I thought to get the view from the valley floor – 360 degrees. Maybe this weekend I will play with video editing software and figure out if there is a way to make things better!
But, here is the “uncut” version.
Better, though – at least in my own personal view…the stills – from a Friday afternoon walk with Bear. We were back in the Jeep just as the first raindrops fell.
It has been 5 months since Bear’s first TPLO surgery.
Three months before that things changed as we tried to resolve his lameness with rest.
And now, in what feels like a sudden change, we are resuming ‘normal’ activity.
I had been keeping the blinds drawn in all but the kitchen and the sliding door in the office so as to keep Bear from being tempted to jump up and see out windows.
This morning I opened everything.
The bedroom had been closed to Bear during the day. Now, it is open.
It feels like we have a new house. And it is larger and brighter!
The day cooperated by being beautiful, sunny and warm. The light, the vivid colors – everything seemed fresh and new.
We spent hours outside today. Bear had his first off leash time in 5 months. He followed me around as I did some yard work and then dug a cool spot in the dirt under a tree when I took a break and sat on the front porch.
All of that fresh air, a little more activity, a long nap and then the light of the late afternoon.
All day, it was different.
The 5 months were good months of healing and working together. It is an incredible bonding experience. I am happy we are at this point. If is surprising how it feels, though. I have been so focused on doing what we needed to do every day to progress that I never thought about what it would be like when we got here.
It is good.
New Days.
Two inches of snow fell overnight.
The sun rose in a pastel pink sky.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m., sunshine and blue sky among the clouds, Bear and I headed down the road to see what there was to see and find a country road for a snowy, Sunday morning amble.
The scenery was spectacular to the south.
And to the north.
We found a perfect country road…actually the continuation of the road home headed West across the highway.
Good walking and a clear view of the runs of Big Mountain and the peaks of the Whitefish Range.
The ranches and farms were Sunday morning quiet.
We spent half an hour exploring a mile of country road…
…before heading back on the road home.
Home to our little house in the woods.
Just before 8:00 a.m. this morning on the front part of the loop walk. We aren’t walking the entire loop but the start and end are mostly flat and add some variety in view and smells for me and Bear respectively :) !
It felt brisk at 30F, just before sunrise – perfect for a morning, mountain walk.
