At the beach

Beachcombing takes on a different meaning when one of the drifters is a red & white dog. 

Replace azure skies with a leaden dome.  Drop the temp from 70 to 50.  Let the wind stiffen the flag and ring the grommets against the pole.  

Now you have a beachcoming day for a spaniel.

 

Duke's visit

Margaret and Peter are moving to the coast and their home sale went through more quickly than anticipated.  They are between homes, shall we say, and the logistics have made one red & white dog a third wheel.

As a result, Aki and I are puppy sitting Duke for a week.  Duke is a few months older than Larsen which at one time seemed to make Duke a demigod for the little puppy.  Of course, that changed as Larsen grew and became more challenging to other male WSSs.  Now a little grey in the muzzle, there remains in Duke the joyful puppy that we remember.  He still chases butterflies and dragonflies, whereas these might elicit not much more than an absent-minded snap from Larsen were they to venture too close.

We will miss Duke and hope that we get time to visit him when we are on the coast.

Duke watches intently as Peter and Margaret drive off.

A comforting spot.  This intersection of patio, kitchen, and dining area is also one of Larsen's favorite spots.  

Duke opens up and relaxes on a warm Friday night in June.

Easter weekend

A weekend at the beach is delightful for anyone, but for a dog, it is nearly heaven.  Larsen plowed through the sand and surf keeping the beach bird-free for one and all.

Larsen is fairly levitating with joy at his day at the beach.

Larsen picks a peck of piping plovers.

There is an inherent pleasure in a job well done.

Aki and Larsen take a breather  during Larsen's busy outing.

Mountains to the sea

The new year starts with a cold and misty rain in the foothills of the Appalachians, north of Atlanta, and a world away from the South Carolina low country.

On guard

Surveying his domain.