Rebirth on Easter Sunday

"Easter is not a time for groping through dusty, musty tomes or tombs to disprove spontaneous generation or even to prove life eternal. It is a day to fan the ashes of dead hope, a day to banish doubts and seek the slopes where the sun is rising..."

...so naturally Casey and I wore ourselves out in the woods today - our First Church of Spring Renewal, and rebirth was everywhere.

Sunset stroll in the neighborhood

(It may not compare to airing it out with a Frisbee, or full-throttle on the interurban trail...but one more stroll with Vic and Gene at before dark can be nice too.)

Casey - bright and early

Gene post:

On a night that I was looking forward to 7 or 8 hours of sleep, you know, the recommended daily amount for us “adult/older persons”, Casey had other ideas. After jumping into bed at 5:30 and attempting co-opt a disproportionate share of king-sized mattress, REM sleep was history. 50+ pounds of snuggling, just-trying-to-get-comfortable Border Collie means anyone in somber proximity is done stacking zzz’s.

Might as well get the coffee going. Now how do we entertain the kid today?

Lunchtime Royale

Screw Guilt

No apologies. The perfect, "well-rounded" lunch for two - one double tall Americano, a double tall, nonfat mocha (no whip), and an Irish whiskey maple cupcake - in honor of St. Patrick - at Verite's, Seattle's best espresso cafe in the "land of espressos"!

Spring tease

A week to go before the first day of Spring and barely 50 degrees, not warm enough to coax the cherry blossoms out of hiding but an impressive harbinger of things to come.
 

Check out the sneak preview.

Wrapping it up - Day 2 on Orcas

Highlights include Mountain Lake, Mt Constitution, Eastsound (mostly hanging out at Darvill's...one cool little bookstore), and dinner at Cafe Olga, watching one more sunset

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Ushering out winter on Orcas - More Day One

From sunup to sundown, Casey had one long day. 

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Escape to Orcas Island - Day 1

"You got to have friends...

...To make the day last long."

(Man...a new friend, just as easy going and submissive as me - and we've hardly started our weekend. He seems to have the run of the place. An OK guy, named Cedar. Hope he's here when we get back.

This is gonna be a good day on Orcas Island.)

SNL with EJ

Just who's going to outlast who on this babysitting gig with Ezra Jones?

Even Border Collies don't stand a chance.

Livin' large, then lights out!

The downside to being a two-year-old Border Collie - no second gear. Just lucky there wasn't enough time for another Frisbee toss after a "walk" by the beach.

MLK holiday commemorative, Monday, January 18th

(The weather cooperated on Monday so I got to come along on another of Vic and Gene's outings with another crowd...

...and this one was actually enjoyable with no sign of skateboarders anywhere.)

(The only thing that would have made it more memorable would have been to score a bacon handout after the feedfest at the MLK brunch that I know these folks just left.)

First walk of new decade

(A walk in the woods, in the wind, in the rain, on New Years Day, is a far cry from a polar bear plunge in Lake Padden. For this I'm truly grateful. Everyone knows how BCs hate the water, much less plunges.)

(Looks like we're just beating a downpour as it is!)

Good tidings 2009

And So This Is Christmas...

And What Have We Done?

Another Year's Over;

And A New One's Just Begun;

And So Happy Christmas;

I Hope You Have Fun;

The Near And The Dear Ones;

The Old And The Young.

John Lennon, Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

I think we've got everyone - and everything - covered thanks to John.

Merry Christmas,

Victoria, Gene, Casey, and Stella

Midwinter comes to Bellingham

Winter is Nature's way of saying, "Up yours."

Robert Byrne

Unlike last year, no snow, but we can almost taste spring. Now we just have to persevere until our daylight quits hugging the horizon in the Great Northwest.

'Twas a week before Christmas

With less than a week to go before Christmas these creatures are barely stirring. 

(Vic's coming around though, recovering from a wicked case of what she's been calling the flu (does H1N1 sound right?), finally perusing her most visited blogs in other than a prone position,

and me and Stella stacking zzz's, while Gene stares at some strange sounding black and grey and white folks on the flat screen for the longest time.)

(And he seems to know just what to say, to no one in particular - like Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!...

...In keeping with the situation! What-ever!)

The grandkids first Christmas show

(Pups aren't the only cute peeps in town...and Kaya and Silas' Daycare Christmas show is proof.)
 

(Of course Border Collies are a lot less contagious.

Come on, Boomps,don't be a dick. It's Christmas. Just lay off the Rice Krispie treats in Silas' classroom.)

Birthday Boy

Doesn't matter how cold it is, no matter the occasion...

nothing tops Frisbee at the park.

Except maybe your very own piece of meatloaf at home on your 2nd birthday.

"They say it's your birthday...happy birthday to you."

Peace Collie's first antiwar march

(I don't have a clue what's going on, but it must be very important. Vic's walking right down the middle of the street. I usually get in trouble for being out here. Whadda we want... Troops Out!...When do we want it...Now! Now what's that all about. And who's Obama?)



(Some "Bye-Bye" this is. The interurban trail's got this beat. And it's a lot less crowded.

OK, where's the Prius? We gotta be getting close.)

Thanksgiving weekend on Island Time

Last week the Thanksgiving Holiday was so much more than a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Scraps and hugs were plentiful last year; more than this Minnesota rescue dog ever thought possible. This year though, a real island getaway, with lots of new faces and places … priceless.

Friday Harbor, the Tucker House Inn (our hosts even made Stella feel welcome), and lots of sights and fresh air on “Island Time”. I’ll bet I’m the only Bellingham Border Collie that ever watched porpoises (whatever they are) feed. And the daily homemade cookies and biscuits from Anna Maria's kitchen – wow - we are so coming back.

Perfect day on Mount Baker

With the visibilty close to clear as a friggin' bell and Indian Summer off to a great start a trip up Mount Baker was the perfect way to spend a day.

Against a backdrop of mountains, heather, and the remaining wildflowers, Picture Lake was more than picturesque today - and Mount Shuksan's mirrowed image was in class by itself.

Ushering in the equinox

Look what we've got going here on the first day of autumn.

It's our favorite time of year. Really - just look around.

The last day of summer at Marsha's Place

Beating the heat

Sometimes it's just the simple things in life.

What a Week!

(The hottest day on record in Bellingham - 97 degrees - was the start of the most exhausting week this summer for Vic and Gene.)

(If hosting Cindy Sheehan and 36 friends and admirers to a huge Mexican buffet before a Veterans for Peace speaking engagement in town wasn't enough...

...closing out a week later at the National Veterans for Peace Convention in College Park, Maryland and DC was plenty.)

(It's just nice to have them back home and all to myself.)

Thunder bumpers rolling in

(Uh oh...did anybody hear that?!)

That last one sounded just like back on the farm in Minnesota...

(I'm for doing the Frisbee thing later.)

(I can't believe Gene and Victoria can't hear those thunder bumpers...right here...on Salmonberry Lane.)

Our three favorite words - Summer in Bellingham

We knew if we hung around long enough summer would get here.

Vic's garden is looking great - fox gloves, lilacs, fuchsias, herbs, vegetables, name it.
The Frisbee training has really paid off too.

First sunny Saturday in a long while. 72 degrees, a little breezy by the water, but who's complaining.

Sunday even better, no haze, a little warmer - official soft-serve ice cream weather. No real rain until October - and do not let the word get out.

Ezra's first

(Just back from our long trip to California and back...then we headed back down the Interstate to Ben and Ernies' for a big celebration. It seemed like a celebration anyway. You can just never be sure with crowds.

Lots of food, most I'd never sampled before. The tasty little tube things with meat in the middle, really good...and easy to con out of people too.)

(Luckily I wasn't the focal point - way too much pressure. Everyone was doting on and passing around the tiny little guy called Ezra, even Vic and Gene. I never did figure out why he was so special. He could barely stand on his own two feet, much less catch a Frisbee. And who doesn't like green beans and cake?)

Weekend birthday clutter

(Joe's 40th, Joe's 40th...whatever that means?! It seemed to be enough though to have a strange variety of people - big and small - all over the place. At first it was OK, but after a while there were 5 or more conversations going on - all at the same time.

Nothing like this ever happened back on the farm.

The little ones were the weirdest, but it looks like they're here to stay. It'll just take some time getting used to ever sharing center stage again.)

Early Wakeup

(Just when you think you've seen it all from the front door, Vic and I watched these guys this morning when the sun was coming up.)

I have never herded anything like these big boys.)

(Kinda glad it was never an option. They didn't hang around long, bounding off down the street on cats' feet).

Cul de Sac Highlights

Cherry blossoms and sunshine, with temperatures pushing 70 degrees all week! Not taking this good stuff for granted though. I’ve been here long enough to know rain showers will likely change any routine real quick on Salmonberry Lane.

Vic and Gene were obviously taking advantage of fair weather to move a lot of dirt.
 

A lot of "hurry up and wait", but interesting.

Never saw anything like this back on the farm. I gotta admit. But their bricks turned out great and I know they're gonna feel great during morning naps.

Sure starting to take a up lot of Frisbee space though.

Tracking dandelions

(Today is way too pleasant to hang out with Victoria and Gene digging in the backyard.)

(Hunting dandelions seems like a much better use of my time - taking it easy before Frisbee practice.)

Weekend collage

(You couldn't ask for better weather the past couple of days. Well you could, but from what other Southside pooches tell me, don't hold you breath - not in April in Bellingham by the Bay. And I've noticed Gene and Vic have still got their fleece within easy reach just in case.)

(But this weekend...awesome! This kid doesn't miss Minnesota one bit.)

Front Yard Frisbee

(I really think I'm getting the hang of catching this thing. And if this is all I've gotta do for a fist full of cheesy chews, just point the way.)

(I think I'm gonna milk this training routine for as long as the good weather weather and Gene's arm holds out.)

Back in school

Another Sunday morning, another rally session. No Sunday school for this agnostic Collie. I'm a regular worshipper at the altar of training treats.

(Gene and Vic don't really need to know that I'd do this stuff without the tasty morsels.)

(It's really a drag waiting for my turn.

And to have to stay kenneled up...come on.)

(When does agility training start anyway?!)

Opening Day

Rain or shine, on the opening day of the Bellingham Farmers Market everyone comes out. It just so happens today was beautiful.
 

Local produce, crafts, musicians, and vendors dishing generous samplings of favorite restaurants. Lunch with friends or city politicos is just as common as sharing a picnic table, and maybe Ethiopian or French cuisine, with total strangers.

Unfortunately, it's No Dogs Allowed. That's OK with me...way too many folks for this border collie. I'm just fine in the Prius thanks...a great place to people watch.