Bears

The day after a neighbor stopped to inquire if I had seen any bears (which I had not), I was driving into my land and saw a large female bear, who, once I stopped and put down my window and said 'Hey!', stood on her hind legs, head swinging, and I saw three very small cubs scramble out of the tall grass, up the hillside. Now we know why Timber and Chena were so alert in that area just a few days ago.

We stayed out of there yesterday, but today went back on a walk down that trail... a log had been turned over and the dogs were very alert, but no signs of bears. I hope they've gone on a long walk to somewhere else. This morning I had five dogs, a bit more noise.

Needing rain

It seems that even though we have furious storms with heavy downpours, we can't get enough rain. The river is getting low again and the fields are very dry. The winds have been strong and I've lost several large trees, most recently, one at the cottage that has stood as the marker there for many years. The Pine on the Point is how it was known. Now it is down, but in its uprooting it has exposed some nice sandy beach. We will miss that beautiful Pine.

The Pine River in the photo is usually a bit faster at this spot. It was a nice lazy paddle.

Paddling the Peaceful Pine

It was pushing 90 degrees with hoo/hoo humidity, but I took my first solo paddle of the summer , The river was just a bit low, I did get slightly hung up twice, but for the most part it was a beautiful paddle. Very nice to be back to paddling. I like the Pine River the best, just out of Florence about 8 miles, on County Road N, it's an Oxbow and easy in and out. I usually see a bit of wildlife... today a couple of dragonflies hitchhiked along with me; saw several groupings of iris which are believed to have been planted by early French explorers, the fleur de lis; also quite a grouping of forget-me-nots just before the takeout. This would have been an easy river for the early explorers, a relief from rivers with more rapids and no portaging. One duck did fly over me as well, but no eagles today.

Furss Up!

Is that a dog anagram of "Surf's Up?" The dogs were hot on the trail of some other wild traffic as we took our early a.m. walk. I was a believer as they dragged me along the trail. Old aching Chena revved up and ran growling into the bushes.

One morning last week we met a fox head on, but they seemed more alarmed about this scent (no musk ). Could have been anything... a skunk, the bear who left the scat last week, the fox... whatever, it had them interested. I put my trail camera down there later on... maybe we'll see something.

Cabin Refreshed

The summer moves along and it is nice to have fresh paint on the cabin. Keeping the dogs away from it is another thing. Right now the living room is a semi nursing home. Four dogs

are in the cooler air conditioning. Liller is having a tough time and is now on two pain killers.

She must have them before she can get up to walk outside. We are debating whether another surgery will help her and will have to make that decision this next week.

The last few days have been cooler, a break from the intense blue sky heat. The dogs were restless from being confined while the painters were here, but we're now back in our exercise rotation.

The trail camera caught a photo of a young fawn. The painters heard a baa-ing and a yelp the other day, which set the dogs to howling. I went looking later but didn't see any signs of an injured fawn.

Thunder, dogs and horses

Of course, while we took time out to go to the first horse show of the summer, today, up came a thunder storm. I called a neighbor to check on the dogs and all dogs were in their right places when I did make it home, shortly thereafter.

Holli and Bull (in photo) placed third in Walk Trot Open, English, today. It was Holli's first time showing so that was great. She used to run dogs here but horses became her main 'thing'. It does seem like horse people and sled dog people cross paths often.

Our veterinarian was at the horse show, luckily, as she was there to jump in the ring to grab a horse spooked by the thunder, after he threw his rider. Liller has to go in for a visit tomorrow for her tumor and a related leg problem. She tore her skin in a thunder storm last week, diving under a fence and it is possible she injured her leg at the same time. As tough as she is, she didn't complain much until Saturday (yesterday).

Roses

Hot hot continues

The one good thing about this heat ( nearly 90 each day, blue sky/hot sun) is that the grass slows down in growing, less mowing on trails!

It's hard for the dogs, day after day, to be so hot. The field flowers are beautiful, although hard to photo in the stark light. The wild roses are ablaze. We take our daily walk at about 7:30 AM to beat the heat.

Water, Water

We're having a heat wave for a few days and it's water, water, water. They love their pools which turn muddy quickly. Their water buckets get hot just an hour after I fill them. Keeping them all watered and cool is a full time job.

Liller and Amaroq, two retirees are having some serious problems. I'm watching them for a day or so to see just what should be done for them. Liller has had two cancer surgeries and has a new tumor . Amaroq is just aged and has some spinal degeneration. But their spirits are great!

Settling into Summer

Our schedule has changed to meet summer temperatures. Our long daily trail walk with various dogs, mostly retirees, is early in the morning to beat the heat and humidity. We range from four to seven dogs on this early a.m. walk. Dogs in the photo range in age from eleven to fifteen.

Dogs are digging their dens, but also, the local rabbits, squirrels, etc are taunting the dogs and every night about dusk one or two dogs try to dig out to chase after them.