Happy anniversary!

Ten years ago today I flew to Montreal to meet Veronique and Oskar! I spent the evening at Veronique's little house in the country, surrounded by four adult and three puppy Briards -- it was an amazing experience.

The next day we drove back to the airport (poor Oskar got sick in the car on the way) and Oskar and I began our longtime friendship.

He's about 14 weeks in the photo above, here, just 5 weeks!

And now he's ten years old, a little bit slower but no less dear to me.

Happy anniversary, Oskar!

Giving Thanks

It's been a full month since I've posted. During this period a number of things happened to me, with me, about me, because of me. Not unlike the reader's days, I am certain. Nothing compelled me to write, however, until tonight. I contemplate Thanksgiving's arrival. We enter a time of reflection and remembrance, a time to appreciate. I realize I have photos to share and stories to tell. Read on.

Without doubt, the most dramatic happening of the past month was when I fell off the roof. Simply saying those words brings a wry smile to my lips -- how tough am I, I fell off the roof! Another take on the incident might be "how stupid is she, to go on the roof with no adult supervision!" But go I did, the painting had already taken all summer and the weather was clear for only a few more days. The section of wall above the entry roof was not large -- five safe minutes were all that was required. And I nearly, almost made it. If only it weren't for that split second where one's weight shifts from the roof to the ladder. That one infinitesimal moment where the Big Mo' glides one's hindquarters from the shingle to the step. Barely an inhale. And in that moment the ladder slipped, taking me with it on a quick drop to horizontal. The photo does not do justice to the colors that bloomed on my shins. Huge bumps remain beneath the skin along the path where the ladder hit, and should they connect with a chair, or the floor if I kneel, there is pain. But the worst harm was to my ego. How tough am I?!

The reason for the painting rush, of course, was threatened snow. November is, after all, the beginning of winter in southwest Michigan. No one questions it. First is bow season, then firearms, and right around the same time, snow. If you look carefully at my car, you will see two things that say much about me. Somehow the snow felt it was important for them to be visible.


Ulani enjoyed the snowfall immensely. Oskar, now 10 years old, not so much. He waited for me to shovel a path through the snow to the barn before he would venture out, preferring not to delve waist-deep into the freezing mess. I reminded him of his first winter, in Chicago. The snow that year formed deep drifts against the fences between our small backyard and those of the neighbors. Oskar and I played "fort" -- he dug trenches behind the drifts, then I tossed snowballs and he dodged them in the trenches. It was a terrific game, greatly enjoyed on both sides. Once I shoveled the paths this year, he played a version of bumper bowl with me, chasing the yellow squeaky ball down the path a few times. Then he was happiest to come inside, get a towel-down, and jump up on the couch, feet warmly beneath his belly, for a rest.

The next morning, as the sun rose red above the trees, we ventured out to play again. For this time we spend together, I am grateful.

10 Years Old!

Ten years ago tonight, Leila gave birth to Charlotte, and then Oskar. In the wee hours of August 7, eight more puppies were born, so the litter got the 7th as their birthday. We always celebrate on the 6th, however, combining Oskar's big day with my sister Melissa's!

As a large dog, living into the double-digits marks quite an accomplishment. These days I hear more and more of Briards achieving 13, 14 or even 15 years. Oskar is a healthy 80 pound boy who still takes great joy in being outdoors, likes a walk, and enjoys a good bowl of dog food twice a day, thank you, right on schedule. One of his favorite activities is napping (we are quite alike there!). He is not cuddly, preferring his own space, but occasionally will lean up to me and smile, which absolutely warms my heart.



Here's to ten years, and many more to follow!

Prairie Dogs

Peekaboo!

When we moved to the country, the house we bought needed its septic drainfield replaced, and because we are in a watershed with a high water table, it needed to be a mound system. Imagine having a four foot tall pile of coarse sand to look at out your living room window!

Usually septic mounds are planted with lawn grass to blend in to the rest of the lawn. But this requires regular mowing, and running a mower over the mound can wear it down and speed its demise.

Research informed me that cooperative extension services recommend planting prairie plants on your mound, so that you can avoid the weekly mowing. And a huge benefit is the plants provide food and shelter for wild birds and animals. (The downside is when rabbits put their nests on the mound, and the dogs find the helpless babies...)

So I got my hands on a bag of seed and planted. This will be the third summer of our septic prairie and it's really coming into itself. Right now the grasses are seeding and the coreopsis is in full bloom. I also have what I think is lead plant in a few places -- gorgeous! (Well, it turns out that the "lead plant" is actually cow vetch, a non-native that's probably drifted in from the surrounding farms. It's still gorgeous!)

There are times when the seed pods on the prairie plants become torturous in the dogs' coats, but most of the year the movement of the grasses and the changing colors of the forbs make for a wonderful living room view!

Oskar -- "OK!"

My yard is ringed with evergreen trees put in by other people. I suppose the idea was to screen the yard from the street visually, and maybe as a wind block, although the predominant wind is not blocked at all.

After my first winter here, I discovered one large pine had died. Removing it left a hole in the "pine-screen". For two years I pondered what to do. Replace it with another pine? No, the monotony does not appeal to me and I would much rather diversify. Add a few bushes for color and berries? The proportions didn't seem right.

So this spring I planted a river birch inside the fence but in line with the empty spot. When grown, its height will be appropriate, but because it is deciduous, the leaf texture contrasts with pine needles, and in the winter the bare, peeling branches will be lovely next to the evergreens. And a big plus -- river birches are accustomed to having wet feet, which a tree gets most anywhere in my yard at some point!

As you can see from the photo, Oskar is quite pleased with my choice!

In Memory of Leila

This is a photo of Am/Can Ch. Bigtree Bedlam Ice Cream Soda TT (Morgane), Oskar's grandmother and Canadian Ch. Lalou Ma Leila de Guérande (Leila), Oskar's mother. Leila passed away today at the age of thirteen.



I offer a toast to Leila, and all those beloveds who went before her. They depend on us, but we depend on them so much more. Our beloveds bring joy into our lives, fill our homes with laughter and dog hair, entertain us, work with us, exercise us and comfort us. They are love, simply and beautifully. Here's to all of our beloveds, still with us and gone, who make our world so happy. We can only do our best to do the same for them.

Clink clink!