And One More

Murphy's dad, Joe, sent these photos.

And then end of play time, Joe said: "Willa, I love you."

Doesn't get any better.

Murphy's Day.

Sisters

Here is a great still shot of Willa and Murphy.

You can tell it's not in our back yard...way too much grass!

Murphy's Day.

Willa and Murphy

One of Willa's litter mates lives just a few blocks away.  And frequently they get together for playtime.

This week, Murphy is traveling to Colorado to see family including the dam and sire (Sydney and Maverick).  We thought, seriously, about going along...can you imagine?

Murphy's Day.

Travel Accommodations

It's been a year since the girls have had to adapt and adopt the back of the truck.  By back, I don't mean they ride in the bed, I mean the cushy, soft, but not as big as the back of the Jetta Sportwagon, back of the truck.

Sometimes it takes a bit of kum-by-ya between them to get situated.  Mostly it takes contortions.

But they know when it's time to get into the truck, there is an adventure at the other end of the road trip.  So I imagine during the ride, they are thinking: "there is a river, a lake, Nahahum Canyon, snow..."

Murphy's Day.

Living in the City

The girls and I are not all that "big" on living in Seattle.  It's changed a lot and keeps changing in ways that are too intense, too challenging, for us.  It's become much like living in New York...work.  It's work just to complete even a simple task, like going to the grocery store, or walking the girls, or....

But, some days, some days, when the sun comes out...there are gorgeous reasons to be living along Puget Sound.

Murphy's Day.

Wading

There is nothing better on a Friday afternoon than heading to our favorite spot for a wade.

Murphy's Day.

Becoming Best Buds

Willa has really been working Sage.  She clearly wants to become one of Sage's best buds.

And Sage is willing to let her a little closer...although she has to remain top dog.

Always a delicate balance in this household!

Murphy's Day.

Wiila

Took this picture about two weeks ago and simply love it.

She is a gorgeous and wonderful girl.

Murphy's Day.

Tuckered Out

More often than not, coming back from Eastern Washington, the girls are tuckered out.  And they find a way to settle in the back seat, and crash.

But several hours later, they always leap out of the truck, rearing and ready for another round of ball throw and fun.

Labs.  They never grow up!

Murphy's Day.

Happy Anniversary

They would have been married 66 years.

Beverly and Dixon McDonald.

Res ipsa loquitur

Murphy's Day.

Lookout

One thing Sage has always done has been to be the lookout.

She finds the high spot, whether it is the crook in the stairs, on a ridge at the property, or at the top of the driveway, and stays on lookout.

Willa does it out the windows, but Sage does the fire watch tower.

Love it!

Murphy's Day.

Murphy's Legacy

Sage was Murphy's friend.

Several days ago, I ran a section of road here in Seattle that I walked with Sage after Murphy died.  We both moved rather slow, just kinda of thinking about our loss.

It was the same section of road that we walked thinking about whether Annie should come into our lives.

And when I ran the road last week, Willa was at my side.

We are all linked to Murphy, such a great great dog.

Murphy's Day.

Private Club

I sometimes wonder whether the girls think of themselves as a private club.

We all remember, as kids, having clubhouses, passwords, secrets.

These three sometimes act that way.

Three against one.

Uh-oh

Murphy's Day.

Waiting for Action

Willa is an "action toy."  She loves to fetch balls thrown just for her, to go with me on the morning walk (mostly that's about  mooching treats from anyone she encounters) and swimming.  She is really quite amazing in her ability to jump up from dead sleep and play with an intensity that I've only seen in Murphy.

Now, if only she will learn about weekends and sleeping in...

Murphy's Day.

After An Intense Five Months

Girls in river?  Check.

Fly rods packed?  Check.

Flies tied?  Check.

Waders?  Check.

Ready to fish?

Check and double check.

Murphy's Day.

Fire Warnings

Last year North Central Washington experienced some very intense and dramatic fires.  It was late in the summer, but many many acres burned.

Last Saturday one of the counties placed burn bans.  This early.  No fireworks, no open flames, no motor vehicles without proper mufflers on dirt roads.....

An ounce of caution is far far better.

Last season the smoke was so bad we didn't go over for several weeks.  Our friends, Cynthia and Russ, hightailed it out of Nahahum Canyon because of the smoke, taking horses and dogs to the "wet side" (as they call it over here).

Be careful this year, folks!  There is still a lot of fuel out there...

Murphy's Day.

The Road Less Travelled

Willa loves exploring.

But mostly she loves hanging out with her pack.

While she has independence, she wants to follow...as long as Sage takes the road less travelled.

Labs.  They never cease being clowns, that is for sure.

Murphy's Day.

Annie Oakley's Day

On Saturday, Annie played in the backyard, ate breakfast, went for a run, and then we headed east of the mountains where she helped me find trout.

After than she roamed the canyon, then sat at my side while I ate dinner (labs...).

Doesn't get much better than those pleasures.

Murphy's Day.

Guess What Opened on Saturday?

Yep.  Fishing season on most rivers in Washington state.

And, of course, we found a place to fish.

F I N A L L Y!

Murphy's Day.