Dog Walks - August 7, 2014

Tuesday, August 5, we had a trip to the vets...Mali girl is close to 70 pounds, so she and I are seriously dieting (I have gained, too, since winter weather), and our walks are now even more important. 

We had beautiful weather today - not too hot and low humidity - a great day for a walk!

We were surprised as we started out and looked ahead and saw:

The officer cautiously approached to make sure the dogs were "comfortable"...Mali went around Chi to get on the far side, next to me.  Chi stood still as the horse stood right next to him.  Horses are BIG, aren't they!  I think today was the closest I have ever been to a horse.  Chi and Mali have been close to them before on other walks with my son.

As we were finishing our walk, on the return leg, as the horse was coming back down the trail towards us again - Mali sat on command (Chi not so much).  Yes, Mali sits on command, thanks to my son's diligent work with her.  As we started walking again, Mali almost stepped on a garter snake that was scooting out of the way in the grass.

August 8 - Dog Walk - So Many Bucks!
Another beautiful day and a good walk ahead.

There had been major construction work on our (my) favorite path in Rock Creek Park for a couple of weeks; since it had started, I had only spotted one deer on the opposite side of the road from the path.  Prior to that, we had been regularly seeing at least one doe (the other had been struck), and 2 or 3 fawns or young deer in the brush next to the path as we walked by.  They were probably the same deer in our neighborhood.

(Front yard, July 11, 2014)

(Back yard, early morning, July 22, 2014)

So I was very happy as we were walking to see a young buck on the trail ahead, duck back into the brush next to the path.  As we went past the brushy woods, I saw the young buck, with newly formed straight antlers, sticking up about a foot on his head.  I also saw another deer, possibly a doe, in the brush next to us.

I was elated and very surprised on our return trip from our turn-around point to see two bucks come out of the brush and head across the road to the woods on the other side.  Then a third, older buck, with an amazing full rack of antlers, followed close behind them and stood in the road to watch over the crossing.  At least 5 more bucks then came across - varying ages, at least varying sizes and stages of antler development.  The last to come out and cross was either a doe or a very young buck without apparent antlers.  I had never seen a group of deer with more than one male present (excluding young fawns), and here was a group of at least 8 males!

I fumbled awkwardly to get out my cell phone camera, while holding the two leashes and a very full "doggie" bag.  I was so excited, and yet very concerned, because the road tends to have a rather steady stream of traffic, and I knew there was a limited time for them to safely cross over.  Mali and Chi continued nonchalantly walking back to the car, they are so used to the deer being around the yard and our walks.
So here is my feeble attempt to capture what was left of the scene by the time I could snap off a shot:

By the way, Mali is handling the diet changes very well - and Chi is actually eating better.  My son is getting them out regularly, too, for more "intense"/"focused" walking of 3 to 4 miles.  I have even noticed that Mali is more concentrated on walking, instead of sniffing, and she is able to handle the return walk without so many rest breaks in the shade, preferably in wet grass.  Definitely because of my son's handling!

Now Mali is Three!

Mali turns three years old in July.  And how she has grown! 

    She sits on command!  That is, if she is outside. 
    Winter wouldn't stop...flowers and cherry blossoms were all slow in arriving...but Mali and Chi had fun.

      More snow!

 

            Mali just runs circles around our Chi...

 

 

                         Mali's tail isn't tucked any longer....up and wagging....

 

                  I finally realized how Mali crosses the yard - she leaps across just like a squirrel! 

 

 

 

         April 11, 2014 - the sun is out...and it feels so good!

  

         During our April 16th walk, Chi rests, surrounded by little blossoms - yellow, purple and white.

 

         The weather on Saturday, April 19, was too beautiful to not go exploring after so much cold and snow...

          Mali is ready for a ride....here she is in the car as we head out....where will we wind up today?

Shenandoah River State Park, Virginia

      Culler's Overlook, South Fork of the Shenandoah River, Shenandoah River State Park

 

 

 

On the trail below the overlook, as I watch from above -

 

         My son points to me on the deck above....

                          Mali watches me once I have been pointed out....

 

 

 

 

           From the overlook, to a walk along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, near the River Right Campground in the Shenandoah River State Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        Chi is so convinced that he is a "human" that he will always sit on a chair, bench or sofa....even outdoors.

                                                          Redbuds

 

 

                              Sleepy dogs on the ride home....

 

                                   Chi likes resting his head on the hammock to watch us up front.

               Back home, on April 22nd, Mali gives me that sideways look of her's that seems to say, "What are you up to???"  as we both admire the Virginia blue bells.

                  On May 1st, I had to leave them home alone for a while for to go in for a meeting at work...they had been walked and taken care of before being left, but still Mali had such angst, as demonstrated below:

my walking shoes, my son's shoe, and a movie DVD were all piled into her favorite dog bed, along with the dog toys that belong there....she surrounded herself with tangible objects of  us...and a movie to enjoy just in case....

Mothers' Day Adventures - May 11, 2014

Gambrill State Park, Catoctin Mountains Ridge, Frederick County, Maryland

    It has been so many, many years since I had been to Gambrill State Park, not far from Frederick, Maryland.

 

 

                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                Which way should we go now?

                                                     Look at how Mali looks up at my son!

 

 

 

 

Then down the road to the next stop...

 Rocky Gap - the rock cut-through for the highway

                    Lunch with a view....

 

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Mile 140.9 at 15 Mile Creek Aqueduct, and the Potomac River

 

 The Potomac River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chi loves the water...

                                Along the C&O Canal, heading towards the 15 Mile Creek Aqueduct

 

 Now again along the Potomac River, at the large group campsite...

 

 

 And then we headed in the opposite direction along the C&O Canal towpath....

        Lovely views, a deer that ran off, and lots of wildflowers in bloom...

Walks in Rock Creek Park, June 2014

Look what Mali found on our walk June 6th!

 It was already dead when she found it...  I hope it wasn't killed out of fear...a black, or rat, snake...

 It is hot and humid now...Mali takes frequent rest breaks - always in the shade and hopefully in grass still wet with dew...

 She stretches out absolutely flat...I don't know how her back legs do it!  Chi always waits patiently...

By the way, if the grass isn't wet, she will go lie in the mud, but her preference is the grass....

We still run in to the deer regularly...yesterday, it was the two fawns, still with spots, and the one doe, they first were in our neighbor's backyard and then in Rock Creek as we walked....