New Discoveries

In the mornings, early, before 6 a.m., I go out to the little shed that is made from the lumber of my maternal grandfather's barn. It's my quiet place, my workshop for my creative endeavors. On mornings in the spring, summer, and fall, I like to sit and read inspirational material and attempt to set a peaceful tone for the day (never hurts to try). I sit and read and drink coffee and listen to the birds sing and drink more coffee.

Now I have Riley, she joins me at the shed, but I have to attach a cord to her harness because she will bolt if she sees deer, who are frequent visitors. Riley can join me inside the shed if she chooses. There is a soft bed for her to lie on. However, being under a year in age, she has way too much energy first thing in the morning to be sedentary. She prefers to remain outside and scan the pasture next door for our vegetarian visitors on four legs, or our neighbor, Carol, who sometimes walks around within Riley's sight watering her newly planted trees.

Another thing that Riley is fond of doing is going down into the bed of bushes near the shed. She has done pretty well in the past. Apparently she found a natural tunnel, so she stayed tangle free. Today was a different story. She discovered a new opening and got herself entangled twice.
I rescued her, tramping through the damp bushes and undergrowth. I am an explorer by nature, so I rather enjoyed going into the cavernous brush, a place I'd never ventured into before, for I had no reason to do so until now. I could see that there was a secret spot in there - a place where deer bed down. I had no idea that they slept so near. I've walked past this hidden place at all times of day and night. Perhaps there were times when the creatures were in there lying ever so still and watching me with large, startled eyes while I went about my business, on my way to perform some task, like watering the flowers at the shed, being set on a purpose and not sensing other beings so near. Now thanks to Riley and her explorations, I hope to be a bit more aware of my surroundings, to take more notice of the world around me.

Up Close and Personal

Riley will rest her head on one's arm or leg and look up at her subject (usually me, but sometimes others) with her big brown eyes. It's very charming. It seems to be her way of connecting with people. It's like she is inquiring so What's up with you? Or I'm bored. So can we do something else?

Simple Pleasures

I cut some bushes back and Riley discover a three foot branch - a long stick really. It has been her favorite play thing for two days now. She has fun attempting to dominate it, tossing it, jumping onto it, chewing it, dragging it, and running with it balanced in her mouth with the ends tilting up and down. When she moves with it centered in her mouth like that, she looks like a canine majorette. She has had more fun with her stick than with any manufactured dog toy I've given her. Ahhh the simple pleasures are the best.

Bring Your Dog to Work Day

Kootenai Humane Society's AJ's Tails & Trails Fun Run earlier this summer - Chris and Riley.

Exploration

I like to take Riley and her senior aunt Della to the Cougar Bay Preserve where dogs can be off leash. The dogs love it - the freedom, the new smells, and for Della, alias - Swamp Thing, the bogs. Ahhh, the smell of wet dog and stagnant water, these can make my eyes misty just thinking about the combo.

Della is a yellow lab and can't resist a dip. On the other hand, Riley, a mutt, shows no indication of having Labrador genes; she doesn't care to step in the water and instead seems to prefer skirting along the bank. I thought Riley would follow Della anywhere, but apparently not.

We've been going to the preserve for over two months now. So Riley has become comfortable with these surroundings. She doesn't come back to check on me from farther up the trail as often as she once did. Still she tends to stick closer than my dear-departed Ellie who would put her nose to the ground and dash off into the brush, crashing away until she got farther and farther off trail. I'd call and whistle (and I can whistle very loudly) and worry until about twenty minutes later she'd grant me a viewing of her fox brush 3/4 tail, and then she'd stay closer to the trail for the rest of our walk.

Riley doesn't appear to have the scent-hound genes that Ellie possessed. Also she isn't as independent. Being a puppy (10 months) and a somewhat sensitive girl, she tends to get spooked by new things. One day, part of the path was overgrown with thimble berry bushes, creating a tunnel. Riley, who was ahead on the trail, hesitated, so Della and I went through first. After Della and I had gone about 10 feet, Riley burst through at top speed. The "tunnel" wasn't so scary the next time.