DOGS' DAY OF FIRST SUMMER...

To celebrate the puppies' first summer solstice, we take them again on a hike on the Lewis Creek Trail toward Red Rock Falls. This time, they got their "pawz-pawz" wet wading at the base of the falls.

Sasha has become well-adapted to hiking with us. She no longer "pulls" us when she is with us. She is a good lead as a trail dog occasionaly turning around to check up on Drake.

As for Drake, he is another story. He seems to think that when Sasha is in front, he needs to keep up. The leash is taut while he is huffing and puffing away. I have to occasionally stop him and tell him to calm down.

Toward the end of the hike, we let Drake lead and he seemed to calm down a bit.

Who dat in the french door wanting to go hiking?

When we returned home, it wasn't too long before both of them were passed out on the front porch.

All of us had fun...

FIRE WATCH...

Three fires in one day...


Triangle Fire: Mariposa County.

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1098


Sky Fire: Madera County.

http://www.sierrastar.com/2015/06/18/73672_truck-fire-quickly-spreads-to.html?rh=1

Corrine Fire: Madera County

http://www.sierranewsonline.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5373:fire-near-north-fork-off-road-222&Itemid=468

At the intersection of Highwy 41 and Highway 49.



Farther north on Highway 41.






HAPPY BIRTHDAY

To my second mom who would have been 89 today...

Happy birthday!

FROM DRIZZLE TO SIZZLE

We got 0.01 inches of rain on Friday, June 5, 2015...

Then we got smacked with 100° on Monday, June 8, 2015...

Summer solstice is on June 21, 2015.

Welcome, summer!

There will be more days like this only hotter up until October...as always this time of year.

HAPPY 6IX MONTHS OLD...

Today, Sasha and Drake are 1/2 year-olds...

How did they celebrate?

A picture is worth a thousand dreams of dog treats.

An update on the dogs...

Sasha has my routine down pat. After taking my morning shower, she is there in the hallway waiting for me. As I put my socks on she nibbles on the socks as if to say, "I want a pair." When I get fully dressed for work, she knows it is "D-O-G-F-U-D" time and when I mention, "Happy dance," she starts dancing and rolling on the floor.

Drake has really become quite affectionate. A major step for both of us. He is still skittish when he meets other male humans. When KC came to visit after his graduation, Drake was very skittish but soon was comfortable around KC.

We don't know how they will react to kids, but I am sure we will find out.

Sasha loves attention. She loves to have her belly rubbed. What dog doesn't?

Sasha likes to chomp her teeth. So, whenever I do it, she, "yips," and starts going into a frenzy by rolling on the floor.

Drake has a unique way of doing "number 1." He doesn't lift his leg like other male dogs do. He does it on all fours. Poor guy gets his fee "wet" but he doesn't seem to mind. Hopefully, my MIL's dog, Toby, will teach him the ways of correct "scenting." Hopefully, no more "four on the floor," and "three for the tree."

Both dogs know how to shake. All I have to do is command them to sit and say, "Paw paw." Drake loves to shake. I can't get him to stop.

We have allowed Sasha to be untethered while outside the confines of the fenced in yard. She stays by our side when we venture out. Drake is another story and we have yet to train him. We don't walk without a leash due to deer and automobiles on our evening strolls near our home.

They got their first baptism on June 6, 2015, the day before the 1/2 birthday, as we hiked the In-N-Out Trail to Bass Lake. There, they waded in the water and had a grand old time. They went as far as their bellies but their natural instincts to paddle kicked in although they did not swim.

Sasha joins us for our crunches and pushups in the morning. Her version of crunches is lying on her back. It is quite a sight. Her version of a pushup is the "downward facing dog."

Drake is not a "piggy" when compared to his sister, Sasha. Come feeding time Drake takes a mouthful of food and dispenses it away from Sasha. Sasha, an opportunist, is quick to devour the food in her bowl and then proceed to what remains in Drake's bowl. No wonder Drake looks a little thinner than her "chunky monkey" sister.

Sasha has become potty-trained. Whenever she wants to go outside, she either whines and goes to the door during the evening or licks my hand to alert me in the middle of the night.

Drake prefers to eat lying down. Sasha prefers to eat on all fours.

Drake is now Mischievous Drake. He is to blame for all of the "chewing" going on in the backyard and for all the potholes. He knows it when we have to pick up his chewing mess and show it to him. The old "tail-between-the-legs."

TWO BUCKS

In my lifetime, I think I may have picked up at least $2.00 in change.

This morning, on my way to the entrance to Lowe's, I passed by a man sitting on the curb asking for some spare change.

Without thinking, I took out my wallet and handed the man $2.00. I could have said, "Sorry, pal, I don't have any change," but I didn't. Something came over me.

Now, I could have used that money to by me a grande coffee at Starbucks or I could use it later in the day,

As I exited Lowe's, I saw the man walking to another location in the parking lot.

As I sit here typing, I don't know that he did with the money I gave him. I hope he bought food, but he may have purchase other items like cigarettes or alcohol.

Maybe the next time I see him, I will go to Carl's Jr. and purchase a breakfast combo and give it to him.

It was time to give back to a poor stranger a moment of my life what I picked up over the course of my lifetime.

A NEW REGIMEN

CONGRATULATIONS, CASEY AND ERIKA

The San Francisco State University's 114th commencement on May 22, 2015 included two people very dear to us.

One is family, and the other is "soon-to-be."

CONGRATULATIONS TO CASEY AND ERIKA! YOU FINALLY DID IT!

THE BLUES GOT BLUER...

So long, B.B. King.

HAPPY 05-10-15 DAY

Whatever.

A NEW ARSENAL...

I acquired a new arsenal for my "disposal" of the dogs taking their early morning walks leaving "do" in the grass...

A MONTH LATER...

Today marks the day we had Sasha and Drake for one month.

They have grown into remarkable puppies.

We have adjusted to their needs and have repaid us unconditionally.

Sasha has been really good to alert me when it is time for her to go.

Drake has really been great. He is no longer is skittish.

IT IS THAT TIME...

The Portal Store is OPEN!!!

UNCONDITIONAL CENTER(S) OF OUR UNIVERSE...

When my wife and I are getting ready for work, this place in the hallway is her favorite spot. From this strategic position she knows of our whereabouts just before the morning feeding time.

When I place her bowl outside, Drake is also there at the back door to greet me with his tail wagging. As I place the bowl down, I try to let Sasha have the first bites before Drake helps himself. Another peculiar behavior I noticed with Sasha is that her first bites is actually a mouthful of food then she wanders away from the bowl and empties her mouthful of food onto the concrete slab and commences to chow down.

When I walk away both dogs want to jump up to be petted. I have to keep them at bay so that they don't put their pawprints on my casual dress clothes. I am sometimes unsuccessful in that endeavor and an occasional pawprint is on one of my trouser leg or on my dress shoes or boots. It is their way of saying, "Thank you for breakfast."

As my wife and I leave for work, I can't help but notice both of them in the "Crow's Nest" with their heads between the balusters and their tails wagging. It is their way of saying, "Have a nice day. We will be anxiously waiting for you here when you get back."

When I ascend the stairway of my work, I glance down to see the pawprints on my boots or shoes. Do I wash it off? Nope.

If I have a rough day, all I have to do is look down and crack a smile. Good therapy.

But I know a lot of this goes on while we are away...



When we come home, Sasha and Drake are there in the "Crow's Nest" greeting us as if to say, "Welcome back home. We missed you," or, "It's about time you both got home! Let's go hike!"


I have been waiting for you...



Exhausted from being exhausted.

FIRST BATHS

On Saturday, April 25, 2015, Sasha got hers.

Look at that face...

I don't what it is with dogs. They are literally frightened of baths. Sasha was being very difficult at first with my wife being in the bathroom alone with her, but as soon as I entered, she settled down but still wanted to get out.

When it was all over and she was towel-dried, she went into her "happy dance." She was running all over the house. Once she settled down again, we gave her a "good girl" treat. She scarfed it down, of course.

As my wife and I were in the bedroom, Sasha came in, went to her bed, and started scratching her bed and twirling around for a good minute or two. I guess it was her way of saying, "Thank you. I know longer smell like a kennel dog."

That night, Sasha was passed out from all of the excitement of her first bath in at least two weeks.

The next morning after the deluge of almost two inches the day before and the backyard a quagmire of grass and mud, I let Sasha out to play with Drake. Drake wanted to play, but Sasha wanted nothing to do with him as if to say, "Don't touch my clean fur," or "Don't mess up my clean fur with your dirty paws," or "Don't touch the hair!" (remember John Travolta of "Saturday Night Fever"?) It was the most interesting behavior I had seen in any dog. As soon as she got done with her "business," I opened up the door and she came running inside without missing a step. Poor Drake was left outside without a playmate. He had the cutest look on his face as if to say, "What the...?"

After feeding Sasha, she was ready to go outside and mess up her fur.

Later in the day, JayMi gave Drake his first bath. Different scenario, same results. Both broke out into their "happy dance," but Drake wrestled free and bolted for the open door to the backyard. His paws got muddy, but JayMi managed to salvage her hard work and took him to the Upper for the night.

POSTING...

The hardest part is finally done.


Before...

After...




Had a lot of help from my wife. It was her idea...

 



...and a great friend and his wife (not pictured)

 
My wife, JayMi, GaRy, JaNell and I worked all day to get this done. We almost called it quits after the first log on the left, but we figured out how to get the job done efficiently.

We had to cut the logs into two sections using a Stihl chainsaw, hoist them up with rope and pulleys via "woman" power and pickup truck power. It was not "measure twice, cut once," but it was "measure thrice, cut once."

We will peel off the bark on the far right pole.

This was the hardest project.

And you know what?


It looks really good!

The west pole is ponderosa pine

The middled pole is cedar

The east pole ponderosa pine

This project isn't over. We still have the beams to erect to finish out the south porch.

AND THE RAINS CAME DOWN...

We got a deluge finally.

1.97 inches fell on Saturday, April 25.

Eighteen inches of snow fell at 8,000 feet.




But the drought continues.

A LITTLE RAIN IN LIEU OF A BATH...

Today marks the day that the dogs are "eligible" for their first bath since their surgeries.

Instead of a bath they experienced their first rain playing as if it were a sunny day. Although it only rained a scant 0.05 inches, it was enough to soak their fur and get their paws wet for the first time outdoors.

The tile floor of the house have pawprints on them, but that can be cleaned up.

The dogs seemed to enjoy what Mother Nature provided this afternoon.

There was an instance of thunder when the dogs paused and tilted their heads to the sound. The thunder was a rolling sound and not a clap. I am sure that they will be running for cover under the bed.

With more rain and lightning on the way this Saturday, April 25, 2015, their bath will have to be postponed due to rain.

Almost like a baseball game...

PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Sasha has figured out our morning schedule when it is time for feeding, and we have figured why she comes into the bedroom while we are getting dressed.

As we get dressed for work, she is in the middle of our bedroom floor with her head between her legs looking at us with those big brown puppy dog eyes. She plants herself their to remind us that it is feeding time as we try to step over her.

I get her bed and place it in the den. Then, the water bowl is placed next to the bed. Then, the food bowl.

I have trained her to "sit and shake."

I leave the door to the backyard open so she has access inside and out. And when Drake awakens from his slumber, it is play time.

So, the Pavlovian conditioning can go both ways for canine and mankind.

She is a very remarkable puppy.





Oh, there mysterious "holes" popping up in our backyard.

Three "pits" and counting.

BASS LAKE APRIL "MARCH"

My wife and I take the dogs for a 4.65 mile hike near Bass Lake.

Both dogs did very well. There were two encounters with other dogs. Barking exchanged. We allowed them to get their feet wet in the lake. Sasha waltz right in, while Drake was hesitant but eventually got into the wate.

When we got home, the dogs were exhausted from being exhausted.

Matching pair of bookends!!!