THE TILE TASK

 POST # 453

While Dora-dog relaxes in the shade, contemplating her next adventure, The Thoughtful Wanderer continues to try and keep himself occupied by doing little projects.  The most recent one was to place some tiles in front of the shed. 

The task took longer than I had anticipated, as it was a tricky affair trying to get the tiles level.  However, after lots of puttzing around, I was happy with the result.  The object of the exercise was to offer Dora-dog a more comfortable place to relax, instead of having to do this on a gravel surface.  Of course, now that the work has been completed, she hasn't bothered to test out the new arrangement.  Go figure.  She seems to have come to the conclusion that the newly stained deck is a preferable option. I bet that if I now removed the tiles, she'd be right back there in front of the shed.  You can't please all of the boneheads all of the time.

After the work was done, it was time to head back inside and relax.  Dora-dog came alongside, and gave me this look.

What was she trying to convey to me through those eyes?  Perhaps she was thinking that I had worked too hard on the tiles.  Then, as if to confirm this prognosis, she decided to spend a few moments licking my wounds.

No doubt there will be more projects to tackle while I am still here.  I am more than happy to help out.  It's the least I can do.  

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SULLY AND BENSON DAY

 POST # 452

                                 SULLY (WHITE) BENSON (BROWN)

 

Much to Dora-dog's chagrin,  I was asked by a neighbour if I could take their dogs for a walk today.  Well of course I could.

Mary dropped me off at their house, and we headed out for a walk around "the loop" which takes about forty-five minutes or so.  Sully is the youngster at four years of age, and Benson is the wise old guy of eleven.  I could certainly tell the age difference, by the amount of tension on the respective leashes.  

The photo above is just prior to the start of our walk, and  soon we were on our way.  

 

 

And here we are at about the half-way mark in our stroll along Shelter Bay Drive.                                  

Sully and Benson are looking pretty happy at this point in the walk.  They've both had ample time to partake in all of the wonderful fragrances on the ground, and while doing so, they managed to leave some fragrances of their own, (Pee-mail) for their fellow doggy friends to enjoy later.

Our journey continued, and about ten minutes prior to our return home, I took another photo, with a nice rhododendron in the background.

By this point, I think that the boys were keen to get back home, and have a big long drink from their dish.

We arrived back about 1:15pm, and just prior to giving them a treat, I used this opportunity to take one final photo.

Tired and happy is how they look to me.  If the truth be known, they probably have this look in their eyes, because they can see the treat that they will soon be munching on.

Thanks Sully and Benson, for allowing me to enjoy your company earlier today.  I hope you guys enjoyed the walk as much as I did.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

TULIP TIME

 POST # 451

At this time in April, at this location in Washington State, it's tulip time.  Enjoy.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

DECK WORK DONE

 POST # 450

A nice stretch of sunny weather allowed me to finally get outside and re-stain Mary's deck.  As it is with many projects, it's the prep work that takes most of the time.  Yesterday was the day to finish off with the staining.  Mary found a video online that showed a person doing this job with a brush.  It's not the tool that I would have thought of, but it worked like a charm.  It's a large deck, and it only took a little less than two and a half hours to complete the job.

Of course, Dora-dog was somewhat perplexed with the fact that she wasn't allowed to run around the backyard yesterday, but as of today, things are back to normal, and she can come and go as she pleases.

What I thought was going to be a lengthy task, turned out to be quite easy after all.  Naturally, I am happy to help out in any way that I can.  I enjoyed the work, and I think Mary is glad that this is one more project that she can tick off of her "to do" list.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

WORDLESS

 POST # 449

Today, I feel as wordless as this old goat that I happened to come across when I was bike riding around New Zealand about thirty years ago.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SKIDDER-THE GENTLE GIANT

POST # 448

                           BREAKER              SKIDDER                  ROXIE
 

I received an email this past week which made me sad.  Skidder, the sole survivor of the trio featured in the above photo died on March 20th.  He was almost blind, needed help to even stand up, and he had numerous tumours, so as my friend stated, it was time.  John the vet helped with Skidder's exit from the planetary stage.  About twenty years ago, I assisted John when he had to euthanize a dog named Ringo.  That wasn't an enjoyable experience, and I hardly even knew Ringo.  I can only imagine what my friends had to go through.

So now, all they are left with is memories of Skidder, Breaker and Roxie.  At least no one can take those away.  Happy memories can provide at least some comfort to an aching heart.

 

I have my own collection of  memories of Skidder and his siblings, as I had the good fortune to house sit for my friends on more than one occasion.  They all had different personalities to be sure.  Skidder was the gentle giant as far as I was concerned.  I think my favourite memory is the one of taking all three out back of the house onto the tailings piles, which in mid-winter are covered in snow, and upon finding a good location to sit down, we would. In the stillness of a Yukon winter night, we would gaze at the sky, and just enjoy each moment.  Pure quiet.  Pure bliss.

That was many years ago now, and on my visit late last year, I had the opportunity to see old Skidder for one last time.  He certainly appeared to be struggling, and in spite of his deteriorating condition, he still remained the  gentle giant.  Always there to receive affection from any human near enough to him to offer it.  No doubt he would have been in much pain, even then, and yet he still managed to provide comfort for his human companions.  Gentle giant indeed.

                                                     OLD SKIDDER

I decided to include a couple of videos as well.  More pleasant memories of Skidder and the rest of the gang (including his mother, Becka), getting ready to go for a walk, and having fun out in the snow.  Pleasant memories to be tucked away into a little corner of one's brain, to be re-lived whenever the mood strikes.  Thanks Skidder.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

 POST # 447

 

                                                          PRIMROSE

Spring has sprung.  The Vernal Equinox.  To be precise, it happened yesterday, and so our journey around the sun continues as it has done for a very, very long time.  It will continue to do so, long after this current crop of humans has exited the planetary stage.  

The seasonal change probably means more to humans than it does to the boneheads on the planet.  This fact can be confirmed by the look on each of the following faces.

                                                          FRANKIE (What???)

                                                           MURPHY (huh???)

                                                         DORA-DOG (zzzzz)

Equinox, smeequinox, as far as they are concerned.  It's just another day. And for these three, each day is as good as the last.  They are all loved and cared for, and who could ask for more than that?

As far as this human is concerned, the beginning of Spring ushered in some chores in the yard.  It was a small start.  Everything is beginning to grow again, including the weeds, and if there is one thing that I have had plenty of experience with, it's pulling out weeds.  

At some point in the near future, I will have to consider my return across the border, however in the meantime, I'm happy and content to be here, and help out in any way that I can.  

That's all for today.  

 

grateful for every breath,

 

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer