Summer Time Snow

It didn't take much encouragement to get the girls off trail and into the first snow patch.  Annie demonstrated her glissading techniques and Sage just rolled, allowing the snow to cool her down from the hot alpine air.  They were delighted, thinking truly it was Christmas in August.

If I ran a national park, I think my sign would say: "Please let your dog play on the snow."

Murphy's Day!

Mt. Rainier

And this is what we saw when we got off the gondola.  The iconic mountain of the PNW, Mt. Rainier.  The cool thing about this gondola/hike trip is that the dogs could go.  Dogs are not allowed on any trails in Mt. Rainier National Park.  In fact, on of my most favorite "anti-dog" signs was near the heavily travelled Paradise area of Mt. Rainier.  It said: "No Dogs On Snow."

So, at Crystal Mountain, dogs were not only welcome but embraced.  When we got to the top there were at least a dozen dogs.  Of course, only Sage and Annie had to hike all the way down!!!!!  And indeed, we found a patch of snow.

Murphy's Day!

On The Gondola

So I get this idea that I need to take the girls to the top of Crystal Mountain, which is where I used to ski as a girl (and now ski as a semi-crazed adult).  Last year, Crystal installed a gondola to the top of the mountain and they have it open for the summer.  At the top are the most amazing views of Mt. Rainier.

Sage has been on a tram, at Squaw Valley, years ago.  Years ago...and Annie, who barely got into a drift boat...so the strategy was to run, excited, into the gondola.  Worked for Annie, although she got nervous, but Sage.  She dug in.  A guy finally helped, shoving her in and for much of the ride she laid down on the floor, pretty darn mad at me....but, it all worked out and boy, did we have a fantastic day...details to follow.

Life is an adventure.  And these girls?  Well, their lives, either or both of them, could have been just fine on some plantation on the eastern shore of Maryland.  But they ended up with me and if it's a gondola ride on a hot summer day and a 4 mile hike to the base....

Murphy's Day.

Happy Birthday Carol!!!!

Sage and Annie know who helped get them from Maryland to here...

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Murphy's Day.

Thinking About Road Trips

Perhaps I am a "classic American girl" because I like "classic" American things: hamburgers, milkshakes, long road trips.  And I have figured out that long road trips are far far better with the dogs.  They add great memories.

I remember when I drove from New York to Seattle, with Murphy and my Wheaten terrier, Riley.  We were in the middle of North Dakota and I got the girls out, on a dirt road, for a long walk.  We strolled down the road, the girls investigating the culvert, the fields, when the road made a corner around the section line.  Riley refused to go any further.  We'd been traveling for about a week, the Subaru had become her new home, and by-God, she wasn't going to let it get out of her sight.

The thing about road trips is you can see new things, revisit old favorites, and let your mind wander as you drive...plus, when traveling with dogs, you actually stop, a lot, and enjoy places that you might normally drive by.

It's been a summer without a long road trip.  I need one.

Murphy's Day.

Community

If I pause and think about my friends, most of them I know because of the dogs.  We've met because of the dogs.  It's amazing.  And, when I need something, my dog-friend community always comes through, whether it's talking sports, serious life issues, or just a hand.

Sage injured her shoulder in a romp  with Annie last week.  Friends have given me names of acupuncturists (worked on their dog), some medicine that I ran out of, and ideas about massage.

Dog people know how to do community.  If left alone, we probably could solve many of the world's problems....

Murphy's Day.

A Magical Day

My friend Richard once said he stopped counting fish he caught (and released) at one...and I have followed his lead on this ever since.  That said, I do remember epic days, when it seems every cast brings a fish to hand.  It's been a long cold summer without much fishing, but on Sunday, I had a magical day.  In only 90 + minutes of fishing, I caught one beautiful fish after another.  It was the kind of 90 minutes I have needed.

And so, with only a few more weeks left, hopefully we can get out.  Sage hurt her front left leg last week, in a game with Annie, so we're trying to keep her still, and hopefully nothing more serious than rest and a little Rimadyl is needed.  I tried to convince her to not climb on all the rocks but she insisted and paid the price on Sunday night with a little stiffness.  Of course, I was stiff, too.  But happy.

Nearing the End of Summer

Not that we had one here in the PNW (there is a collective vitamin D deficiency for every resident of the PNW), but we're nearing the end of summer.  So, we're going to hop-scotch through taking some days off.  We'll be back on Tuesday after spending a weekend in eastern Washington with Carol, our friend from New York!  It's probably much cooler here for her!

Murphy's Day.

My Personal Assistant

Here in Seattle the City Council (at the risk of being overly political) which are a 9 mini-me types....if it's done in Portland, San Francisco, or Amsterdam, we have just got to do it here....are about to institute an ordinance requiring employers of any size give sick leave to every employee.

Annie is all over that one.

Murphy's Day.

Great Inventions

More than likely I have mentioned this one before, but several years ago I bought this screen for the back door.  When I am home, which is a lot, and it's warm, I leave the back door open so the girls can go in and out.  Finally, one summer, I got fed up with all the flies coming in the house.  One night I had dinner at friends' and they had this marvelous screen with a slit in the middle, so their cat could go in and out.  Wow.  Within minutes of being home, I'd ordered one, now I have two, one in Seattle and one in eastern Washington.  They are fantastic.  Dogs love the freedom, I love the lack of flies.

And made in the USA.  In fact, made locally!  Locally sourced!  Love it.

Murphy's Day.

Our Home

While we're contemplating where we want to be, I should say, one place we do love is our current home.  It's big enough for all of us, has a great fenced in yard, and is close to some wonderful places to walk.  We can easily get to stores, restaurants, dog food places (most important) and are near a great park with a fantastic view of Puget Sound.  If I am going to stay in Seattle, this is the "forever" home (ok, as I get older I need to think about navigating the stairs, but that is another matter).

Sage is protective, Annie knows her nooks and crannies...we feel good when we are "at home.  This home."

Plus, Murphy lived most of her life here....she still walks softly through the house at night.

Murphy's Day.

Where is Home?

Since my parent's deaths, I have been examining where I want to be for the next part of my life.  Be = live, reside, call home.  Seattle has grown into a city that I really don't recognize and don't feel especially like it is my home.  And the girls feel much more comfortable in places that are more dog friendly. Don't let anyone fool you into believing Seattle is dog friendly.  We have miles and miles of shoreline yet dogs are not allowed on the beach except for one tiny section, maybe 12 feet, of a park on Lake Washington.  Seattle's famous passive/aggressive residence are notorious for being out of control when it comes to dogs on or off leashes....ok, enough complaining.  However, one of my favorite contemporary writers, Pam Houston, once said: "I never want to live anywhere where my dogs are not loved more than I am."  That's me in a nutshell.

So this weekend I spent in Seattle, but really beginning the process of examining where I want to be.

Stay tuned.

Murphy's Day.

My Office

Jealous?  And the other advantage is the girls come to work with me!

Murphy's Day.

Rapscallion Annie

When I was a child I read a lot.  I remember one book, about a Japanese child and her cat.  It's where I learned the word: rapscallion.  And there are many words that describe Annie, rapscallion just about sums her up.  Total mischief.  She still has not outgrown the sock stealing game, where she gets a sock, scrambles down stairs, and waits, tail wagging, for you to discover your sock gone, Annie with it, and game on.

I simply love her energy, except when I am impatient.  She continues to make me laugh, out loud, every day.  She is a rapscallion labrador retriever.  Part of the breed standard, I think.

Murphy's Day.

You're Kidding, Right?

We're only 10 days into August and already it's been quite the month....right now I'd rather be doing this,  getting ready to fish one of my favorite high alpine lakes.  But nooooooo, I'll be sitting at the King County Courthouse.  Jury Duty.  Yep.  Every other county in the state allows you to call in, but not the largest county.  Noooooo, I have to go downtown and sit until everyone realizes they really do not want me on a jury, any jury.

Ugh.  Meanwhile, the girls will be cooped up until I get home, on what may be the only day of summer.

I keep telling myself there is no way, no way, I'll get impaneled on a jury...

Murphy's Day.

Noticing Changes

Sage will be 8 in late December.  This past weekend I noticed her slowing down, just a tish, but still, not wanting to leap into the river, taking her time along the trail.  Of course, I'm getting a little slower, too, so I assured her that we would just age together...

Murphy's Day.

Morning Exercise

As many of you know, I run in the morning.  For years Murphy ran with me.  Then I coerced Sage to run until her ACL surgery, and because of that surgery, I am reluctant to ask Annie to run with me when I pound pavement.  For the summer, though, I head to a local park and run on trails (it's light enough at 5:30 AM), and during the weekend, the girls get to trot along the dirt trail at their favorite park that follows the Wenatchee River.  So, they swim and I run.  Works for all of us.

Murphy's Day!

Travels With Sage

By far my easiest travel companion.

Last weekend we stopped for a short hike (finally, after all the road construction) and Sage took a few dips into an overflowing Canyon Creek.

She is such a lovely dog except if you want to approach Her Car!

Murphy's Day.

Rivers Still High

The rivers are still high.  Not going to be a lot of fly fishing this year and the girls are learning that taking a quick dip means finding an eddy, not hurling themselves out into the flow.

But we're beginning to see some sun, finally, which is great.

Murphy's Day.

It's All About The Stick

Annie relishes the water.  Typical lab.   And for her, it's all about chasing, or actually, swimming after the stick.  When she sees water, whether a lake or river, she runs to the shore, tail wagging, staring at you, waiting for the stick to be thrown.  She cannon-balls into the the water, swimming as fast as she can for the "catch."

I simply love her exuberance.

Murphy's Day.

Tossing and Turning

Recently, I haven't slept very well.  My mind is still processing the loss of my mother-in-law.  At night, I go over and over scenes from our past, our times together, thinking about Doug.  It's long ago and far away, but in the middle of the night, it seems like last week.

That's the thing about our pasts....it's only yesterday.

Murphy's Day.

It Was A Long Weekend

The emotional "safe harbor" for this weekend was supposed to be a hike into Cutthroat Lake and some fishing before I went onto Bellingham and a memorial service for my mother-in-law Evelyn Mason Brueggeman.  But the a huge huge section of the North Cascade Highway was being re-paved and after having sat in a long construction delay, there was not enough time to hike in and make it to Bellingham on Saturday night.  So, I was not able to spend the time just soaking up my sense of the world.

Sunday, the day of the memorial, was emotional.  Bellingham as Doug's hometown and we spent many many weekends and good times there and on Lake Whatcom.  The memorial was lovely, her remaining two sons, David and Don Mason led a wonderful tribute to a remarkable woman.  She has been a part of my life since 1976 and I do and shall miss her terribly.

In 1994, the dog that Doug and I got together, Alexis (Alex) died.  She got me through his death, law school, and many other ups and downs in life.  Her death symbolized for me a passing of a great connection I had with Doug.  And Evelyn's death does the same thing.  It's as if my life's history is fading....it's hard.

I need to fish.  The girls need to get out.  It's been a tough tough weekend and we need to find some solace.

Murphy's Day.