Archive for ‘July, 2011’

The Journey: along the road home

The road to my house is a road I love. I’ve written about it. There is a gallery of photos from different times of the year…different times in my life (see the new tab on the top menu). This little house, the woods, the meadows and mountains beyond…visible through the woods. This location – it has been home for most of the last, almost 5 years… some of that 5 years was spent in my motor home: ‘Wild Thing’

The story, though, the ‘From the Front Porch’ story…it is the story of moments in time that comprise part of my life’s journey…along the road home.

I was reminded of the journey by Bill, of California Karelians. I contacted California Karelians to inquire about the possibility of a professional Karelian Bear Dog trainer to consult with me on Bear’s training. Having trained KBD puppies, but never a grown up KBD, I was unsure. I felt out of my depth and I so want to do things right so that Bear can have the best life possible with me and hopefully, Bob! Bill and Liz of California Karelians have been incredible resources as well as encouraging supporters.

After a discouraging setback between Bear and Bob, Bill emailed me: “you are on a journey it was supposed to be this way”.

Those words stuck with me. The universe sometimes conspires ‘against’ me with the same message from every venue of my life. These past weeks, it has been: ‘the journey’. Not the destination, but the journey, the road home. Not the house or the location, but the way there. Each moment of the journey is a blessed time. In a world of things that need to “get done”, “to do” lists, schedules and commitments…learning to enjoy the blessedness of each moment versus only the end goal of getting it done, can be a challenge. The moments often get lost in a swirl of busy-ness and the push for completion.

Months ago, sitting in Dr. Barbara Calm’s office with Karl – talking about his treatment but also my confiding to Dr. Calm that I felt I might be putting pressure on Karl with too much focus on him… and much as I tried not to, I knew there was underlying worry and anxiety. Our bond was so strong and we spent so much time together – I had a fear that he was holding on for me. I was speaking with her about my decision to step back and work on relaxing and letting things be. Dr. Calm smiled, pointed to Karl who was asleep on her office floor and said: “Look at him. He is not worried or anxious, take your cue from him.”

Bear is a joy! He is loving, enthusiastic, curious and eager to please. Outdoors, he is all Karelian Bear Dog business. Our bond grows every day: trust, respect and love. There is still a ways to go before we can try off leash. There is still a ways to go before Bob and Bear can be together with me.

There were some moments, weeks ago, when I was frustrated, scared, sure I was doing everything wrong and ruining both their lives. But then, those words: “you are on a journey it was supposed to be this way”. It changed my perspective. Nothing had actually changed in the circumstances except my ability to take one day at a time, recognize and experience the joy in each step forward and to look at occasional setbacks as opportunities to learn.

In dog training, there is something called “remove and redirect”. When an unwanted behavior is escalating, you remove your dog and redirect his attention. With Bear, if he is overexcited to the point where he cannot hear me, I give 2 tweets on the whistle I carry. In the brief silence from that distraction, I speak low and firm saying “Leave it” – then an upbeat “Let’s go, Bear!” as I do a 180 and remove him from whatever. Now he can hear me and he’s looking to me for direction, so I have him sit, which restores calm and allows us to reconnect. Bill suggested the 180 procedure to help teach Bear that the non threatening critters that were not in our yard were not worth attention.

I find that “remove and redirect” works for me as well :)! When something beyond my control is causing me to emotionally escalate in an unwanted manner, I do a mental 180, a sit-stay and redirect with a cup of tea, a quiet moment with Bear or Bob, a prayer for serenity in the moment and gratitude, whatever the circumstances.

An email from Bill after I confided that the “journey” words had helped me relax about Bear and Bob: “[…]you got the point, regarding the journey, and the dog lives in the moment, so why not enjoy it with him!”

Why not, indeed!

The journey, not the destination, not the outcome – it is the journey, one moment at a time … that is the road home – for me.

Canola Part 2: Fry bread and tortilla chips

So, after the canola comes out of the field, it is processed into canola oil…which has a high flash point making it a good deep fry oil candidate and my oil of choice for the little deep frying I do.

Two weeks ago, I had a go at Indian Fry Bread.

The morning of my first try at the fry bread, it was wonderfully cool. I have an electric outlet just outside the front door so I set up the fryer there. A few minutes later, fry bread…

I love my cranberry-citrus marmalade but I thought these were best with butter and honey…and a strong cup of coffee…on the front porch!

Last weekend, round 2…in a cast iron skillet on top of the stove…

And since the oil was already hot…and I had homemade refried beans in the frig…I fried a few tortillas for chips as well.

All in all, an excellent use of canola oil as far as I’m concerned.

But for appearance and beauty…

Canola in the field.

Hangin’ out

This day bed is in the “boy’s room” across from a high table that was Bob’s eating station and/or my craft table…although very little crafting has been done there… The table sits right under a large window that looks to the front porch and beyond.

When I go out without Bear, he doesn’t bolt for the door, he bolts for this day bed. He stands and watches to see where I go or what I do. I’m thrilled that there is no “making for the door and freedom” – I think, that since we always go out on leash AND have a routine of collar, down-stay, leash…open the door, wait various amount of time and then “Ok, Bear” to exit…it is unthinkable to dash out the door. Good deal!!

When I return from some outside errand, Bear is still on the day bed. We have a greeting, a small training treat and then resume whatever inside.

He also jumps on the day bed if he thinks there is something outside that he should keep an eye on. Yesterday, when I took this photo, he’d been making the rounds of the bed, living room chair, sunroom chair(s) and the day bed. He came and got me (YES, it is obvious when he comes and I am to come!) and I went with him to see what was up. Whatever was no longer in view…hence… just hangin’ out :)!

A different side of Bob: impromptu portrait

Bob is certainly on the curmudgeonly side but he is also a very affectionate cat…on his terms :)!

Yesterday, after Bear and I returned from our walk under the “spacious skies”, I went to see if Bob wanted out of the motorhome. He is not as fast or agile as he once was so I usually put him inside when I go away and when I’m doing training with Bear outside as we are now working on a long line versus a short lead. Anyway, I went to release Bob and he was all lovey-dovey when I picked him up. I caught sight of us in the mirror. I was having a good hair day, so I pulled my phone out my pocket to see if I could get a photo of Bob being sweet.

A bit noisy – the phone camera is not at its best in confusing or low light. And I wish my smile was a bit more, but generally speaking, for an impromptu portrait with a phone camera while juggling 19 pounds of Bob…I like it!

Spacious skies

I’ve been taking some side roads on the way here and there to let Bear see a variety of country and livestock…my mission being to help him get used to the landscape of the west. He gets quite a lot of exercise on our rides as he is back and forth in the back of the Jeep…watching and looking to see what there is to see. I leave the passenger window cracked open enough that he can get plenty of scent as well. He watches with such eager anticipation…it makes me look with new eyes as well.

Early on Saturday we found this spot. It is just a few miles away. There is a paved road that winds around this small valley just a half mile off the highway. The valley is subdivided. Utilities and water are in, site markers are in place…it is just waiting for buyers. It is a perfect place for us to walk. There are 2 “courts” that have shade to leave the Jeep.

We went back early this morning, the Fourth of July, Independence Day in America. I am, of course, partial to Montana’s spacious skies.

But, I know there are beautiful, spacious skies all over the United States as well as the rest of the earth. I hope your skies are beautiful today, no matter where they are. Happy Fourth of July to all!