Friday, November 30, 2012

Had to share a laugh

Sometimes you just have to share a video and hope it goes viral, because so many of us just need a good laugh. Check out Peter the elephant. He'll crack you up.
 

You looking for Stella?


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Jockying for position


Each night Case and Stella vy for territory in front of the fireplace furnace, and it's always first come, first serve. Tonight, advantage went to the girl. Tomorrow, we might hear a tell-tale thud, followed by Casey in a pole position. Never a complaint, never a tussle. We could probably learn a thing or two about peace, love and understanding from these kids.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Oh puhleeze


I know, I know. We shouldn't be letting Casey clean out the rice cooker pan. But this is a past-precedence issue and now the kid is hooked on steamed rice residue. So how can we refuse when starts pulling all the stops for a lick. Just don't look.


First shimmering Noel pic of the season









Sorry for the smart phone photo, but if I'd made a grab for the camera on the other side of the room our light sleeper, awashed in Christmas tree glimmer, would have headed down the hall to his kennel for the night. 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

On watch

Naturally we were late with the camera when Stella was going bananas checking out a flock of Black-capped Chickadees making the rounds of Vic's tomato crop remnants this morning. And Casey, he was just afraid he was missing out on something. 



Favorite new breakfast place...today

Just when we thought we'd never voluntary leave our rut of favorite comfort food cafes, today we stepped out of our  Old Town breakfast paradigm to experience the Home Skillet - and we can't wait to go back.


The word's out on this this kinchy new place so we thought we'd be waiting for awhile for one of the half dozen tables - not today. The carb gods were smiling down on us, but it would have been worth the wait anyway.

My pancakes and Victoria's veggie skillet were memorable, making side trips to saugage, hash and poutine inevitable, before moving on to the lunch menu in the near future.

OK...not really, but the lunch menu for sure.











On top of everything the owners were Border Collie people, as reflected in the decor. Casey even scored a piece of bacon at the door before we left, so he's a fan for sure.
 

Casey and Gene
 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Working on some new material

Every now and then we come across a "must-share"...like the Kennedy family Schnoodle, Tucker, practicing a new riff on an upright. You'll just have to trust us on this one. 
 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Stop and sniff


That "Hmm...where do I start?" look. If you want to quickly get Casey's attention, just mention that we should go buy some dog food. The magic words, "dog food", really. And getting to go into a dog-friendly pet store, a veritable sniff-fest - now you're talking.

  
And turning on the charm at checkout for a treat...child's play. Afterall, what are counters for anyway.

Weather break

So you think someone's pretty excited about a break in the weather?

Three days of almost continuous rain let up for a couple of hours this afternoon, so we hustled out of the house to let the kid air it out on a trail. Oh, it was windy and cold all right, but our house-bound charge wasn't complaining a bit.







It has always amazed us at how accommodating Casey can be for a sheepdog breed known for its high-energy - check - and  quick mind - check. Obviously he was keenly aware in almost no time that he rates on the high end as a member of a family, which leads to  fellowship, structure, love...and never having to work in the rain.

Just simply wait it out. 





Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Cozy

This is a switch. Usually when it's pushing midnight, our early-to-bed farm boy can be found stacking z's in his kennel, turning in long before his night owl caretakers.
 
Tonight though, while shutting down for the evening, it was nice to see the boy cozied up on the couch behind me. Warms the cockles as they say...or maybe they don't anymore.
 
Kind of hate to wake him.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Birthday bash


After a day in Seattle we had to hustle home to Bellingham for our granddaughter Kaya's 7th birthday party. And what's more we had the awesome responsibility of picking up and delivering a Borracchini's chocolate raspberry cake to a festive gathering of more than a dozen of Kaya's friends at the Bellingham YMCA's party room.

Unfortunately, Case, our life of the party had to wait in the car.

Somehow though I can't help but think we did him a favor.


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Autumn power play


Yesterday, during a break in the weather, the falls on our Whatcom Falls trail hike were definitely expressing themselves with an impressive display of power, humbling even the most confident two and four-legged hikers among us.


Watcher


There was time enough today to get in a hike before it was time to pick up the grandkids after school. But, god forbid, there's ever a dog following anywhere closer than 500 yards...Casey just has to keep an eye on the it until it's no longer a factor. Forget the aerobic benefits until this distraction is totally evaluated. You just can't be too careful.

Boy, did I ever blow this forecast!


Almost like clockwork the National Weather Service forecast came through today, with clear skies and visibility unlimited by noon. Mark this date.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

On little cat's feet


The fog comes
on little cats feet.
 
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

 
Do others like me recall those lines from Carl Sandburg on mornings like this? Casey couldn't, I guess. Right?

I remember reciting it in elementary school, before having a clue how beautifully it would capture moments and visuals like these.

By the way, forecasters predict that the fog will dissipate by noon today, with almost clear conditions until nightfall.

So what does that mean...really? Blue skies maybe by one or two o'clock. And then the sun will be shining everywhere -  oh so briefly.





Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The most important meal of the day


Not exactly a traditional breakfast but there's no accounting for taste, at least for these blacktail deer. It's slim pickings this time of year but these guys seem to make the rounds of the cul de sac two or three times a week, fading into the tree line way before we're done gawking.

 

Simplify


Tonight our guy, a normally restless sleeper, has managed to become "one with the easy chair,"  melting into the cushion. No dream wimpers, no happy feet, just a simple surrender to restorative rest. It doesn't seem right to have to wake him for bed.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

On the cool side

A trip to the Farmers
Market for staples each Saturday is becoming more "Arctic" each week. Today was at least bearable with calm, hardly noticeable winds, but outdoor vending should be history in two or three weeks. Notice the nearly empty, totally shady, lunch sitting section...definitely a nipply noontime.



Before hypothermia set in though we had a chance to catch one of our favorite local bands Hot Damn Scandal drawing a crowd that showed no signs of leaving anytime soon, in spite of the temperature.

Take a listen. You'll be hooked.
 
  

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The table's all set for winter

Everybody's gone away.
They think there's nothing left to see.
The garish colors' flashy show is over.*


Today certainly lived up to November expectations. A dry, brittle cold, the price Bellinghamsters pay for an infrequent cloudless, electric blue sky, turned out to be a draw for anyone willing to break out more fleece and dust off the winter wear. If the forecasts weren't calling for warmer weather and rainshowers next week, our favorite "greenbelt" - vacant lot really - would appear to be prepped for the first snowfall. Give it time.



*from The Fall Almost Nobody Sees by David Budbill

Friday, November 9, 2012

Oh yeah...yeah...don't stop

When it comes to being on the receiving end of a late night rubdown, Casey is an unabashed vocalizer. And if one of his favorite stuffed animals is handy, talk about stress relief! The best of both worlds, the security of a "snuggly" and massage therapy before turning in...it doesn't get any better than that, and he can't help letting you know.


"A goat from the front..."


On a walk downhill to our espresso stand, we paused to get photos of the closest thing to a farm the southside can claim. A year ago, not so much. Then it was a tiny house, needing a lot of work, on an oversized yard. Now, right here in the middle of a residential block, is a mini working animal farm - stocked with a half dozen goats, guinea pigs, ducks and geese, hens and roosters. Not your average renovation, but looking entirely "up to code" and sustainable.

We didn't hang around, but before moving on, the livestock seemed to be just as fascinated by us as we were of them while we stood and gawked. One goat in particular latching on to Casey, acting like this could have been the beginning of a beautiful frendship...after some cautious sniffs.


  





 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Where to start


This time of year it seems so futile to rake leaves. Breaking out the rakes while negotiating bands of showers becomes a neighborhood art form, if not a rite of autumn.








And shedding alders, poplars, cherry trees, broadleaves and maples never seem to dampen Casey's enthusiasm for just one...more...toss, even ankle-deep in wet flora litter.