Before bed

Zack
Gus
Bob
Karl
Bear

My boys…all on my mind and in my heart this evening before bed.

Bob is in the bedroom, on the bed waiting for me.

Bear is at my feet, out last walk taken as the sun was low. He is doing so well on the short long line unleashed. He is with me all day and sleeps in the living room, but I can hear him as we are separated by only a gate.

All of them, the boys, they and I lived/live in a rhythm of our own.

This day: we narrowed the “plumbing” problem to the cold water feed to the washer. Hopefully only a plugged filter – I’ll pull all apart on the weekend.

Walks with Bear.

Time with Bob.

Work.

A dinner of chicken with a rub of almonds, 5 spice powder and garlic…and a cherry sauce.

More cherries pitted, sugared and mixed with basil for cherry basil soda syrup.

Broa dough mixed for morning “English” muffins.

Dishes done.

Night falls as I write this post that only I will see for some time. I am happy to be writing for myself for this time.

I miss Zack, Gus and Karl.

I read for a bit before mixing the dough…of Julia Child.

Peace. It is nearly dark.

I am comforted by Bob and Bear…this evening, before bed.

Bear unleashed

The long line is now only 9 feet long! Bear and I spent a bit of time just relaxing …me on the front porch, Bear in the yard.

He looked around a bit, walked into the woods, came when I called him.

Bear unleashed.

Morning with Bear

Friday morning. Bear wears a lighted collar for the first time. It was not full dark, but I want to start getting him used to it while it doesn’t cast a completely weird light. A beautiful morning, cool at 47F, quiet, the sun not quite clearing the mountains before we headed inside.

A really nice day

Just like that, it feels like we’ve turned the corner into Fall. It is wonderfully cool in the morning – almost chilly. The light is just that much different as to seem not really Summer.

Fresh oatmeal bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, green grass and trees and the morning light…

Bob just enjoying the afternoon…

Bear enjoying an extra treat after an afternoon walk – on the long line only! He knows he is not on a leash. He is staying close to me, often looking to check where I am. Today for the first time on the long line there were deer. He did NOT chase and did not even bark. He watched for a bit and then turned away. Completely different behavior than on the leash. I am thrilled with how things are going right now. My hope is that as I can give him more freedom, he will enjoy it while staying with me and continue to respond as he is to boundary commands: this way, far enough, leave it. I am so proud of him!

We came in, had a quick game of chase the stuffed bone, a stomach rub and the extra treat.

It was a really nice day!

Birthday: 2011

Birthday dinner…pizza with pesto, roma tomatoes, kalmata olives and provolone…washed down with a cherry-basil soda – happy day!!

Pesto was made with walnuts as in an odd burst of frugality, I won’t spend $9.00 for a small bag of pine nuts :)!

The day was gorgeous with blue sky, a few white clouds, temperatures pleasantly in the 60’s until afternoon when it topped out at 74. My knee is better, my back has been giving me fits so I DID have a birthday nap complete with heating pad…which made me feel that I really was/am 56!

An evening walk, an early night and a bit of Julia Child’s “My life in France” with Bob on the bed and Bear through the gate in the living room. A wonderful birthday: 2011.

Birthday Eve

Birthday Eve and Bear and I walked the loop with Bear on the long line only!

A beautiful walk, a remembrance of Karl in a first free walk with Bear on my Birthday Eve!

***AND I put the A/C away!!!