Living

On this perfectly gorgeous June morning, we headed back to the hills of western Massachusetts to explore more of the many trails at Cadwell Forest.  For the young explorers – Rowan, now 3 months old, and Violet nearing 9 months of age – today’s adventure was all about exploring stonewalls.  Little Rowan bounded up the side of the walls with ease…  (I think Diane better sign him up for an agility class.  He’s a real champ at jumping high obstacles!)

The two never showed signs of fatigue…  just kept forging ahead – up, down, and over whatever lay in front of them.  Unlike our previous hikes, Rowan never once stopped to lie down for a minute to catch a second wind.  We made a couple of stops for a water break…  both had worked up a good thirst.   Then off they’d go again.

The temperature in the woods was perfect for both canines and humans – not too hot, or too cool; a gentle breeze could be felt… just enough to coax the bugs away.  We all just kept going, taking one path here, another there.  The hike lasted a good two hours by the time we rounded the explorers up and headed back to the car.  The buddies settled in nicely for the ride back home.  Until next time…

Violet awaits Rowan’s arrival

Rowan and Diane joined us here in Westhampton, MA for today’s adventure.  I was concerned that we would need to cancel our outing…  once again, we had had a week of rain – rendering the woods sogging and moist.  And, most assuredly, full of ticks.  But, the sun was shining brightly when I awoke and looked out the window.  Hooray!  Our walk was on!

When Rowan and Diane arrived here at Bridgvale Farm, they popped into our awaiting vehicle and we headed to the hills…  the top of Burt Road in the center of town.  I often park in the town lot and hike the 1/2 mile straight up to the top of Burt Road – a very steep climb on a paved road.  This is great to do with my English Setter Lily who needs to burn off lots of energy.  But today, with the pups, we drove up to the top and parked off to the side of the road.

Rough terrain

The lumber road begins there at the top – a clearly defined gravel road, at the start.  But, after crossing a stream on foot, it starts getting washed out, steep, and very rocky.  Definitely our roughest terrain to date.  The two young explorers (Violet-8 months, Rowan-now 11 weeks) seemed up to the task as they trundled happily along ahead of us up the rocky slope.  We continued for a good thirty minutes, but the paths kept forking and were becoming far less distinguishable.  The humans made the decision to turn the expedition around and head back to the car before we succeeded in getting ourselves lost.

Since the canine contingent still had plenty of energy to go…  we decided to end today’s adventure by heading up the lumber road that runs next to our house along a bubbling stream.  It was flat and easygoing – and went on for about 1/4 mile before turning to brush.  No more road or pathway…  We headed back to the house where the humans enjoyed refreshments on the porch and the canines fell into collapse on the cool slate flooring.  Diane and I plotted our plans for next week’s adventure.  Stay tuned…

Our gang can get pretty restless on rainy days….  especially lately when we’ve had one rainy day after another.  The month of May flew by….  where did it go….  it seemed to rush by with the over-flowing waters of the streams by our house.  Now it’s June, and we’ve had more rainfall than sunshine….

Well, true, we don’t have any control over the weather – but we do have control over our restless dogs…  THE ANSWER:  use mental exercise to tire your dog.  I first read about mental exercise in one of Patricia McConnell’s excellent books on dog training.  I can’t remember which one….  I have a copy of every book she’s written – for reference – and have reread them several times.  I must admit, it’s something I often forget to do with my dogs when we’re stuck inside all day….  but with this long bout of rain, I’ve taken each one of my four into a separate part of the house for some special training time.  Lots of drills and fun stuff – like tricks.  Each dog gets 20 minutes.  I’ll do it a couple of times a day.  They LOVE it – and it’s a good break for me.  They truly are well-behaved and just lie around at my feet all day while I’m at work on my computer – but the stimulation is wonderful for them.  A great human-canine bond builder!  Try it on our next rainy day.

Today’s adventure took the canine explorers Violet and Rowan to Cadwell Memorial Forest in the hills of beautiful Pelham.  The forest has an extensive trail system – which begs for many more future adventures.  The trails are well-marked, some wide as a narrow road, some well worn paths.  For today, we stuck to one of the roadway trails having a slight incline.

After remaining on leash for about a tenth of a mile –  so as to be far enough in from the road, the explorers were let loose and happily tore off ahead of Diane and me.  Both Violet and Rowan are terrific about turning around every few minutes to check back in with us – get a treat for being such good dogs – then, head back out.  Once in a while, they’d head a few yards into the woods, check out a fallen stump or pile of leaves, then pop back on the trail. 

It was a magnificent day for a hike…  about 75 degrees, little to no humidity, clear blue sky and sparkling sunshine.  The trail provided a welcome bit of shade from the direct sun.  And, there were no bugs!  Perfect conditions making for an extremely pleasant hike for both canines and humans.

Every now and then, the two would break from their jog into hilarious, playful tumbling, jumping, and running around in circles chasing one another.  These antics would go on straight for about 5 minutes until the two silly child-like pups collapsed in exhaustion and thirst.  Diane and I presented them each with bowls of water from our backpacks.  Revived by this refreshment, the two would pop up and head off again down the trail.

We ended at an old burial ground that was surrounded by a picturesque stonewall.  We stopped here to rest a bit and look at the old grave markers.  Then headed back.  Rowan, now 10 weeks, and Violet – 8 months, sustained themselves for a 90 minute round-tripper.  It was a very quiet drive home!  Stay tune for next week’s adventure…

This morning’s walk with James was especially lovely and peaceful…  Nature had been refreshed by an evening rainfall.  The foliage, laden with droplets of moisture, seemed painted from an artist’s palette numerous shades of green – from chartreuse to forest and in between.  Streams running down from the mountain, parched by several days of hot, humid weather, were now flowing with an extra sparkle.  The birds, too, seemed more vocal.  Many birdsongs could be heard softly wafting through the tree branches as James and I quietly made our way along our regular path.  The sky a brilliantly blue.  The sun shining brightly with the promise of a magnificent late spring day ahead.  What a pleasure it is to walk slowly along with James, my dear, sweet, gentle companion dog at my side.  He enjoying this special time amid nature as much as I.  No camera along – just James and me.

After a rain-filled week, my friend Diane and I decided it was time to plan another play date for Violet and Rowan.  The two had forged such a wonderful friendship on their first encounter last week that we wanted to keep that going.

We planned to rendezvous at Diane’s house about 1:00 on Friday afternoon.  Although the day started out rainy – yet again, by noon the sun was working hard at breaking through the heavy layer of clouds…  the rain had stopped and it was warm.  We moved ahead with our plan.  We drove Violet and Rowan together in the backseat of Diane’s car to New Boston Road in Shutesbury.  New Boston Road is an old discontinued gravel road that goes on and on for miles.  It’s surrounded by woods with a stream meandering along.  And, it’s fairly wide and flat…  nothing taxing for canines or humans.

In just one week’s time, little Rowan – now 9-weeks-old, had built up his endurance and we were able to walk for a much longer time.  Violet lead the way.  The two occasionally stopped to check stuff out or headed into the woods – just a bit – to investigate – but always turned back every few minutes to check in with their humans bringing up the rear.  We were tempted to keep on going…  the surroundings were so peaceful and the dogs were having such a grand time together – but we made the decision to turn around…  the sky started looking a bit darker.  No sense pushing it.  The pups had had a great adventure together and were both pretty exhausted by the time they reached the car for the ride back home.

We made plans to meet up next week and explore another area here in the woodlands of Western Massachusetts.  Check-in again for the next Adventure with Violet and Rowan.

Violet is now 8 months old.  She has adjusted beautifully to sharing her life with three English Setters, ranging in age from 3 years to 11 years.  Annie and Lily, the younger two, enjoy playing with Violet – especially Annie, because Violet doesn’t beat up on her!  And, Violet has all her Australian Labradoodle friends to play with when she goes to Puppy Buddies on Tuesday afternoons over at Berkshire Hills.  But Friday proved to be extra special…

Violet had a play date with my friend’s new 8-week-old red Standard Poodle named Rowan.  It was instant attraction!  The puppy was intrigued by Violet and Violet, in turn, loved having a friend younger than herself to have fun with.  It was a gorgeous sunny, warm day – so my friend Diane and I took the youngsters for a terrific off-leash walk on Diane’s land – acres and acres of woodland with trails running throughout.  Both dogs had a ball…  Violet would jump over fallen tree limbs with ease…  Rowan, mimicking Violet, would follow right after – most of the time making it over.  We walked for quite a while, then suddenly, 8-week-old Rowan lay down flat on the woodland floor…  totally exhausted.  Time for the pup to be carried back to the house where he proceeded to take a good long nap while Diane and I – Violet, too – sat out on Diane’s deck that overlooks her beautiful gardens and babbling brook.  We sipped iced coffee, chatted, and just soaked up the fabulous sunshine.  Violet, a bit tired herself, showed her good manners by going into a long DOWN by the side of my chair.

Diane and I plan to make a regular play date for the new-found friends.  Great for both baby pup and older pup.  Their owners, too!

I love taking classes with my dogs.  Although I’ve been training dogs – inside and outside of class – since I was ten years old, I always learn something new, some little nugget that’s like a magic bullet making the entire class worthwhile.

Last night in class, I got one of those magic bullets…  Since I have four dogs (two young ones in training), one of the hardest things for me to accomplish with the gang is a polite greeting when friends come to the door – or even when I come home after being away.  One excitedly jumps up, then they all start in…  (except, of course, for James – he always behaves!).  Suddenly, my friend is being knocked over…  Jumping up on people is hard to stop with multiple dogs – and it’s totally unacceptable.  One-on-one, each of the dogs is fine – but the gang mentality gets them worked up.

I brought this up in class last night and Caroline, our trainer, suggested doing the human kong….  holding a handful of treats in your closed hand, you bend down from the waist, tight fist full of treats held low and you meet them straight on.  All the dogs are busy sniffing the treats in your hand as you enter…  then you throw a few out ahead of you….  BINGO!  IT WORKS!  I’ve been practicing this magic bullet all day.  Hallelujah!  more light at the end of the tunnel…

For the past year and a half, I have joined other writers at The Writing Room which is held at Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts.  Every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 9:30- 12:30, writers of all types – novelists, poets, memoir writers, essayists, journalists, translators, performance artists and more -join Forbes Writer In Residence Susan Stinson for companionable writing time.  We start writing promptly at 9:30 and write until 11:45.  During this time, people come and go as they wish.  At 11:45, we stop and, those who wish to, share with the group how their writing went.  In addition, during this time, announcements are made about events to be held regarding our writing life.  At 12:00 noon, writers are offered the option of sharing a sample of their writing – up to 5 minutes of reading each.  Our time together ends promptly at 12:30.

I adore  and cherish this time…  and have adjusted my schedule to enable my attendance at both the Wednesday and Saturday sessions.  Some writers leave the room and branch out into other parts of the library to write – on a nice day, they might choose to write outside.  I remain at the table.  For me, it is very helpful to be in a small room, sitting at a table surrounded by other people writing.  It is during this time, that I have written most of the first draft of the book I am writing about the healing power of the human-canine bond as seen through visits with my therapy dogs.  This time is sacred to me…  peaceful and meditative.

In celebration of this past year together in The Writing Room, we will share our work with the community.  Readings from the Writing Room will be held in the Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library in Northampton on June 13, 2012, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. .  Each reader will share a 3 minute reading.  I plan to read a piece on James’ visits with a hospice patient.

Join us to hear the following writers: 
Katie Arroyo
Sally Bellerose
Jaya Devi
Kathryn Good-Schiff
Jamila Gore
Bill Gural
Cynthia Hinckley
Grace LeClair
Rick McNeil
Kristi Mientka
Naila Moreira
Mary Nelen
Megan Nolan
Mistinguette Smith
Jill Turner
Susan Stinson

There was more hair on the table than left on Annie!

This was a good weekend to give the entire gang a bath and trim…  warm air and sunshine.  Plenty of dirt landed in the sink after a week of rain.  Yes – it was much-needed rain and my gardens are looking great…  but I’ve been mopping the muddy floor multiple times this week.  Hopefully, mud season is behind us… hopefully.  

With four dogs, I make it a two-day process.  Day one, everyone gets bathed and day two, trimmed.  With the dog tub, it’s quick and easy.  Takes 10 minutes each dog…  lather up with shampoo, rinse, apply conditioner, rinse again.  Done.

Trimming takes much longer, of course, and since I’m in no way a skilled groomer, it’s a slow process for me. That is except for Violet, the Australian Labradoodle.  With Vi,  it’s a snip here and a snip there – mostly around her eyes to be sure she can see through all her hair and around her paws.  I also trimmed the hair on her tail because I don’t like the bushy-tail look on these dogs.  I prefer having the tail-hair stay short and curly like the rest of the coat.  So, I took 5 minutes and snipped these areas on Vi and she was off outside playing in the field.

Violet – ready to play

James – always the patient fellow in any circumstance…

James, Annie, and Lily got their full trim and manicuring.  James took a good hour and a half to work on (he had a lot of extra hair on him), Annie and Lily took about a half hour each.  They really enjoy the one-on-one time with me while they’re on the table, and it’s a race to see who jumps aboard the grooming table first.

Lily waits her turn…

I had actually planned to save easy Violet for last, but she’s quickly learned that this is a fun, treat-filled  activity – so while the other three were mulling things over in their minds, Vi literally sprung up on the table and looked at me as much as to say, Me first!  Not only is it fun for them, but I enjoy it too….  and they really love being clean and trim.

The Gang – ready for a treat…