Pup update

I sought a second opinion about Sheba's hips from Dad's vet and he said she should have a ramp to avoid jumping in and out of the car. So I got her a ramp and mom trained her on the carpet for a few days while I was gone before trying it on an incline.





Maverick is in his glory, having lots of outside time for hunting and sunbathing, and relaxing on the carpet.




When I returned, we went right to the lake to play and swim!




I found a shallow area where they could wade and chase the ball.




And the ramp is working out great!

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Grand Bay Reserve: Pascagula, Mississippi

This was the first of my four teacher workshops this summer. And a new state- I have never visited Mississippi.





Hank came over from Mobile and give a presentation to the teachers. And he brought his selfie stick- which was admittedly kind of fun!




One field trip was out to the salt marsh. It looked very different than my Reserve.





Then we took a ferry 12 miles out to Gulf Shores National Seashore.



I toured the old fort, which was really interesting.





On the way back to the Reserve, we drove through Ocean Shores, where Hurricane Katrina made landfall 10 years ago. It was sad to see how only some things are rebuilt. Many cement slabs remain where historic houses once stood. This picture doesn't do it justice, but the road is so close to the ocean and the house is a wreck there, too, it's easy to see how the rising tide swept so much anyway.





Then we found a dive bar. One of the diviest I've ever seen!





And Kenneth, Hank, and I caught up over cheap, cold beer. Lovely view over the estuary though!




Pups were happy to see me when I returned!

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Life at Grandma's

Maverick enjoys breakfast alfresco while protecting the front yard.


And swimming!


Sheba's vet said swimming would build muscle in her hips, so we frequented Lake LeBoeuf and Lake Edinboro.


Even though Mavie have doesn't love the water as much as Sheba-girl, he has a blast getting muddy and stinky!

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Road Trip North

Time for the 2-day x 13-hour-per-day drive to summer vacation at Grandmas! The fur kids will be spending June and July there while I travel around the Gulf, doing teacher workshops.


We stayed in South Carolina with Susan and Bailey, for a little doggy reunion.


Sheba thoroughly enjoyed Susan's couch since she's not allowed on furniture at my house or Grandma K's.



There was ice cream! Complete with dog biscuit.


Gone in seconds!


And a much needed nap upon arrival!



Even Maggie came out to see what was going on!

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Tortoises visit the Food Forest

I took the tortoises over to Andrea's food for us for a trial run, to see if they should spend the summer there.


Sage told me he was so excited to learn more about the tortoises.


He did a great job feeding them!


The property is perfect-73 fruit trees, tons of herbs and veggies.


It's a lush jungle with all kinds of surprises!



One square acre... so many places to hide and adventures to be had by the shelled ones.


Sage really loves them :) And after a few days of trial run, it is evident that they should stay for the summer.


They are happy campers!

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Naples Triathlon

I'm back for a second year! Lisa and I posed pre-race.


This year, my teammates were a colleague from Leadership Collier and his wife. We had a blast! I ran the first leg, Kerry biked second, and Lynn swam the last part.


We enjoyed brunch during the award ceremony, followed by a day on the beach.


Apparently the tattoo is sunproof because I now have numbers tanned on my arm, haha. Good memory!

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Back home to my pups

Oregon was a blast, but it's great to be home with my furkids!


I know they have so much fun at the puppy palace when I'm away, but I miss them!


Maverick just got a thunder shirt to make him feel safe during the summer storms- he wears it like a super hero uniform!


I took them to work with me.


And let them go for a swim.


They posed with the gator sculpture, haha.



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Pacific City, Oregon- Day 2

The next day was cool and drizzly, but still pretty.





Wrigley enjoyed swimming in the frigid water. We walked through a cave carved into the giant rock above.





The view from private beach on the other side was worth the fear of walking through the super scary tunnel!





There is the home we walked through (the dark spot to the left of Charley). Eeek! Small, dark places are not my thing. Especially with giant waves crashing on the other side!





Great way to spend the morning on my last day in Oregon!





We hiked around Three Arches Marine Sanctuary- no whale sightings though.






The fog rolled in as we hiked Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge.





It sort of reminded me of San Francisco.





Even the trees are different here. The Douglas Firs are huge. I love that we drove through a rainforest on our way back to Portland. I really had no idea they existed outside of the tropics.





Our last stop along the coast was at Tilkamook Creamery- where they make that delicious cheese you see at the grocery store. I took this pic for dad!

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