Sweet spot

Oh boy! Greg’s home. And before he can even get shut his car door Casey’s on his way across the street to shamelessly work his favorite guy neighbor for a rubdown. When it comes to soliciting for a scratch behind the ear, or anyplace else for that matter, the kid’s got no pride, and like most pooches, is all sweet spot.

 

Oh yeah. Right there.

Grabbing a nap

With the grand kids at the house after school (you can tell by the backpacks on the right), Casey knows to keep a low profile while grabbing a well-deserved snooze. Smart guy.

Peace rally in Bellingham

A enthusiastic gathering of over 150 organized by Bellingham’s peace coalition and represented by banner and sign holders from across generational and political spectrums – progressives, anti-war activists, county Tea Party supporters, Republicans and Dems - occupied Bellingham’s Five Corners intersection at Lakeway and Ellis for over an hour beginning at noon on Saturday.

And after an enthusiastic midtown response from hundreds of drivers opposing war in Syria, the crowd marched on both sides of Holly Street to the Farmers Market where members were tabling for another week to gather signatures for a petition demanding a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict. Organizers are hoping for the best but planning for additional actions and demonstrations this week following a less than favorable vote in the Senate or House, and even worse, a possible attack on Syria with global repercussions.

Leavings

Synchronizing rain showers today paid off with an opportunity to get in a jog on the south side with the kid. And, from the looks of the trail, the soggy leavings of summer are just about everywhere, clear evidence that the party’s just about over as far as our annual ration of 70◦ sunshine is concerned.

Bergamot with bee

How serendipitous is this shot. I had absolutely no idea what kind of a summer bloom this was until Victoria schooled me. There was something especially intergalactic about it so I had to get a shot before it started losing its luster. 

And I ended up with a “two-fer” that included this lonely bumblebee giving a splash of bergamot lavender a once-over.

Saner minds and a simple song

Anti-war rally in downtown Bellingham

Clearly, I’ve had better weeks.

Oh, this one started out OK. A meeting with my Democratic Congressional representative, arranged with no expectations whatsoever that he would be actively listening much less agree to get back to me, ended on that positive note. Over the weekend he must have pondered my position opposing military intervention in Syria, because his community liaison Thomas phoned on Monday. The Congressman wanted to know if I had changed my position, in light of John Kerry’s stern remarks at the State Department, citing Assad’s “undeniable” use of a chemical weapon on the civilians of Ghouta.

Since the Tomahawks were on lock ‘n load, my email reply (below) had to be crystal clear. The survival of the species was at stake.

Thomas,

Just to recap, during our meeting last week I urged Rick to “actively oppose any military intervention in Syria…while supporting diplomatic approaches to conflict resolution. This preferable peaceful alternative should also include an endorsement for constitutionally approved elections scheduled for next year in Syria as a non-violent opportunity to permit political change without violence or the threat of violence. Until all key actors are seated at the negotiating table, including Iran, the political tensions at play will only escalate.” While this diplomatic alternative to “letting slip the dogs of war” may seem simplistic, it could work. A ceasefire could be obtained if the Obama Administration pressured Saudi Arabia, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, as well as Turkey to halt the flow of weapons to the Syrian opposition, while negotiating in good faith with Russia and the now moderate Iranian leadership to do the same. Appeasing Israeli right wingers and DC warmongers by wreaking additional havoc on a war-torn country that poses absolutely no threat to the US doesn’t even have an end game. Remember the end state that Bush redefined for five years? Or is the next so-called “coalition of the willing” actually gearing up for an attack on Iran?... In short, VFP (Veterans For Peace) seeks to abolish war as an instrument of national policy, so there would be no change to my position since we last spoke. As a leader in the organization and a combat veteran who knows first-hand war’s enormous costs, I would urge Rick to not line up in support of more destruction and protecting Obama’s right flank – like John Kerry. I listened to Kerry’s remarks today and he was a disgrace – he “Colin Powell-ed” us, without even the courtesy of a faked proof of a chemical attack. And this from a fellow vet that once said of the Vietnam disaster “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Well, how about the next! Or the next kid, or the next thousand kids.

Thanks for calling, Thomas. I’m hoping Rick does the right thing.

 
Today it looks like similar pressure from all over the country has paid off, at least for now. Obama was forced to call for a debate and vote in Congress, for an authorization to attack Syria. Imagine that...let's hope it fails miserably. A reprieve of sorts, but there's still a hard road ahead.

Dusky standout

It's easy to underestimate existing ambient light late in the day, what with fringes of daylight slipping into various recesses of our backyard just after legal sunset. But today our blue hydrangea, one of the last blossom holdouts of summer, seemed to be basking in the gloaming. And we actually noticed.

At least I'm not sucking my thumb

One of the kid’s little idiosyncrasies, among several that might even seem normal for Border collies, is toting his Frisbee around the house; at least until his ma Victoria puts the kibosh on it.  You’d think by now that he would keep it, along with its fresh coat of slobber, on the down-low.

It might be the closest thing to a Linus security blanket for Casey, sometimes ending up in his kennel at night, but it’s still one warm canine fuzzy that will never become an indoor fixture anytime soon.

An LOL "must-share"

You’ve got to at least give this distant cousin of Casey’s some credit…he’s persistent.

Leading the way

Away…come bye, left…right, Casey is usually on the same wavelength as me before I need to vocalize the next turn. Not always, but most of the time. And it’s not like I’m biased or anything, but I never take this pseudo sixth sense for granted anymore. Today’s outing was a good example, with no rationale for my favoring one turn over the other, and the kid didn’t disappoint.

Now he’s just getting impatient with me, and deservedly so, simply for hanging a right.      

Singing from the same sheet of music

During a long weekend in Madison, Wisconsin - actually Wednesday through Sunday - Victoria and I attended the National Veterans For Peace Conference, and a highlight for many of us was participating in a noon Capitol Rotunda sing-a-long each day. It was exhilarating standing up for the First and Fourth Amendments, risking arrest while defending free speech along with other folks from all over the country. In case you’re wondering, during our session several people were arrested and fined over $200 bail each. Victoria and I lucked out. A side note – Veterans For Peace representatives organized a human mic on the Capitol grounds and raised more than enough bail money to cover everyone hauled in for peace and justice.

Did you hear that?

A half hour after official sunset, while Casey and I were finishing up our walk on the interurban trail, we both became aware that we were being watched. A dead giveaway was the tell-tale screech of an Great Horned Owl, common in the Whatcom Falls Park area, as it tailed us along the creek path. Casey was more than happy to get off the trail and head for home. He’d probably been hearing this watchful predator soundtrack long before his ol’ man. 

This final screechy, even eerie send off was occurring from a branch about 15 feet above the path. Wish I had more than my phone to capture a little visual, but you get the point.

    

Don't tell Casey

From today’s vet STREET – Your Pet, Your Vet: 

Often referred to as a canine Eistein, the Border collie has a desire to work that borders on the obsessive…if he is underemployed at home, he is likely to develop compulsive behaviors such as chasing light and shadows, twirling in circles, and bouncing up and down…be prepared to keep him busy with dog sports, activities around the house, etc. etc.
  
Right. Like tonight.

Stutter step

The things Casey’s gotta do, especially on the days when the grandkids are over. Today, a simple walk around the neighborhood was more invigorating than it had to be, with Kaya and Silas on point. And in spite of frequent leg-leash disentanglements, and a sporadic pace that would wear out even the most patient grandparents, our guy was perfectly accommodating as he let them “lead” him home. 

That's a good boy.

Shake, my friend

Nearly every day Satwant, our Sikh neighbor, goes out of his way to finish up his daily stroll by cajoling a paw shake out of Casey. Believe it or not, Case has made a point of dropping everything - even putting a Frisbee toss on hold - to cater to our cul de sac elder. While Satwant's English is limited, he has mastered a heavily accented “Shake, my friend”, and our guy never disappoints.  

Ahem

Casey is adept at working a patsy with hardly any effort at all. As I was working on the computer this morning I caught this ahem moment out of the corner of my eye. I was just hoping like heck I could reach my phone for a picture before he moved.

You think he’s trying to tell me something?

Bumper crop

The pinot noir might be a finicky grape to cultivate, but our backyard variety, planted for deck shade and ignored all spring, continues to thrive.  And once this bumper crop starts to ripen our deck will become one of the most popular bird feeders in the neighborhood, after we get our cut.

Essence of Molly

Rebounding every summer at about this time in the front yard is a cluster of perennials with a bittersweet history. Clinging to life six or seven years ago in the front yard flowerbed, right about where Casey is sniffing today, was one solitary Gooseneck Loosestrife spike. By the end of the day it would be draped over the sidewalk barely holding its own.

Our first Border collie, Molly, nearly 12-years-old and riddled with rheumatoid arthritis way before her time, would approach this sad little Gooseneck, and rather than step over it or even veer left or right, she would do a little respectful stutter-step and hop over the wilting summer flower. Over time, and plenty of off-spring later, the crop of white flowers that now line the sidewalk are called Molly plants in our girl’s honor. And they seem to thrive.

Their significance and sentimental value seem to be lost on Casey. But you never know.

A must-share: Helping out a brother that gets the point(s)

How often do you get a chance to lend a helping hand to a raven? In this case this incredibly intelligent cousin of our more plentiful crows figured out all by himself that he could use a hand from a life form with opposable thumbs. Check out the Border collie in the clip on the lower right. I don’t think he/she was all that impressed with a bird that wasn’t savvy enough to stay clear of a porcupine.    

 

Vantage point

Casey, just birding in the shade. 

We wondered what he was up to, since he went outside quite a while ago. And then we found him, in the backyard with his head on a swivel watching hummingbirds flitting from feeder to Lucifer plant to feeder.

They can be entertaining, for sure.
And it’s nice to see those red sprays living up to their promise.

Anticipation

The absolute best car dog in the county couldn't stand the thought of staying home today - so what's new? We relented of course, even with temperatures climbing, but Casey and I had to wait in his mobile kennel with the windows down while Vic did the grocery store run. And all the while, if the kid’s eyes weren't glued on the Deals Only entrance anticipating “Mom's” return, they were working me for a head rub. 

Naturally he got his way, constantly maneuvering for maximum effect while lactic acid levels were red-lining in my forearm.

And while you’re at it, check out the backseat slobber residue on the window ledge. Goes with the territory.

More than meets the eye

Not exactly inauspicious, soon to be living up to its full potential, our backyard Lucifer is still an eye-catcher.

But if you look between the sprays of red, at just the right moment…

Another total package

We very rarely recommend a film, but after three days of sweltering heat – at least sweltering for Bellingham with steady highs reaching the mid-80s – we had a chance to stream Chasing Ice, a movie documenting environmental photographer James Balog’s incredible assignment for National Geographic to capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate.

The film is a must-see, but the Academy Award-nominated song Before My Time, performed by Scarlett Johansson, is captivating still. I haven't been surprised by a voice like this since Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys. Just listen, and while you're at it, check out the amazing photography that rolled during the credits.
  
 

Two down

There were a few ways to beat the heat today, but one of the best, at least in theory, was heading to Marine Park. After swinging by to see how the sunset show was going and maybe cool off a little, but without much of a sea breeze and a heat index in the high 70s, there wasn’t much relief.

The archived highs in Bellingham for June 30 are around 70 degrees and the forecasts are calling for no cool-off until Wednesday, with temperatures 15 degrees above normal. 



But really, how can we complain with our big city neighbors in Seattle doing a slow broil today and tomorrow, setting records in the mid-90s.

So, two down and two to go.