Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Shih Tzu's Don't Float

A couple of beautiful days in Juneau.  Yesterday, Joan took the afternoon off and we went walking out by the glacier.  Pretty quiet over by the skater's cabin...figured there would be lots of terns and sandpipers; but there was nobody home.  We back-tracked to the Dredge Lake Trail and wandered around for a bit.

During the course of our wandering we came upon a large pothole of indeterminate depth that was completely covered with spruce pollen and other assorted pond scum.  Joan and I were walking around the perimeter of the pothole when Maddie the Shih Tzu decided that the shortest distance between her and us was a straight line - right across the water!  A serious mistake.  Upon reflection, I am convinced that she did not recognize the bright green pond as a water hazzard - she thought it was solid ground.  This is an animal bred for companionship - she's much more comfortable in the palace as opposed to walking in the great outdoors.

You can well imagine, then, Maddie's surprise when her first step resulted in a ker-splash.  Frantic dog paddling.  Looked like she would be OK; but then started running out of gas.  Started doing circles half on her side - like a dying goldfish in extremis.

Fortunately, there was a dead branch on the ground long enough to drag her to shore. One mighty chagrined hound...
 
Maddie the Shih Tzu will NOT be trying-out for the Olympic swim team...

I walked the dike trail a couple of times this weekend.  Lots of waders.
 

Pectoral Sandpipers forage on the wetlands.

Joan hosted supper on Saturday.  She has a new rotisserie device for her grill.  An excellent BBQ pork loin...

I did some yard work this weekend too.  Fertilized both mom's and auntie's lawns.  Bought some annuals for both locations. God I love spring!

In other news, Amanda flew south on Sunday morning.  A quick stop to see her mom in Olympia and then on to Portland to see Leah.  Wheels-up for Cali later this week.  I sure enjoyed her company.  She intends to return to Juneau next fall to seek full-time employment.

Well, time to get moving.

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