<p><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;">I live in Land of the Fit.  It must have something to do with our close proximity to Fitness Capitals of the World, California and Colorado.   And with our 73 degrees and sunshine for 7 months out of the year.</span></p>

<p><img class="size-medium wp-image-3729 alignleft" title="Woofie" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Woofie-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></p>

<p>This perfect weather sends people outside in droves.  Phoenicians are particularly fond of hiking.  So are their dogs.</p>

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<p>My former pooch, an Italian Greyhound with the very elegant name of "Woofie", used to scale mountains like nobody's business.  Italian Greyhounds emerge from the womb ready to tackle any athletic feat.  Despite their small size, they share an innate athleticism like their giant Greyhound relatives.</p>

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<p><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;">When I rescued Bella a couple months back, I wondered how she would fare on the hiking trails.  The one ½ a mile from my house is uphill most of the way.  Would her short little legs and all ten pounds of her make it up the mountain?</span></p>

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<p><img class="size-medium wp-image-3728 alignnone" title="IMG00250-20110130-1201" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00250-20110130-1201-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></p>

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<p>Puppy Power!!!!</p>

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<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3724" title="hike2" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hike2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3723" title="hike1" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hike1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00247-20110130-1142.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3726" title="IMG00247-20110130-1142" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00247-20110130-1142-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3727" title="IMG00248-20110130-1150" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00248-20110130-1150-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00249-20110130-1151.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3732" title="IMG00249-20110130-1151" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00249-20110130-1151-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3731" title="IMG00251-20110130-1205" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00251-20110130-1205-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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