Lord of All He Sees

Pardon the blur, these were taken through a window streaked with rain.

Zander, overseeing his domain - while keeping his butt dry. It's difficult to get a picture of him doing this, because he almost instantly realizes I'm at the window, and turns to greet me. As you can see, he likes to keep his feet dry, too. He has no idea why we live here, where it rains so much; he doesn't mind being out in the rain, he would just rather not sit in the mud, thank you.

Sound and Fury

The air has taken on presence. It is loud, boisterous and pushy. It picks things up and throws them around, not caring who or what they hit. You can hear it coming, feel the force - and then it arrives, cold and fierce. What a day. What a night. Hello wind, hello winter.

Mat Upgrade

If he's going to spend time inside, he can have his therapeutic bed. From the day I brought him home from the shelter, Jesse has been a self-determined outside dog. Inside is OK as long as I'm there and a door is open, otherwise he wants out. This spending nights inside says to me his time is short. At this point, what Jesse wants, Jesse gets. Love the old dogs.

And yes, I do seem to be running an old age home.

A Mat Habit

The Mat - day 2

Jesse walked in the house, walked around a while, stood where the mat was yesterday and started yipping at me. "Excuse me, there is supposed to be a mat here."

So yes, there is a mat there today as well. I may never exercise again.

Cutting Grass

It's a simple plan. I have a horse I want to fatten up before winter, and unfenced wetlands filled with canary grass. Most days I drive up to the power lines, down to the wet area, and cut treats for the Arab. Then dogs get involved, and it becomes a magical play time.

It was a scorcher of a day, and even at 5PM it must have been 90F. Red, a visiting Border Collie, Lucy, my Border Collie, and Millie the Pyr joined me on the trek.

Red, checking that he's going the right way

Lucy and Millie burrowing into the area I was about to cut

Lucy tucked into a hollow

Millie can't quite get it right...

Perfect!

Red is having none of this resting idea. Here he is trying to leap tall buildings.

Lucy think's it's too hot for that nonsense.

Finally I stopped taking pictures, got the grass cut and loaded, and we headed home. All 3 dogs are in this picture.

Missed Opportunity

Never get the exercise mat out until you are ready to use it. Jesse is 15 years old, I'm not going to fight him for it.

Moon Magic

I was sitting at the computer when Jesse the Samoyed yipped a complaint. He's old, and needs help getting up. I walked outside, to be greeted by the lovely large moon.

I got Jesse up and on his way, and went for the camera. Who can resist taking photos when the moon comes calling?

Screen Door Art

Best screen door ever! This was for sale at the Great Pyrenees National show earlier this year. Hopefully Veryl remembers the artist/seller. I want one!

Life Changes

The single constant in life is change.

Last December my 90-year old memory-impaired mother moved in with me. She had been in an assisted-care facility, but wasn't getting enough care, and they had decided that Santi the cockatoo, her companion of 42 years, had to go.  Instead, they both left.

You can imagine this is a big change for me. After years of living on my own, I am now almost constantly with people, and  have many new responsibilities. Mom suffers from cluster strokes - very small strokes that don't incapacitate her but really beat her up inside - that are stealing her memory. She needs 24-hour care. Living with severe dementia is a challenge, and an incredible learning experience.

It is my hope that I have adjusted well enough that I can once again share my experiences through this blog. I need to take more pictures, as the camera helps me focus in on otherwise overlooked details. I need to write more, as this helps me focus on thoughts and ideas, and to see things more clearly.

Thank you for joining me on this new journey.

The Chicken Gang

Bunny Love

My lovely mother enjoying one of my adorable bunnies.

Golden Glory

Settling In

Blue Morning

Birthday Girls

Joy Gustafson (on right) and her sister Mary Mann on Joy's 90th birthday. Mary's birthday is 3 days later.

Fog Rising

This morning dawned clear, but very soon the fog from the valley started rising. I really enjoy these low clouds that make cloud lakes, although I will be very happy to have the fog burn off sometime today!

 

Sunny, Sunny Day

After a few foggy days it is a joy to be looking down on the clouds again.

Cool Clouds

The sky seemed very sea-like to me this afternoon, filled with interesting patterns and life forms.

Foggy Morn with Raven

It's going to be a sunny day. This time of year sunny days are often preceded by foggy mornings. There is something special about fog - it dampens sound as well as air and sight, adds mystery to the surroundings. 

There are always ravens around, but they are very camera shy. Perhaps the fog dampened this one's awareness of the lens pointed at him as he preened his feathers and announced his presence.

Country Pumpkin

I love living in the country. On my way home from picking up hay (and a couple ducks) I stopped at a farm that had pumpkins stacked on the porch and under a gazebo. For $5 I got 6 pumpkins. I love pumpkin! I really love getting them for .50 to $1 a piece.

The farmer helped me carry them to the van. The 15 passenger van (all back seats removed) was filled with 27 bales of hay, a box of frozen meat, a cage with 2 ducks, and miscellaneous stuff between the front seats. As I made space for the pumpkins she said, "Oh, this van is really full! Ducks and all! You probably have a couple horses in the back."

Fun in the country.