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A Dock for Diving and Fishing Too

April 25, 2014 – 3:44 pm
Posted in dogs
Tagged dock diving, dogs, dusky grouse, fishing, ice, mountain lake, ring neck duck
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I had told MA that we needed a dock to see if Sky would ‘dock dive’. It seems a bit lofty to think of an eight month old puppy being ready to take on the big world of dock diving but her enthusiasm for swimming seems to be boundless. MA said she knew where there was a dock but the lake might still be frozen. She likes to go there before spring really arrives and other folks are fishing up there. So we loaded the dogs and headed into the mountains. Sure enough, we hit snow on a shady part and I fretted about going through it without snow tires but when I saw how much farther we had to go, I bucked up and drove my subaru through it without any problem. There was some snow that was pretty soft and squishy but we got through that too. Finally made it to the top and then had a reasonably short walk to the lake. Most of it was still ice-covered but not around the dock. And sure enough, Sky was happy to jump off the dock and swim for a stick or the tennis ball that she found in the campground. Luna was happy to watch. Frida jumped a couple of times too. After a while the dogs and I went for a walk and left MA to her fishing and when she was done with her worms, she had five nice trout for supper! On the way home, we saw a Dusky Grouse and he must have seen something he liked about us or my car because he soon puffed up in all of his courtship finery.

Sky retrieved sticks that the other dogs left behind

Reflections in water pooled on the ice

Chipmunks watched us

A Mallard drake walks on ice

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks

The male Ring-necked Duck

Ponderosa pines and a bluebird sky. What could be prettier?

If she can’t pick it up, she can climb on to it

Tiny puffballs

Clear cold water

Luna thinks this is not a good idea

Frida is a good dog to take fishing

Beautiful spot

That’s a keeper!

Just before Sky jumped in to see if she could retrieve it

Dusky Grouse

Early Spring at Big Valley

April 16, 2014 – 6:32 pm
Posted in Big Valley
Tagged Big Valley, dogs, labrador, Methow River, spring, walk, woods
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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

Sky Goes Swimming

Sky swam a little bit in the river late this winter but just for short distances and not very much. On a warm day this week I took her and Luna to one of the few thawed lakes to see if she really liked swimming. She’s a labrador puppy and indeed she likes swimming and took to it naturally as we expected. She is nearly eight months old and weighs sixty pounds. I had hoped for dog that weighed no more than fifty. So much for that idea. She is all muscle and a beauty of a dog. And a natural swimmer.

Sky splashed a lot in the beginning til she figured out that did not have to work that hard

There were two toys but they always seemed to want the same one

Luna leads the way

Sky is catching her already

There are easier ways to carry the toy

Luna is looking for the toy

Got it.

Sky wants it.

Ironically, Luna did this to Sam for years. It wasn’t til Sam was older that Luna could get the toys from her.

Like everything she does, Sky approached swimming with enthusiasm.

Wagging while swimming.

I can’t find it.

That’s easier

I’m bringing it to you.

On the shore she quivered with excitement.

I had to make the dog wait, throw the toy AND I had to get the picture.

Fun times ahead.

Spring Skiing

March 12, 2014 – 12:19 pm
Posted in Big Valley
Tagged Big Valley, dogs, Methow, skate skiing, spring skiing
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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.