dear Uncle Carlos. Martha did take us back to Skylands last weekend and we had a blast hiking, boating, and exploring!
1 Look at this gargantuan wall! Are we high in the Peruvian Andes at the ancient city of Machu Picchu? No, we are not! We're at Skylands, our home in Maine!
2 Come on, Franny! Let's go for a hike and check out this beautiful scenery!
3 When we leave our home, we always don our harnesses with our ID tags. Martha has tags made with all of her phone numbers on them. This is very important and all dogs should have very detailed ID tags.
4 Follow me, Franny! Let's explore this forest path.
5 Sharkey, it's kind of wet here from so much rain and if you walk on the board walk, as I am, you won't get muddy feet.
6 The boards elevate hikers off of what could potentially be a very muddy and slippery path. Come on, walking on boards is fun! Give it a try!
7 You're right, Franny! Who like squishy mud between their toes, anyway?
8 Oh look! Another wooden boardwalk!
9 Well actually, Sharkey, it's a little wooden bridge over, what looks like a vernal pool. These are temporary pools that form in the spring and support all kinds of wildlife, such as frogs, toads, and salamanders. Let's look for some!
10 Franny, I think that this vernal pool is in the process of drying up. It's really muddy here.
11 Sharkey, notice how dark and nearly black the mud is? That's because this mostly damp and wet soil is very rich in all kinds of minerals and vegetation.
12 Might as well take advantage of this little pool and wash off some of that thick, dark mud. You can't really see it on my brindle coat, but, trust me, it's there!
13 Ah, that feels much better!
14 OK, Franny - my turn
15 Francesca! What are you looking at?
16 You saw me in the water! Maybe I'm turning into a brindle Frenchie, like you! I hope Martha knows it's really me and will let me in the house...after a bath, of course!
From: Zoe | 8/23/11 at 7:28 am
Good Morning Girls
Sharkey all I can say is WOW - you are one muddy pup. How did you get mud on your head? Franny did you have that much mud on you? I'm sure a good scrub was in order after that hike.
What a beautiful morning here in South Jersey, the sun is out and no humidity. Mom had the windows open last night and boy did we all sleep good. I was even a bit chilly had to snuggle in and get warm. I'll be out on the deck all day today too bad mom has to work. I better enjoy the weather because hot and humid days will be here by the end of the week and more rain on Sunday
Well I have to go help mom now, Precious brought in a dead bird and mom needs to scrub her face and mouth. That Precious loves to bring mom presents.
Zoe
From: Maddox | 8/23/11 at 7:39 am
Hi Girls,
Instead of getting a mud facial, you got mud pedicures. I bet your feet feel real good. Could you do me a big favor please girls? Someone said that GK is in People Magazine and he looks real handsome. I told mom to go out and get it so I could show it to my friends and brag a bit on my son. Tell him I miss him but I know he is very happy right where he is and that he is turning into a stunning young man, chip off the old block. hehehe
Have a nice day everyone.
Maddox
From: Basil | 8/23/11 at 8:19 am
Hello Ladies,
Or should I say little mud pies!!! I bet that was a really fun hike, until the scrubbing afterwards began. Mom and I are hating the heat here. 40 days of over 90 degrees. Usually here we only get about 30 in a row. Heat and humidity are not our thing. We are going to freeze roasted green chilies for this winter. I better get my beauty sleep while the going is good. I hear talk that a bath is in the works for today. I do enjoy the nice relaxing water. You girls keep out of the mud or Mama will leave you home. Have a great day all.
Love & licks,
Basil
From: delia | 8/23/11 at 9:27 am
What fun to be able to visit all the homes Martha has, hope you don't get confused where you're at! but then you must consider yourselves lucky, eh?
Hope mommie Marthas Birthday was Special.
Viewing those Forests/woods reminded me when I was a child and lived for a while in the Germany Alps, we used to go up in the mountains and pick Berries, it looked just like that.
From: Sonya | 8/23/11 at 9:45 am
Oh ladies I can't imagine the look on MommyM's face when she saw the two of you after your mud baths especially you Sharkey.
Good thing you kept GK away from this little adventure. You'd still be cleaning him off this morning. 
From: Rebel & Sharon | 8/23/11 at 10:28 am
You silly Frenchies...
I do not like muddy feet, I haven't even gotten mine wet in our lake. I have watched the grandkids playing in the water, but I just lay on a big towel and stay dry.
It does look like you had fun though.
Rebel
From: DDR & animallover jan | 8/23/11 at 10:40 am
Hi Girl Friends &G.K., WOW! You girls sure do have great places to hike and tour no matter where you go! I love seeing this part of your special part of Skylands in Maine. These photos are terrific! The two of you look so darn cute, muddy or not! Glad G.K. didn't get muddy-he's probably back on the terrace. Hey Cora-Belle, sounds like you have fun chasing those otters. I've never see any, but Mom says they are very active. Well, have to get ready to get my annual check-up at the Vet today. Didn't get to eat or go outside this morning-don't like that. Had my bath on Saturday, so I'm ready to go and get it over with. Have a great day, one and all! Love, Dudley Do Right XOXOXO+
From: gail | 8/23/11 at 2:30 pm
Sharkey; stay away from the white carpet!
I love hiking and searching out new areas!
Those hiking boards sure come in handy!
gail
From: cora-bell, the cattle dog | 8/23/11 at 3:31 pm
..you frenchies, my kind of dogs..nothing like dried smelly mud all over my body to make my day!..off to the vet to pick up my meds and my vet approved dog food, no check-up for me today, Dudley..(I hate blood draws)..then back home and I have to help clean the pgymy goat barn..Rebel get your toes wet..you will love it..Zoe do you know any of Housewives of New Jersey?..Basil and Maddox, I'll give the mini-goats a little nip for you..no..I don't hurt them I like to play with them and the little rats can really head butt!! later all my little pals, cora-belle
From: Kirby Bear | 8/23/11 at 3:58 pm
Hello ladies, Kirby here.
Sharkey you are one “mud puppy” if I say so myself. Now that’s one thing you wouldn’t catch me doing. I don’t like getting my feet wet let alone muddy like that. I guess I don’t like a bath that well so I try to stay clean. Well they say a storm is in the Atlantic and will be coming this way by the weekend. We do need the rain but no more thunderstorms please. I’ll bet that GK will be around more when the weather cools down somewhat. I’m like him, stay in the AC as much as you can.
Catch you late, Kirby.