And We're Off

We're off.  Fly rods loaded.  Dogs in the car.  Maps.

We'll try to keep up with the blog on the road, but it depends, of course, if we have good connections.

If not, check in in a week.  We'll be back.  We're heading to a place that Murphy loved (Sun Valley and Yellowstone).  She'd hurl herself into The Big Wood, romp on the Wood River Trail and patiently sit outside of Christinas.  Sage has only been here once and was adored by all.  We're keeping our paws crossed on how well Annie will do.  Haven't had a vacation in a long long long time.  It's been, I think, almost 3 years.  Wow.

Murphy's Day.

Is It Vacation, Yet

I think everyone is getting a little stir crazy!

Murphy's Day

Best Friends

Today, one of Sage's best friends comes to visit.  Or really, to come, get a few things, and then rendezvous on Friday in Pendleton.  Sage loves Carol and she will be waiting patiently to see her.

Ya-hoo!

Murphy's Day

Nothing Better Part Three

Part three in our series of Nothing Better.  Indeed, nothing better than standing in a river, for both lab and human alike.

Soon!

Murphy's Day

Heat!

Finally!  Summer.  I know all of you back east have been sweltering and cursing the heat.  But we have been chilln' out here until the past few days.

The dogs got some swimming in this weekend (wet Annie promptly decided to roll in the back yard...which is not an example of the perfect lawn) and now she is looking a bit like a Black lab.  That is what hoses are for I suspect!

Summer for dogs: swimming, tile floors, morning sunshine, ice cubes, swimming, tile floors.

Murphy's Day.

Hotel Manners

Spent the day making reservations for a short vacation to Idaho and Montana (yes, fly fishing).  Found a sweet little place in Hailey, Idaho.  In talking with the owner I had to really convince her that the girls have hotel manners...

Oh dear.

Murphy's Day.

River is Dropping

We haven't fished in a very long time.  Too long.

River is dropping.  Maybe this weekend Sage and I can get out on a rock...Annie?  More than likely in the river trying to meet the fish herself!

Murphy's Day.

Living Is Easy

Slowly in the mid-day the fog burns off (we're having a San Francisco summer) and Sage finds the living easy.  Find a spot in the grass, stretch out, avoid Annie.  It's tough work but some lab has got to do it.

Murphy's Day.

Toys

So, on Friday I did a Costco run.  And against my better judgment, I bought four stuff toys for dogs.  For the life of me, I have never been able to understand why dog toy manufacturers continue to say that stuffed toys are "indestructible." Because every dog I have ever had destroys a stuffed toy.  But, the manufacturers must make a mint off of people like me, who keep buying them thinking: "oh, these are so cute, the girls will love them."

Well, these four toys...were in a jungle theme: Rhino, hyppo, lion, elephant.  I gave Annie the rhino, Sage the hyppo and Annie the rhino.  Needless to say, the rhino is now a carcass in the backyard.  The hyppo is alive and well, but it's days, I am sure, are numbered.  The rest of the animals are hidden in a closet.

And lesson learned.  Stuffed toys just don't work. Stick to tennis balls.

Murphy's Day.

Housework

Sometimes weekends are just made for staying home and doing deferred maintenance work: removing the dry rot on the front porch entry-way, priming the siding, scraping the doors...and the girls were oh-so patient.  It was a long weekend, lots of work, but things are looking better.

14 years ago my Dad and I completely re-did my front porch.  And then we painted the house.  And for a variety of reasons, I have not done much on the exterior since then.  So, this summer I finally realized I could no longer live with the peeling paint, the rotting wood...

Housework.  I am ready for a quiet week.

Murphy's Day.

Happy Birthday Brooke!!!!!

It's my niece's, er, um, er...21st birthday?!!!

Seriously.  I remember exactly where I was when I heard she was born.  I was absolutely delighted to be an aunt of such a wonderful woman.  I just knew then that she would be (and she is) a very special person.

Happy Birthday Brooke.  You're great!  Give Jacob and Claire a big hug.

Murphy's Day.

Isn't She Beautiful?

I know, I am fixated on Sage....isn't she beautiful?

Murphy's Day

Grass is a Good Thing Until....

Wow is there a lot of grass in Eastern Washington (nooooo, not THAT kind of grass).  The west spring and early summer made the fields grow like crazy.

And with all that grass comes fire danger as it dries out.  Indeed, close to where Sage is enjoying the summer sun, there is a huge fire (as of this writing over 20,000 acres).  Yikes!  It looks like the amazing fire fighters have it mostly contained, but wow...

It's going to be a long summer watching out for ignition.

Murphy's Day.

Two Years

It's been two years since Sage's knee surgery.  As you know, a long two years.  But Sage seems to have come through the storms quite well.  And she certainly seems to enjoy the attention from Annie.  They spend much of their time in this exact position: lab smack-downs!

I still remember bringing Sage home from the vet, the blue bandage all around her left leg, her pain.  She is my baby...

Murphy's Day.

Summer Mornings

Although the weather seems to have changed this morning, last week was fantastic.  And the girls enjoyed the summer mornings by laying outside until it got too hot.

Sage and Annie also want to thank who ever invented the fan, which is their minds, does a pretty good job of mimicking the feeling of hanging their heads out the car window at 30 mph!

Hopefully these gray clouds leave soon and we're back to summer.

Murphy's Day.

Hot Summer Day

Other than swimming there really isn't anything better than rolling around in freshly mowed grass.  Really.  You ought to try it!

Murphy's Day

Learning How To Explore

Annie is in the early stages of learning how to explore.  I've had mixed results with my dogs.  Knock wood, so far I have never had to extract porcupine needles, but I have had to de-skunk a dog.  And more times than I care to discuss I have driven home with the disgusting smell of dead fish and wet dog.  I worry Annie will continue in that tradition.  She knows no quit.  And "WAIT" at the top of my lungs doesn't seem to phase her.

Better buy some Skunk Off.

Murphy's Day

Tall Grass Sage

Sage loves the tall grass.  Ever since she was a puppy....I think it tickles her belly, and she also feels safe, as if she can hide.

With all the rain in Washington, the grass has grown taller than Sage (no this isn't her back yard!).

Tall Grass Sage.

Murphy's Day.

4th of July Tradition

Some people have barbecues, light fireworks, march in parades.

Sage and Annie wrestle.

Murphy's Day

Ka-Boom!

Annie, who was also born on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, is a firecracker.  This will be her second Fourth of July on the west coast.

My guess she will run, swim, play, and celebrate her "freedom" in her usual gregarious fashion.

Happy 4th of July!

Murphy's Day.

Patriotism

Sage loves this land.  Nothing better than sitting in a field of Balsam.  Sage has seen a number of National Parks (America's best idea): Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Mt. Rainier, Olympic National Park, Crater Lake, Lassen, skirting past Zion...she is in love with America's west!

Murphy's Day.