Merry Christmas

It's been a great year.  In a few days Sage turns 12, and it's clear she is feeling her age.  We're doing our best to make sure she has a great year in 2016...

Annie Oakley is still mischievous and full, as my mother would say, of the old Nick.

And Willa, little Miss Intensity, is rolling through life just fine.

Have a wonderful Christmas and great New Year.

Murphy's Day.

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful and the Labs are So Delightful

A little too much kibble at the Shelterwood Consulting Christmas office party....

Murphy's Day

Charlie Brown Tree

The first time in 7 years I have had a Christmas tree.

And what does Willa do?  Casually walks over to the tree, grabs a felt ornament, and walks up to me thanking me for the toy!

Good thing labs have soft mouths.

Murphy's Day.

Be Thankful

To all our friends and family, Happy Thanksgiving.

We are on a new adventure, as Sage ages, and the other two girls adapt to Sage becoming a bit more frail and less active.

And our own adventures of finding place...

We are thankful for all of you in our lives, to help us as we navigate.

Murphy's Day.

Before the Rains

It rained all weekend in eastern Washington (aka Heaven).  Every weekend before the girls managed to get into the river.  But this weekend, the rivers were moving fast and we decided, exercising caution, to keep them out.  Hard to do with labs.

They were cheerful about it, finding mud puddles to play in and waiting for me to throw tennis balls down the field.

But the weather is changing and I assuaged the girls by saying snow may be coming, soon.  That makes labs happy.

Murphy's Day.

The Special Time

Late Autumn is a special time in eastern Washington.  Especially in November.  The festivals are dormant for awhile in Leavenworth, you was to slight dustings of snow on the Cascades, the Aspen leaves are golden, the sun low.

We enjoyed a quiet weekend.  The minute we arrived Willa did a mad dog, running up side hills, back down, around the house, then around Annie Oakley.  Sage sniffed everything.  And Annie cautiously made sure the hunters were gone...

It is a special time with the three girls.

Murphy's Day.

On Finding Things From My Mother

We spent the weekend in Seattle.

And part of the weekend was the ongoing process of going through things.

One thing I found was a "birthday book" that my mother kept.  She listed Murphy's birthday and the day Murphy died.  And Sage.

I saw that she listed people we both loved and the days they were born and sometimes, as they grew older, the day they died.

So I looked.  And she had her own birthday.  And with a very heavy heart, I put in the day she died.  Then I turned to my father's birthday and wrote in the day he died.

And then I put the book on my desk.  It will day there.

I miss those I have lost.

Murphy's Day.

Weekend Routines

On the weekends we have a routine that Annie and Willa love.  After a morning walk with Sage down the field and back to the house and breakfast, we head to Leavenworth to run.  Off leash.  And after the run comes the most important part: a trip to the river.

Despite the fact it's getting nippy, tennis balls thrown in either Icicle or the Wenatchee are possibly the best part of the day...even better than breakfast or dinner.

It's a lab's life.

Murphy' Day.

Sometimes You Just Need to Fish

Sometimes you just need to take the girls fishing.

Murphy's Day.

Icicle

The girls love Icicle!

Murphy's Day

Protecting

Yesterday a friend came to the door to introduce me to his St. Bernard, which I have never met.  That set the girls off on a barking jag that lasted the rest of the afternoon.  Once they "know" they have to protect me, any little noise will send them into full on Secret Service mode.

Annie is also protective of toys, chews, and sometimes her "special space," which is behind the coffee table in my office.

These are gentle, kind girls.  But I must admit, I like the protection, also.

Murphy's Day.

Is this heaven? No, it's Icicle.

Truly, lab heaven on a crisp Autumn morning.

Murphy's Day.

New Toys? What's That?

Annie's two favorite toys are chewed up, raggedy old soccer balls.

Happiest when I play soccer with the balls.

Does it get any better?

Murphy's Day.

We Shall Never Forget

There were many heroes on September 11, 2001.  The dogs who rescued then searched for remains are certainly among those heroes.  The struggled in horrendous conditions and provided valuable service.  And aid to the people who were also involved in the rescue, search, and recovery.

There is, as far as we know, only one of those dogs still alive.

Thank you to all of them who worked hard on those minutes, hours, days, and weeks after 9/11.

Murphy's Day.

Riots

Around 5:00 PM the girls begin to get restless.  This is a mild version of the riot that takes place in my office.  As you can see, the office manager, Sage, remains calm.  She wants me to work as long as possible.

Murphy's Day.

National Dog Appreciation Day

Enough said.

Murphy's Day

Wildfire

Lots of fires in North Central Washington.  So far everything is ok, but over the weekend the smoke finally descended into the canyon.

We have friends in the Methow and Okanogan Highlands who are under constant threat.  They were evacuated on Thursday, came home on Friday and may be evacuated again...they know they have a place if they need it.

It's scary.  The dogs sense everyone's fears and tend to cuddle even more.

And we stay prepared.  Leashes are by the door, car keys in the car, and we know how to get out fast.

Life in the West.

Murphy's Day.

Next Steps

Stayed on the west side this weekend.  Journeyed up north to think about next steps in life.

Murphy's Day.

Thunder

It was supposed to be an early night after a busy week.  Get at least 7 hours of sleep.  Then the lightning and thunder began to roll in around 3 AM.

Willa continues to be oblivious, but Sage and Annie Oakley were quite anxious.

We made room in the bed.

Murphy's Day.

Balancing Act

One day during vacation we hiked into the confluence of two streams, one of them I fish a lot.  Gorgeous day.  And we caught a few nice fish.

Vacations help balance the stress of every day life.  And particularly when you can spend a long time at some of your favorite spots...ah!  Not much better.

Heading back to the bustle of the city later today.  But back, hopefully, this weekend.

Murphy's Day.

Spa Days and Vacations

Vacations are about good books, lazy days, and taking better care of yourself.  Or at least in my book.

This is sort of a staycation, over in eastern Washington.  Sage hasn't been on full speed in awhile, so activities are arranged around making sure she is comfortable.

Yesterday was a short short hike into a river.  While I fished, Sage reminded me that she needed "restoration."  Her word for a "spa day."

Murphy's Day!

Now We Are 4

Happy Birthday Willa!

Murphy's Day.

Best Friends

Sage has been showing signs of aging, particularly recently.  It's amazing how fast age comes on....

But her friends have been taking good care of her.  Not letting her stray far behind.  Watching patiently when she gets her skin care bath.  Worried when she has digestive "issues."

That's what friends are for.

Murphy's Day.

Relatives

On the left is Maverick and the right is Caleb.  Maverick is Willa's father and Caleb her brother.

Same intensity.  She didn't fall far from Maverick's tree, that is for sure.

Murphy's Day.

Hope Solo

Hope Solo wannabe...ok, without the domestic violence charge.

Murphy's Day.

Summer on Puget Sound

Really, it doesn't get much better.

This is a sailing class being towed out...way too cute.

Murphy's Day.

Patriotic Fish

Happy Fourth of July!

Maybe a patriotic fish will take this fly!

Murphy's Day.

Heat

It's been hot up here in the PNW.  While the girls slow down a bit in the heat (see Exhibit A above), they still want to swim, play fetch, and enjoy having everyone outside.

That said, it's also a dangerous season...fires are already raging near (although not close) to the house in eastern Washington.  A good reminder to be very careful and make sure I know where these knuckleheads are at all times.

Murphy's Day.

Summer

It's officially summer.  Lots of traveling back and forth from the "wet side" to the "dry side."  It's amazing me to me how the girls adjust and find fun wherever they end up.  But yesterday, when we finally packed up and left, Willa was reluctant to leave the canyon.  Can't blame her.  It's getting harder and harder to travel back and forth.

On another note, I've been doing a lot of thinking, recently, about this blog.  I've kept it since 2008, almost 7 years.  I started it as a way to talk about Murphy, my first lab, and the experience of being with her as she aged and finally died.  I was able to witness and absorb grace, humility, dignity from Murphy.  Then deal with all the pain and helplessness of loss.

Now, with three labs, my life and world revolves around them.  Sage is aging, and I find myself beginning to wake in the night, listening for her.  Watching her more carefully, trying to find ways to make her feel even more special.  And I wonder if this blog is going to become about Sage...or if I should just stop writing and let it be.

For the time being, I will continue the blog, see what direction it takes.  It's summer.  There are adventures that await us.

Murphy's Day.

Father's Day

Sage has a pedigreed father.  Cain.  He was a huge, gorgeous yellow lab from Delaware.  Murphy's father was Houston, a champion hunter, champion show dog.  Willa's father, Maverick, came from fine hunting stock and her mother was AKC.

Annie Oakley?  Well, she is gorgeous and her mother was AKC, but we don't know much, if anything about her father.  But he gave us a great lab.

Nonetheless, she is loved.  And is an absolutely gorgeous, wonderful, complicated lab.

So this is the day we honor our fathers.  Mine was an amazing man.  Artistic.  Thoughtful.  Emotional.  Intense.  The ultimate do-it-yourself man.  He graduated from law school at 65.  He died five years ago and I miss him more and more every day.

Father's matter.

Murphy's Day.

First Summer Hike

On Saturday we did our first long hike of the summer.  Up to a favorite place, Lake Valhalla.  Gorgeous weather, lots of mosquitoes, and a few miles of bushwhacking.  But we all made it back to the truck in one piece.

Sage, who is 11, is noticeably slowing down.  She is so stoic, though, she did the whole hike without a whimper.

More of these hikes to come!

Murphy's Day

Tributes

This video has to be the very best I've ever seen about the relationship between a dog and his person.

Supervisor

As part of the thinking about when to move, a washer/dryer was installed last Friday.

Sage made sure the work men knew who was the boss, supervising their every move.

Thanks to Sage, the machines work perfectly!

Murphy's Day.

June Thoughts

I woke up yesterday with this deer (look closely) grazing below my bedroom window.

No, not in Seattle.

During this "watershed" year, we are in the midst of a real estate bubble here in Seattle.  Which means the Seattle house is worth something.  The city itself has and is becoming way too intense for me.  Too many people, too many "chi-chi" restaurants, too hard to get around, old landmarks bulldozed for copy-cat architecture with, in my opinion, no soul or heart.

But here, here where the deer grazes in the fields, the girls can be dogs, not pets.  They can walk off leash with no one yelling at them.  They can roll in freshly cut grass, lay in the sun, smell the flowers.   They can swim in a river without worry about a $500 fine.

It's time to make this move.

Murphy's Day.

Soccer Corruption

We read in the news that a number of FIFA officials had been arrested on corruption charges.

Annie Oakley is old school.  She has a beloved soccer ball, skin long gone, that she plays with.  No need for fancy hotels, private jets, or cash in her account.  She just wants to play soccer with you!

Murphy's Day.

Memorial Weekend

Thanks to all that served.

Murphy's Day

Bird

This weekend is the Leavenworth Bird Festival.

And we're going.

I mean after all, we do have the best birders in Chelan County!

Murphy's Day.

Mother's Day

My mother loved my dogs.  She did not grow up with animals and came to being owned by dogs reluctantly.  But like anyone converted to a new religion, she embraced being owned by a dog with fervor.  A small, protective miniature Schnauzer named Kelly became her dog, not the family dog!

Of these three, she never got a chance to meet Willa.  I do remember her rushing over to my house the morning after Sage arrived from Maryland and insisting on holding Annie Oakley the morning after arriving from the same place.  One of my favorite pictures of her is Murphy, a rather large Yellow lab, laying on her lap during one of of last road trips to Sun Valley together.

Like everything else dogs do, they bring out the maternal in us.  They remind us of those things mother's do for us: unconditional love, devotion, sympathy, empathy, and unbounded joy in life.

Happy Mother's Day!

One More Month, Girls!

Last week we took a short walk to investigate our "spot."

One more month before we can cast flies...but it's truly amazing how low the water level is, already.  Small patches of snow left on the Cascades, but it will be a low flow summer.

Regardless, the girls found the water delightful on a warm spring day.

Murphy's Day.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday.

I miss her terribly.

Murphy's Day.

Spring Dip

The weather is beginning to warm up here in North Central Washington.  And there is nothing better than a dip in the river to cool off the furry girls as they begin to adapt and adjust to the warmth.

Labs + Water = Happy dogs.

Murphy's Day.

Happy Earth Day!

We love our Earth!

Murphy's Day.

Willa and Mountain Bikes

So, we tried something new (old to us but new to the dogs) today.  We went mountain biking.  Just Willa and Annie.  Not a long ride, but they loved it.  As did we.  What a way to earn a glass of beer!

Gorgeous wild flowers, smell of Ponderosa pine.  Lots of up and down.  Good fun.

And the girls loved the water and Milk Bones at the end.

Murphy's Day.

Those Loving Eyes

What Sage says

Murphy's Day.

Did Someone Forget It Is Spring?

From gorgeous spring weather to a bit of snow last night.  Spring in the mountains!  At least it gave the girls a crisp morning with lots of scents as the deer descended!

Murphy's Day.

Spring!

It is a riot of color over in the Canyon.

The girls are thoroughly enjoying the early spring.

Murphy's Day.

Weekend Work

Another weekend of preparing for disaster...just kidding.  But part of living in an area dominated by fires, is creating defensible space around the house.  Lots of work, but well worth it.  Fortunately it was gorgeous weather and we had great supervision.

Murphy's Day.

There Are Deer in Those Hills, Mom!

Willa is three.  Her first few days with us were spent at the Canyon.  And ever since then she knows that being in the Canyon means 'critters.'  In her early months as a pup she would sit at the edge of my bed, looking out over the fields, barking at anything that moved.  Curtains went up so I could sleep!  She still watches, guarding, but no longer barks in the middle of the night if a bug stirs.

She remains most vigilant over deer.  Those pesky critters who are tall and can run a lot faster than she does.

On our early morning walks her nose is always in the air, smelling the first whiffs of deer in the grass.

"Mom, there are deer around here some place."

"I know, Willa, I know.  They are taunting you."

Murphy's Day.

First Weekend of Spring

Look what is blooming!  East of the mountains, spring is beginning to show.  Since there was not much snow this year, and it has been slightly warmer, spring is beginning to pop up, particularly on the southern aspect hills.

This could be a rather bad year for ticks and fleas, so the girls got their doses of flea/tick medicine.  I am always rather reluctant to use this stuff, but given we spend so much time in areas filled with deer and other tick vectors, I would rather be safe than sorry.

On another safe than sorry line, we also spent the weekend further preparations for what is called defensible space, making sure we have done enough to protect the house from wildfire.  Lifted a lot of river rock!  Sore muscles = good weekend.

Murphy's Day.

Door Opening Season

It's becoming door opening season in Seattle.

Love it!

Murphy's Day.

Hanging Out

I simply love this picture.  I took it while the girls were waiting for me to load the truck and take them fishing.

Murphy's Day.

On the Pitch

Annie Oakley has a beloved soccer ball.  It's cover is chewed off, it's deflated, but this is one of her favorite toys.

And one of her favorite things is to have me kick it while she plays goalie.

It's attention, it's play, and she is happy.

Plus, she is a really good goalie.

Murphy's Day.