Feeling uninspired about blogging this morning, I put my camera in my pocket, left the computer behind, and got Soldier. Daddy had already taken the other two for a walk. Look at that longing face above, no dog likes to be left behind.
Look at Soldier now! It's such a joy to see how well he has recovered from being practically paralyzed last November. He's looking for his beloved daddy here.
Now he knows where daddy is and starts to literally drag me down the road. He is very strong and if I had let him loose, he would have taken off at a good speed to catch up.
A brave Soldier marching while the pack waits.
He is now able to lift his bad left leg, sort of half mast. And then he once again is able to scratch to scatter his markings, using his front paws instead of his rear. So he is adapting and able to live his life the way he prefers to.
And he is particularly fond of diving into the gray rabbitbrush bushes. Of course he gets covered in their dry flowers, but he doesn't mind. In he dives, pees, and scatters the dirt all around.
The donkeys and cattle have been moved down to the rescue itself where they cannot be seen from our house. I miss them and I think the dogs miss the action too, now they practically have to make up things to bark at. That's how quiet it is around here.
And scary dry too. Neither rain nor snow in the forecast. When it rained so much last year, I had a feeling a dry year would follow. Am I getting to be an experienced desert dweller or what? The weather widget in my sidebar has gotten stuck on 63 degrees F. Something is wrong with the darned thing and I haven't taken the time to figure it out. Temps are in the 20s at night and I think up to mid-60s during the day. Nice spring weather, except it is supposed to be winter.
Finally, it was so much fun to post fishducky's poem. And I'm glad you all liked it. My mother approached her old age with humor too; oh, how we used to laugh about things that were here one minute and gone the next. Once she called me up from Sweden and told me she had been so worried about going blind that she went to have her eyes checked. The doctor diplomatically had told her that everything was OK, but perhaps she needed to clean her eyeglasses more frequently. I hope to be like that too as time marches on.....
Vad glad jag blir att se Soldier så pigg. Vad roligt!! Fina bilder du tar på din omgivning. Kul att se. LIte annat än Sveriges natur och torrt har ni...Här stormar det ikväll. Hoppas det mojnar då vi skall ut med Ayla o Tyra på jakt. Nu är det sent här kl är 23 och dags att sova. Natti natti!!
ReplyDeletelaughing at the eyeglasses! :)
ReplyDeleteso glad to see soldier doing so well! i am sorry the drought has moved to california! i'm hoping it is thru with Texas, though!
So glad that Soldier's doing so much better! Really enjoyed your photos today!!
ReplyDeleteDear Inger,
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs of a land stricken with drought and yet there is a mystery hovering over it. I'm so glad that Soldier is able to get about and enjoy his life again. It's a wonder how all of us--animals and humans--can adjust to tragedy and pain and sorrow. Soldier is a model for us all.
Peace.
Our winter has been so mild and dry too. We've had a few cold days but will be warming up to the sixties for the weekend according to the weatherman. Glad Soldier is getting along better.
ReplyDeleteWe had a first small bit of snow here today. Nice to see Soldier moving on with life.
ReplyDeleteYes, the desert. Sometimes so very dry. Though I live in the East, I grew up in the West (Utah) and traveled through other western states. This scenery brings back memories. Glad your dog was able to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the eyeglasses made me smile. I must remember this...!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
Glad to see the dogs all well and going for a walk. Your pictures are so clear and inviting. They are all good but I especially love that one with the curve in the road. What kind of marks are on the road? They don't look like tire tracks.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's warm (for winter) in Montana too..... also the ski resorts are crying for snow. Must be from the chemtrails. Love, Manzanita
I know those feelings of joy you have in your heart as your see Soldier doing so well--I hope it continues!! Your post is an enjoyable one to start my day, Inger!
ReplyDeleteInger, so wonderful to see Soldier doing so well. This must be a relief to both you and your hubby.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's much easier to view "old age" with humor -- it's going to happen anyway! :)
Great that they inspire you and hubby to go walking and just look how happy it makes them.
ReplyDeleteFor being uninspired this was a very nice blog. So glad that Soldier is doing well.
ReplyDeleteConnie
Soldier is such a trooper. I am glad to hear is adjusting to his own way of doing things so he can fit right in with the pack.
ReplyDeleteWe could use some rain here too, everything is turning brown.
Be happy and well Inger,
Pam
Glad to see Soldier doing so well. This time of year my son in Temecula reports great variations in temps between the two of us. We have this morning 4 degrees.
ReplyDeleteSoldier has come a long way. It's so good to see him doing so well!! Love the pictures... We've had pretty mild temps here up until about a week ago and now it's cold and I don't like it. Gracie does though.. She goes sniff crazy when it's cold.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. Brave Soldier. You are right. Dogs hate to be left behind.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie Junebug
Beautiful dog. Is he a red heeler?
ReplyDeleteI like that: "make up things to bark at." My neighbor's dog does that. It's not so important to him to have something to bark at as to keep a schedule. Start: 7am. Finish: 4:30pm. He's diligent.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Soldier looks beautiful and I am glad he is well!
ReplyDeleteAwww, good for Soldier...perhaps he has that name for a reason...as he is 'soldiering' on!
ReplyDeleteI liked the story about your mom and her eye glasses :)
I am laughing so hard at the dirty glasses comment. How funny!
ReplyDeleteSoldier looks great! I find it remarkable that the scratching instinct is so strong he has changed to using his front feet - smart dog! He knows he has four feet, so why not use the others?!
Your weather sounds ideal for being outside, but oh, I do wish we all would get more moisture - in just the right amounts, please!
The scenery there looks much like what we see here in Santa Fe, NM. It does look drier where you are though. Still, we had those awful fires all around us last summer. Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words as far as blog posts go - enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. It's so wonderful that you are happy for Soldier, a dog you never met. Soldier was rescued so we don't know what he is. Probably a German shepherd mix of some kind, but not with Lab because he most definitely does not like water. He is a good guard dog, loves women, but not men, except for my husband who rescued him. He will bite a man, sit in the lap of a woman. He was tied to a dog house for his first seven years, lived with a military family who named him Soldier because he marches in place, like what else could he do being tied up?
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to see Soldier doing so well! What a strong spirit he has.
ReplyDeleteHi Inger .. glad Soldier is still enjoying life that's wonderful .. bet he'd be forgetting to clean his glasses ... as your mother did - love that story .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete