Merry Christmas!

Somewhere, out there, a Yellow lab named Murphy is watching over us.  Helping us understand unconditional love, forgiveness, and hope.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

We'll be back at the blog right after New Year's Day.

Murphy's Day.

Simplicity

For all the complications we go through during the holiday season, sometimes it really is the simple thing.

Annie just wants a tennis ball and an arm to throw it (and yeah, some mud would be nice).

Murphy's Day.

Winter's Solstice

Turning the corner.  We are now past the longest night.

Annie spent much of the past few days, or as much as she could, in the water.  Labs were well ahead of their time on the New Year's Polar Bear plunge-thing.

Murphy's Day.

Westminster Bound

Sage has been fairly active recently: longer walks in the morning, runs on the weekends, and romping at the beach.  This weekend, while staying in Seattle, I noticed how frisky she seemed to be when we were playing.  She seems happy, healthier, and more willing to push herself.

I took this picture Sunday night.  She really does look like a champion dog, Westminster bound.

Murphy's Day.

My Dad

Yesterday was my Dad's birthday.  It was a gorgeous day.  Early in the morning, a former co-worker of his emailed me, saying my Dad would have loved today: the sun, the crisp air. He would have, indeed.

On Saturday night I talked with friends from the neighborhood.  Both of them are going through tough times with a parent.  And we all nodded in agreement that we were not the only ones, not the first ones, nor the last, to agonize over a parent.  It is, unfortunately, part of our lives.  Which isn't to say the pain of loss is any less.

I miss you, Dad.

Murphy's Day.

Our Neighborhood

While I may not celebrate the changes Seattle is going through, I do love my little neighborhood (ok, not so little).  I run through it every day and because of Murphy, Sage, and Annie, I have met some wonderful neighbors.

So this weekend, we're going to several Holiday parties.  Gatherings of dog folks.  It's what neighborhoods and neighbors are about!

Murphy's Day.

Weather

On Monday night, or early Tuesday morning, thunder rumbled again.  Then, as I woke, flashes of lightening.  Thunder...Annie woke up, got up, went downstairs.  And I followed.  Sage sleeps downstairs and she was anxious.  But the lightening passed quickly, thunder rumbled off, and Sage settled back down, we all went back to bed, only to listen to a pounding rain then wind.

By the time I got up, Sage was at the bottom of the stairs, wanting to go outside.  The weather had scared the you-know-what out of her.  Poor girl.

It's been dramatic, lately.  Sometimes there is nothing I can do to assure these girls that it is all right.  Of course, when I was listening to the rain hammer the house, I was wondering if Sage was right and we should all just make a bolt for Palm Springs!

Murphy's Day.

Not A New Urbanist

The City of Seattle is going through changes.  What is the line that Ronald Reagan said (which I am totally changing): "I didn't leave the City of Seattle, the City of Seattle left me."  This city is no longer fun or interesting for me to live in, rather it is filled with city officials bickering over major issues, increasing costs of living here, and a sense that it's more about "gotcha'" than helping all of us live together.  Diversity of opinion is not an option in Seattle.

Several days ago when walking the dogs I ran into a woman with a lovely English sheepdog who used to live in my neighborhood.  She moved out of the city.  And as we talked, she almost had me convinced to make a run for the border.

New urbanists have a utopian view of what cities should be.  That somehow we will all raise our own food, ride bikes everywhere, and live in tiny apartments next to train stations and swanky bars.

My girls need room to romp.  We are definitely not new urbanists.

Murphy's Day.

She Seems Happy

I always worry about Sage.  After her knee surgery, she seemed stoic.  But after Murphy died, she seemed to go into a soulful stage.  Annie can draw her out, but it took a lot of work for Annie.

Recently, I am noticing Sage being happy.  She enjoys exploring, romping, and noses through the toy box (a huge pile, I might add) finding the perfect item to tempt Annie into a great game of tug-of-war.

Sage is a remarkable dog.  And it makes me feel so much better that she seems happy.  Maybe she is healing from losing Murphy....or maybe we both are...

Murphy's Day.

Ode to Joy

Beethoven had it right.  Ode to Joy.  This weekend we were in eastern Washington as the Chinook to end all Chinooks pounded this region.  Almost a foot of snow.  The girls went nuts!

There is something wonderful about watching animals enjoy themselves.  No toys, no video games, nothing but nature.  They leapt, they tussled, they explored, they rolled, they ran just for the sake of running.

A number of social critics have written about how there is too much stimulus in the lives of children.  And that children don't get out in nature enough.  Frankly, I don't think I know of a single kid who hasn't explored a mud puddle or waded through a creek.  I think one of the problems is we get a little too uptight over our definitions of nature and what we think kids should be doing.

Like these two girls, if left alone, kids will find ode to joy!

Murphy's Day.

If Santa Could Bring Snow

I really do think all Sage wants for Christmas is snow.

Murphy's Day.

I Smile

I really did pause and think before I decided to bring Annie into the household.  I was still grieving for Murphy, had just moved my parents, and Sage was a perfect fit: quiet, well behaved, routinized with my schedule.  Annie was like a cannon blast into the quiet home!

Despite the fact we are currently tussling over her willfulness (some of that willfulness is what makes a lab a lab, so the trick is to find ways for her to behave without losing the stubborness that makes a lab a real sporting and working dog, as well as the house comedian), she is a thorough joy.  She gets both Sage and I up and moving, makes me laugh even in my darkest days, and is a great companion for Sage.  They are truly the Dos Amigos.

I smile.

Murphy's Day.

I Can't Hear You!

Annie's favorite tactic in the behavior wars is the "I can't hear you!"  It manifests in several ways:

• Turning away so she is not looking at me
• Running the opposite direction
• Hiding

Exhibit A.  I am asking her to drop the glove she has stolen.  If she doesn't have direct eye contact, she can't hear me.

"She'll keep me young, she'll keep me young..."

Murphy's Day.

Nothing Better Than Snow

I really don't know how many times I can say this about labs and snow.  But they are in heaven from the moment they leap out of the car until I have to coax them back into it.  Or in Sage's case, she wants in out of exhaustion and Annie I have to wrangle.

If they had little cartoon balloons over their heads they both would be saying: "SNOW!"

Sage scampers and scurries around like she is a puppy.  And Annie, well, she is a puppy, so we all know where that goes.  They wrestle, leap for sticks, make lab snow angels...

I guess their antics are a not-so-subtle hint that I could never live in Florida.

Murphy's Day.

Free Dog To Good Home

Annie has been trying my patience.  In spades.  Not coming when called, frisking off with some treasure like socks, aluminum foil, or who-knows-what.  I keep muttering under my breath: "she will keep  me young!"

Then, when she finally sits upon command and cocks her head...

Murphy's Day.

Looking for Santa Paws

This will be Sage's sixth Christmas with me.  Seems like we have been together even longer, we have been through so much already.

This year, like last year, I am not doing much for Christmas: no tree, not hauling out the decorations.  Low key.  But I sense Sage perceives the change in seasons and that it is a holiday season.  Colder weather, different music, a few packages coming into the house.  And the Advent Calendar.  Years ago my mother bought this fantastic Advent Calendar for me.  It's a replicated log cabin with the 25 days of Advent as little doors.  And like last year, we rotate Advent gift days.  The girls love it. Early in the morning treats pop out of the doors!

It's the Holiday Season.  And these girls give so much joy and light.

Murphy's Day.

Guard Dogs

Sage has become quite the guard dog.  Recently, while watching TV, I saw an ad for one of those electronic home protection services.  And I realized I should post a sign: THIS HOUSE IS PROTECTED BY SAGE.  Get near her car and she will growl.  Get closer and she becomes an attack dog.  Knock on the front door and don't expect the wagging tail gentle stereotyped lab.  Nope, it's Sage, showing teeth.  Ok, though, the tail is also wagging...hmmm.

But once you're in the car or house, she'll kiss you to death.

Annie is becoming a mini-me.  She'll let out a tentative bark, but then seem more afraid of Sage than the would-be intruder!

Frankly, I don't mind the protection.

Murphy's Day.

Naughty and Nice

As we swing into December it's time to have that discussion with Annie about Santa Paws and who is naughty or nice.

The thing is, labs, like humans, are complicated beings.  They are not either/or.  Each of them has a little naughty and a little nice.  Or a lot of naughty and a lot of nice.  It's what makes labs such great dogs.  Their mischievous minds force them to do some great pranks, and their desire to please make for fabulous apologies.

Hopefully Santa Paws also knows this about labs and remembers Sage and Annie during the Holidays.  Don't know how they can be forgotten or neglected.  After all, they are great girls.

Murphy's Day.