Caccha's Labradors

Sunday, September 29, 2013

MAINE BOUND Photos on Photobucket

Try these links to view photos and from our trip in August.
A work in progress - uncut-unedited version.

8/25/2013
Drive up

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2056%20August%2025th%20Maine%20Bound?sort=3&page=1#

8/26 - Monday
Morning, First Day
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20August%2026th%20Morning%20First%20Day?sort=3&page=1

8/26 - Monday

First Day (Film)

Some of Willow Sunshine from New Hampshire

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20Film%20July%20to%20August%2026th%20First%20day?sort=3&page=1

8/26 - Monday

Mid Day - Porch Time, Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20Film%20July%20to%20August%2026th%20First%20day/2013%20Roll%2058%20August%2026th%20Mid%20day?sort=3&page=1

8/26 - Monday
Evening - Sunset, Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2059%20August%2026th%20Sunset?sort=3&page=1

8/27 - Tuesday
Morning Sunrise
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2059%20August%2026th%20Sunset/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY?sort=3&page=1

8/27 - Tuesday

Mid Day - Porch Time!

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY?sort=3&page=1

8/27 - Tuesday

Mid Day - Porch Time (Film)

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2062%20Film%20August%2027th%20Day%202%20Mid%20Day?sort=3&page=1

8/28 Wednesday
Morning Fog - Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2062%20Film%20August%2027th%20Day%202%20Mid%20Day/2013%20Roll%2062%20August%2027th%20Sunset%20evening%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2063%20August%2028th%20Sunrise%20Morning%20WEDNESDAY?sort=3&page=1

8/28 - Wednesday
Mid Day - Fog lifted - Lobster Feed
Pearl + Willow Sunshine's first lobster
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2064%20August%2028th%20Mid%20day%20WS%201st%20Lobster?sort=3&page=1

That is it for now.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Skatutakee Hike - September 22, 2013, Roll #78 album

Rain fell during the early morning. The hour was five thirty. We were still in bed. It was time for our morning digestive nap after breakfast. By ten thirty we were heading up the mountain. The weather was delightful, crisp air and clear skies. The rain ceased and a beautiful fall day ensued. A slow easy pace eventually us to the top. Nash's arthritic toes were acting up, so we stopped along the way to take photos and the girls hunted chipmunks.

We found only ourselves at the top, among the Monadock's, blueberry bushes, pines, granite boulders and the expansive ocean blue sky. The top of a mountain, I have decided, is much like sitting sea side on a timeless porch in Maine.

Wet earth from the morning rain didn't deter us from taking a top side siesta. Time was lost. While I watched the dogs scurry as investigative specialist, devoured new smells. My nap interrupted periodically by Willow Sunshine's gleaming exuberance of tongue kisses, ear nibbling, and pouncing. Pearl's main attraction was a blueberry bush which contained a stow away treat. She hovered from bush to shrub looking for left over peanut butter pine cones from the following winter, in addition to rodent holes. Nash circled the top testing the shade under select bushes, eventually he decided to dig a nest under a cedar shrub, and blueberry bush. His coat delightfully sweet when he crawled out for our downward hike.

Up the mountain, down the mountain. That is the way it went with our easy steady pace. No hurries today. Pleasantly surprised to see half the day remained once at the bottom. Home in time for lunch, just past the one o'clock hour.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Beginner Agility with Willow Sunshine 20 Months old

Willow Sunshine started agility at 5 months old. We did two sessions with Elise of Breeze Thru Agility, then took a break. As of today she has completed her first Beginner session of agility. She did very well in class considering no practice since she was 5 months old, a year and a half ago. Enjoy the video. Onward to Advanced Beginner in October.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Porcupine

Thank goodness for a recall, or quizzical labs with in check prey drive. While on our second walk of the day, or evening outing, we came across another porcupine. This time in an open field with cover. I knew something was out there, since Willow Sunshine was air scenting and switch backing through the brush cover. It was most impressive. Nash was with me, and Pearl, unaware of Sunshine's behavior, explored a remote area of the field.

I knew Willow Sunshine had zeroed in on her prize when she landed a most spectacular point, frozen with rigid contemplation. Her body clearly saying, " What is that!" By now Pearl was enroute, now clued in by Sunshine's body language. The pair have become avid hunters together, and set a solid base of communication.

Once I saw Willow Sunshine hit the point, I ran ahead. A tree was blocking my view. I suspected a porcupine and my intuition was spot on. That is when I began the recalls, both girls looked poised to chase, but held back, when they heard my frantic calling. Needless to say the recalls were not obediently obeyed, but when Nash and I ran in the opposite directions, and my tone more serious, the two girls decided it best to leave alone. One last look by Pearl, and she came on the heals of Willow Sunshine. Few! Catastrophe, and vet visit, diverted, once again.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Maine Bound - one week from now

It has been four years since our last trip to Maine. Pearl was only 5 months old and it was Willow's last visit to the cottage. This trip will be Willow Sunshine's first trip to the coast, she has never seen the ocean, rocks, seagulls, lobster boats, or scented the salty brine of fog. We are excited to say the least, but there is a sense of nostalgia. I have never been to the cottage without Willow, at least since 1996.

Willow, 8 weeks, and Theia - Willow's first trip to Maine, 1996

It was a week, maybe even a couple of days, after I brought Willow home from Wendy's, that we made the long trip from Guilford, CT to the South Addison, Maine. Willow was only 8 weeks old. Willow's dam, Theia, came along for the trip. I let Theia most of the training at that time.

First swim - 9 weeks old - 1996

It was this first trip to Maine when I began a religious documentation of her life. I knew I was given a gift, an angel, to keep and hold. From that moment on I tried my best to live in the moment, as dogs do, and absorb every little bit of Willow's essence. I did this for 15 1/2 years!

Willow - 1 year old, and Lobster with Leah

The wonder at that time, when Willow was only a puppy, would not dissipate. Who would she become, would I be able to train this quizzical active little soul, and socialize her properly? What kind of dog would she become? Now she is gone, and I look back on her life, in wonder, amazement, and love. She became an agility dog, canine good citizen, avid squirrel huntress, mother of nine puppies, survived lymphoma, raised a wonderful son, survived vestibular disease, and internal bleeding after her spay. Her life seems so short to a human, imagine living only 15 1/2 years. No life is too short when lived as full and rich as Willow's.

Maine - 2005

In that first year of her life, Willow made four trips to Maine. We returned as often as we could, sometimes we would miss a year. No matter, the next trip was always the same. Nothing changed.

Maine- 2009

The most memorable trip was in 2008, this was the last trip Willow, Nash and I went alone. We stayed in the cottage for seven days that year. It was a week of bliss. I wrote about it in Seven Days in Maine. Upon return from that trip Willow was diagnosed with lymphoma, I actually think she had it during the trip. I remember thinking she seemed "off" Sluggish, but not enough to make me think something was wrong.

Willow 2008

Each of my dogs has been there within their first year.

Maine 2000, Nash's first trip

So - here is to a new adventure, new stories, new photographs. Starting this Sunday, the 25th, we are going to disconnect and reconnect with ourselves, and I will fall in love, again, with my three little angels.

2009, Pearl 5 months old - her first trip