Waiting

Ok, we're all back in the saddle, sort of....

Poor Annie does not do well just waiting.  But she hung in there while I recovered.

One of the things these two girls love to do is to watch.  Sit at the top of the back porch, the top of the stairs, the top of the hill.  And just watch.  Murphy used to curl up at the turn of the stair, where she had a view of the street, the side yard, and up stairs.  At the property, the girls love to sit at the top of the hill and just wait and watch.

I suspect part of this need is an ancient calling, something about protecting territory.  And perhaps part of it is pack related, just wanting to know where their pack is at all times.

It's comforting.

Murphy's Day.

A Little Sick

No picture today.  I got sick yesterday and was down for the count.

But some great news on the family front!!!!!

Yeah Megan, Peter, and Joshua!

More tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving

We're going to take a few days off.  But we wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  It's a time of joy, to share with family and friends.

Thank you all for reading this blog and enjoying the love of life that each of these yellow labs brings to our world.

Back on Monday.

Murphy's Day.

Two Years

It's been two years since Murphy died.

So, here is one of the videos I did just after that day.

I love you, Murphy, and miss you.  You are the best in labrador retrievers.  Such a heart.

Murphy's Day.

Pedigree

When my friend Mary called to tell me about Annie, she said: "Annie has some of Murphy's pedigree."  It turns out, both Sage and Annie do, but Murphy's sire, or Dad, Houston, is part of both of their pedigree.

From what I understand about Houston, he was a Champion Hunter.  Indeed, Murphy had that retrieving energy and drive.  If I'd hunted ducks, I would be sitting pretty at my fly tying bench, more feathers than I would know how to use.

Sage doesn't care about retrieving, she cares about accumulating, perhaps reflective of her Dam or mother.  Life of luxury that girl.

Annie?  Well, it's not too early to tell, but did either of her parents have clown in their pedigree?

Murphy's Day.

A Year

Today.  One year ago my mother died.  Sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime since she died and on other days, I still feel that she is about to call and talk about politics, or the Prince's engagement, or something that worries her.  But for 365 days my phone has been silent.  I haven't met her for breakfast on Saturday.  The dogs haven't wiggled and wagged as she walked through my back door.

Time heals pain and hurts.  But losing my mother ripped a hole in my heart that seems irreparable.

I miss you Mom.

Murphy's Day.

What's Next?

Long week.  Ready for the weekend.  The two girls are already asking: "what's next?"

It's the weekend!  And they are ready to go!

Murphy's Day.

Disney to Re-Make "Catch Me If You Can"

Over my desk came this press release: Disney is going to re-make the movie "Catch Me If You Can."  This time the plot line will be a two year old yellow lab who loves to steal shoes, socks, boots....

There will be no casting calls because apparently Disney found the perfect dog.

"Annie?  Did you just take my...."

Murphy's Day.

Garden Tours

November is never the time for garden tours.  But my back yard looks like a Calistoga mud bath.  Between the girls summer play and Annie's ball chase in the rain, the yard is a mess.

My mother and I used to attend the Northwest Garden Show every February.  The joke between us was my yard would always win last place.  Until one year I almost convinced her that we should enter a landscaping contest calling it: Dog Garden.  I bet then, and still do, that many people would have hired us to design a "dog garden."

First, I would have said, have no expectations that anything will grow.

Murphy's Day.

Is She An English Lab?

Lab people know there are several "types" of labs: English, field, and American.  Generally, English labs are stocky, blocky heads, shorter.  Field labs are lean, lanky, bred for hunting in the field.  And American labs, I think, are sort of like American cars: big, flashy, and break down a lot.  Sage is more of the English style, and Annie, well, she isn't just a field lab, she is a hunter herself.

Sage, I am convinced, has more of her mother's genes, even though she has her father's color and blocky style.  Her mother was quite sweet.  And spent the better part of her life underneath my friend Mary's desk.

English labs.  They know how to live with class.

Murphy's Day.

Cleaning

Several weeks ago my friend Les emailed to say he had piled a trailer with "stuff" to take to the dump.  It was a multi-day, multi-room task, rummaging through many memories, then choosing to keep or discard.  So it was with me this weekend (although I didn't load a trailer).  And I only got through the piles of magazines and catalogs that enveloped my desk and back closet.  I haven't even begun to think about the basement, garage, and upstairs "guest" room.

The girls got lots of attention and urban walks.  They really are not urban dogs, so the idea of walking down to the video store or through the local market (man, do those vendors know how to rip you off in food prices!  It was one of the reasons I stopped shopping at the Pike Place Market and now, rarely, go to the chi-chi local Sunday market...and of course, the best was the guy who showed up in his double cab Toyota Tundra and hops out with his made-in-China-filled-with-lead re-usable shopping bag.  Now there is someone who is saving the Earth!  Ok, sorry, an aside rant).  So we did those walks.  They of course now like those walks even more than romping in the woods because there seem to be lots of dog biscuits involved!

Yikes!

Murphy's Day.

Taking Over

I realized several evenings ago that Annie has taken over the household.  If I spend a few minutes "lovin' on" Sage, Annie's head pops into the middle of the action.  Trying to take Sage for a quiet, alone, walk is nearly impossible as Annie waits next to her leash.  And my mornings, alone, with Sage become a tad chaotic if Annie (aka Radar Ears) hears Sage rustling and comes downstairs.

Annie sits right behind Sage as Sage eats dinner, waiting to lick her big sister's bowl.  And while I am eating lunch her head always plops on my lap, tail wagging, reminding me that part of my lunchtime is playing fetch with her.

It's been a total take over.

Murphy's Day.

For the Veterans

Dogs, particularly labs and shepherds, are used by our armed forces and see combat everyday.  Dogs of many breeds have been trained and are now used by airport security to sniff out bombs.  And dogs have been used successfully in helping Veterans through injuries, wounds, or trauma.

Today is a day for our Veterans.  At Murphy's Day we also want to salute the amazing dogs who also put their lives on the line and give all their unconditional love, to keep us safe.  They are Veterans, too.

Murphy's Day.

Standard Time

Changing the clocks is hard enough for me, but for the girls this past weekend seemed to through them for a loop.  They are totally routinized.  Late afternoon walk at 4:30, dinner at 6, wake up at 4:30AM on the weekdays, 6:30 on weekends...

So, on Monday around 3:30 they both came into my "office," wandered around, wondering when I would shove back from my desk and take them.  And every morning they have gotten up rather than sleep past when I leave for my run, thinking it's the weekend.

Lab standard time doesn't require changing clocks.  It requires settling into a new routine, an hour off...I just sense they are thinking: "Jeez, what is up with Mommie?  Do we have to re-train her?"

Murphy's Day.

Go Fetch

Annie has been slow to develop in this area, but now she is totally addicted: balls, sticks, toys.  Can not get enough of the "go fetch" routine.

It really is amazing to watch her grow-up.  She still has not lost that puppy-like enthusiasm for toys, attention, anything resembling play.  And surely one of her goals is to continually annoy and enjoy Sage.  If having a younger sister is supposed to keep you young, Sage will live forever.  Annie keeps her going.

Annie Oakley, the ultimate goon-ball.

Murphy's Day.

Out of Town

Got a chance to be out of town on Friday and Saturday.  Despite the weather, it was good to be someplace where all the talking heads could not lambast us with their latest analysis of politics, much less the radio reception for the UW game was so bad we didn't have to endure their humiliation.

You know things are bad when the post-game commentary sounds like this: "well, they played well for the first quarter."

Walks in the country are good for the soul.

Murphy's Day.

Can't Get Enough of Your Love

Only Barry White could capture Annie.

Here is a link to Annie's theme song!

Murphy's Day.

Sweet Baby Sage

Of course, Sage's song is James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James."  It's a lullaby as well as a lament for carrying all the sorrows of the world.  But the song also has such a sweet tune and gentleness about it.  It's Sage.

A link to a James Taylor performance is here

And just substitute Sage for James.

"Rock-a-bye Sweet Baby Sage...."

Murphy's Day.

Theme Songs

Don't ask how I ever got onto this, but all three of my labs have theme songs.  Murphy's became "Louie Louie" but sung to "Murphy Murphy."  And when I began singing it, she would always come to me.

Here is a link to the song as done by the Kingsmen.  Substitute Murphy for Louie.

When Murphy died in my arms, I sang it to her.  I just know she is out there somewhere, ready to dance.

Murphy's Day.

The Road Less Travelled

The girls just got back from a weekend in eastern Washington (or more precisely, North Central Washington).  They hadn't been out of the city for awhile, so they went a little crazy.  Romping, a few mad dogs, wrestling, and indeed, Annie even herded three very large Black Angus cows.

What is amazing to watch is Annie's speed on the run.  She barrels down hill...and even more amazing, runs at full speed up hill when I call!

It was nice to get them out, to watch the in their native element!

Murphy's Day.

It's November

This is a month that haunts us.  Two years ago Murphy died.  Then last year, my mother.  A fog of sadness descends in November.  I remember calling my aunt after my mother died and she said: "why do they all have to go in November?"

Yet, this is the month of Thanksgiving.  We celebrate harvest, our family, friends, good things.

The leaves have changed.  The days are short.  It's cooler.  Snow is coming in the mountains....It's a tough month ahead.  But I am so very thankful for my family and friends, and of course, the two knuckle-heads in my life.  Annie makes me laugh and Sage's soulfulness grabs my heart.

Murphy's Day.