Cabana in the Mist

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone! We had a nice salmon dinner at our house, since we don't eat turkey. Then, on Friday, Cabana got to experience two of her favorite things at the same time--the dog park and pancakes! Our very first dog park friends are moving to Hawaii, along with their lucky dogs Kona and Ami. Some other friends brought their camper van with a complete kitchen to the park, and we made pancakes and served mimosas. I took a lot of great photos, then had a computer glitch and lost them all. Grrr, don't you just hate it when that happens? The dogs all lined up in eager sits, waiting for a piece of pancake, and Cabana was surely the most eager of them all. I had a great photo of that, too--sigh.

Since I lost all those photos, these misty ones from the following day will have to suffice. I recently got a polarizing lens filter for my camera, which is supposed to increase color contrast and minimize haze. I'm not sure if it made much difference since it was a really foggy morning, but I had fun with my new "toy" anyway.

Human and canine friends await as we approach the park on Saturday morning. Our soon-to-be Hawaiian friends are in this assemblage. They won't have to put up with this kind of weather much longer.

I don't normally take photos of just scenery. I like having people and/or animals in my shots, but I guess I was feeling artsy when I saw these branches against the sky with water droplets hanging off them.

Cold and damp are words that come to mind when I see this photo. Brrr, winter isn't far off.

But thankfully, we've still got some autumn color left to enjoy for another week or two.

Read more...

Yesterday, My Life was Filled with Rain

This afternoon, I was busy upstairs working until it was time to pick the girls up at school. Cabana usually rides along with me in the car, but I couldn't find her in any of her usual places. Finally, I looked out the window into our backyard, and there I found her, sunbathing on the chaise lounge. (FYI, did you know the actual correct term is "chaise longue"? Weird, huh?)

After about 2 weeks of daily rain, Cabana is pretty smart to take advantage of this sunny day. We installed our doggy door last November, but Cabana has never really made much use of it. Sure, she uses it to do her business like a champ, but she always comes right back inside. Now I see that she was just waiting for spring to enjoy the full measure of freedom the doggy door gives her.

In honor of the happy fact that the AccuWeather dog walking forecast is giving us 8's for the rest of the week, even though it's really corny, I'll end my post as I began it, with these lyrics:

Oh, the dark days are done, and the bright days are here,
My sunny one shines so sincere,
Oh, sunny one so true, I love you.

Read more...

Going for a Walk?

I love this! Accuweather now gives you a customized forecast for walking your dog, with ratings from 1 to 10, for today and the next four days. Just for fun, I plugged in the dog walking forecast for, say, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Myeh, Honolulu isn't SO much better for dog walking in the next few days than in my own neck of the woods (second photo). It's definitely warmer there, but just as wet. Click here to check out your own city and state. I'm curious, anybody get a 10 in their forecast?

According to the chart, today is only a 4 for us. But we'll be out there anyway. Rain schmain. As my mother would say, we won't melt--we're not made of sugar! (Actually, my mother has never said that, but I don't really know anyone who has....)

Read more...

A Great Morning

The local weathermen have been predicting snow (at sea level) in our area for the past couple days. Ten years ago when it snowed here last, parents kept their kids home from school, not because of hazardous road conditions, but so their kids could have the rare opportunity to make snowmen in their own backyards. We were hoping to wake up to that kind of snow this morning.

But no such luck. It was cold enough, but there was no precipitation. That's okay, falling cherry blossoms are kind of like snowflakes, right?

A short ways into our walk, we met Riley, a yellow Lab puppy we've crossed paths with before. Riley is about 10 months old, but she's already 70 pounds! Cabana weighed 54.8 pounds the last time I put her on the scale at the pet store. But Riley doesn't really look any bigger than Cabana in these photos, does she? Where exactly are those 15 additional pounds?!!

The frosty grass didn't keep Cabana and Riley from romping. Don't doggy paws get cold? Brrrr, two pairs of socks and padded sneakers aren't even enough for me.

We convinced Riley and her owner to walk over to the park with us, where we have a standing date with brindled pals Kona and Amie, along with golden boy Brodie.

We were also joined by a cow-spotted dog (so described by his owner), JT, and his housemate, Belle, a chocolate Lab. I managed to capture all 7 dogs in one frame--that might be my new record!

By the time our Berner friend Bayla showed up, the fog was beginning to lift and the frost was melting fast. It was still a chilly 35 degrees, but the sunshine felt delicious as we walked back home.

Feeling the sun on your face, indoors or out--what a great way to spend the morning!

Read more...

Whatever the Weather

We've had all sorts of weather lately, some usual, some unusual for our area.

It was warm and sunny for the past few weeks, making all the bulbs and trees sprout. The spring-like weather made mustard season come early this year. There has been some growing in the big field where we walk, but this is nothing compared to how much will be there a few weeks from now.

Of course, we have had lots of our usual morning fog.

And we've had TONS of rain. Here is a not-so-good picture of a faint rainbow.

Cabana enjoys the little puddles that the rain leaves behind. Little splashes are fun.

But BIG puddles and BIG splashes are even more fun.

Let's run around and go through again!

A few days ago, we had a short hail storm. Here are the quickly melting ice pebbles in my backyard.

Then yesterday morning, we even got a smattering of snow on the hills! Whatever the weather, there's something to enjoy.

Read more...