What Else Can I Say?

Today is Willa's first birthday!  She has certainly managed to become part of the pack and is trying to unseat Sage as the leader.  No matter what, they are my best friends...

So we're off for a week.  Time to fly fish, hike, ride horses, lolly-gag.

Of course, where ever I end up this next week, my best friends will be with me.

Murphy's Day.

Seize the Moment

So all of this past week has put us into a reflective "mode."  And we realize seizing the moment, seizing  the moment, is so important.

The girls, they are such great healers.  They sense I am tired, upset, reflective.  And they hover around. Reminding me to live.  Seize the moment.

Murphy's Day.

I Sometimes Wonder

I sometimes wonder whether those who have left us worry about us.

Murphy's Day.

For Tommie

I know this really doesn't have much to do with dogs, but it has to do with life (and does it count that my Grandfather bred Chesapeake Bay Retrievers?).  Years and years ago my Grandfather rescued a family and a farm from a tax foreclosure.  Our family became intertwined with the family that owned the farm, and the land became known as Baldi to us.  Almost all of the grandchildren has a tale to tell about roaming the fields, woods, and streams of Baldi.

My cousin, Tom, left his heart at Baldi.  Baldi eventually became part of the City of Tacoma's watershed, and we sold the farm before eminent domain.  We've left several of our family's ashes up there...it's part of our heart and soul.

That's the thing about land and place and memories.  I think of places I played with Murphy, that we left our hearts and souls.  The same with Sage, Annie, and now Willa.  Tommie understood this.  He understood leaving your heart and soul in a place.

And Tommie understood the healing power of dogs.  We talked a lot about dogs, and he wanted, in the end, a lab.  I regret not taking the girls to see him...perhaps a tail wag, a lick, a nuzzle would have been great comfort.

I can see Tommie, now, walking the fields at Baldi with a lab.

Murphy's Day.

Cousin Tom

My cousin Tom is on the right side of the first row.  This is a picture of some of the family, more than likely at Christmas.  My Grandmother is in red.  We all, of course, look so young, but as of yesterday, only three of us in that picture are still alive.

My cousin Tom died yesterday.  He held onto the family legacy of ranching, farming, loving the Western landscape, his whole life.  The last time I saw him, a few weeks ago, he talked about being an old cowboy...

It's been a hard month.

Tommie, I shall miss you very much.

Murphy's Day.

Ready to Go

It's Friday.  Annie is ready to go.

Me too.

It's been a long long long week.

Murphy's Day.

What Does it Take to Tucker Her Out?

I had dinner with a friend who has a kitten.  The whole evening was spent trying to tucker the kitten out.  And I thought about Willa.  It takes a lot to get her tired...she is a battery pack with black fur around it.  But every once in awhile, she actually seems to have hit her "wall."  But of course, to get there, I am totally tuckered out!

Willa seems to think that is how it should be.

Murphy's Day.

Contemplating Sage

Sage is now 8 1/2 years old.  I am beginning to notice she is slowing down a lot more, relying on her nose to send her wandering and checking out her world.  It seems as if an older age has come to Sage much more quickly than it did with Murphy.  But they are different dogs and that is understandable...

That said, she does let Willa know where she is in the hierarchy.  Sage number 1, Willa way down the list!

Murphy's Day.

Gaby

Our dear friends Scott and Paula contacted us this morning.  Their great dog, fierce and feisty Gaby. died early on Tuesday morning.  Surrounded by both of them.  She gave them everything she had, living with heart murmurs, failing legs, but a big big heart.

Scott and Paula are the most wonderful dog people.  Scott is like the Pied Piper of our neighborhood, walking early in the morning, always having dog treats for each and every dog he encounters as he makes his way to his morning coffee....And Paula, always quick with a toy, a pat, a hug for the girls...these folks are tribal leaders of the Dog Tribe.

Loss like this is hard.  All of us feel it.  It's hardest on my friends.  Gaby lives on in their hearts, in all of our hearts...but right now, the world must seem very empty.

Dear Gaby.

Little Sisters

I've written about this seemingly endlessly.  Being a little sister myself, I know a fair amount about taunting an older sibling.  Willa has perfected the fine art of taunt.  Whether it is just before a meal, when she scurries into the house, grabs a toy, and begins the "chase" with Annie, or it's barking at Sage trying to get Sage to give up a chewie or tennis ball,  Willa isn't accepting the fact she is the youngest in the family and still learning the hierarchy.  Willa doesn't seem to know that she is "low dog" on the totem pole.

It's fun to watch all this.  Annie is certainly enjoying much of having a younger sister, although the is way too kind and gentle with the pup, letting her take her toys.  Every once in awhile, she'll growl or snarl to let Willa know she has crossed "the line."

Every day I get a chance to see these pups change and grow.  I love it!

Murphy's Day.

Weekend in the City

It's rare, but we stayed home this weekend.  Did "normal" staying at home on the weekend kinds of things (I could have sold the lawn clippings for hay!).  The girls didn't like it.  Too many firecrackers, not enough being able to romp.  But we got a chance to catch up on the Tour de France.  Have dinner with good friends....indeed there are people in this world who have incredible views from their homes!

But we're looking forward to a busy week and then, maybe a weekend out of town and back to some eastern Washington heat.  The weather in Seattle over the weekend was quite interesting, between thunder and lightening, fog, mist, sun, humidity...

We're now well into summer (still don't really know that in Seattle).  Why is it summer always goes by way too fast?

Murphy's Day.

Friday with Annie

As I have said, Annie is a sweet girl.  And she can not wait until the weekend when I can spend much more time with her.  Labs are people dogs and they love time together, whether it is out for a walk, ball throw, lounging on the bed, watching TV together....in our case, smelling the flowers!

Murphy's Day.

Waiting for the Weekend

It's been a busy week, now that we're back in the city.  Annie can not wait for the weekend....me neither!

Growing Up

It's inevitable, Willa is growing up.  In a few weeks she will be a year old!  And now, when we're in eastern Washington, she has begun expanding her world, exploring on her own, the smells and sounds. She has grown more intense, more agile (you should see her catch anything in the air), and more demanding as she exerts herself into the world....into the pack.

It's been a long year and sometimes I scratch my head and wonder what I was thinking bringing into this family a third dog.  It's a lot of work.  But she is great and right now, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Murphy's Day.

A Little Like Murphy

Willa.  Phew.  She is a little like Murphy.  Totally addicted to ball throw, in fact, impatient if it is not thrown at the speed she wants.  Always ready to play.  She is intense.

But it's Annie who has Murphy's sweetness, so very gentle.

It's nice for me to have two dogs that have so much of Murphy in them.  And while I know I shouldn't compare, really, once a lab is inside your heart, you do see much of them in other labs.  That's good.  It's what is part of the "breed standard."  Personality.

Lab breed standard: silly, sweet, intense, loving, kind, protective.

Murphy's Day.

Post-4th of July

Other than an initial thunder/lightening/rain storm last Saturday, the week away from firecrackers, fireworks, and all things loud, went well.  Lots of walks, fishing, playing, romping.  The girls seemed reluctant to return to the mess of Seattle...

It was wonderful to be able to open the door and let the girls just go, leashless, up through the Aspen stand, or down toward the county road, or romp in the fields.

And the weather was nice.  Slowly, gradually, escalating to 90° by the time we left.

Summer is here and the girls are ready!

Murphy's Day.