For KB, For K, For The Runner, and for R

She has severe disease of the spine and has endured many major surgeries.  Despite the constant pain, she rides her bicycle through harsh trails high in the Rockies.  She pushes herself and the spine disease does not define her life.  She has my own deep admiration.  She may be the most courageous woman I know.

She is an amazing photographer and her blog brings us unbelievable photographs of the Rocky Mountains.  She has placed trail cameras in the mountains and has shown us such wonderful photographs and videos of lions and bobcats and bears.  My personal favorite is a video of a Black Bear, coming briefly from her den, full of sleep and moving slowly, then retreating to the den for a longer sleep.  She has shown us the beauty of mountain sunrise and evening sunset.  She has shown us the wonder of Aspen groves in autumn.  She has shown us the beautiful wildflowers and birds native to the area.  She is KB and she rolls though the Rockies.

Her companion is a chocolate Labrador Retriever.  The Lab is K and K romps through the Rockies.  K is more than a companion.  She is KB's soul-mate dog.  Her heart dog.  While KB is riding, K has her back.  She romps along with KB as she rolls through areas filled with Elk, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Bears, and Coyotes and all the other wild animals living in the Front Range in Colorado.  And at elevations above 8,000 miles, there is a lot of wildlife.  Through KB's trail cameras and mountain biking we are privy to much of it.

K has had her share of medical problems herself.  Yet her devotion to KB never wanes.  Right now K is facing the fight of her life.  She was recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her left front leg.  Preparing K for surgery to remove part of the bone, the veterinarian found that the cancer had already spread to another bone in her leg.  The surgery was canceled and treatment was begun with stererotactic radiation and chemotherapy.  Her next round of chemo will be on Friday.

The prognosis is questionable.  Yet KB is determined that K will not be defined by the osteosarcoma.  Just as KB lives her life well, she allows K to live her own life well.  KB does limit the duration of K's outings so she often rolls along the trails without her heart dog.

This is a photograph that will bind bloggers together to hope for strength for K.

Photo from DK and the Thundering Herd who organized this effort.  (here)

In addition to K, KB's household includes her human soul-mate (The Runner) and a beautiful and playful male black Labrador (R).  R tends to accompany the Runner just as K accompanies KB.

So why this post?  I am joining many other bloggers to ask you to pause for a minute and think about KB and her wonderful dog K.  If you have religious beliefs, please pray for them.  If you have no diety then please send positive thoughts for these brave and unbelievably courageous humans and canines.  Visit them at KB's blog (here) and let them know that we are pulling for them.  I also advise you to look at the archives to see some of the most outstanding photographs you can imagine.

So, on the Valentine's Day:

HERE'S TO KB; TO K; TO THE RUNNER; AND TO R

AND TO THE POWER OF THE PAW!

Winter Sky

Snow fell on many areas in western NC.  We did not get any snow and I don't mind at all.   We got some cold weather with strong winds at times.  This morning dawned beautiful, cold and calm.  Not long after sunrise, I noticed a series of clouds in the sky that looked almost like giant contrails.  The remainder of the sky was cloudless and (of course) Carolina Blue.  Here is the view from our deck this morning.

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The clouds---the only birds that never sleep.

Victor Hugo

Fridays are Golden

Yesterday, for the first time in a month, our high temperature was actually below "normal."  While we have truly enjoyed the mild weather, we are ready for more seasonal temperatures.  I only hope the awakening flora can fall asleep again.

For this Friday, more photographs of the Golden Girls slumbering after a long run.

Ooh! Looks as if Lucy has only one eye.

 Never mind.  It's Ellie's paw where Lucy is resting her head.

 Lucy!  Why do you have to lie all over Ellie?

Because I am the princess.

Besides, she could move if she wanted to.

 At least this time only Lucy's head is on Ellie.

I know that there are people who do not care for dogs, especially not dogs who live inside the house, and most especially not dogs inside the house who shed long golden hair.  But I cannot imagine our lives without dogs.  Even when we are really old, we will have at least one dog.  The dog might have to be smaller to accomodate our decreased mobility, but we will adapt to a little dog just as we hope to adapt to advancing age.

Our Golden Girls add so much humor, love, and joy to our lives.

As Samuel Butler said,

"All animals except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it."

And of dogs, Mark Twain wrote,

"I love a dog.  He does nothing for political reasons." 

HAVE A WONDERFUL JOYFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

Don't Know Where It Came From

But I like it.

But It's Way Too Early

Daisy spends all her time outside along with several other pottery friends.  Even she is amazed.  But she doesn't seem at all concerned.  In fact, that is Daisy's most endearing feature.  No matter what the weather and no matter what the mood she still looks up at me with her happy friendly smile.

Why is Daisy amazed?  Because we have had too long a spell of above-normal temperatures.  While Daisy cannot be fooled by the weather, some of my favorite plants can.

Daisy makes me smile no matter what mood I am in.

The Lenten Roses are several weeks early around here.

We planted camellias knowing full well that we are on the cusp of their growing area.  Some years we see gorgeous blossoms and some years we see buds that get cold, turn brown, and drop off.  This week is far too soon for the camellias to have a chance.

 This bud is ready to burst forth.

 The limbs are heavy and full of buds.

 And we have some open blossoms!

So I will enjoy our flowers albeit a little early and I suspect for a shorter while.  The lengthy warm weather is a minor inconvenience to my plants.  It can be devastating to farmers and their fields and orchards.  Apple trees may blossom out only to be killed by a heavy freeze.  So, as much I have really enjoyed the warmer weather, we really need to get back to normal temperatures.  And soon.

Fridays are Golden

It's February.  It feels more like April around here.  We have thoroughly enjoyed the mild sunny days, but I fear they may have consequences.  Far too many plants are waking up from winter's sleep.  We really need our normal weather back or we might not have apples and peaches this year.

The Golden Girls have enjoyed our trips to run and play off lead.  When we return, they are content to nap and snooze in the sun.

Several times a day Ellie will bring tennis balls from the den.  I usually see them and take them back to the den.  Occasionallly I don't notice that she has tennis balls.

Here she is with Lucy using her as a pillow.  She holds on to her tennis balls.

 Ellie knows she is not supposed to bring tennis balls here.  So she will never look me directly in the eye when I catch her.

I wish all phases of life were as wonderful and fulfilling as our days with our two favorite dogs.  Alas, that is not true.  Every day we are bombarded with revelations that concern us.

It seems that everything in the US has become polarizing and political, even one of our favorite charities.  With ever-changing explanations the organization tries to soften the blow it has given to women everywhere, especially the uninsured.  The blow is not huge in and of itself.  The message it sends is of far greater importance.  The explanations  haven't worked for me and I have decided that I will no longer contribute to an organization that changes its practice for political reasons.  I will call my friends whom I have always sponsored in the race for the cure to tell them that I will no longer give any money to the organization.  Sorry, I know the organization does good things but so do many others who are now more worthy of my contributions.  I am not advocating that everyone do the same, but it is a small message that I feel the need to send.  [Late entry:  The organization has reversed its decision.  For me the reversal is too late.  The damage has been done and cannot be undone.  More politics, i.e., "if we lose money with this decision we will rescind it.  Sort of try to forget all the responses we made publically these past three days.  And please continue to give us money even though we have proven we can be bought."]

The 2012 election rhetoric is nasty and filled with words spoken out of context.  The Supreme Court of the United States has allowed so much more money to be poured into the candidate coffers that we are sure to have an election bought by the very rich unless we all become active.  Every one of us is obligated to find the truth and not react to one-liners.

Politics during election years and politics that now infects a worthy charitable organization both remind me of a quote from one of my favorite people, Maya Angelou.  We would all be wise to reflect on what she has said:

"There's a world of difference between truth and facts.  Facts can obscure truth."

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE

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