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.)      

 

Taking five

And the winner is...

 

 

 

Once again, the hands-down neighborhood winner in the Most Vivid Autumnal Costume Design category is the showy maple tree down the block in all its pre-storm finery.

 

 

 

Late morning eyeful

Our daily veil of fog took its own sweet time dissipating from the neighborhood this morning, but when the wraps finally came off, our quaint little autumn panorama, crystal blue skies and all, was more than post-worthy.

But it was obvious though that Stella couldn’t have cared less.

What's not to like

I’m not sure if Casey is that impressed with seasonal transformations, particularly Bellingham’s new fall color scheme, but yesterday on a stroll downtown he seemed to be taking it all in.
 

    

All that work

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the fog was struggling to dissipate this morning we spotted this glistening artistry draped near the front porch juniper. We always admire the production values that go into these projects, skills perfected and expanded since spring. But last night our favorite flower bed arthropod really outdid herself with this silk masterpiece.  

Connection

There's that look, that gaze that bores right through anyone, connecting not only with humanity, but friendship, commitment, and nature, the whole package. And prompt follow-through is usually the receptor’s next move. It’s a border collie art form.

All the essentials

 

When it comes to making oneself at home, Casey does just that. In fact he’s a regular nester. Whether it’s turning in for the night with favorite kennel snuggables, or like this morning, settling into a “Where’s Waldo” pose with other collectables - a rawhide bone, stuffed toy, a Frisbee, and my size 12s - you can’t be too cozy.   

End of the weekend favorite photo

Deep, oblivious sleep

Almost never, ever, is it possible to get a candid shot of Casey snoozing in the morning. The kid senses any movement, even a change in the tone of our conversation when we notice a goofy sleep pose like this one, or a molecular change in the room when Vic or I reach for a camera.

 

Our guy was probably in the middle of a solitary reconnaissance of the greenbelt, or maybe back on the farm with his mom. But he was definitely, comfortably in a twilight zone of his own.

Tis the season

Seeing summer out

A little visual to savor on this day after the autumnal equinox, the last day of summer punctuated by blue skies and Border collie anticipation, and within hours after this Frisbee lawn ritual, a cold front moved through Whatcom County, accompanied by non-stop rain showers and gusty winds. And from now until May, Casey will have to finesse each catch through fall and winter blusters. 

Another must-share

This is just another one of those feel-good videos that a friend of mine posted on Facebook that I just had to share. After all, it has all the right ingredients, abandoned pets, inseparable companions, frolicking in a river, and a happy ending. How can it not go viral? 

 

Purple summer send-off

Catching my eye today as I was cutting the lawn was a showy purple perennial that was pulsating with living color, enhanced by late afternoon sunshine and hundreds of honey bees in a mad scramble to collect an autumn cache of pollen to last the winter.

Of course right away I’m thinking Chrysanthemums until I check with Victoria and Google. It seems this variety is the Michaelmas daisy, or aster, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, at least for the next few days, as it ushers in fall.   

Soft landing

All we ever have to say aloud is, “Did we do Casey’s eyes today?” and he immediately goes airborne, landing right in the center of the living room couch. It’s not that he’s excited to receive his daily dose of tacrolimus on each cornea, he’s not. He just knows that it’s inevitable, so he assumes the position on the couch – usually after a standing jump - and Vic works her magic, applying a dab in each eye. Today grandson Ezra and daughter-in-law Ernelyn got a lapful of Border collie before we could rephrase the question. Cute picture though.

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.