End of August

Summer technically doesn't end for another month, but the last day of August and the on-coming Labor Day weekend always feels like the end of this season.

It's gone by fast.  But we don't feel particularly refreshed, yet.  Carrying the weight of loss and sorrow...

Murphy's Day.

There is Nothing Worse

There is nothing worse than scraping old paint.

Spent the weekend working on one small portion of the south wall.

Nothing worse.

Even the dogs were bored.

Murphy's Day.

Day Camp

I jokingly refer to the girls as going to day camp in the summer.  I have visions of them making lanyards, singing camp songs, trying out climbing techniques on a climbing wall.  But really, everyday is day camp for them.  Their walks, in Annie's case, a run (sometimes), their treats, romping in the back yard, the naps...it's a nice life, no matter what season.

Camp Double Yellow Dog, 24/7, 365.

Murphy's Day.

Happy Birthday Carol!!!!

Happy Birthday!  We know it's a big one and sorry we are not there celebrating with you!

Murphy's Day

Fishing Buddies

Sage has fished with me her whole life.  She gets into the water just before I cast, swims around to "stir up the fish," then finds a nice spot in the sun.  Of course, when she was a pup I remember several times that she would "work on" getting Murphy riled up.  Once, when I was fishing the Yakima, I saw Murphy chasing Sage through the woods after Sage had been working on "getting Murphy's goat" for quite awhile.

Annie has the same tactics.

But both seem to enjoy the time near a river.

Murphy's Day.

Silly Girl

After having labs in my life for over 15 years now, I am convinced they do not have embarrassment as part of their emotional repertoire.  Rather, they view their actions, no matter how silly, as part of the joy of life.  It's just who they are.

If only we could figure out how to be like that.

Murphy's Day.

Stolen Goods

Among siblings there is nothing as good as a "stolen" toy.  On Sunday, Annie found a chewie in the woods.  It was a prized possession.  But soon, Sage had it with Annie totally distraught over the theft.

I remember that my brother had a stuffed monkey that I spent half of my childhood trying to figure out how to steal.

Not much is different with "the girls."

Murphy's Day.

Retirement

Yesterday afternoon I attended a retirement party of a dear family friend.  She was close to my parents and helpful to me during the past few years.  It was poignant, the party was where she worked with my father.

Moving on to new things in her life.

Hopefully she knows she is always surrounded by family and friends.

Murphy's Day.

Cooling Down

It has cooled down.  Sage is happier.  While she is content to lay in the sun, reminiscent of the days after her knee surgery, I think the heat really gets to her.  She is happiest when she can just wade and stay cool.

Ah, Summer, we only knew you for a few minutes!

Murphy's Day.

Summer Evenings

Well, the hot weather is about to leave us...sigh.

We thoroughly enjoyed it.  Going swimming in the Sound, lounging around outside.  The girls entertained themselves while I ate on the deck.  First they would attempt to beg.  Then the begging descended to lab smack-down wrestling.  It was great.  Who needs TV when you have these two?

We're sad to see the heat leave us....

Murphy's Day.

On the Trail

On this hike we passed through several small meadows of heather.  I thought of my mother, who loved heather (much of our front yard is heather the she planted).  It is a wonderful thing about just following a trail, that my mind can wander.  I spent a lot of time reflecting on my parents, Murphy, friends who have been in my life.  How each of them would have loved to have seen the beauty, smelled the alpine air, giggled at the dogs.

It's nice to never hike alone.

Murphy's Day.

Hot Summer Hikes

It was hot.  Saturday we went fishing.  And Sunday, after some "issues" with Annie (ahem) we took a long long drive for a great hike to Blue Lake in the North Cascades.  Nothing better than a great hike on a hot summer day that has a beautiful "col" lake.

Sage did fantastic.  She began her life as a hiker and she just trotted up the trail.  Annie, well, she is still learning.  But she had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed the romp.

Needless to say it was quiet in the back seat on the drive home.

Murphy's Day

A Little Bit of Summer

Weather report looks promising.  Another little bit of summer on it's way.  And tonight we get to see Josh-eee-wah, my grand-nephew.

I think a lot about my parents on these gorgeous summer days.  Both of them loved the sun...

Murphy's Day

Friends

The other thing about vacations is taking time to visit friends....

Of course, that included some great food and lively conversations!

Murphy's Day.

Melted

It's truly amazing.

When we walked up toward the tool storage the girls just froze.  Something was amiss...

Murphy's Day

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Two hours after we left Cashmere on July 30th, a smoldering grassfire broke out across the county road.  It leapt the road, and raced up the property.  It hit a tool storage shed (that had gasoline in it), melting everything except several metal tools (handles gone, of course), then roared up Burch Mountain, circled back down toward the county road.  In the end, the fire consumed over 1700 acres of grass, poplars, aspen, a tool storage shed, numerous power poles, a freight container filled with building materials, and lots and lots of grass.

One week later, Sage and Annie leapt out of the car to a moonscape.  Of course, the fire is and will be good for the ecology of the area, but it is still jarring to see.  Annie celebrated by rolling in the charcoal fields going in as a yellow lab and emerging as a black one!

The young firefighters from the US Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, BLM, and the Cashmere Fire Department were amazing.  These kinds of fires are very tricky and they managed to save all the homes, most of the structures, and all of the livestock.  To understand how treacherous these fires can be read Norman MacLean's Young Men and Fire.  Thankfully, no one was injured or killed.

Murphy's Day.

First, Vacation

This has been an eventful past ten days (we're expecting the plague of locusts any minute now), but first the vacation.  This was Annie's first real vacation (and the first one for Sage in 3 years).  She did great!  No hotels were trashed, no evictions because of barking, and no left-behind at rest stops.  The girls got into about a dozen rivers: Wenatchee, Yakima, Umatilla, the Big Wood, Silver Creek, Henry's Fork (of the Snake), North Fork of the Madison, Gallatin, Clark's Fork (of the Columbia), North Fork of the Coeur d' Alene, Columbia, and Icicle Creek.  This is a picture of Sage inspecting a hatch on the Gallatin.

We had fantastic weather, ate good food, met wonderful friends, and fist-bumped Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And got skunked at every river we fished.  But that is not the reason to fish, right?  Right?

Murphy's Day.

On the Gallatan

So far a wonderful trip.  The dogs have been in many rivers (a lab's idea of heaven) and have taken many hikes.  We have had great visits with friends, old and new, and even enjoyed some fly fishing (skunked!).  We're making the turn and heading for the barn today so we'll be back at the blog more than likely by Monday morning.

We missed all of our old traveling friends and companions.  This is the first vacation since Murphy died, and we spent time in places she had been.  She was, I felt, with us in many ways.  And there wasn't a moment that went by that I didn't want to reach for the phone to tell my parents about some event.

Life brings joy and sadness...

Murphy's Day