Category: Front Porch Musings

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Contrasts

Sunday evening, the setting sun lit the treetops against the background of storm clouds over the mountains.

Like the contrast of the trees against the sky, so was my weekend.

I spent time outside with Bear and Bob. I watch Bear continue to become more comfortable and at home here and it makes me want to sing and laugh with joy at how far he as come. Bob is currently settled with consistent glucose readings and all signs are that he is feeling well. He and Bear have some interaction and I am hopeful that we might all be together in the not too distant future. I finished raking the yard, filled some driveway potholes, changed the house water filter, started the motorhome and checked water in her batteries, did some work, got groceries, puttered in the kitchen…a good and productive weekend.

But… a friend, with beardogs herself, received some difficult news about one of them. It is heartbreaking for her, for her sweet dog and for her other pets. It is part of life, part of life with pets… that damned c-word. I hate that it robs peace and causes pain. I hate especially that it attacks dear pets who have spent their lives providing love and companionship.

As my weekend trickled merrily along, my thoughts and prayers also went toward my friend and also to all those who have loved ones that are hurting or are hurting themselves.

Contrasts.

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Seasons

This dog, Bear…I am so thankful that he is my dog. For whatever reason(s), these last several weeks, the loss of Karl has hit hard, yet again. Maybe because I came so close to losing Bear. Maybe the time I’m spending in the woods, again closer to Bear to reinforce training. Maybe just a cycle of the grief thing. I really don’t know.

It is not that I am sad. It is that suddenly, out of the blue – that Karl is not here – it feels overwhelming.

But, then Bear comes to me or I go to him…or to Bob…or I take photos and peace returns. It is maybe a season, like Winter is a season.

Winter decided to make an appearance. A little late and even later in my corner of Montana and with less ferocity than most parts of the northwest.

This evening, as all was done that needed to be done – and the light was clear – Bear ran and jumped and played in the snow. We were out several times today. It was very cold when it snowed so the snow is like sugar. The sun was out this afternoon and lit the edge of the snow covered trees forming a border of light against dark clouds over the mountains to the east.

As I watched Bear – after our play – resting and watching, snow started falling again…light, medium sized flakes, softly falling.

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the day before Christmas Eve day

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care :)!

The Christmas table is festive and bright.

It is the day before Christmas Eve day and even though there will be no presents to be opened, there is that excitement of anticipation….remembered childhood Christmases, shared times with family and the new traditions that I started and have kept for myself.

I have spent more Christmases with my dog and cat than with other people in the last years and it has always been a time filled with Joy.

This year has been even more relaxed than usual…I’m still taking it easy and trying to shake the last of this bug. But…the good news is that the bug MADE me take it easy and so I have enjoyed a time of ease that I might not have had I felt better. I’ve spent most afternoons lazing in bed watching a movie or tv show with Bob snuggled next to me. I’ve spent hours bundled up on the front porch or in my chair while Bear explores the woods or just sits quietly near me.

I’ve done a bit of baking, a bit of work, a bit of bookkeeping and a lot of resting. It has been a wonderful week shared with Bear and Bob….remembering Karl, Zack and Gus…but happy memories of outside times with each of them.

And then today, some very special Christmas visitors…

The Elk herd! …if you look carefully, you will see them among the trees.

Feasting on moss and grass in the woods.

A very special day before Christmas Eve Day at the end of a very special week before Christmas.

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Catching up the week

Wednesday, November 16…it looked like this and as I walked the loop, I thought to myself: “This is the absolute perfect amount of snow for the week before Thanksgiving…just enough to have that holiday feeling and not so much as to make it hard to get around”.

Later that afternoon, an email from a friend alerted me to a storm forecast for the weekend. It wasn’t so much for a lot of snow as it was for very cold temperatures and strong wind with blowing snow.

Huh… I decided in about 5 minutes of dithering to winterize the motorhome. It burns through a $60 tank of propane in 4-5 days when it starts staying below 20. While I grumbled a bit, it does not take long and it removed the tasks of monitoring (worrying) and runs for propane refills. I will de-winterize the first night out or maybe even the night before I leave weather permitting.

And although I had to unload all the freezable stuff, I use those recyclable psuedo fabric grocery bags that I have a plethora of, making it easy to unload and reload. Stowing things away, I can do first night out. With the short days and long nights and me not being a night driver, I will have plenty of evening downtime and will take at least 4 1/2 days for the 1260 mile trip to my folks.

In the process of unloading and checking all compartments, I found a quantity of stuff that doesn’t need to be aboard at all – obsolete electronics, Bob supplies (he’s staying home with his new gal-pal, Hailley)…. SO, a little de-cluttering done as well :)!

That done, it was back to work as there is a Tuesday project deadline.

So…Thursday afternoon it looked like this…

And then it changed to freezing rain…pretty, but I was glad that I didn’t have to go anywhere which is one of the reasons I can enjoy Winter so very much.

The forecast nailed it – not a lot of new snow but it got very cold and very windy and very wintry and I was very glad I was not trying to babysit the motorhome through a frigid cold spell. I promised her that I would fire things up shortly and we would be off for adventure soon.

Bear is absolutely loving the cold. His short stint of laying in the yard has regressed to being constantly in motion. There are perimeters to patrol, squirrels to chase, deer to sniff out…maybe the elk herd have passed through in the night or the local raccoon. Bear is on top of it all.

That was our week…that and getting the house and Bob ready to leave in Hailley’s care. A full week, a bit more jam-packed than is my wont, but all is in good shape. Currently the weather looks good for either a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning departure – Adventure calls!

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Is it Wednesday already?

I remember saying last year that the color was the most vibrant and long lasting of all my memory of Fall in Montana. And now this year, I’m saying that I’ve never seen color so vibrant and long lasting…even more so than last year – whatever, it continues to be a glorious Fall in Montana.

The weather forecast for the weekend is for cold and snow. This morning, despite the warm glow of the sun on the larch, it was cold enough that I dug out a heavier jacket and as I shuffled through the woods with Bear was glad I had a hot cup of coffee in my hands and made a mental note to dig out gloves and hats toute suite!

Did you know that Beardogs point?

This is not a mid-step capture. Bear is standing “on point”, although admittedly when you have a curly tail, it has a bit different look :) …

Happy Wednesday from all of us!