Thursday, January 10, 2013

NIGHT-WALKING WITH MY DOG...


The winter sky was beautiful last night in my valley where street lights do not dwell. While my big dog Mick "circled the airport" to find a special spot to do his night-time duty, I turned off my flashlight and leaned against a broad tree-trunk for balance, and looked up through the branches into a universe of stars, so bright and close that I was hypnotized... I have no idea how long I stood communicating with the galaxies, but when I felt a cold nose nudge my hand, I knew full well that it was Mick, leaning at my knee and watching with me. In this softer night, it seems that neither one of us was in a hurry to go back to the house. A night like this is pay enough for all the harshness of the bitter winter nights I've spent outside in recent weeks, waiting for my dog to finish what he's doing.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

EVOLUTION OF A SUNSET IN MY VALLEY, JAN. 5, 2013...

MICK THE WOODS WALKER...

Was it canine intelligence? Instinct? Consideration, either for him or for me or for us both?
 
Yesterday's winds left a limb across our woodland path. Mick likes to pick up such things in his teeth and prance like a prince all over the yard. He quickly discovered this one was too big for that!
 
He did the next best thing. Using his strength and all the force of his big body, he pulled the branch completely off our path; so much so, we wouldn't be brushing so much as a branch or a twig off that limb as we walked.
 
It was quite a process to watch!
 
You've heard of Luke Skywalker; I call this dog Mick Woodswalker.
 
Like the old U.S. Mail standard ethic, he accompanies me faithfully along the woodland paths of our property... be it rain or snow or shine or mud; winter, summer, autumn, spring...