The Best Gift

Murphy and I have celebrated 14 birthdays together.  I reminded her, yesterday, of several memorable ones.  The year I turned, ummmm, well, never mind, but also graduated from Yale.  Now that was a party.  I have a picture of her celebrating with me.  She is a Yalie, through and through, having skidded the School of Forestry Christmas trees through the courtyard of Sage Hall, worked with me on my thesis along the Housatonic (phew, now that was work, but someone had to do it!), and romped with the other Yale dogs on the Marsh Hall lawn.  

Oh, but we reminisce...the important point here is that we have logged some miles together.  

And every birthday I realize the most important present is Murphy.  Yesterday, I came downstairs, read the papers on-line, poured my orange juice and prepared for my run.  Usually Murph sleeps through the whole routine, and really doesn't wake until, yes, it's true, an hour later, I return from my shuffle.  But this time, she stirred, walked into the kitchen, and nuzzled my legs.  Happy birthday, Mommy.

We have spent 14 years together.   Many many memories.  Each one precious.  She is the best gift.

Murphy's day.

Big Sisters

Sage and Murphy have had a complicated relationship.  Murphy is the gentlest dog.  I think I have only heard her growl once in 14 years.  She is the type of lab that lets kids pull at her ears, other dogs sniff her everywhere, and will patiently endure any number of weird hats that I put on her head.  Sage is top dog.  She butts Murphy out of her way, growls when Maisy, Dexter , or Pele try to get in her car,  runs toward little kids like they are pups who want to play.  I have written in prior posts that Sage and Murphy as a laboratory for the nature v. nurture debate.

In the past few months, as I have noticed every nuance of Murphy's aging, so has Sage.  It hasn't stopped her from butting her sister out of the way when there is food or treats, but I have witnessed Sage showering Murph with ear kisses, nuzzles, and other endearments.  Sage seems more patient with her big sister.

Maybe I am finally noticing, it also seems that Sage is trying to be Murphy.  Well, she tries to be Murphy if she thinks Murph is getting something she is not (she is still intensely curious about Murph's meds, as in why am I not getting one of those? ), she is also shooting into the kitchen when she hears meat being unwrapped (a Murphy moment), and enjoying the simple life of hanging out in the yard.  This is what real labs do, huh Murph.  We're being real labs.

Murphy takes it all in stride.  As if she always expected Sage would wise up.  I keep wondering, though, if Sage will ever become the retrieving maniac like Murphy.  I still have a huge stockpile of tennis balls.  

Murphy's day.

Lab Imitates Lab

Several days ago I came across a picture of Sage standing with Murphy on the back porch.  Sage must have been about 4 or 5 months old, and she was, it seemed, trying to be "just like Murphy."

Scroll ahead 4 years.  She still is working on her Murphy imitation.  While she is a vastly different dog, there are times she does everything her older sister does.

Sunday in the sun, both dogs could be found, stretched out, enjoying the sun.  Lab imitates lab.

I couldn't think of any better role model for Sage than Murphy.  

Murphy's day.

Ah, Warmth!

You know the thing, about pictures saying a thousand words.  This picture says only one thing: "happy!"

Saturday was wet and damp, but Sunday, it was Spring, and warm.  

And Murphy was happy.

Sage, on the other hand, hasn't acclimatized to the warmth.  She spent most of the day in shade.  But she is young, and doesn't have sore hips.

Happy.

Murphy's day.

Out of the Office

Yep, we're heading "out of the office."  Over to eastern Washington to sit, gaze at balsam, do a little birding.  Maybe see if the "Mother's Day Hatch" is a few days early on the Yakima.

Out of the office.

Murphy's weekend.

Calendar Turns

Wow!  Does anyone know where April went?  May 1st brings loud activities at my neighbors: lawn mowers, painters with heavy metal musical tastes.  It must be getting slightly warmer?

I turn my Trout of North America calendar to May.  Arctic Grayling.  Extinct in Michigan, endangered in Montana.  I think of the Big Hole, dreaming of my Montana adventures.  The rivers here in Washington have not begun run-off.  Was it last year the Wenatchee was over the banks, flowing into hotel parking lots and the high school track in Dryden?  Wading may come late this year.  

The weather forecast looks nice for the weekend.  I'll get the "girls" to some sun.  Just sitting will be the major activity.  We have adventures to look forward to in the next few months, and frankly, just getting through April was an adventure even though I rarely left Seattle!

Murphy is ready for her May Day bouquet, noticing the lilac is beginning to show a few flowers.  The calendar turned.  Murphy and I have one more month of our lives together.  

Murphy's day.

Curiosity

Among many things, Sage is intensely curious.  I call her my entomologist, which is a good thing to have around when you're a fly fisherwoman.  She is like a little kid, exploring all things bug.  

She has the usual dog curiosity, sniffing pee-mail left along our running route, cocking her head at strange sounds, hiding behind my legs as a unusual shape approaches.

But Sage's curiosity is different.  She really does remind me of a budding scientist.  Maybe it's because she is the puppy of a forester?  She doesn't wade through a creek, but burrows her nose into the water, looking at nymphs, pawing at a rock to see what is under it, or standing absolutely still listening to a bird call.  

Of course, I think her mind is working the whole time.  When she is in a river, Sage will look up at me, as if she is asking hey, Mom, what's this bug?  Her eyes shift back and forth from object to me, waiting for my reply.  It's a March Brown Sagie.  

The dogs, my dogs, have adopted the rhythms of the house.  Quiet during the day, activity in the mornings and evenings.  All of us seem to enjoy the stimulation of being outside, away from desks and computers.

While Sage engages the bugs and birds, Murph and I watch, curious about Sage's curiosity.

Murphy's day.