Ajax - 13 Months

Being off work this past week provided an opportunity to snap more photos of  the puppy who turns 13 months on Monday.  He seems to enjoy posing even through he doesn't realize he's doing it.  The last photo was a bonus because I snapped the photo not knowing a heron was flying over his head.  Not a great shot as it is far away, but I like the idea.   A very immature male still, kinds on the skinny side, and every changing coat colour.  He's basically a sweet pup!

It's Summer Time

This is "us" at our friends annual "Aloha" party.  Our Maui Jim sunglasses and dollar store flower lei neck rings are the best we can do for costumes.   Aloha!

Oh Those Calgarians!!

What a blessing it is to have friends come for a whole week who fit right in and you never stop laughing, singing or enjoying the company.  Debbie and Rick brought their 16 year old granddaughter Shayana this time.  Shay had never been to the coast or put her feet in the ocean. She also fell in love with Ajax!  We seemed to do so much in such a short time.  A stay-vacation for me and Chris.

 

 

 

 

Blackberry Season

Yum! One again we are going to have a bumper crop of blackberries.

Yesterday's pick below was only from one of our patches.  I froze 2 bags and will be making blackberry sauce for a cheesecake later today. 

Hikes and Forest Creatures

The other day our Calgarian friends and I set out to find one of Bowen's best kept secrets - an artists sculpture of a mastodon created in an unidentified area. We had little to go on.  Our clues were few and vague: look for a red sign that says trail and look for a dogs water bowl.  The second day we found the trail. No luck the first day.  The goat trail took about 40 minutes. We passed 2 sets of hikers on our way in and we asked if we were on the right trail or if we were close to the destination.  They were all hesitant to give any clues. After  much back tracking we found the hidden secret.  

We also left our own rock markers near the statue. 

This was a special treat after the gruelling effort to hike in and find this amazing piece of art.   Only on Bowen!

Living With Critters

There's much to be said about having pets.  There are pros and cons, costs and benefits, joys and frustrations, but in the end I think the pros outweigh all the cons. We can't imagine life without our critter crew of 3.  When you step out of the shower and you find all 3 waiting for you like in this shot below- how can you not start your day with a smile. 

Or when you need to get outside and be by the ocean and you know the one critter pal who will never turn down a hike to the beach. 

Or a walk.  This little guy is such a happy pup. 

Yes, Ajax is proving to be a welcome addition to our critter crew for sure.  And he loves to pose for his photos.  Even during these smokey days.  

2 Weeks now of Smokey Haze

As Murray McLaughlin sang.....If the wind could blow our troubles away - I would stand in  a hurricane....   This wildfire smoke has really changed the face of summer these past 2 weeks.  No wind to move the smoke away and no rain to clear the air.  Good news is the weather forecast is that ocean breezes will arrive tomorrow bringing  winds to blow the smoke and also bringing RAIN!   We have not had a drop of rain since June 20th.  The garden is fried and the pond is near dry.  The upside is that I continue to practice taking smoke reflected photos of the sunsets.  The colours of reflected sun on the smoke particles never cease to amaze me. 

Happy Birthday Ajax

12 Months and its hard to believe he's a year old already!  He's a skinny goof ball as you can see in this first photo that shows his halo has slipped a bit.   He does love this frisbee.

 Training continues and he's slowly learning that our opinions count.

He is a real country dog and loves his hikes on the rock bluffs by the ocean - a real westcoast pup!

And once that beach is in view - he's off for a swim in no time.

But for the most part he's just a big doofus trail dog. 

Wildfire Smoke and Sun

Our beautiful province is experiencing its most destructive wildfire season in about 60 years.  1958 was the worst and we are almost surpassing that.  Two days ago  the winds changed and the smoke arrived on the coast. Poor air quality and a heatwave are what we are facing now on the coast. The smoke in the air is making for some amazing photos though.  It seems wrong somehow to enjoy a photo that is a side effect of another's tragic misfortune in fire. 

Yesterday morning at the pier in the cove when the smoke moved in:

That same night In the back yard I caught this amazing fireball of sun setting:

Then the following morning around 9am this was the view from Seymour Bay while walkin with Ajax:

This morning is the same, and the wind is not expected to come and shift this air for another few days.  Lord we need rain!