Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Autumn Beauty

I love sunflowers!

Karl and I rolled into Karl’s Auntie Kris and Uncle Hal’s place midday Saturday to walk and visit and for Karl to dispense doggie kisses all around and collect hugs and rubs in return :)!

The driveway has a turning circle around a beauteous garden. Hal likes to find unusual varieties to include. Until yesterday, I had no idea there were color varieties of sunflowers…I know about the size varieties. This beauty has all of the colors that say Autumn to me. And even in the gray, overcast light, it glowed.

Karl, Kris and I headed out for a walk. We met Hal as he returned from Saturday errands. Karl played chase with Kris and Hal…play-bowed and did his “catch me if you can” run.

An idyllic time with good friends, my good dog and Autumn Beauty*.

**I think that this variety of Sunflower is called “Autumn Beauty”…I await verification/correction :)! (Gayle???)

AND!!! as I was getting this ready to post, the following came to me in an email from Kris:

Remember when you guys left here, all of a sudden Karl perked up and barked and carried on? Later that day, a very large brown phase black bear walked up our driveway and then turned and went between Hal’s truck and the containers and disappeared into the woods. He could have been hanging around and Karl caught a whiff. Bear Dog at Work!

YOWZA! Karl had a Bear Dog Day!!

Karl’s new bed, cont’d.

I ordered Karl a new dog bed. He has several dog beds…one is an outdoor bed that he uses only in the winter….preferring the grass or sidewalk when it is warm.

He has a dog bed at the foot of my bed. He uses that sometimes – mostly in the winter…preferring the hardwood floor in the closet. And yes, I’ve tried all sorts of things in the closet, thinking that wood is pretty darn hard.

During the day he often sleeps on the hardwood in a corner of the living room behind one of the big leather chairs.

As an older dog, I thought maybe more cushioning might be of interest and I thought my best shot at getting him to use a new bed in the living room would be as it gets cooler.

Enter a large, memory foam bed with bolster.

I plopped it behind my chair and threw a toy on it. The thought here is that if Karl walks on the bed and finds it is not threatening, maybe he’ll lie down on it and LOVE it.

These things don’t always work on the first try.

Bob likes the new bed. I had high hopes that maybe a bit of sibling rivalry would kick in and Karl would want what Bob had. I can’t claim credit for getting Bob to go on the new bed – he decided for himself. Now, if I had WANTED him to get on the bed…

A bit of progress! On the bed, lying down, playing with the toy! Maybe this will work.

Maybe not…

Summer wanes

From the front porch…

This evening.

Several late summer days of sun, blue sky and temperatures just reaching 70 something before heading to a clear, cool 40 something overnight.

You never know in Montana.

When will be the last warm day.

September 15 – mid-September. Another week of summer officially.

Summer wanes.

It feels like Fall.

I am glad and grateful for so much this day – for Karl’s comfort, for Bob…yes, just for Bob :)!, for my warm, cozy little house in the woods, for dear friends who check in with me, friends who love all 3 of us, friends who send me things that mean so much, for my family, for my work and the team I work with…for everything and everyone that and who are part of my life. I am thankful.

Green chile apple dutch baby in front of the fire: Sunday morning decadence

It was crystal clear overnight. I know this as Karl and I were outside in the wee hours. Something had caused Karl to sound the alarm. We were both up and after leaving the outside spots on for awhile and warning any critters that we were going to be out and about, we went out for a brief foray. The temperature was in the low 40’s and the sky was filled with stars. It was beautiful. Once I get dressed and go out in the night, I hate coming in. I love the quiet of the woods, the millions of stars and even with no moon, the starlight was bright enough to see by.

I returned to a bed kept warm by Mr. Bob. Karl went right to his bed. I issued a second good night and a suggestion that since we’d been out at 3ish in the a.m., it would be wonderful if all slept a bit later than our typical 5 a.m.

It is nothing short of a miracle that my suggestion was followed :)! I woke up at 6:27 feeling wonderful…but a bit cool. It was nearly 70 yesterday, supposed to be the same today so I had not turned any heat on. Despite the forecast for a warm afternoon, I started a small fire for a bit of Sunday morning laziness and decided to try a new recipe I saw this past week: Homesick Texan’s Green Chile Apple Dutch Baby

I love to cook and to try new recipes and I am a big breakfast person. Apples simmering in butter, sugar and cinnamon started this recipe off and the smell of the apple mixture combined with woodsmoke…perfect!

Throw the green chiles on top of the apples, pour in a batter somewhere between a pancake batter and a custard mixed in the blender and the whole thing in the oven…

….and you have a green chile apple dutch baby.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, add a side of spicy cajun sausage….

…enjoy in front of a woodstove fire, with Bob for company and you have Sunday morning decadence.

This Friday

Raindrops on one of the last common harebells.

And on the leaves of an ivy along the driveway.

We have had wonderful rain through the summer and especially now in September. No fires close. A third summer with no fires and not much heat. Cheers rise from this house!

This Friday…

a good day for playing with sticks on a morning walk…

by beautiful mountains, with a LOT of green up high and golden fall grass below.

Karl and I took an early evening walk by the lake at Wayfarer’s and returned home to a golden evening.

This Friday.

Battle Stations!

Uh-oh…

Karl is on the job…

There is no sick leave at Beardog Consulting… When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

We are at battle stations!

Karl is protector of house, home and property as usual. Last evening, we started the medication that I believe gives him comfort without adverse effect. He wagged his tail last night! It does not have its curl back, but it wags – VICTORY!

For my part, I visualize my own army of warriors – angelic knights – standing at the ready around us and this house -with swords raised – keeping fear, worry and all that is not Joyful at bay. If something sneaks through, I yell at my army, fling forth my arms in wizardly power and command that the intruder be turned away!…dramatic maybe, but the visualization works :)!

The foe (and squirrel!) must be vanquished!!

Bob’s comment on the proceedings is not printable…

**All photos taken this morning (9/8/2010) – Karl rolls with the ebb and flow of his energy – I’m learning to do the same.

Thank you…more than words can say for your comments and prayers.