The Girl and I were out early one morning for walkies. We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Carson River.
The Girl and I are out and about almost every morning. At this time of the year, the best time to walk is very early. When we get out at dawn, the temperature is in the mid- to upper-50s. It’s chilly to start the walk in shorts and a t-shirt, but I do. Of course, the Girl is practically naked (Naked Girl!!!), but she’s always on the move and doesn’t seem to mind her nakedness.
I’m blessed by the cool morning air, the exercise, and the opportunity to see the sunrise. On those mornings when there are a few clouds, the sight can be breathtaking. The morning I made this capture is one such morning. I was listening to my morning meditation while walking along with the Girl. My steps provided a cadence for focus. My eyes were up and looking around at God’s creation, thankful for witnessing the waking of the world.
I made a lanyard (turkshead knot with a diamond stopper knot) for my Marlinspike. I enjoy working with cordage and lanyards are useful additions to many pieces of equipment.
A few weeks ago I started playing around with paracord. I always have a bit of paracord on my person. It’s one of the Five C’s.
Lanyards are useful for keeping gear attached to one’s body or kit. I decided to make one for my Marlinspike, even if I don’t normally carry it in my kit. It was my first lanyard and I enjoyed the Zen-work of making it. I learned a few things in the process, as well.
I need to make some lanyards for my multitool (which I do carry in the field) and a fixed-blade knife that stays in my field kit. I might try a three-bight design of the turkshead knot. There are many other patterns as well.
This is good for me. I like it.
N.B. and Edit: A friend pointed out an error — it’s a Marlinspike, not a Martinspike. I can only attribute my error to old eyes, which sometimes have a difficult time reading what I see on the screen. Or, perhaps is just that I’m old. [grin]
There’s an useful article on Wikipedia about the Marlinspike. I bought mine through Amazon (that evil empire) from a favorite vendor, Bored Paracord.
One morning when the Girl and I were on walkies, we came across this little buck.
The Girl and I love our morning hikes. The last few weeks we try to get a full five miles in before the sun warms too much. There’s a nice loop we walk out by the Carson River. We walk from Riverview Park up past the north end of Empire Golf Course, take a break up by the Carson River access, then hike back.
One morning this guy came wandering up toward us. My guess is someone else (or something else) spooked him. Of course, Ki had to give chase and I couldn’t get her stopped fast enough with my attention diverted trying to get this capture.
While walking the Girl Thursday evening, I noticed this brilliant fragment of a rainbow.
Last night, the Girl and I went on Walkies a little later than usual. The thermometer burst through 100F in the afternoon, for the first time since I’ve been back in Carson City. So, I didn’t want either of us out in the heat of the afternoon. But, once the sun fell low enough for there to be plenty of shade at the little quadrangle a couple of blocks from the hotel, I knew we could get out for a walk and a play.
So, I called her to me, put her collar back on, and we walked down to the rig to pick up her e-collar and the Chucker. We walked east and across Stewart Street (at great peril that vehicles won’t stop at the crosswalk) and into the fire station area and park. Drivers blow through that crosswalk regularly and that’ll get a citation (if law enforcement is around). I feel like I’m taking my life in my hands every time I cross there.
The Girl checked all the squirrel holes, just in case one was stupid enough to present a target. No joy. So, she trotted out into the grassy quad, eliminated, and greeted some of the other four-legged visitors also enjoying the cool grass.
A beautiful little “happy hippo” come over to say “hi.” But, she had her tail and head up and I so did my Girl. Pibbies! But, they did a little of the doggie-dance and started to play.
When they left, I noticed a rainbow forming to the east. I had an eye on a thunderstorm out east, but I thought it was a long way off. The radar image provided by my iPhone confirmed my assessment. Yet, there was this rainbow.
So the Girl and I moved around until the trees framed the sight and I could make a capture with my iPhone’s camera.
That done, it was playtime. Between chasing the ball and rolling in the cool, green grass, the Girl made happy sounds and happy body language. It was a good outing for both of us.
While I breakfast, I was playing around with the fisheye converter and my iPhone.
While at breakfast, I was playing around with the fisheye converter for my iPhone’s camera. I suppose I was bored, or just playing, but the result amuses me. So, here it is.
A favorite place to hike is along the Carson River.
The Girl and I love to hike the Riverview Park path along the Carson River. The path starts near the Korean War Memorial in Carson City, proceeds along a constructed wetland (full of sweet-sounding birds), then along the river corridor. Recently, a bridge was added over the irrigation ditch that separates the park from the Empire Ranch Golf Course, so we have access to the perimeter road/trail outside the golf course.
The path leads all the way to Deer Run road and perhaps beyond. We’ve only walked to the river access at Morgan Mill. One morning I might choose to walk farther. But not today.
One evening, the Girl and I walked over to the local park. I noticed a rosebush with some pretty yellow blooms. This reminds me of Texas.
The Girl and I have a favorite park within walking distance of the Plaza Hotel. I love to take her over there in the late afternoon or early evening for a last-of-the-day run. Sometimes she’ll play with me. Sometimes she just wants to hunt the battalion of ground squirrels making burrows under the buildings.
It’s all good.
One evening, I noticed a rosebush with these beautiful yellow blooms. I had to make a capture and they reminded me of Texas.
While on Walkies the other evening, the Girl and I came across this door. It opens into a building, but what’s inside I do not know.
The Girl and I sometimes walk in town in the evening. There is a park embedded in the area behind the local fire station. It’s posted (everywhere) with “State Property, Do Not Enter” signs, but the grounds are open for our four-legged friends.
This door caught my attention the other evening. I wonder what’s inside?
Before the aircraft is pushed back from the jetway, there is so much to be done. I wonder how many passes up and down the aisle the flight attendants make each flight?
While waiting to leave Kansas City, I watched the flight attendants move up and down the aisle of the aircraft. I thought a capture with Hipstamatic might work.
Inside the Independence Diner, which used to be Danny’s, which used to be Denny’s.
Yesterday, the Girl and I were up really early to walk. She had a appointment with her veterinarian to have some lesions removed from her tummy. Because of her light skin, she is susceptible to skin cancer. Moreover, she’s my “sun baby,” and would choose to lie in the sun on her side and soak up that heat.
Because of our current lifestyle, she doesn’t do that anymore. We’re together all the time and often busy or driving. So she doesn’t have the same leisure time to ask to go outdoors and lie in the sun. But, she still has a few lesions popping up. Perhaps this year there will be fewer of them. I can hope.
So, after our walk, we drove back to the hotel so I could shower and gather up a few things. Then we headed for Minden and the vet’s office. I weighed her, signed in, and the staff put me in an examination room. Dr. Ross wanted to talk to me.
He looked her over and told me I could either wait or get a cup of coffee. He didn’t expect the procedure to take long (none of her spots were very big this time), so I left and decided to get a bite of breakfast.
For many years, Danny’s Diner (which was a Denny’s before I moved to Nevada) was a place I visited regularly, but not frequently. Wife and I loved to stop there when we were running errands for a bite. I just loved to spend such times with Wife. But Danny’s finally closed with the downturn in the economy (which hurt Nevada particularly badly) and I thought the facility would remain empty. But on my return to Nevada, I found a new place had opened.
So Thursday morning I drove from the vet’s to Independence Diner. It is really much like it was, but with a new menu and new staff. The staff are all friendly and the give-and-take between them bespeaks a friendly working environment. This is a good thing.
I ordered café con crema y agua, then repeated myself in ingles. I’m still practicing my Spanish daily, learning a bit each day, reinforcing past lessons as well. But, mi mesera no habla español, so we laughed about it and talked about Spanish. I ordered and worked in my bullet journal a bit while waiting for my food.
I chose poorly, I think. The chorizo omelette I ordered was just OK. I’ll have to try again, I suspect. And I will.
I drove back to the vet’s office to retrieve my Girl. (I don’t really think I own her; she’s not property.) I received instructions and walked my poor, groggy baby back to the rig. I lifted her into the backseat, thinking she would be more comfortable there. After trying to be up a bit, she melted into a pool of dog on the seat pan. She didn’t move all the way home.
I carried our stuff to the room and blocked open the door. After wriggling about a bit, I lifted her from the rig and carried her upstairs to her bed (my ratty old blanket). She didn’t move but went to sleep.
By evening she was more like herself. She doesn’t seem to be having much pain, for which I’m thankful. I gave her some food and her meds. Then we walked a little around the hotel and the park just across Stewart Street here in Carson City. We sat in the shade a long time, just taking in the outside time. She wanted to go chase squirrels, but I kept her on lead. She’s not ready to be rowdy and won’t be for a few more days.
Now I think it’s time to get out for a walk. She won’t walk off-lead this morning (and not for a few more days). But we both need exercise and outside air.
I’m thankful for her veterinarian. It was also good to see the little diner at the north end of Minden working again. It was a good day.
