The Land Ethic

Driving to and from Nahahum Canyon we listened to a podcast from a Yale School of Forestry celebration of Aldo Leopold, also a graduate of the school.  It was a marvelous podcast, focused on his The Sand County Almanac and his land ethic.

There was much discussion about human interactions with and humans as a part of nature.

During the weekend, of course, we got outside.  And I realized that part of my interactions with and being part of nature is because of my time with the girls.  We get out a lot.  No matter the weather and sometimes no matter what time.  We hear hawks, see deer, smell the pine, touch the soil, taste the cool water.  And we love it all.

Doesn't get much better.

Murphy's Day.

Climate Change

It is said how climate change will affect the Northwest is more rain, higher intensity.

We've had three days of it so far and all of us are already tired of it.

Murphy's Day.

Last Moments of Summer

As I type this it is pouring rain outside my window.  It's 5:30 AM.   Autumn has arrived in the Pacific Northwest.

But there are still a few moments of summer...

Murphy's Day.

Protests

Sometimes just lying limp on the ground is a protest...clearly, Willa does not want to head back to Seattle.

Murphy's Day.

This Is What Tired Looks Like

Long hike, much of it straight up hill.  Then swimming in a lake, hiking back down, bushwhacking to a small stream so Mom can fish, then finally, finally, finding the truck.

This is what tired looks like.

Murphy's Day.

Tribe

Recently a friend posted something on Facebook about the death of her older dog and how the younger was grieving.  She wondered if dogs grieve.

I told a story about Sage, wailing a few days after Murphy died.

These girls, they are a pack, a tribe, a team.  They play, eat, sleep, play some more...all together.

It's hard not to think they don't grieve.

Murphy's Day.

IT

Yep, this is how I feel when I do software upgrades!

Sometimes being your own IT is tough.

Murphy's Day.

Wednesday

It's mid-week of another long week.

I don't know about the girls, but I know I am dreaming of Friday and time away from my desk.

Murphy's Day.

Purpose in Life

I've been very deep in thought recently.  Wondering, as I go through my days, what is my purpose?  What am I really "doing here?"

And this morning, while making my coffee and letting Sage outside, I thought that indeed, one of the reasons I am "here" is for the girls.  We rely on each other, make each other's days as good as we can. They certainly help me to be a better person, and hopefully I help them to be better dogs (which, of course, begs the question of whether they really are dogs).

Knowing that, knowing I am a "dog person" helped in my thoughts.

Murphy's Day.

Still Dry

Yesterday, when we headed to Leavenworth for our morning run, we saw smoke.  

Indeed, another fire.  This one, more than likely, human caused.  On the hills just above the entrance to Tumwater Canyon.

You have got to feel for the fire fighters this summer, they have been on duty, risking their lives, nonstop.

As of last report this fire has grown, smoke is not good.  

Be careful out there!  It's still fire season.

Murphy's Day.

Waiting All Week

Annie Oakley has been waiting all week for today.  It means work in the morning, little more work this afternoon, then maybe loading in the truck for a weekend...

Can't wait.

Murphy's Day.

What We Feel Like Doing Today

Ok, so this is a much longer story...the gist of it is my current cell phone is dying.  Well, sort of.  And I've been waiting, like some teenager, for the new Apple phones to arrive.

Tomorrow is pre-order, a week after that, we can pick up.

I'm way too excited.  Annie tells me I just need to chill out with her in the stair well.

She's right.

Murphy's Day.

Selfie

Mom?

Yes, Willa?

Do you really need to post my selfie?

Murphy's Day.

Good Sign

Fly rods stashed in pack.

The girls view that as a very good sign.

Murphy's Day.

It Can't Be Monday!

There are some Sundays when we wonder why God invented a Monday...it was absolutely gorgeous on the east side this weekend.  The girls had a blast (even though a neighbor was shooting guns).  Laying in the sun, swimming in both the Yakima and another stream, fishing, running, ball chasing, watching deer...

But, we're back at our desks, ready for Monday.

Sigh.

Murphy's Day.

And Another Day of Fishing

Gotta' love Facebook.  I just watched a 4 minute video of a guy fly fishing with his wife and two dogs.

Sheer joy for all 4 (two dogs).

And we feel the same way.

So, that seems like a pretty good thing to do this afternoon after a morning of work.

Murphy's Day.

At Rest

On Monday we hiked into one of our favorite high alpine lakes.  The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves, going crazy, bushwhacking to a nice spot.  I fished.  They watched.

It was a great way to cross that symbolic line, Labor Day, into the fall season (even though we still have about 20 days of summer left!).

Back to work tomorrow...

Murphy's Day.