park | Change Is Hard

August 26, 2023
by dawnkinster 31 Comments

My adventure, by Penny-girl

Well. You may have noticed that I was not included in any of mom and my Auntie B’s adventures.

*I don’t know how they could have left me out!*

I would like to point out that I am a big girl now and I think I should be included in everything my people do! Don’t you agree with me?

*Don’t you like the way my fur is starting to flow in the wind?*

After all, I will turn 9 months old next week, and that’s pretty old if you ask me. Don’t ask my folks, they still treat me like a baby.

*Well, OK, sometimes I DO still get a little bit scared.*

Anyway, once mom and Auntie B returned home, with plenty of great smells on them I might add, I insisted on going with them everywhere, and a couple of days that everywhere included a local park next to our town’s small cemetery where my aunt could practice her bagpipes for an upcoming competition she will be in.

*This is my Auntie putting in her ear protection. I noted I didn’t get any ear protection.*

She said she hadn’t played in way too long and she needed to practice somewhere. I guess you can’t play the bagpipes just any ole place.

At first I wasn’t sure about the bagpipe sound, but mom urged me to come with her for a walk and we left my aunt to play in the park while we explored the cemetery next door.

I found out there were lots of whirly-gigs and flags flapping over there and I wasn’t too sure about all that at first.

Then I found this little dog and I tried to talk to him, but he was more the silent type.

And then I saw this little boy and tried to play with him, but he wouldn’t move and suddenly that scared me so I went and hid behind my mom’s legs.

That’s ok, right mom? Whenever I get scared I can hide behind you, right?

*I’ll just rest a moment back here, OK mom?*

Anyway, I practiced sitting pretty a lot, and getting my picture taken. My sister, angel Katie, says that’s just part of the game plan when you live with our mom.

*OK, mom, I’ll sit here. But I’m not going to look happy about it.* *Unless you have cheese?*

I’m getting pretty good at it too, though Katie says I need to be more insistent on getting my share of treats for the work I do modeling.

*Sometimes mom gets kinda close, but I’m not afraid of the camera any more.*

I’m getting prettier and prettier by the day now, so I don’t mind showing off.

*Mom says it’s all about the light, but I know it’s really all about me!*

Meanwhile my Aunt played on.

*She played way on the other side of the park. It sounded cool!*

And the resident cranes listened too.

*Mom wouldn’t let me go say hi to them.*

We all had a very good time, both days we wet to this park, and I guess I’ll call this a mini adventure, but I’m telling you, I’m up for something truly epic.

*This was not really adventurous, mom. Try to do better, OK?*

I hope mom’s planning something great real soon.

August 4, 2023
by dawnkinster 28 Comments

So much fun!

Hey, hey hey! It’s me, Penny, your adventure girl!

Well, I haven’t had many adventures lately but I’ve sure been having fun! Mom took me to the park last week and I wasn’t as afraid as the other time.

*I didn’t even notice this snake when we walked by it. Mom kinda screamed though. Mom is a wimp.*

Mom is noticing I am happiest when I’m out in the open where I can see the sky and not so happy when we’re in the woods where it’s dark and there are strange sounds.

But this is the second time we’ve been to this park and I liked it a whole lot better this time. I ran up and down the hills and explored lots more and mom says she was very happy with my ‘progress,’ whatever that means.

*I even stopped to take a peaceful little breather on a big hill.*

Then over the weekend my friend Lance and his sister Payton came to visit me! They brought their folks too and we all sat out on my deck.

*Lance and I discussing our photo/treat ratio requirements.*

I guess if I was honest there wasn’t a whole lot of sitting for me and Lance. We mostly chased each other around the deck. We had sooooo much fun! I’m as big as he is now and I can play just as hard!

I tried to play with Payton (she’s my angel sister Katie’s half sister) but she told me off, so I went back to jump on Lance. The folks had to make us stop and rest cause we were all about the game.

I had so much fun with them that I had to sleep for an entire day after they went home. I think Lance and Payton probably slept too. Mom calls that recharging. I wonder what she’s talking about?

Anyway, I know you like to hear what’s going on in my world, so I thought I’d stop by and give you an update. My Aunt is here right now, and I’m pretty busy entertaining her.

*What’s your favorite toy today Aunt B?*

Play, play, play, a sheltie-girl’s got to keep the fun coming all the time. It’s such a big responsibility, but I’m up for the task!

Talk later, people, I have to go get a toy for my Aunt so she doesn’t get bored!

Oh, and thanks to Lance’s parents for driving so Lance and Payton could come and play! We had so much fun.

Life is good!

Your girl, Penny.

July 1, 2023
by dawnkinster 24 Comments

First measured mile

Well hello everybody, it’s me, Penny!

Mom says I talk too much. You should hear me talk when she’s emptying the dishwasher or opening the tinfoil drawer! But I just had to tell you about mom making me ~~march~~ walk down a park path for a whole mile!

*This was the beginning of my 1 mile walk!*

OK, maybe she chose the time and day to go to the park because she figured not many other people with dogs would be out there. We have a lot of Canadian wildfire smoke right now and mostly people are staying inside.

We have been staying in too, but when you stay inside too long certain doggies get slightly ~~insane~~ impatient. At least that’s what mom says.

I have no idea who she is referring to.

*Mom says it’s important to look both ways before you cross the road.*

Mom was going to take me to a different park, but it was further away and I started complaining as soon as we were in the car. Mom and dad took me to the vet this week and I was certain she was taking me back there, so I told her I was not happy.

*Ok, I’ll sit pretty mom, but don’t expect me to do it again!*

She decided we’d go somewhere closer and prove to me that not all car rides end in a vet visit.

*Mom’s artsy-fartsy image from this walk. Boring, mom.*

This was was my very first time walking on a bike path! Good thing hardly anybody was around cause I did not stay on my side of the path. At all. But I had fun.

We only went to the half mile mark and then turned around. Mom didn’t want to overdo, she’s old you know. Plus it was warm and smoggy.

*I’m not sitting at the turn around mark either, mom!*

On the way back I decided it would be fun to play with the leash and leap around a lot and generally get in trouble.

*I don’t know why mom doesn’t think this is a fun game.*

Cause I’m a puppy, and that’s what puppies do. So I’m told anyway.

*I got all tangled up in my leash. We took a break in the shade.*

We had fun, mom got some pictures and I got to see some things I’ve never seen before. The teacher in my puppy class says it’s mom and dad’s responsibility to introduce me to 3 new things a week.

*There were great chewing sticks under the bench!*

Let’s see. I saw a lawnmower, a guy on bike, and a bench! Not to mention the crosswalk and a lady driving a golf cart. I think mom’s homework this week is done!

I hope next week’s homework assignment includes more wonderful ~~treats~~ experiences!

*Not sitting near these yellow flowers either, mom!*

I’m going to help mom plan more trips. I think I like checking out new places.

*Well OK, if I get to eat some I’ll sit here.*

But since I’m just a ~~little~~ puppy, I need ideas. Where do you think we should go this year?

I’ll get mom to make a list. I’d do it myself, but she doesn’t let me on the laptop very often. Something about getting dog hair in the keyboard.

*Mom! You take so LONG to do EVERYTHING!*

Whatever mom.

May 5, 2023
by dawnkinster 16 Comments

A dreamy conversation

Katie visited me in my dreams last night. I can’t remember the entire conversation, but I remember some, and the comfort her visit provided:

“Hey mama, I love you.”

“I know you do, baby-girl.”

Yea, but it seemed like maybe you needed to hear it.”

“Yes, I’ve been missing you something terrible.”

“I’ve noticed, mama. You’ve got to stop thinking about the day I crossed the bridge.”

“I know. But everywhere I look I remember you.”

“I’d think you’d be too busy with the new kid to spend much time missing me.”

“You’d think, right?”

“She seems like an OK kid, mama, but you can’t let her break all the rules, you know?”

“Like I did with you, huh?”

“Well, yea. Like you did with me. You’ve noticed she’s really smart, right?”

“Oh yes, we’ve noticed.”

“Well, she’s going to want to do lots of stuff, and some of it will be stuff you did with me and you can’t be crying all the time, OK? It’s not fair to the kid.”

“You’re right. I can’t be doing that. She deserves more from her mom.”

“She doesn’t call you mama?”

Nope, you’re the only one that calls me that. She calls me mom. But I’ll always be your mama.”

“I know mama. Always.”

“Always and forever, baby girl.”

“OK mama, now get going on the training…I watched that yellow flower photo shoot and frankly she’s got a lot to learn.”

“Awww give her a break, sweetie. She’s only 5 months old. She’ll figure it out once she stops putting everything into her mouth..”

“I know, mama. Well, I just wanted to stop by and tell you I love you. And to remind you to do right by the kid. I’m watching.”

Thanks, Katie-girl, it sure was nice of you to stop by.”

“Oh, I’m always here, mama. Always.”

“I know baby-girl. I know.”

Wordless Wednesday

April 19, 2023 by dawnkinster 18 Comments

January 1, 2023
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

Poof!

While out at my favorite park trying to get shots of birds I learned a lesson.

You have to be quick. Otherwise you get a lot of this.

Not that I mind too much. This was cool too.

December 29, 2022
by dawnkinster 27 Comments

Queen of the Boardwalk

I was out there to meet the Queen. I’d been trying to get an audience with her for several weeks. But she’s a Royal and follows her own rules. I’m used to that.

*Anybody out there? Hey Mr. Downy, are you hungry?*

You see, almost every day I’d see, on Facebook, a photographer who calls herself the “Hand of Snacks” feeding a female cardinal along the boardwalk at my favorite park.

*Well, at least one bird wants a snack!*

Lots of birds come down to any number of hands filled with snacks at this park, but cardinals are famously shy. Quite stand-offish. So to see this female sitting in a hand regularly intrigued me. And I drove the 30+ minutes every week or so, hoping to get to meet her Majesty for myself. Oh, I’d see her – sitting in the scrub along the boardwalk. I’d offer a treat. She’d watch me. But she never showed any interest in getting to know me better. Week after week I’d leave disappointed.

*They almost always go for the peanuts first.*

This Wednesday, there she was, sitting among the twigs of a dogwood bush with her partner, the bright red Mr. Cardinal. And that morning she seemed interested in me. She moved out to the end of the branch and eyed me up and down. I stood still, gifts offered. She flew to the railing, quite a far bit away from me and eyed me some more.

Clearly I was not her Hand of Snacks. I was an imposter. But she was hungry. But I was an imposter. Could she trust me? Would she trust me? She hopped along the railing to get a closer look. She looked up at me and then down at the snacks in my hand. I stood still, barely breathing.

And then she reached out, her feet still firmly planted on the railing, she wasn’t going to actually stand on my hand, and grabbed an oiler seed, moving rapidly away from me to eat it. I stood still.

She hopped over again and helped herself to another treat, not moving so far away this time…and then she grabbed a peanut and with a slight nod to me, she flew back into the bushes to share it with her partner.

*You’re such a good Queen, taking your partner the best peanut.*

And the politely waiting chickadee hopped up onto my hand to see what she had left behind.

*She’s off to share. Mr. Chickadee is waiting in line.*

Now I can say I’ve met the Queen. And it was everything I knew it would be.

*I’m glad she left him some of the good stuff.*

October 31, 2022
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

You’ve seen it all before

I had a chance visit my favorite park this week, a late afternoon decision.

You’ve seen images like this before. I’ve taken hundreds of images just like these.

But of course I took the camera.

And of course there were birds — that was the point, is almost always the point when I walk these trails.

And luckily the birds were hungry.

Very, very hungry.

And of course we had a very good time. Because, really, how could we not?

I think the birds had a good time too.

For the most part anyway.

So I’m hoping you don’t mind seeing images like this again. Because I never tire of taking them.

Wordless Wednesday

October 26, 2022 by dawnkinster 29 Comments

May 19, 2022
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

Looking for spring

Last weekend I got to enjoy a walk in the park with my aunt. And here another weekend is approaching and I haven’t shared with you what we found.

I guess I better get cracking.

*A perfect spring day spent out in the woods.*

We went to Hudson Mills, a park over near Dexter Michigan, not so far from where she lives, but far enough away we don’t get there very often. It reminded me quite a lot of my favorite park, Kensington, and in fact it’s part of the same park system.

*Such wonderful light falling through the new leaves.*

There was a paved bike/walking path, and then lots of wooded nature trails to explore. We walked some of my aunt’s favorite trails, looking for evidence of spring, especially a particular dogwood tree she enjoys every year .

*We found her dogwood in full bloom, shining in the morning light.*

Luckily for us we had sunshine and slightly warm temperatures for our walk. Perfect. These are trails she knows well, and she knew just where to look for the early wildflowers too.