Best Friends,

ILL ALWAYS be in my heart. 

So I took off to check one of my favorite lakes for ducks, found some too, and that was good.  It was cold tho, so I was in and out of the van warming up.  I am always in a place of peace when Im birding.  I can be exactly in the now.  The best place to be present for.   

Also I saw a river otter in the lake...didn't get a photo of it, because I was just pulling in and parking the van.  That was a pleasant surprise. 

My sis has this dog her name is Patches and she was a stray living in the town and my sis was able to get her into her yard, and now she lives there.  But there is one problem, she won't come into the house, and actually there's two problems, she wont go on a leash.  She is afraid of being contained.   My sis has made a wonderful nest for Patches in her shed she has  heater, a bed and a dog house  in the shed to snuggle in,,,, so she is warm...but still it's fretful worrying that she is ok.  So now sis is hinting that "when I come see her" I have to bring Patches home with me.  Hmmm I would love that BUT

I have 2 dogs , they are sisters,  quickly approaching senior years, they will soon require medical help and physical help...I will have to and need to devote all my attention and funds to helping them and that is the only fair thing.  I've had them since they were 4 months old....Plus my sisters dog Jim is the same age as my girls and he is diabetic so I think she should keep Patches and try to make a stronger bond with her.  

I have been swearing, NO more dogs, it's difficult to travel  with dogs, ON cold freezing mornings I have to get up out of my warm sleeping bag and walk the dogs, and in Summer when it's HOT and  I am in Rocky Mountain NP, where dogs can't hike the trails of any NP, they cant stay in a hot car so that means I don't get to hike.  I have traveled and camped with all three of my dogs, I'm including Casey who passed in April he was a super sweet heart and I miss him so much. HE went on so many trips with me, long trips of like 8,000 miles and not just once twice but MANY times.  

So the longest stretch I was traveling with all 3 at one time was 22 days...camping and driving all over the country.  The dogs love to travel...I love to travel also so we have made it work, but Im getting older and it's getting harder to do...Floss cant jump in or out of the van, I built a ramp for them...I can not pick her up any more she is 55 lbs...and Annie is 50 lbs...and they are 13 yrs old. Both of them are lame, have arthritic joints and cant go on hikes even in good weather or where they are allowed...so it's just a huge challenge. 

                               The girls and I enjoying  a mountain hike ...Happy Faces

                                 and Casey and I  exploring a Lave Tube in California

                                                                                

  
I love dogs...