Living

This is my favorite time of the day.  It energizes me for whatever daily activities lie ahead.  Every morning, with the exception of severely inclement weather (we get a lot of ice in the wintertime here in Western Massachusetts), each dog gets an individual two mile walk.  It’s our special one-on-one time together.

James usually starts things off.  Since he’s the first one out the door, he and I typically watch the sun rise over our neighbor’s pastures as we stroll quietly along, taking in the beauty of the pink sky and listening to the chirping of birds flitting from tree to tree and the trickling of water flowing in the streams.  James is the perfect companion, walking by my side – our strides matching one anothers.  He seems to float along, his head and tail held high.  He loves our time together as much as I do.  Once back to the house, he settles in with a biscuit while the other dogs get their walks.  He knows the routine well.

Lily is usually next.  Her walk is more of a training walk.  Lily has been with us now for four months.  She’s a quick learner and responds well to instruction.  Since her arrival in August, we have been working on loose lead walking at my side.  This skill is essential for the therapy dog visiting she will be doing.  She has come a long way with this training.  In the beginning, the woodland sounds of the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks, the neighbor’s horse grazing on the hillside and cows gazing at her over barbed-wiring fencing were a severe distraction.  In this short amount of time, she has learned to pass right by these, knowing that her walk with me will go on much longer if she just keeps walking alongside me.  She, too, wants to walk her two miles.

Annabelle usually takes the last shift.  At this time of the year, by the third walk, the sun is brightly shining and it is much warmer.  Annie has come so far with her ability to walk as a companion.  It took her a very long time to settle into loose-lead walking.  But, now she has it.  She knows the difference.  Now, the walks are fun as we walk in rhythm together down the road to the bridge by the neighbor’s cornfields.  She’s beginning to flow, as James does.  Her head and tail held high – with a joyful smile on her face.  Once Annie is done and we’ve joined the other two awaiting dogs, the pack heads out to the backfield to romp freely as I prepare their meal.

By 8:30, we’ve all had breakfast, including me.  I’ve walked six miles.  I feel great – and I’ve had meaningful bonding time with each of my wonderful dogs.  I start every day with a smile on my face.  Who wouldn’t…  dogs are great fun to be with!

View of the Connecticut River Valley from the summit of Mt. Sugarloaf

Ah – the end of November in Western Massachusetts and it’s 58 degrees with sunshine and blue skies…  the perfect weather to take the dogs on a hike!  Yesterday, we just couldn’t resist jumping in the car and heading to South Deefield to hike up Mt. Sugarloaf with Annie and Lily.  It’s a bit too strenuous a climb for James, so he was happy to stay at home, having had his usual two mile morning walk.

Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation is officially closed for the season with the gate across the access road leading up to the summit.  This cut down on the number of people mulling around the area because many folks ascend by automobile.  Those of us at the reservation were all hikers out to enjoy a good climb and the reward one receives once the summit has been reached…  a commanding view – 360 degrees – of the entire Connecticut River Valley.  Truly a breathtaking sight!

The dogs were in their element romping along the trail.  We passed only a few hikers as we walked through the wooded trail.  Some stopped to pet the dogs and ask what breed they are.  Signs of the recent destruction caused by an early October snowstorm  could be seen along the way.  There were trees fallen over the trail causing detours.  Annie and Lily had fun jumping over, rather than around, the fallen oak trees.  The trail goes for quite sometime along the base of the mountain, then makes a sharp ascent to the summit.  This can be pretty strenuous even under the best of conditions, but with fallen leaves covering the steep pathway, it made for pretty slippery conditions.  Once the steep ascent has been accomplished, the path levels out and meanders along the top of the mountain offering a lovely view of the Connecticut River below and keeps going until you reach the parking lot.  Normally full of cars, especially on a day like yesterday, the lot was empty and once we arrived at the observation deck, there were only about three dozen people there taking in the magnificent sight.

Lily and Annie at the summit

As we gazed out over the Valley, Annie and Lily flopped down on the grass for a rest.  For our descent, we opted to walk on the road, taking advantage of the absence of cars.  The steep leaf-laden path would have been even slicker going down.  This hike is always a joy to take – a great workout for both humans and canines – with an awesome reward waiting for those who reach the top.   Although I’ve taken this hike several times, I never stop feeling uplifted after taking in that view.  Thank you to my daughter who suggested we go on this hike.  What a perfect day – topping off a perfectly wonderful Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family.  What more could a person ask for…

The line-up: Lily, Annie, and James

All three dogs were in need of a thorough grooming.  Therapy Dogs need to be kept clean because they are visiting in healthcare and educational facilities.  But, that aside, we like the dogs to be clean and well-groomed at all times.  The dogs seem to enjoy looking good, as well.  Thorough grooming includes:  brushing – first, followed by a bath, then trimming – including nails.  I work at making grooming fun for them so they’ll enjoy it and won’t run the other way when they see me bringing out the large gallon jugs of shampoo and creme rinse.  I always have the pocket of my grooming smock full of luscious treats that I liberally offer them throughout the process.

James - 1st to be done, but Lily eagerly jumped up on the table, too!

Grooming is a regular routine at our house. The dogs are brushed every afternoon at 5:00 p.m. – just prior to their dinner.  Their reward is to be promptly fed….  and they all LOVE their food!  When grooming is done daily, it’s very quick –  just brushing through their feathers and polishing with the grooming glove.  Each dog…  five minutes – and we’re done.  Truly, they look forward to this time, just like their routine walk in the morning.  Sometimes James and Lily jump simultaneously onto the grooming table to be the first one done!  Annie is always willing to wait and be third.

Annie rests up while waiting her turn...

Because they are used to being on the grooming table every day, doing a complete and thorough job isn’t such a big deal to them.  Lily actually jumps right into the dog tub to retrieve the biscuit I throw in there for her.  When I’m doing a thorough job of all three dogs, I split it up between two days – so this Saturday, I brushed and bathed and on Sunday, I brushed (again) and trimmed.  To preserve the life of my clipper blade, I always trim on clean fur.

Finished and ready for their COOKIES!!!

When all three are finished, we head out to the back field together for a romp.  This is their reward – and mine, too.  I love watching my Setters romping through the field – such an elegant scene.  Yesterday, the unseasonable temperature was at 60 degrees (November 20th in Western Massachusetts!) – they all seemed to be smiling as they leapt like gazelles through the high grasses in the meadow out back.

Grooming is never a chore for me and never disliked by the dogs.  We love spending time together.

As I proclaim,  “But, it’s still autumn,” the dogs are chomping at the bit to get up outside.  They always seem to be extra excited with the first snowfall of the season.  Saturday afternoon, as I made several trips outside to remove the heavy, wet snow from my coveted pink Dogwood tree and my lovely young Cousa Dogwood tree, the dogs raced around the backfield as the snow fell rapidly and in massive quantities from the sky.  I loved watching them leap like white tail deer through the deepening snow.  They kept it up for hours.  No desire to come inside.

The inevitable occurred – by 4:15 PM on Saturday, we had lost power.  It was restored briefly at 6:00 PM.  When the lights went back on, I jumped into action getting the dogs fed, preparing dinner, and showering (the last one I’d see for a while).  That done, darkness fell and the snow seemed to intensify.  Both Dogwood trees were now bent over and buried under a heavy blanket of saturated white stuff.  I’d simply have to let nature take its course.

After dinner, the dogs, now tired out from the afternoon’s glorious romp and well fed, were happy and content to lie in front of the fire – James on his dog bed right next to the fire and the girls, Annie and Lily, cozying up with me on the couch.  We could hear the wind whirling outside and the snap of tree limps breaking under the weight of the waterlogged snow.  Power went out for good at 1:00 a.m. and the snow continued throughout the night.

Sunday morning revealed a 14-inch covering of snow and trees down everywhere, large branches dangling precariously from electrical wires.  Power was out throughout the county and other parts of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.  I strapped on my snowshoes and the dogs and I headed out to do a perimeter check of the fencing surrounding the backfield.  Fortunately, none of the large old maples on the hillside had fallen over the fencing – all was intact.  This is always my first concern.  The sky was bright blue, the sun was shining, and the dogs were loving the deep snow.   I ran around the yard with them making tracks with my snowshoes.  They love to play the snowshoe game!

We’re now into day five of the power outage.  Everything from the refrigerator has been dumped in the trash.  Tree and power crews are working round the clock to remove fallen limps from electrical wires and repair downed wires.  Recovery is slow and we’ve been told that power might be restored by Friday….!!!!  Throughout it all, the dogs have been terrific.  They’ve spent the warm 50 degree days outside playing for long stretches of time.  When nighttime darkness settles in and the candles and flashlights are lit, they settle right down.  Great dogs they are!  If only people could be as patient and content!

Annie & Lily in a quiet moment

Annie is a happy girl these days.  She loves her new adopted sister Lily.  Now she has someone to play with – and play they do…  long and hard.  I love to stand and watch the two of them “hunting” together in the back field.  Not sure what it is they see in the long grass – mostly small birds like Bluebirds and Catbirds.  They ever-so-slowly move across the field, very quietly.  Then, point, frozen in place.  What a picture (which, unfortunately I’ve failed to capture on camera).  Aesthetically, they’re striking together – Annabelle, a very white blue belton English, and Lily, very dark blue.  You’ll just have to picture it in your mind’s eye until it can be captured on camera.  Picture those old paintings you’ve seen of Sporting Dogs hunting in the field.  I just stand out there watching them.  Then the concentration is broken and they run off together, galavanting up onto the hill and into the woods.  The other day, I caught the two of them running the field together side-by-side.   Something only Trudi and Phoebe had done.  I hope these two become best pals as Trudi and Phoebe were.

The duo playing with Annie's favorite "chicky" toy

It’s great to see Annie so happy.  She’s needed a younger dog in the house.  She adores James – but his version of playtime lasts about 5 minutes.  Annie and Lily go at it for hours.  HAPPY DOGS!

We started the day with powerful rain all morning and the power flickered off and on twice  (a warning of things to come!).  By late morning, wild wind whirled trees and flowering plants in all directions…  and the power went out at 12:15 PM.

James & Lily on beds (Annie's on my lap!)

Through it all, the dogs were nonplussed.  English Setters are great like this.  They’re as happy inside rolled up in balls on their comfy beds as they are out in the field racing around after birds and other wild things.  And, it was on their beds that they’ve been most of the day perfectly content.

We took a few breaks during the day… “time-out” for business.  This was done in their large dog pen…  I need to take a survey of our fencing before they head back out to the field.  Large old maple trees line the hillside, hovering over the fence on the north side of the field.  Twice we’ve had large limbs fall and cause damage to the fence.

Three hours later, the power returned.  Perfect timing!  My computer charge had just given out!  While the dogs slept the day away on their beds, I worked on a chapter of my book and wrote a therapy dog article for the October issue of the English Setter Association of America magazine.  Now, had it been a sunny day…

It’s now 5:00 PM.  Irene appears to have passed by…  the sun is peaking through and a gentle breeze is drying things out.  The dogs and I will now head out to the field and check on their fencing.  They can get in an end-of-the-day run.  All is well…

Grooming day for Lily

Lily has now been here at Bridgvale Farm for two full weeks.  What a sweetheart she is!  Such a friendly, affectionate girl.  Perfect for doing therapy dog visits.  She’s proven to be a quick learner by picking up our household routines, learning to walk on a loose lead at my side for morning walks, sit at the door and wait until she’s told it’s OK to go out….  She just really wants to please.  She has almost kicked the habit of getting up on the furniture.  Now, this is happening only when the other dogs have grabbed all the dog beds.  Not her fault I haven’t provided a fourth bed!

But there is room for improvement…  She’s so attached to her people that she doesn’t want us out of her sight.  This poses a problem at feeding time because James, Annabelle, and Lily are fed meals in their crates while Trudi, our 16 year old, slowly consumes her meal in the kitchen.  This sends Lily into a crying spell.  The first night I heard it, I thought I was hearing a pack of coyotes crying out back on the mountain.  Although she’s trying hard to break us…  she’s beginning to get it and she’s starting to put up less of a fuss.  It will all sort itself out, I know.  She’s adorable, sweet, funny, affectionate, intelligent, and well-behaved.  She’s a keeper!