Dog Days of Fall

The temperature reached a muggy 99 degrees today. There was not a lot of activity until the sun went below the tree-tops on the ridge. Then the dogs came out to play.

 Koyuk scores a take down.

Short lived burst of activity.

The Last Swallows Flew Away

We go out of our way to attract bats and swallows. Between the ponds, creeks and springs we potentially have a large breeding ground for mosquitoes. Our area of the state is a haven for the Canine Heart Worm virus and now has a known case of West Nile virus - both are spread by mosquitoes. These swift flying predators keep us mosquito free. However, our tolerance was tested this year when 6 pair of tree swallows moved into our garage. They built condos on the lights over the cars. Not only were we dive-bombed every time we went into the garage, our cars took on characteristics of the sides of the nests. To-do note: next year more nesting boxes outside the garage. 

The last two chicks prepare to leave.

Labor Day & We Labored

The morning started with the grinder, bastard file and sandpaper getting the last rough spots off Ferrari. 

A friend came over to help us remove a winter storm damaged, 100' maple tree. With leaf load and south winds, the tree was seriously leaning and threatening the house. Andreaus is barely visible way up in the tree, chainsaw in hand. 

 Having agile friends is a good thing!

 
 Dave cut down the trunk as I started clearing branches.
A few hours later and there is not much to show for all the Labor Day labor. (Unless you look at the burn and next winter wood piles

Ferrari Gets a Butt Lift

While waiting for my old, very slow computer to connect to the internet, my hired computer geek spotted a page on dog rigs sitting on my desk. When I explained dog rigs to him, he said "I can weld".  With time on the clock while waiting to boot up, we headed outside to examine my dog rig. Ferrari has always been hard on wheel bearings and very unstable. Without Willy, Team Nookies is down to two dogs. I needed a lighter and more stable rig.  A plan was hatched.  Thus started my mission to locate two identical, used, 20" BMX bikes. for parts - impossible.
Bright and way too early yesterday morning, Gordon showed up with his welder. 
I ended up way outside my comfort zone as we both sent sparks flying at each other while taking apart Ferrari. Yes, a grinder generates enough heat that attempting to just snap off a piece of expanded metal burned right through my leather glove and deep into my finger. The work smelled as much like super heated metal as singed hair and flesh.

Eight hours and one trip to the steel store and bike co-op for more used parts, Ferrari was 2/3 way through her butt lift and refit. Dave came home from work to lend a hand.

It took 12 hours but Ferrari has a new rear and the BMX bikes are left over just pieces. 
Today was one more trip to the bike co-op to donate our unused bike bits and buy our missing pieces, hardware store for sand paper and lots of elbow grease to file and sand the rough spots. After a bit more welding, grinding and paint, Ferrari will be a whole new rig. Then as soon as I learn the art of tuning wheel spokes, Team Nookies will be on the road again.

Nook Puppy Therapy

Cedar, Koyuk, Lupin and McKenzie meet Apollo

Apollo, a puppy from Cedar's mother's litter, came for a visit. 

Anna also came with Lupin for "child" exposure and maximum adult Chinook fun. Koyuk immediately decided Apollo needed lessons in Chinook tag and jaw wrestling. 

 

Apollo with the take down

Apollo with Koyuk's invisible fence collar.
I am so lucky. Puppy breath and antics, there is no better way to lift from the depths of grief.

Daddy-do

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us ~ Helen Keller

Today was dad's memorial. I was overwhelmed when I looked up from the podium and saw the over crowded sanctuary.  My dad was truly a wonderful and much loved man. At the reception I was asked to publish my eulogy. The BrownStone Chinooks blog was intended to be about my life with my wonderful Chinooks. I apologize for the change in venue, but then maybe through my post many more can meet my special Daddy-do.

Daddy-do inspired me to revel in challenges

  

I shed tears that Daddy-do is gone and smile because he lived.

I think about how much I miss Dad, I cay and start to feel sorry for myself, but then I think about all the people who never got the chance to meet him and I start to feel sorry for them.

I close my eyes and wish that Pop-O would come back then I open my eyes and see all he's left.

My heart is empty because I can't see dad and yet full of the love we shared.

Daddy-do was the one who was, without question, always there.

He carried us when we could go no further.

Dad inspired us and loved us for what we became.

Pop-O was the one who loved us for who we were - all that we were.

Dad taught me how to be at home in the out-of-doors and reverence for Nature.

Dad was the one who guided us, even when he was lost.

He was the one who lead the way to ensure the path was safe.

Daddy-do was the epitome of self-reliance. He could build anything and fix anything. When we needed a place to play during rainy days, he grabbed a shovel and dug a basement. I was less than a year old when we moved to Oregon. He solved the diaper problem with a covered bucket suspended by a spring. It bounced along outside the car as we traveled across the US on pre-highway roads. He invented a one-girl teeter-totter. He engineered and built the Starr heart valve - a prototype for the one in his great grand daughter's heart. I am sure almost everyone in this room has a story about Mr Fix-it.

Daddy-do taught us that there is more than one way to solve a problem and to revel in the challenge. I attribute my can-do independence to his life examples. 

Dad was the one whose hands held ours to comfort us.

Pop-O was the one who held us all together through good and bad.

I can turn my back on tomorrow and live in yesterday or be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

I can cry and close my mind, be empty and turn my back, or I can do what he'd want: smile - open my eyes - love - and go on.

Pop-O was the one whose heart was tender, whose spirit was loving and kind.

Daddy-do was the one whose hands were calloused from work, whose touch was soft and gentle. These were the hands that I held to comfort him in his last hours.

Pop-O I love you. You will always be part of my soul. I could remember you only that you are gone but I choose to cherish your memory and help it live on.

Therapy Nooks

Since dad's death I have often felt overwhelmed - at times felt immobile. This has been the summer of losses. First my beloved Willy and the 10 pups, then Dan followed a week later by Joyce and then Daddy-do. Grief is a weight I find nearly unbearable.

The dogs, including guest Lupin, are ever aware of my mood even when I try to hide it. I am followed everywhere and constantly nudged to cuddle. Unspoken, they make sure I am never alone. Dogs don't tell you how you should feel or what you should do. They accept what is. I find comfort in their unjudging nearness.         McKenzie, Cedar, Koyuk, Lupin