A HAPPY WEEK FOR DORA-DOG

 POST # 604

It's been a great week for Dora-dog, and you can tell by the look upon her face, that she is one happy bonehead.

Earlier in the week, we drove to a location, not too far from Mount Baker to visit a friend that we had not seen for a long time.  Her bonehead, who goes by the name of Clooney, was there as well.  Dora-dog was happy to see, and spend some time with him, while the humans visited with one another.

We took time to go for a stroll around the property where our friend lives, and enjoyed the magnificent scenery located there. 

After an enjoyable visit, it was time to say so long, so we said our goodbyes, and headed out on the journey back to Shelter Bay.  Just prior to arriving home, the sun was setting, and I managed to take a photo of the event.

That was a few days ago.  In the meantime,  Mary's eldest daughter arrived for a short visit, on her way to catch up with friends in Oregon.  She brought along her bonehead, Fettie (short for Confetti), so once again Dora-dog had a four legged friend to spend time with.  So we've been dog-sitting Fettie for a few days, and she and Dora-dog get along together, so it's been fun to have her here for a while, and it has helped to make it a happy week for Dora-dog. 

They both look very happy to be spending time together.

They will get a few more days to do that, but I will be heading out tomorrow to my next sit on Vancouver Island.  This will be a return visit, and I'll be hanging out with Blanca for a couple of weeks.  We get along great together, so I am very much looking forward to seeing her once again.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED

 POST # 603

The summer solstice arrived yesterday, June 20th, just before 2 pm, here on the west coast of North America, and shortly thereafter, I once again boarded an Amtrak train to head south to Washington to spend some precious time with Mary and Dora-dog.

I decided to take a photo of this unusual sculpture which is located at the border crossing.  I'm not really sure what it is meant to illustrate, but it is certainly unique.

The train arrived about twenty minutes behind schedule, due to a delay waiting for a coal train to pass us by.  I counted 136 cars of coal, heading to Canada, and probably en route to China after that.

Mary and Dora-dog were at the station to greet me, and soon we were home.

As always, I am looking to spending time with both of them, prior to heading back to my next house sit gig on Vancouver Island.

A short post today, as few words seem to be popping into my ageing brain.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

THREE WALKS PER DAY

 POST # 602

Three walks per day.  That's our routine each and every day.  Rain or shine.  Thankfully, for the most part, the weather has cooperated, and the majority of my time here has been under sunny skies.  The map above shows the park that we walk through, which is directly behind the house.  Our house is on Upper Canyon Rd., the third to the left of Huff Boulevard.  We simply walk out the back gate, and away we go.

On a couple of occasions this past week, we met two of Simi's bonehead friends.  A few days ago it was Fargo, and just yesterday, we met Hazel.  Because Simi knows both of them well, I let her off leash, and she had a ball, running around.  It has been the only two times that I have done that, as I would hate to have her run off, but with her four legged friends nearby, there seemed to be little chance of that happening.

We do a morning walk, just after we get up, a mid-day walk, and then once more in the late afternoon.  After the walks are all done, we have a pleasant backyard to hang around in, and play with a ball, or frisbee, or old stick, or whatever Simi decides to find to play with.

You can certainly tell, by looking at the following three photos, that she is one happy bonehead.

The owners arrive back home next week, and I'll have to say so long to Simi.  At least for now.  With any luck, I may get another opportunity to spend time with her in the future, and if that is the case, I'm quite sure that I will be greeted with a friendly smile, unlike the growling and barking that started off this house sit.

We've now become best mates, and I'm happy about that, and it appears that she is as well.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

MY NEW BONEHEAD FRIEND

 POST # 601

"Should I trust this human?"

I first met Simi last December.  I had been invited to her owner's home for a pre-Christmas get together, along with a host of other people.  I was excited to meet the new member of their family, who at the time was only about three months old.  

When I arrived, and rang on their doorbell, the barking began.  I was greeted at the door by one of Simi's owners, and Simi.  Right from the get go, she decided that she didn't like this new human standing in front of her.  I thought at the time, that her reaction was normal, seeing as this was the first time we had ever met, and I expected that by the end of the evening, I would have made a new bonehead friend.

I was wrong.  

There were probably about twenty people or thereabouts at this get together, but no matter how hard I tried, or even if I ignored her completely, Simi never warmed up to me that night.  She seemed to get along with everyone BUT me.  So much for my dog sitter charm.

Early this year, the owner's asked if I would be their sitter for an upcoming vacation, and of course I accepted, even though I wasn't too sure about how well it would go, in light of my previous encounter with Simi.

I arrived here on June 2nd, and while the owners were still here, Simi was exactly the same as she was when we first met.  If I tried to get close to her, she would bark and run away.  They left the following day, and magically, once they left, the barking stopped.  When it was time to take her out for her first walk with me, she went right along.  I was pleasantly surprised.

The photo at the top of the page was taken the next day, and it shows that she was beginning to trust me.  By June 5th, we had become the best of friends, and now she follows me wherever I go, in or out of the house. It must be the Border Collie in her.  She's herding me from place to place.

So our relationship has come a very long way in a short period of time.  And I am glad for that fact.  It would have been a very long sit, if she had continued to behave like she did when we first met.  But now we are best buddies.

She now looks very happy indeed, and I'm looking forward to the remainder of our time together.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer