Up close and inquisitive

Troubadour

On Sunday evening, the local Veterans For Peace chapter and Peace and Justice Center hosted Seattle troubadour Jim Page at the Mount Baker Theatre. Here's a sampling, just a slice of over two hours of banter and music that's drawn audiences for Jim worldwide for over 40 years.
 

Enjoy.

Autumn romp

Today we managed to squeeze a walk in between showers. Everything kind of came together for this phone photo op, and the carefree abandon all over the kid's face said everything - he's enjoying not being weatherbound and nowhere near ready to head home.

Model patient

 

Why is it always an eye issue for Casey? Last week we noticed a small lump on the boy's right eyelid, growing and looking like an infection at eyelash level.



Sty, scratch, cyst...we had no idea. And guess what, Casey's veterinarian didn't have a clue either, but she was leaning toward bug bite or sty, and recommended warm compresses and a topical antiseptic twice a day for five days.

You'd think by now the kid would be anything but a model patient, after a bout with pannus. And it's hard to tell what's going through his mind as Vic applys the warm, wet wash cloth, but he has had no problem letting her have his way with him all week. It's paid off though. There's hardly a sign of the infection, bite, whatever. 

Good boy.

 

Late night crazies

For the last few nights Mr.Early-to-Bed has been vying overtime for our undivided attention. Whether it's been flipping a ball our way, a stuffed toy, even his Frisbee, he's preferred playtime to sleepytime. Right now we're just writing it off to the change of season, or maybe some dormant Border Collie high-activity genes surfacing.

It's really kind of funny though. And as long as Casey can be centerstage - pride's not an issue.

 

Ready to go home?

Had to share this one, taken with my phone. I said the magic words after about 40 minutes on a drizzly walk on the interurban - Ready to go home, kid?

Any old box with tissue

A mail order box containing a pair of running shoes arrived today, and before the postal service box and New Balance box could be recycled, Stella co-opted both. One for a toy and the shoe box, with its comfy tissue - just perfect for a day bed.

Pausing for effect

This grouping of finished stones or bolders has been on display in Boulevard Park for as long as I can remember. Michael Jacobsen, an artist friend of ours, completed this piece back in the 80s. And today Casey had no problem parking his rear end on the centerpiece in the middle of our walk.

Climbing on outcroppings still seems to be a passion of his, no matter the terrain. Most of the time it's not a problem for whoever is tagging along, on other occasions it can be unnerving.

Casey might still have a healthy respect, even fear, of other dogs at times. But heights and footing - not a problem for the kid. 

Restless naps

Some of these little guys are obviously sleeping off the Romney/Obama foreign policy debates. You can tell by the probable nightmares, or frantic sleep running.

A bright and shining stroll

 

Bellingham's Boulevard Park

Time's wasting

Check out the noon shadows. You know that means we'd better get a move on. Time's wasting as far as Casey's concerned. Stella, she could care less. 

A walk on the southside is next on the agenda before the next squall moves into the area. When any precipitation hits, the kid is more than satisfied than ever hanging around the house, inside by the fireplace preferably. 

Transition

OK, our very brief display of autumn colors are peaking, seasonal ales are lining grocery store shelves, and rain and scud obscure any semblance of sunset visuals.

But when our backyard sweetgum tree starts to look like it's ready to put on its own show, break out the rakes and get ready for the holidays...and long winter nights.

October glory

The red maple across the street has dominated our neighborhood line of sight all week long, but today, in a steady afternoon downpour, it became a pallette of lusty rusts and flame reds to defy description.

With a storm moving in later tonight, I also think I caught this tiny slice of fall splender at its absolute peak brilliance, challenging us to take it for granted.

There are no words

This video has gone viral in less than a week, for good reason. What can I say?

Where have you been all my life?

After 80 plus days without rain and temperatures at least near 70 degrees, fall has come back with a vengeance. Rainy, cooler, more than justifying firing up the gas fireplace for heat in the evening - and soon enough, while we watch Democracy Now! with our first cup of coffee on chilly mornings.

And no one appreciates the hiss and cracks and radiance of the furnace like Stella, unabashedly languishing from the time it clicks on, until the fan shuts down.

Pushing curfew

There are late night exceptions to our farm boy's "early to kennel" preference, and it's usually when he thinks there is nothing you'd rather do than another bonding execise. Suddenly a ball that's been lying around the house all day might suddenly seem to Casey the perfect tool for livening things up a little bit, when in fact a little late night peace and quiet was starting to grow on us.   



We haven't been around a Border Collie yet that didn't want to push the envelope some when it came to breaking "ball curfew" with a late night ball toss. It's got to be a genetic trait, right up there with the crouch, eyeing, interest in moving targets...there you go.

 

How can we refuse anyway?

Well, Victoria's got it down. I'm still working on it.

 

 

Zonked...perchance to dream

 

When our boy conks out, like tonight, there is just no substitute for collapsing basically anywhere.     

 

In your face

So guess what got Casey's undivided attention bright and early this morning?

 

 

You guessed right. He's still around, clover or no clover, along with a handful of his friends. Just drives the kid crazy. And with only a couple of weeks to go until hibernation sets in, we're going to miss this daily ritual.

Well, maybe everyone but the master gardener.

 

Bow tie accessory

How's this for happenstance? One of our more colorful Pacific Northwest moths chose to embellish our front porch "farmgirl with watering can" statue with a bowtie landing.

After checking the pdf files of Western Washington University moth experts Merrill Peterson and Lars Crabo, we're guessing this fashion conscious beauty is possibly a Mesagona rubra.

One thing we didn't notice before though...was our front porch girl smiling before this winged adornment?

   

  

Stella Noir, favorite weekend photos

Sunday night

I love totally unstageable photo ops like this, also knowing full well that Casey would move before I could even reach for the camera. But he didn't, apparently done for the day - and night - and putting a capper on the weekend as well. 

Oddly enough he was nosing a tennis ball into my lap, diverting my attention from the novel I was trying to read, just five minutes before he checked out.

76 and counting, without rain

Seventy plus days without measurable precipitation is a wonder in Bellingham and surroundings, and just as phenomenal are days like Saturday, with clear skies and temperatures still climbing to 70 degrees.


Of course, Taylor Dock in Fairhaven provided the perfect backdrop for a steady stream of October sun worshippers, most wondering when the other shoe was going to drop with trademark SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - weather.



If the word gets out that from July through October Bellinghamsters rarely leave leave town because of days like this...well, let's not share this link OK.

 

Had to share

This clip is from a Shaun Ellis National Geographic special from 2007 but just showed up on Facebook via wimp.com today. Too engaging not to share.

If we hurry

Whatcom Falls

We had just enough time to get a run in before dinner, so we headed out to dependable Whatcom Falls Park and took care of not only what passes for aerobic exertion, but a glimpse of full blown fall.

It's hard to believe that summer 2012 is history, but our surroundings, and the sun's rapid descent before we could call it quits, are clear signs that not even our Indian summer is going to be here for much longer.



Crimsons, orange-yellows, and golds that rival even the northeast US have been eye-catching distractions everywhere around town this week. It's our job now to simply focus occasionally, before the weather rolls in.



Of course focussing on anything - unless it's a flying disc or a squirrel - is not a strong suit of Casey's.

 

In mid chew

After whimpering, pacing, and guilting us into giving him an evening rawhide chew - after all it is Victoria's birthday after all and he doesn't get cake - Casey crashed before making any progress on it at all. He was either conked out from a full day, or bored to tears with the Obama/Romney debates like us.

Licking last

Just look at that concentration, the tongue dexterity, as if there was much in the way of ice cream cone left after a trip to Mallard's with the grandson. Ezra did save Casey a spoonful though, and our boy was making the most of it.