An uneasy introduction. Bliss and Glenda, our new Manx kitten, aren’t too sure about each other.
Glenda is a tiny little squirt.
Kitty in the House of Dogs
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Category Archives: Traveling Companions
On the Road to Montana and Back
Mary and I recently returned from a long road trip. We were on a mission to pick up our newest pack member, Phanny, while visiting our friends in Montana. We decided to make a week of it and enjoy the western sights with Sailor, Tasha, and Bliss. Starting in California, we crossed Nevada and Idaho to reach our destination in central Montana. Here’s a gallery of some sights along the way. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
To see Mary’s post about Phanny’s first week, and her trip from Montana to her new home in California click here, New Puppy Bliss!
Sunset from our Idaho campsite on the second night.
Pronghorn Antelope on the run in Idaho.
Which way do we go?
Sandhill cranes in our friends’ front pasture in Montana.
Bliss, Tasha and Sailor in Montana.
Tasha engages in a genuine “wild goose chase!”
Mary and Phanny, our new pack member, on the banks of the Yellowstone River.
Yellowstone River
Phanny and Bliss playing in the Yellowstone River.
Bliss at the Gallatin River, Montana. The Gallatin River is a tributary of the Missouri River.
Entering Yellowstone National Park. We cross through the northwest corner of the park.
Yellowstone National Park.
Basking buffalo west of Yellowstone.
American Bison in Montana.
The Tetons viewed across the plains of Idaho.
Sunset at our final campsite. We camped near the Snake River.
Our last Idaho sunset of the trip.
Snake River, near the town of Burley, Idaho.
The Snake River Canyon.
We stopped to do a little rockhounding on the way. At this Idaho site the ground was littered with agate. We also dug up geodes here.
There were little clumps of wildflowers starting to bloom among the agates.
Phanny decide the desert was good place to run and frolic!
Hot lunch!
Agate and geodes.
Tasha enjoys a romp in the Nevada desert. lots of room to run.
At a stop near Rye Patch Reservoir to stretch their legs, Sailor wanted to explore every smell.
The Nevada desert.
Phanny, Bliss, and Tasha decided Mary makes for good playground equipment.
The desert was starting to bloom.
Rye Patch Reservoir, Nevada.
The mountains of northern Nevada.
Forestry Friday … Waiting
Foresters spend a lot of time driving. Therefore, we spend a lot of time waiting in road construction. This is how I pass my time waiting. At least when I have no cell phone service.
Bliss isn’t impressed.
First Birthday Bliss!
It’s her first birthday. For a while we didn’t think she’d make it to this one. We’re sure happy she did. Click on a picture to see the full-sized gallery. Sorry there are so many photos, but it’s hard not to take her picture.
Bliss when we first picked her up.
Here, Mary and I just picked up Bliss from the breeder Susan Liptak.
Just hanging out.
She took to the water right away.
Sailor shares his duck with young Bliss.
Sailor and Bliss became close buds.
This girl loves her sand! She plays on the banks of the Eel River.
Bliss is a forester’s dog. That means it’s her job to go to the woods.
Bliss the “Wild Woods Pup!”
We didn’t know it yet, but Bliss was one sick puppy. She had chewed a toxic mushroom in the morning. In the afternoon we knew something was wrong and headed for the vet.
She spent all week of vacation in the veterinary hospital. The doctor thought she wasn’t going to make it.
The Doctor Bob released her to come back to camp for our last night.
Headed for home and she seemed okay, but we knew she’d need more car because of the nature of the poisoning.
When we got home she had to go back into the hospital.
Once she was back home again she made the best of it.
After a few weeks she was able to return to work.
Bliss says this is more like it!
On the Upper Sacramento River.
On the Trinity River.
Bliss at Dog Creek.
Bliss and Tasha.
Bliss in the Sacramento River.
Bliss and Tasha in the Sierra.
Bliss loves to play and Tasha isn’t immune.
She loves playing with her buddy Sailor.
Bliss points a pheasant in the grass.
She puts a bird into the air.
Bringing home the bacon.
Bliss with her hunting partners.
Bliss, Sailor and Tasha the three amigos.
Bliss one year old.
If you missed her mushroom ordeal you can read about it here:
http://sneakingbliss.com/2015/09/10/saving-bliss/
https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/4086
Tender Moments
Nothing like puppies in the house!
Everyone needs a hug now and then. Tasha and one of her 2-day-old puppies. Too cute.
Toothy Critique!
Mary gave me a new sketchbook for Christmas, so the other day I did a lunch sketch of a sweet, sleeping Bliss.
Me: “Hey Bliss I sketched you while you were snoozing. Take a look.”
Me: “Well, what do you think?”
Bliss: “Sniff, sniff.”
Bliss: “Rarr Rarr Ruff!!!”
Me: “Everyone’s a critic. Maybe next time I’ll let the sleeping dog lie.”
Bliss and the Destroying Angel
Bliss was close to death. Dr. Bob called to tell us that we had better come to see her now. We knew what he meant by what he didn’t say.
Inspired by a near tragedy, watercolor, and pen and ink.
This was last June. Mary has posted the entire story on her blog at Sneaking Bliss. I encourage you to read it, especially if you are a dog owner.
Wild Wednesday … Wild Woods Pup!
Bliss the “Wild Woods Pup!”
A bit of accidental abstract photography of my wild one. I’ll show you how I did it.
“I smell the woods, now let us out!”, says Sailor.
Dumb luck! After all, it’s better to be lucky than good.
Forestry Friday … First Trip to the Woods
Bliss is a forester’s dog and this was her first day at work.
It’s her job to go to the woods. There’s no time like the present to start training her.
On her first day she got to play in numerous rivers and visit the redwoods. Not bad for a day one. I documented her day in the gallery below.
Bliss was nine weeks old on this outing. We needed a few breaks on the way to air out.
It’s always good to stop somewhere with a nice view. We were traveling through the coastal range.
Forester dog training 101, you have to be able to climb over logs! She wasn’t sure, but she mastered it.
Camera straps are apparently for “tug o war!”
Hollow trees are fun! I think she wanted to take this old Pacific Madrone home.
We have to deal with traffic jams out in the boondocks too.
Our destination Honeydew, California!
After visiting the logging job we stopped for a drink in the Mattole River.
She was my first dog to visit the Mattole River, and she got to do it on her first trip.
Bliss loves sand! It makes her play like crazy.
Under the big trees.
A girl has to pee, even in the redwoods.
Pacific Coast Iris, Iris tenax.
After posing, she’s ready to roll!
Leaving the big trees behind.
Another drink, this time from the Eel River.
This girl loves her sand! She plays on the banks of the Eel River.
Work is exhausting.
Dams of Bliss
Gallery
This gallery contains 18 photos.
Originally posted on Sneaking Bliss:
When I watch new mama dogs with puppies, I’m struck by their instinctual tenderness while caring for their newborns. Bliss, 9-weeks-old, taking her place in her family of hunting retrievers. We recently brought home our…
THE FORESTER ARTIST 