Ah, how about doing us a solid and open the screen door?

Casey with sister Stella 

Geesh!!

Casey and I were just minding our own business on the interurban this afternoon when a feisty squirrel gave us a piece of his (or her) mind, not that I blame him (or her). The kid is always chasing them, from tree to tree, whenever he gets the chance.

It didn't take long for this little guy to get his (or her) point across. But I think as far as Casey was concerned this mini-rant had become pretty tiresome in no time at all.

The trail's the thing...

...but you can't be too careful, as far as Casey's concerned. And just up ahead he senses potential problems long before I have a clue.

He knows I'll spot it eventually, but in the meantime he just takes it slow.

OK, I'm laughing, but you just never know about Boston Terriers in the wild. Right, Casey?

9-month-old Luna, with parents

Roadside salad bar

It's not often that yearling black tailed deer let Casey get up close and personal while they're snacking. This particular young doe couldn't have cared less that she was making Casey's day. She practically finished the first course of brunch before we could pull out of the parking lot.

Double vision

While finishing up a jog along the Interurban today my peripheral vision was tested momentarily as two border collies joined me on either side of my survival shuffle, and it took a second to realize that Casey was the black and white blur on my left.

The other guy was 12-year-old Tate, with basically the same markings, and enough of a beta version for Casey to take to him right away.

Tate's owner, along with her husband, is one of those special people that rescue older dogs that find themselves in tough situations after losing loved ones, and it just so happens that they're always on the lookout for Bordies. It didn't take long to see that the stars had been aligned just right for Casey's new acquaintance, and why not. Look at that smile.  

One happy pooped pup

Unlike a lot of Border Collies, Casey will usually let you know when he's red-lined after about 10 or 15 minutes of non-stop activity, in this case Frisbeeing. One big plop, followed by a huge smile that says, "Wasn't that something? Am I special or what?" is the give-away to wrap it up. 

Or is it, "Thanks, man. We gotta do that again...real soon"?

Baby cake stakeout

A mandatory stop on a walk through 
Marsha's Seattle neighborhood, and one of Casey's favorite stakeouts, is Verite's Cupcake Royale, arguably the best espresso joint in town.

And this smiley face isn't in anticipation of a Stomptown coffee brew, but maybe, just maybe, a chunk of Marsha's vanilla baby cake, with pink frosting. Working her over with irresitible, direct Border collie eye contact, before we head back home, ought to do it.

It won't be long now.

Child's play.

Stella's stakeout nap

Window stakeouts are Stella's life - 24/7 - but under such stressful circumstances like inventorying hummingbirds and Jays, even tracking squirrels,  a cat nap in the sun is the absolutely perfect way to refuel for her late-night crazies.

Favorite weekend photo - Mister Serenity

Godzilla and the bees

Aside from this year's magnificent purple blooms, the most eye-catching rhody phenomena today was a single honey bee, among the usual squadrons of pollen foragers, that was a standout size-wise. For awhile we were ready to depart from conventional wisdom, or more correctly science, thinking that we photographed a queen bee collecting pollen.

As soon as we Googled it later we were set straight, that apart from swarms, the queens never leave the hives.

Improvisation

When it comes to making himself comfy at naptime Casey has no equal. Here he was today putting to good use a Rubbermaid storage container no one was using. And it just happened to be a perfect fit. Shhh.

Lavender splash

A lavender overload hits the cul de sac every year about this time and today Casey showed up on a break from Frisbee framed by our contributions to this neighborhood color scheme - purple rhododendrums and the pale, showy Korean lilacs (left background and right foreground).

Short but sweet

Well, that didn't take long. A week or two of cherry blossoms in full array, and now, all that's left to do is rake. No healthy storm this spring to share the wealth with the neighborhood.

New prehistoric growth

After two days of steady rainfall - no, actually, unrelenting downpours - the skies opened up this afternoon with a sunny payback, so we took advantage of it with a walk on the interurban. Immediately catching our attention was the impressive growth spurt of flora occurring in less than a week.

New and old genus in all directions seemed to grasping for daylight as Casey and I passed each cluster. Check out the horsetails or snake grass, living fossils from the Paleozoic era and most taller than the kid. This abundant plant, an invasive weed if found in your yard, was practically nowhere in sight last week.

 

TGIF-like

You'd think these two had had a rough day at the end of a long, stressful week. No way. And rather than a TGIF pose, this is just our two charges checking out this evening, as they would at the end of most any day.

Entwined

 

Somehow Casey's wrap-around nap position in his backup dining room "kennel" is sleep inducing. Go figure.

Pink clouds on sticks

I ought to check back at previous posts, but it looks like the cherry blossoms are right on schedule again this year, and each display more impressive than the last. We recently saw the film Saving Mr. Banks with Emma Thompson and she referred to these blooms as "fluffy pink clouds on sticks."

That works.

High as a Border collie's knee

 

 

They're back. You can almost set your calendars to the onslaught of dandelion colonies popping up all over town and the greenbelts and vacant lots of our ridge neighborhood practically exploded with blooms this week. For now Casey's off trail ventures are no problem...but just wait.

Sunday omelette

I'll be right here OK

A ride in the car just make's Casey's day, even a quick trip to the food co-op or a longer road trip. And this look from our loyal velcro-boy is what usually awaits your return to the car. Just look up "endearing" in the dictionary and you might see this picture next to the definition.