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Category Archives: Big Valley

Evening Walk

We had some hot weather this past week with temperatures going to 100 three days in a row. Needless to say, the dogs and I did not get outside much during the days. That brown dog was pretty bored. On one of the evenings we drove to a place where we could get to the river and it was so nice. The girls were busy checking the pee mail all along the trail. So much news to catch up on. Once we got to the river, we found some sticks and the real fun got started. Willow has learned to appreciate big sticks like Sky but Sky had to assert herself and let Willow know that she is still the chief branch manager. Back at home, we were treated to an amazing sunset.

A Fine Walk

Our favorite dog walking trail has been off limits for months to protect nesting Sandhill Cranes. It was their second attempt to nest there. Last year, predators got their colts. A baby Sandhill Crane is called a colt and it is orange! This year, they lost one to a coyote but the other survived and the three of them have moved on. It is great news to have cranes nesting in our valley.

The girls were happy to get back to the wide flat trail through the woods, to the river. Luna can no longer negotiate steeper, rough trails, even with her braces. The braces give her good support and she gets along ok but not for far. Her back legs are growing weaker with the laryngeal paralysis and the braces are relatively heavy but they support her damaged Achilles tendons. It’s hard to get old. She still has an optimistic attitude most days and really WANTS to be her old self.

This was earlier in the month after we’d had a bit of rain. Lately we’ve had endless sunny, dry days.

Mostly a Dog and Her Stick

I walked my dogs with two friends and their dog, Bailey this morning at Big Valley. It was a rainy, kind of gray morning but not too cold. The dogs didn’t seem to mind and the rest of us were dressed appropriately for the weather. Bailey is a small dog and her thick coat sheds water. She never really got wet. Sky has taken over as star of the show and she is in just about all of the photos. Luna seems to steer away from the camera and lets Sky have her fifteen minutes of fame. We saw a pair of American Dippers in the river. Belted Kingfishers chattered back and forth and we saw a Bald Eagle fly overhead.

Bailey likes to have her picture made
American Dipper
Mushrooms growing out of a dead tree
Dignified?
Not so dignified
Shake
Throw the stick, Camille!
Ok, Kim, you throw the stick!
Uh oh, looks like it’s my turn to throw the stick
Throw it now. I’m not kidding.
I’m not the only person who photographs her dog.
Drips off of a gate

Early Spring at Big Valley

The girls and I went to Big Valley this afternoon for a walk in the woods. The snow has melted as fast as it arrived. Remember – we were walking all through January and part of February before the big snows finally fell on us and now the trail is dry and the cottonwoods are beginning to leaf out. No flowers up there yet but there will be soon. Big Valley was a good choice because I strained my lower back last Friday and only feel comfortable walking on level ground. Any hills or rough terrain are really challenging. The dogs and I need some exercise and Big Valley is good for all of us with easy access to the river for them to swim and birds for me to see and hear.

A walk in the woods
Another day another stick
Sky took Luna’s stick and then a game of chase was started
Here they come
Look out, she’s dangerous with a stick.
And back again
Through the trees
Tug of war.
The river is rising
Water birch log underwater with reflections. You probably had to be there.
A giant puffball from last year?
She could be on a magazine cover someday.
Texture of the puffball
What is on these aspens?
Fungi on a dead cottonwood
Another fungi
No trail sweep here, or so they say. Don’t worry, I picked up all of her sticks and tossed them off the trail.
That is not one of Sky’s sticks.
Through the pine forest
At home the serviceberry is starting to bloom.
The first balsamroot blooming at home

Spring Skiing

In March we are often blessed with bluebird skies and great ski conditions. This year is no exception, in fact it might be better than usual. With all the new snow last month, MVSTA will probably be grooming miles and miles of ski trails throughout March. Cold nights make for firm trail platforms and good crust skiing and bluebird skies call you to leave the computer behind and go outside.

Yesterday MA said that Big Valley was being groomed and we ought to go and take the dogs. Her dog, Frida will pull her for a real skijoring experience. I think Sky will be trying that next winter when she is full grown. That puppy is now well over fifty pounds and almost seven months old. At the river yesterday she had her first swimming experience! That’s a red letter day for any Labrador. She took to it just as I expected – with vigorous energy. Now we know why she has such big feet – they are her paddles.

Sky
Frida
Luna
Dogs just want to have fun
I can get it!
Is she part seal?
Quizzical