Long Weekend

My new "pump myself up" mantra is: "Life is an adventure and we're in it!"  Boy these past four days sure have proven that.  From my near death (I kid you not) allergic reaction to eating one clam (who knew someone who was born and raised in the PNW had become allergic to clams) to finding two ~ 4 week old kittens trying to live...it was a long weekend.  With many many adventures in-between (and not the yahoo river rafting kind of adventures, but more the "crap, are these mouse nests in the bathroom?"kind of adventures).

Sometimes coming home and dealing with work stress seems relaxing!

Ok, about the kittens.  Two of them.  Very cute.  Clearly needed to be bottle fed.  I called many people to see if anyone wanted two adorable kittens, and with no takers, I took them to a shelter (no-kill, of course) where they are going to be well cared for....of course, if I can configure my life to have 3 dogs and two cats.....isn't that really the definition of insanity?

Murphy's Day.

She's Growing Up

Ten months.  She is ten months old.  While chronologically she is getting older, she hasn't aged.  Still totally puppy and still totally silly.  I often wonder what I was thinking when I got her...oh, wait, I wasn't thinking....but I really wouldn't have it any other way.  She is the zest in this household...

Murphy's Day.

Just Labs

At a luncheon (apparently people still do luncheons) on Saturday, I met a couple who had a 15 year old adopted dog.  Copper.  Of course, we then talked dogs.  And when asked what "kind" of dogs I had I responded: "just labs."

There is a magazine devoted to those of us who are crazy enough to be owned by labs.  And indeed, there are people who are owned by more than 3 (I can even imagine the chaos)!

I have become a "lab person."  I can not even imagine another breed...although the idea of having a smaller dog when I am older seems logical and realistic.  And I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed my two terriers, Alexis and Riley.  But these labs, they are such characters, as my mother would say.  They are clowns, protectors, prime athletes, hunters, goon-balls, amazing eating machines, couch potatoes (no, they are not allowed on my furniture but they do rule the bed), best friends, confidantes, exercise coaches, life coaches, fly fishing amigos, refrigerator cleaners, dust creators, Yoga practitioners (Sage does the best Downward Facing Dog), babysitters, and did I mention clowns?

Sage, Annie Oakley, and Willa each have a bit of Murphy in them (Annie is actually related, distantly, to her), which also gives me a sense of continuity in my life.

Yep, just labs.

Murphy's Day.

Laughing Lab

I remember when I studied art history (I think I changed my undergraduate major more times than anyone...philosophy, art history, English, botany, history, political science, sociology....) I took a great Asian art history course.  We of course studied many time periods and I still recall having to recognize variations of the Laughing Buddha.

So, I think of Sage as the Laughing Lab.  She has one of the best smiles (do dogs smile?).  And on this quick trip out of congested Seattle, she seemed happy and full of energy....hmmm, what does that tell me?

Murphy's Day.

Stop and Smell the Balsam

A quick trip to eastern Washington...despite the foul weather, we had a nice time.  Fishing was impossible (although, we tried!) because of high run off, but we had some nice walks.  And Annie reminded me that these kinds of quick trips are important, if only to stop and smell the wild flowers.

Murphy's Day.

Off to Find Water

We're on the dry side of the state today, although you wouldn't know it by the amount of water flowing off the Cascades....friends on the east coast are well into their stream fishing season and we're all staring at the flows wondering if/when we can get into water....

Sage tells me to be patient.

Sigh.

Murphy's Day.

Opening Day

Sage and I have been waiting a whole year for tomorrow.  Opening day of fishing in rivers and streams here in Washington.  We are off to find some place, any place, where the water is low and the fish can be coaxed out of hiding by a well placed dry fly...ok, may we won't be able to find that, yet, but we might was well start looking!

Murphy's Day.