Tag: Trail Walk

House Tree Season

Pazlo4 Comments

Hello friends!

Life is getting better every day here at the Engleville Tick Ranch, growing steadily colder, and snow falling regularly. The trees are bare so you can see the squirrels all the way at the top, but the thick carpet of crunchy leaves makes it impossible to sneak up on anything. My person keeps saying “How pretty!” and walking through the leaf piles, kicking them up and making a tremendous amount of noise.

The Wonder Woods smell great now. Crisp, cold air and all those leaves. It’s a really busy place now, too, as all the critters are getting ready for winter, eating their own weight in beech nuts and stashing them in caches. Or maybe they’re just getting ready for Christmas. My people gather a bunch of things at Christmas, then other people come and take them. Sharing the bounty, I suppose.

Wet Woods
Chuy’s Trail
I heard something
There’s a thing in the log
Thursday Trail, still green
I excavated the log
I’m sure it’s in here
Hmm. Empty.
Trees Are Bare
Off to the next place
Dreaming of Christmas bones

Of course they’ve done that crazy winter thing. Maybe it’s the solstice celebration. Or maybe, I’m starting to think, it has something to do with Christmas. So, every year they bring a tree into the house and stand it up in front of the window. But instead of admiring the beautiful tree, they try to hide it with colored lights and things hanging on the branches. Maybe it’s ceremonial, like a totem, ’cause this is where they gather the bounty to be shared.

Things are a little different this year. They put the tree in the living room. It was always in the parlor, but now they have those awful, noisy drums in there. I’d rather have a tree than drums. You can chew on a tree, and lay under it. And it’s quiet. They need to get really big before they make any noise, and then it’s just the tiniest squeaks and creaks when the wind blows them. Birds like trees, too. Do you ever see birds landing on the drums? I think not, and rest my case. Trees good, drums bad.

Here’s hoping your people let you have your own stocking like mine do, and they stuff it with your favorite treats for Christmas. (And I hope nobody in your house gets drums for Christmas).

Wag more, bark less.

Sasha

Change In The Air

Pazlo5 Comments

Morning Sun

Bright, hot, sunny days, and cool, clear nights tell me the summer is wearing on. There are a lot of clues that tell us it’s the time of year when the weather begins a turn toward autumn. The air smells a little different. Less of water and more of trees. In the cabana, the spider weaves her last web of the year. After a lot of practice, she sure is getting good at it. The web is a beautiful thing when the morning sun strikes it just right, and rainbows appear in the silk.

Cabana Web

It’s a bit chilly now in the mornings, and I can see my breath on the air. Dew sets heavy and cold.

Breath On The Air

The brood of pewees in the mossy nest left before the little wren nested in the new birdhouse. We were excited to see the wrens nest in the yard again. It’s been a couple years since the old wren house came down, and we’ve missed their lively chatter and captivating songs.

Wren Camp

They wasted no time raising their charges, and in just a few short weeks their task was complete, and they have already moved on. It was fun to see them, and nice to have life in the cabana after the pewees moved out.

Papa or Mama Wren, with lunch

There are other signs of the progression of the seasons. On the trail, plants are heavy with fruit. The blackberries are almost done, after a banner year. A few still adorn the canes, and even a few red raspberries my be seen. Queen Anne’s lace, black-eyed Susans and mature sunflowers are all signs we’re nearing the harvest season.

So Many Susans
Red Berry
Lush Foliage
Choke Cherry
Flowers of August

The morning sun is getting later. It rises now as my person is almost ready to leave for that place he calls “work”, where they keep him all day for five days in a row. Boy am I glad when it’s the weekend, and we can hang out, ride in the truck to The Snack Store, and go for a great hike on Sunday morning. I wish every day was Sunday.

Dawn Dog

Starlings are gathering in huge flocks now, and each evening, as we enjoy the sunset from the side porch, we watch them fly over by the thousands. A mile-long line of fluttering birds. When they fly right overhead, you can hear the whispering rush of their wings against the air.

Bird Watching

Soon the world will begin to take on a golden glow. The sun will creep southward a little at each sunrise. Deer will be on the move, preparing this year’s charges for winter. The bear and the gopher, and even the despised squirrels begin readying for the next season.

Airborne

I like summer, and the nice weather and some rain. I must admit I don’t like the hottest days that much, what with a big fur coat and being from Siberia. The flies annoy me a little, too. Not to worry. These days are harbingers, a promise of the seasons to come. When we can be out without pesky flies, and nothing tries to sneak under the lattice because it’s buried in snow. Yes, things will be back to normal soon.

Cold, Snow, Perfect!

 

Wag more, bark less.

Sasha

Snud

Pazlo2 Comments

Mudder

 

What do you get when snow melts? Snud! Mud made from snow. It’s really amazing how some snow turns into mud. Mostly snow is frozen water, and usually when it melts that’s what you get. Maybe it’s a special kind of snow, or maybe just a special time of year, but the snud season is upon us.

Along with snud season comes the opening of the yard around the back door, where I hang out. The fences come down and last year’s leaves get raked out of the way, and I can get my nose to the foundation. There’s always something trying to get into the cellar. I’ve been down there myself, and I can tell you it’s nice and cool and a little wet. Not snud, ’cause there’s never snow in the house. Must be plain old mud from when the water runs down behind the stone steps.

Pine squirrels are the the most pesky, and the most organized. I think it’s like a little platoon or something, because there’s never just one. If you sit at one corner waiting for the one to come out, the other one runs in through the gap behind the lattice. If you go over there to chase that one, the first one comes out from the corner. I decided to simply lay down in the middle, and when I did they both ran in at the same time! I’m not giving up, though.

It’s been crazy warm some of these days, though still snowing off and on this week, Sunday was like summer, and my person had to peel off a couple of layers on the walk.  I smelled something across Widowmaker Field. Something revealed after the last late snow melted. It required some effort to drag my person over the hill. And then, I was vindicated!

The story in pictures:

 

April 18th Down The Lane
Late Snow
Wild Turkeys
Eagles Raid The Barnyard
Birdwatcher
Mushing Through the Bog
Swampy Spring Walk
Mmm! That Air!
Turkeys In The Field
Dawn Hawks
I smelled something
Had to drag my person
It’s here somewhere…
Yes! See, I told you!
A whale skeleton maybe!
Now to drag this home

 

At night it’s still cold, but it won’t last long, I know. I can tell by the molt happening to my coat. The winter hairs are starting to fall out in little clumps. This usually raises mom’s ire, and she crabs that the vacuum cleaner is overwhelmed. I don’t like the vacuum cleaner anyway because it’s so loud (and I’m afraid of loud noises), so maybe they’ll get rid of it so mom won’t need to crab about it. I’d be pleased with that.

 

Clear trails!

Sasha

So The Snow Goes

Pazlo2 Comments

Happy Dog

 

Last time, my person hogged up all my space with the first chapter of Caravan. It’s a bit nerve-wracking for those in the story, so I’m glad it’s fiction. Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

I must admit, even I was happy we had a warm, sunny, springy day to walk in, even if the snow is fading. I really love the snow and the cold weather. My folks are from Siberia, you know, so it’s normal for me. But sometimes the warm sun feels good, and I see we have some different birds in the yard these days.

On the trails, we thrilled to the last of the snow. It uncovers hidden treasures as it recedes, and we can find mouse runs and bits of leftover kills. I found some bunny scraps left behind by Brer Coyote. Scraps is right. Nothing but fur. Ever heard of sharing?

Enjoy it while it lasts
Pussy Willows that don’t look like cats
Crystalline Snow
Last Snowshoe Hike
Yep, it’s melting
Sure smells good
Hidden Treasures

Well, I can read the signs. This is the Melting Snow Moon. I can smell it.

It’s the Snow Geese that take the snow with them. We saw a flock fly over and listened to their funny squeaky honk that sounds more like quacking. Yeah, when the snow geese go north, they take the snow with them. It’s a sure sign.

Windfall, Avenue of the Pines
Snow Geese
Melting Moonset
Taking The Snow
Snow Geese and Moon
In The Pine Stand

Days are getting longer, so that’s a good thing. Gives me a little more time to try to ambush the skunk by the side of the house before the people call me in. And on to the next season!

I like mud, too.

 

Clear Trails,

 

Sasha

 

Skunks And Yoga

PazloLeave a comment

On The Widowmaker

 

Snow! Snow! Snow! Gosh I love snow. You can eat it and dig in it and run through it. You can spin three turns and have yourself a bed in an instant. And you don’t get overheated on your hike.

My person is excited about the third volume of my stories, as he finally got started on Caravan. I’m glad it’s fiction, because it’s a lot colder up above the Arctic Circle than it is here. It’s 16 degrees (F) here today, and with the wind, feels like 2 below zero (F). My team on the tundra is facing far lower temperatures and far greater winds. It must be fifty below where they are. I’ll just lay here by the wood stove and watch the old man write.

Cold, Snow, Perfect!
On Chuy’s Trail
Practicing My Macrame
Sniff, Sniff.
Paw Print
Dog Yoga
Listen!

I took up two new hobbies. One is Yoga. I don’t know what it’s about but they have this thing called “downward dog”, and I’m a natural at it. This Yoga thing must be right up my alley.

The other thing is macrame. You know, tying knots. The only thing I have to work with is my jorring lead, but I’m making progress.

Had a skunk come around this week. Time for them to come out of hibernation. He was close to the house in the night, but in the morning was nowhere to be found. I suppose that’s good, cause every time I get a decent layer of skunk scent on me, my people wash it off with this awful-smelling, perfumey shampoo. Eww! And it will be three moons before I’ll be able to find a dead thing to roll in.

I know that skunk’s here somewhere.

 

Clear trails!

 

Sasha

 

Snow And Gunpowder

Pazlo2 Comments

Nishan Hill

 

Woo! Hoo! More snow!

We had a good snowstorm blanket the ranch with fresh powder up to a Chusky’s knees, and we went for a great hike on Sunday. Uncle Matt cousin Max and some other people friends came over to do some rabbit hunting. I was ready to see them cry when they saw how I could run much faster than them, and I still have trouble catching a rabbit.

Well, I guess the rabbits found out about it, because nobody saw a single one! They must have been hiding in their dens.

We went for a long walk and rooted around through some grapevine tangles, and never scared up a bunny. As we were heading through Chuy’s trail eastward, a war broke out. It was a small war, I guess, and they took their time shooting. Still, I’m afraid of loud noises and the gunfire was between us and the house!

My person ducked into Mr. Nishan’s machine shed, and we waited it out. The wind blew all around and snow continued to fall as we waited. It was really cold, so we were glad to be out of the wind.

At one point, my person pointed to the window and said “Okay, I’m going to knock out that window. You go to Dawson and get Sergeant Preston. Understand? Get Sergeant Preston!” I think he thought he was in the TV show for a minute.

Finally, the shooting stopped, and we came down through the Avenue Of The Pines to discover it was our own people that came for rabbit hunting. Geez, I should have thought of that. They never intended to run after the rabbits!

Rooting Out
Winterberries
My Bone!
Two-pawed Tenacity
Do deer eat bones?
Was that gunfire?
Winter Sunset

I was really tired by the time we came in, and I had a good long nap in front of the wood stove. I pretended I was huddled around a fire with my teammates on the frozen Chukchi Peninsula in Siberia.

When I woke up, I was glad I was home and warm.

 

Clear trails!

 

Sasha