A Really Good Week!

Without fanfare I completed my 100 mile goal with 5 miles to spare on Thursday of this past week.  I added another 5 1/2 miles on Saturday so my total for the month of July was actually 110.7 miles.  I loved every minute of it.  Each and every walk was just really perfect.  Whether I was with a friend, family members, cousins, daughter, sister, brother, or totally alone it was just terrific.  Each walk seemed to feature a four footed creature who would appear just about when I least expected it to.  Mostly deer, in fact, I would say almost always a deer on every walk.  There is a Goshawk and his friend that I have seen a few times and despite his rather awful call, I am always fascinated to see him and it is always in the same tree.  Ran into some fawns running through the woods when walking with my brother, a doe that was eating by the side of the road and really didn’t give a hoot about me at all, deer running in a field with white tails flagging their path and a beautiful golden retriever who came out and greeted me and rolled on her back for a tummy rub – oh they make me smile.  I love walking the routes that I am familiar with because I lose myself in the walk and sometimes don’t even know I have walked until I suddenly find myself half way around the route and I can’t remember that I have passed by the houses and side roads along the way.  Is that what people mean when they say they “zoned out” or ?  Whatever it is, I love it and look forward to my walks every day.  Yes, yes, I take a day off here and there.  Join me in the 100 mile challenge.  I would love the virtual company.  My daughter is giving me a run for my money.  How cool is that?

 

Goldens by the Dozen

We went to Vermont this week to meet a breeder of Golden Retrievers.  The kennel is Butternut Goldens and it is in Johnson, Vermont.  There were more than a dozen and I can say truthfully that I have never, ever been with that many dogs and not one of them barked.  It was the single best visit I have ever had with a multitude or a pack of dogs.  One of the dogs is named Libby (hmm is it a sign) and she is about to deliver pups on or about the 4th of August.  We are thrilled we passed muster and are at least on the list of possible adoptive parents for one of the pups.  Who knew it could get so complicated?  To say that the visit went a long way to healing our hearts is an understatement.  When you are surrounded by goldens who do nothing but love you even if they don’t know you, you cannot help but feel good.  No jumping, no competitiveness, happy well adjusted dogs.  I think a lot of the credit goes to the breeder who is, herself, one of the calmest most content people I have ever met.  As she said, “We live in a dog house” not the other way around.  When I saw all the dishes lined up on the counter for their dinner I honestly blanched – I couldn’t do it but she just takes it in stride.  Without question she is a true dog lover and we were honored to meet her and to be accepted, if briefly, into her world.  This saga is not over!!!

 

Grand Daughter goes to Camp

Libby went to camp this week.  A new experience and one totally different from any she has done before.  Quebec Lodge is an outdoor, experiential camp experience that has been around for many years, died and is now reborn as the New Quebec Lodge.  This week was their first official week as the New Quebec Lodge and by all accounts it was a major success.  Libby learned how to build and light a fire and to build a survival shelter in the woods.  She made new friends and discovered things about herself that she didn’t know.  She is a confident young lady and this came through to the counsellors and I believe to herself as well.  Spending five days in the woods and in nature is a wonderful opportunity for anyone.  I am so glad she had this chance.  It’s not quite the wilds of Northern Ontario but it gave her a taste of what it might possibly be like.  The best thing was she said she wants to go back again next year.

 

August, Really?

Once August comes the air temperature sometimes is cooler than the temperature of the lake.  Well right on schedule, we awoke this morning and there was the fog on the lake.  I call it August fog.  It is mystical, magical and absolutely wonderful.  I ran outside in my nightgown to get this picture.  What it means is that we are going up to Lake Temagami to pick up Jack who has been on a canoe trip to James Bay in Northern Ontario.  We have done this for many years.  First for our daughter who was staff for 10 years at the camp and now for Jack who has been there for three years.  Are we packed?  No.  This is almost a military manoeuver as we have to take everything with us for our trip there.  We have to rent a truck to haul our boat and then we have to get the trailer deemed road worthy.  Not good if the lights don’t work and, of course, this year the mice ate through the wiring so we had to replace the whole kit and caboodle.  We have coolers galore, some for dry goods, some for liquids and some for frozen things.  We plan out the meals, make notes from years past of things we forgot (and we will still forget something, you know that), go shopping, plan menus, make cookies and brownies, check and double check the lists and check again.  The requisite trip to Cosco and Walmart and who knows where else.  Libby is our North Star.  She gets us to focus and brings it back to reality – “We are going to get Jack!”  Can’t wait, I think it is one the highlights of our summer.  So are we packed yet?  No, but we are on our way to being and by Wednesday, we will be.

Another Deer Picture

Coming home we passed a field with, as it turned out, very tall grass.  I saw something out there and thought it was a field of dogs or ? anyway I made John turn around and it turned out to be deer.  The field was full of them but you could barely see them because the grass was so tall.  This young doe was right by the side of the road and she was not the least bit afraid of us.  I could almost touch her.  It is interesting how small they look when the grass is so tall.  There was a young male in there, something you don’t see very often, and even he didn’t really look very big.  Can’t quite figure out what was so sweet for them but they were eating with great enthusiasm.  Sometimes when the apples are ripe and drop to the ground you see a number of deer in the field like this but the apples aren’t ready yet.  Someone once told me about drunk deer in their orchard.  Funny story but I guess the apples that fall to the ground actually ferment in the hot weather and as a result the deer who eat the fermented apples can get a little tipsy.  I have not seen this but have heard stories about it.  Obviously I shall keep my eye open just in case.  Truly in all the years I have lived and walked around the hills in North Hatley I have never seen so many deer at all times of the day.  They are beautiful but I am beginning to worry that they have become like squirrels and that’s not a good thing.  In the meantime, I intend to still be in awe of these creatures.  Heaven help me if I see a moose!

Recipe

This week’s recipe come from Simply Recipes.

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Wishing you a wonderful week.  Next week’s update will come from Lake Temagami in Northern Ontario.  Welcome August!!!