Almost overnight

While ushering in spring during yesterday's outing our modest vistas appeared as if they had been photoshopped, with shades of green dominating the scenery almost overnight.

Amazing.

And the late afternoon sunshine, incredible.

Like glass

While a select few were hustling around Lake Padden to beat sunset, Casey and I were taking our sweet time. Notice the glassy palette reflecting whatever was left of our sky cover.

Pink nails a classic

If you missed the telecast of the Academy Awards last night, consider yourself lucky. Like most years this production was another drawn out, glittery, self-absorbed affair for the one per centers, but there were a couple of high spots. 12 Years a Slave won the Oscar for Best Picture, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz Pink killed with the Ella Fitzgerald version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Check out this iconic rendition. I wish I could post Pink's performance but there are Oscar copyright issues. In the meantime, Ella. 

You comin'?

Deja vu all over again, maybe?

Our local paper is already buying into another weekend snowfall. And, you know, Casey would relish it, with gusto. But come on folks...enough's enough.

Taking a snow day off

The picture of serenity or one pooped Border collie - in this case both - in the middle of a well-deserved snow day.

 

 

Seeing winter out

One last look at Winter 2013-14 on Cedar Ridge. A far cry from the Cascades or Urals, but in a day and a half our town got a season's worth of the white stuff, 9 to 10 inches. And a week from now our favorite vacant lot will have shed its icy cloak for spring buds.

I'm fine right here, thanks.

Stella taking in the snow

One last neighborhood snow junket

Even with a late night winter storm warning I wasn't convinced that we had enough of a northeasterly to usher in a significant snow event, but seeing is believing. And Casey couldn't wait to venture out, before I could even get a second cup of coffee.

What a difference a day makes

What a difference a day makes. A ninety percent chance of wind and rain will really thin out a crowd at any south side park, and there’s no reason to expect a letup and rainbows tomorrow.

Break from the bluster

 Now there’s one happy guy.

 

After a week of downpours and blustery, gale-like winds, outdoor excursions were at a premium. But today weather conditions were glorious, unlike most of the US, and after being cooped up most of the week, the kid gets to air it out in Boulevard Park. Gotta get it while you can, huh Case.
 

 

Spring’ll be here before you know it, boy.

 

Good listener

This morning we had a houseful of family visiting Victoria as she was recovering from knee-replacement surgery, so you can guess who wasn’t the center of attention. It doesn’t mean that Casey wasn’t trying to follow several conversations at once. He made have settled on backstage, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t all ears.

Moan and rise and shine

The first stirrings from the early morning pet pile, Stella on Vic's side and Casey in the middle, usually conclude with the kid's stretching and unabashed pleasure moaning. These daily wakeup rituals always mean that all of our sleep "sweet spots" were met for the night, and in Casey's case it couldn't be more obvious.

Pulling out all the stops

Almost every day, Victoria works her magic on Casey by applying medication to each of his eyes. Several years back Casey was diagnosed with pannus, an immunological disease infecting the cornea. In fact he’d lost more than 50 percent of his vision before the symptoms were apparent. Long story short, after six months of treatment the kid’s eyes were back to normal.

As a precaution Casey needs tacrolimus ointment applied to each eye, and each time we even say the word “eye” he’ll run and jump up on the nearest couch to get it over with. Sitting up, extending each paw, and generally looking downtrodden, are part of his shtick to sidetrack Vic – you’d think he’d know better by now.

 

By the way, Casey’s eyesight is absolutely perfect.

A sunset away from zero, zero

At sunset the San Juans appear to be partially obscured by a fog bank sliding onto Bellingham Bay.  If conditions are similar to last night, Fairhaven should be blanketed by the time Casey and I finish our walk on the south side and head home.

 

Favorite weekend photo

All you have to do is set the iPad down for a couple of minutes and Casey wants to get in the act. He really is a smart guy, but he still needs help with a keypad and updating apps.

At least he’s not hooked on Facebook. 

Forcing the issue

 

It’s taken its sweet time, but the sun came out today for the first time in 2014, after three days of a nearly non-stop seasonal drenching. And from the look on Casey’s face delaying this afternoon’s walk one minute more is not an option. He’s even gone ahead and fetched his leash to make his point. One thing for sure, our guy hates dodging rain showers as much we do and isn’t taking today’s sunny skies for granted.   

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Peace on Earth

 

 

How peaceful is this on Christmas Eve. And you just have to wonder what might be dancing in our boy’s head, where the love light gleams.

 

While we’re at it – Happy Christmas from Gene, Victoria, Casey, and Stella.

 

 

 

If a tree shines in the forest

So what Christmas tree isn’t perfect? Today we set out to see if the Whatcom Falls interurban trail version for 2013 comes close. While minimal best describes our mysterious Yule elf’s effort this year, the effect is heartwarming.

And this year Casey didn’t lift his leg to mark the occasion. He was more interested in the onlookers, a couple of them even resembling distant cousins.

Let it snow

A snowy winter wake up came as advertised by the Weather Service and totally surprised Casey when he ventured out for the first time today. Joyful barks, followed by romps and roll overs in the white stuff before I could even pour my first cup of coffee meant we’d have to get going on a walk around the ridge.

So, you think he looks anxious? We really had to get a move on because this Border collie winter wonderland should be gone by tomorrow with rain moving in and sticking around until after Christmas.

 

 

 

Enjoy it while you can, kid.

Many happy returns

And while we’re at it, guess who turned six years old this weekend? An awful lot of folks wrote Casey off way back when he was the runt of the litter in 2007, after he had been ignored, picked on, and beaten up. All because he was the timid, soft-touch, beta reject of a litter of seven. Well look who’s got the last laugh now - and here’s that smile that stole our heart. Happy birthday, kid. 

'Tis the season

An hour before turning in and Casey is busy ushering in the Holidays.

DNA crouch

This video clip of the “Border collie walk” was posted on Facebook today and is so very typical of the breed. And in almost every case, Casey’s crouch DNA kicks in as advertised, particularly if an approaching stranger is accompanied by a canine companion. Believe it or not, the kid can seem intimidating. While in reality he’s just being careful, until and unless the play mode is more appropriate. 

 

 

 

You just can’t be too careful.

 

Sofa snooze

Looks like our guy, new Christmas collar and all, is settling in quite nicely for a morning snooze on the couch.

Icy

From the looks of nearby trails, we didn’t come close to a forecasted afternoon thaw, and it’s going to be another “dog valley” night. You’ve heard of a three-dog night? Well, our version consists of Casey sneaking up on top of our bed in the wee hours, creating a comfort valley when indoor temperatures happen to slide below optimum crate pad conditions.
 

 

In the mean time he’s on his own, glittery ice or not, until he’s had enough of our first seasonal freeze.

Today he’s just eating it up.

   

 

Doldrum antidote

It’s easy to get a case of the fall doldrums this time of the year. Just look around. More overcast skies in the shadiest town in the US, with the last waves of rakeables hanging precariously from every branch in the neighborhood. And with the increased, almost argumentative tempo of their chattering, the hummingbirds are obviously peeved with the daily losses of their cherry tree concealments in the front yard.

But Casey’s a natural for keeping everything in perspective. Check out that smile.

 

 

 

Denim cat cradle

A vacant pair of jeans is fair game as an afternoon nap nook as far as Stella’s concerned, and easily makes the cut as our favorite weekend photo.

Stormwatch

 

After raking the front and back yard clear of leaves yesterday why would anyone be surprised to see the first memorable storm of the season come plowing through the county? I think it’s some sort of a natural law.

This morning’s wake up consisted of a noisy reminder that Pacific Northwest storm watches come with the territory. And Casey and Stella, transfixed by a backyard cacophony of pelted windows, wind-whipped poplars, maples and evergreens, chattering hummingbirds riding fifty-knot gusts, appeared grateful to be on this side of these elements.

  

 

(Hope this blows over sooner rather than later.)