May 2006-July2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
So much to learn
Lessons. There have been lessons happening all over the place.
First of all Kira is learning to share her home and her beloved people. We are dogsitting - though we keep forgetting it ourselves. Cleo is such a good dog, she has fit right in. The cats aren't bothered by her at all - and she doesn't mind them.
After the 1st night Kira and Cleo are acting like old friends. There was the initial gaurding of food and warning growls when space was invaded, but after that they just co-exist peacefully. They even go out together to do their 'business'. In fact, last night Cleo turned and waited for Kira to finish before coming in. Come on!
I thought I would take them for a nice romp down at the river. It was a beautiful late afternoon, the eagles were whistling, I had the time. So off we went. When I stepped out of the car the smell hit me. I really should have just turned around then, but then there would have been no lesson learned, would there?
Anyone who lives near waterways during spawning season knows the smell I am talking about. Foolishly I thought, I'll just stick to the higher path and not go near the water edge - that will keep the dogs away from the dead fish. And it would have worked too if it wasn't for that pesky 60mm of rain. The fish are everywhere - way, way up from the water.
It was so nice out I thought - well, a few minutes will be alright. I can keep an eye on them.
This is generally as close as Kira ever gets to the salmon. She's 5. I know her. So I am walking around enjoying the crisp air and this view:
And I suddenly remember Cleo's owner having a lot of stories about her ROLLING in dead fish. Ugh. Better get out of there now. I call them both and they obediently start heading up the path with me. I keep a keen eye on Cleo and the ground - the fish are everywhere, remember? We are rounding the last corner and I turn to check out the view one last time and What The? Kira is rubbing herself on a filthy fish corpse!
The horrifying smell cannot be conveyed through writing. So overpowering. Yuck. I don't even like writing about it now!
I took the dogs to the track at the High School (we had only been out for about 10 minutes before the fish rolling) and let them run around. Kira was confined to the backseat for the drive - a new experience for her. She listened but she wasn't too happy.
Kira had a shower with Oatmeal Shampoo and baking soda when we got home. A spritz of her fabulous Kiwi-Mango coat conditioner and she is better than clean.
One final lesson: On the way to the Ferry Mom taught Debbie to knit. She is a very quick learner, I think she could be a natural. "I'm stitching!" she cried from the backseat.
Ahhhh. Another knitter is born.
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Congratulations on introducing a new knitter into the fold!
Groan - I can imagine the smell of that dog - good thing she's easy enough to bath at home, eh?
Oy... rolling in dead fish? I can *so* imagine that smell, argh! ;) But at least she obviously didn't mind much to have a bath ;)
I *so* adore that pic of the two furry ones together, they really look like old friends already - now, how great is that?! After all, it could have been much worse!
And yay for recruiting a new knitter, that's always so great to hear!
oh my...God. ew ew ew ew ew
It's bad enough mine gets into our swampy back yard - but dead fish?! oh uck.
First, the looks on the faces of these two dogs is priceless!! They act like they are humans don't you think? One on the right looks tired and getting sleepy from riding in the car and the dog on the left looks like he is just hanging out with his sibling wondering "are we there yet"?.
I never seen photos like this of the spawning, I think it's wild to see this at least once in your life. What a story!
Girl, you live in a very beautiful majestic place.