Maybe They Need Coffee First

Today as soon as the sun burnt through the marine clouds I decided to try to get some morning light pictures of the dogs with floral backgrounds. We are starting a record breaking, heat wave. I don't know how long before the flowers wilt. The dogs were already wilting at 8 a.m. and having nothing to do with staying in one place to pose for pictures.

Several cookies later, I was able to move them in-mass from the front walk to the side yard for better lighting.  However, no matter how many cookies I had, attempts to get them to stay posed, in-mass, proved futile.

I ended up settling for groups of three...

 then individuals.   Koyuk

 Trask

McKenzie, and...

"You really think you are going to get me to sit up and smile? Where's my coffee?" Cedar.

Pond Run

After a week of relative inactivity I decided today was still cool enough to take the dogs for a run.

Every time we pass this tree the dogs become obsessed with checking it out.  The marking smell is very high. The dogs don't over-mark. Bear? Cougar?

 The meadow is really beautiful this time of year.

The dogs have run a couple of miles and over the ridge to get here. They are anxious for a cooling swim.

 "come on!"

 "lets go this way!"

 We took a side trip to check out the oak savanna logging activities.

 Seems we too have one of the really big logging machines.

 Back to the woods and over the ridge.

 "This looks interesting!"

 King of the hill.

 Logging activities have changed much of our normal trail.

 Almost home.

 A quick stop to check out the cabooses.

McKenzie took a swim while waiting for us to return.

 Trask greeting the dowager queen.

 "Roo-Roo!" Home again.

Sail School

For thirty-some years, Dave and I have spent our summer vacation volunteering at the week-long, Eugene Yacht Club sail school. Dogs aren't allowed at the yacht club. While a dog sitter waters the gardens and watches our kids and home, we teach members and their children how to sail. I have taught all of the various courses but my true love is the Laser and beginner students. This year I had 20 amazing kids.

Lasers are an Olympic class boat - very fast, maneuverable and full of quirks. They were designed for 190 lb, 6' tall guys. Many of my students barely made it over 100 lbs and none of the tall guys were any where near190 pounds.

 Overturning the boats is inevitable.

Dave is in-charge of the fleet of "rescue" boats. With 130 participants in sail school, he often has his hands full - or gets a good tan depending on the wind.

Monday and Tuesday the winds were light and variable allowing the students to get a good feel for the wind, sails and their boats.

Wednesday the rains came along with blustery winds and whitecaps. 

My camera stayed on shore the rest of the week. As expected, in 15-20K winds, I was jettisoned off my overturning boat along with my students. Every year it gets harder to get my boat back upright and my body back on board but once flying along, I forget my age as I soar with the wind.

Pond Run

This morning started out cool so I decided to take the dogs for the 4 mile, to-the-pond run and check out the logging going on on our property. To comply with the Federal conservatory guidelines, we need to thin out some trees and turn the area by the back pond into the oak savanna it was before the encroachment of the firs and pines. The first thing I noticed was that my quad track is now a wide road.

I don't know if it was due to the disturbed soil or animals displaced from the clear-cut property next door, but the dogs made frequent sudden stops to check out the smells.

Cooled off Cedar emerging from the pond.

Soaked Koyuk and Cedar

Trask checking out the spring meadow.

The Chinooks would be almost camouflaged without their visibility coats.

Trask was so excited that both ears were up.

 Meadow Maiden

I had to bribe the Nooks with a fist of treats to get them to sit still long enough for a group photo.

The other Meadow Maiden

Once back at the house Trask decided to check out the deer trail up the steep cut-bank.

 Yea - you mountain goat Trask.