Sage + sage

On a short hike over the weekend, Sage found a shady spot under the sage.

She was happy.  And so was I.

Murphy's Day.

Memorials

I stopped by my grandparent's graves several days ago.  It was something I did with my mother around Memorial Day.  I left two white geraniums, again, something my mother would do.  And an American flag for my World War I veteran grandfather...

Being at their graves helps me feel close to my mother.  She was diligent about making sure there were flowers there.  I think of her, my father, and of course, Murphy.  The three I lost in the past few years.

Sometimes my heart is heavy.

Murphy's Day.

Summer Adventures

Today, my friends Les and Ann (and their dog Kol and cat Maggie) head for their summer residence.  Actually, it's more like their summer camping spot.

I admire their bravery, it's still fairly nippy here in the Northwest.  But every summer Les teaches wind surfing at this lake near the Oregon coast and Ann enjoys the cool summer breezes and ever changing company of regular visitors.

It is no where near summer here.  Despite the riot of color in the yard, spring hasn't even arrived.  But, I keep hoping for some heat, soon.

Have a great time my friends.  Stay in touch!

Murphy's Day.

Protection

On Monday I met with a kid from the neighborhood who may mow the law (it's a long story but my current guy is MIA).  When the kid knocked on the back door, the girls were upstairs, crashed on the bed.  But the minute I went outside, they came flying downstairs and began barking.  They barked the whole time I was outside.

When I got back in, Sage was prancing by the back door: Let me at him....


Years ago, at my first house, my father asked a security guy to see if I needed an alarm.  My Airedale almost went through the large plate glass window trying to get at the guy when he showed up.  The vendor dutifully walked with my father around the house then said: your daughter doesn't need an alarm system.  She just needs to keep feeding that dog.


I have protection.  It's why I take my girls when I fish, when I hike, when I am wandering around.  Heck, Sage even let's my bank teller in the drive-through know she is protecting her car!

Murphy's Day.

Three Years Later

It's been three years since Sage had her surgery on her left rear leg.  The vet warned me that she would have to have it on her right leg.  And so, I worried.

So far, three years later, the right leg seems to be holding up.  But, perhaps because of all the cold weather (it's been 5° cooler than seasonal norms this past month), Sage seems stiffer in her left leg.  In fact, last weekend she "hopped" on it for a moment, a sign that the leg is bothering her.

I also think the surgery changed Sage.  At first I didn't really see it, but now, I realize she doesn't like anyone, including me, to check on her.  It's hard to look at normal dings and small cuts without a growl.  And, even though I could also say it is her age, I sense that she can get cranky quickly.  My sweet baby Sage sometimes lets you know...

I was talking with some women a few days ago.  One woman was owned by two Goldens, another by two Leonburgers (wow, are those big dogs).  Each of them had had knee surgery on one of their dogs.  In fact, almost everyone I know has had to have knee surgery.  We got to talking about reasons (one theory was the Chuck-it).  Dogs, however, have been gunning it for balls for years...who knows...

But, I will watch Sage more carefully, again, this summer.  Neither of us want to go through the surgery, again.

Murphy's Day.

Small Minds in a Big World

This will be an unusual post for Murphy's Day.  But, among many things that Murphy taught me, was to be open.  She was, until the day she died, open to new experiences, smells, things in her life.

One of my strongest beliefs is that when talking about the ecological world, you have to think as expansively as possible.  While you can be a researcher looking at a small niche, where that niche fits in the Big World is important.  An atmospheric scientist by the name of Cliff Mass agreed with me on this subject.  He had a small "gig" on the local affiliate of National Public Radio, KUOW.  Every Friday, for a few minutes, he would talk about weather, a bit about climate, and every once in awhile, talk about coastal radars or how math is taught in public schools.  Every academic scientist gripes about how math illiterate undergrads are these days (and don't even get me started on writing skills).

Apparently there is some big fight between folks like Cliff Mass who believe math should be taught like math has been taught for decades and folks, particularly from the UW College of Education, who have developed a new math curriculum which encourages students to "discover" math, regardless if 2 + 2 = 4.  For some reason, KUOW told Dr. Mass (who teaches at the University of Washington) to never, ever, talk about math curriculum when he discusses weather.  And, unfortunately for us, he mentioned math skills when trying to correct some mis-information by earlier folks on the radio about college admissions (something he also knows about since he is the admissions director for his department).

So, Dr. Mass was fired.

Here is his fabulous blog: http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/

We live in a very connected world.  Simply talking about "weather" isn't sufficient in order to understand the complexities of weather, climate, natural storm events, and consequences to the ecosystems.  To muzzle Dr. Mass is simply small minded, something, unfortunately, KUOW has become.

Again, sorry for this change of pace.

Lupine!

Ok, even though we haven't had any weather worth writing about...even though I've been writing about how crappy the weather has been and currently is...the flowers are out.

Lupine.  Love it.

Murphy's Day.

When Did May Become November?

Grass is growing like crazy.  Ticks are out.  And it feels like November.  Notice a trend here, I am grumbling about this weather.  In fact, everyone in this neck of the woods is grumbling.

WE WANT SPRING!

Murphy's Day.

Ticks

'Tis tick season.  It's not often that there are things that truly gross me out.  I've dealt with all sorts of maladies with the dogs.

But ticks.  Ugh.  Like roaches, I suppose, a necessary evil in the ecosystem.  But I really loathe ticks.

Murphy's Day.

Wipe Your Paws

In hindsight, not only should I have broaden Annie's experiences with other cars and drift boats, but also given her some experience in house manners.

If there is mud or dirt within a 1 mile radius of home, Annie will find it, walk in it, probably roll in it, then want to come inside.

Wipe your paws!

Every day I sound more and more like my mother.

Murphy's Day.

When Things Don't Work

You know that feeling.  The perfect picture lost because the dog wiggled.  The brand new appliance that doesn't even turn on...well last week, for several days, Blogger wasn't working.  All you got, over and over, was Wednesday's post.

Apparently by late Friday it was up and running again.

In the meantime, we even had a sunny day here in the wetland formerly known as Seattle. However, we have reverted back to monsoons....sigh.

Murphy's Day.

Enjoying the Patio

Sage has always been fairly mellow.  And one of the things she has enjoyed has been to find a "perch" where she can see the landscape, then just lay there, scoping out her turf.  Stairwells, crowns of hills, the back porch...all are her "spots."

It's sweet. One thing that seems to be important to her is to keep an eye on me.  I feel protected, watched and cared for, by my girl.

And it is also channeling Murphy, who in her later years, did the same thing.

Murphy's Day.

Explorations

Part of this trip was designed to find lakes to fish.  So we headed east, and found some of the most amazing landscapes.  Giant basalt and columnar cliffs, seeps, and hidden lakes.  Absolutely gorgeous.  We felt transported back in time (if only that reflected in our age!).

The girls, like any labs, loves the explorations.  Sage's nose was in the air and Annie's ADD took hold, she could barely concentrate from one trail to the next.  They had a blast.

And I could feel my shoulders relax.

All good.

Murphy's Day.

Sage Ahoy!

It's been at least 5 years since Sage has been on a drift boat.  So, all her neurosis took over.  She was convinced she would drown.  Until the sun came out, the river gently rocked, and she realized it was going to be ok.

Dogs are creatures of habit.  And I need to remember to get on the Yakima in a drift boat at least once a year so they remember this habit (and do I do too!).

Murphy's Day.

On the Yakima

Well, in puppy training, Annie got shafted.  I was so focused on caregiving for my parents, that I neglected getting Annie in a drift boat much less in another car other than my Pilot.  So when it came time for her to learn how to float a big western river, she freaked out.  She didn't want to ride in the shuttle SUV, didn't want to get into the drift boat, and really didn't understand why all this fly line kept getting wrapped around her muzzle.

But in the end, she figured out she was on water, which for a lab is heaven, and that she was with Sage and her Mom.  All was well.

It was great to get away.  Fantastic to cast (even catch).

Murphy's Day.

Thinking About Time Off

Plans have been made.  Thursday, we leave for a day of fly fishing on the Yakima.  Back on the blog on Monday.

It will, hopefully, feel good to cast and laugh at the girls.

Murphy's Day.

Life Jackets

Even though both girls are excellent swimmers, I usually put life jackets on them when I drift down the Yakima.  Sage loves to explore the insects and this will be Annie's first time in a drift boat (it's been a long two years of not a whole lot of time off).

On Sunday we brought out the life jackets.  The orange one is now too small for Annie, so we had to scurry to find another one that fit her.  But we did.  She stood in the yard for awhile, wondering what was next, then found a tennis ball and got ready to play fetch.

She's a lab, what can I say?

See you on Monday.

Murphy's Day.

Finally!

Sunday we finally saw spring!

A friend is on the board of the Washington chapter of the American Lung Association and they were having a 5K run on Sunday morning.  He needed team members.  Let me just say that Annie can now longer watch Secretariat before race day.  She thought the idea was to win!  Holy cow!

Beautiful day for a nice run with friends.

Murphy's Day.