K is home

K is home after a very long day that started at 5 AM. She's constantly crying and whining, either from the anaesthesia or pain so I'll keep this short. The surgery went smoothly, and tissue samples are at the local vet school for analysis. It may be until the middle of next week before we learn what evil process was eating away K's toe bone.

Last night, I did our regularly scheduled training session but I decided to be silly. I taught each dog to balance a toy on his/her head. K learned very fast because she's had this kind of indignity imposed upon her previously. It took longer with R because he thought that it was like the "treat on the nose" trick, and kept trying to flip his head back to toss the toy in the air. Finally, they both balanced their toys at the same time!

K is balancing a new toy given to her as a get well present by a friend. She loves it!

I'm not one to sit at home and brood while a pup is in surgery so R and I headed out for a bike ride. He zoomed around like a fiend, making me laugh out loud more than once. What a perfect companion for a day like today. The photo below was taken yesterday, next to our bobcat's favorite boulder outcropping, when there was some sun to brighten the day.

Today, there was no sun. My snow bike emerged from its summer of hibernation and gave me super power - the power to pedal through thick snow. I had forgotten how much I love this bike. Its tires are 4" wide but the frame is titanium so it's very light. The bike handles like a tank - nothing stops it or slows it down.

I pedaled through a surreal world, with fresh snow and freezing fog. The pogonips formed intricate crystals on naked aspen twigs.

After my snow riding, I checked a wildlife camera to discover that my spirit friend, the bobcat, had visited to give K and me strength to handle her toe amputation. First, the bobcat snuggled against the camera, marking it with his scent. See the fresh snow flakes on his back? Imagine living in the forest through our winter storms. This animal is feisty and strong.

Then, he walked away, giving us a good look at him. The Year of the Bobcat lives on.

A short distance away, he passed another camera but from afar. I'm starting to put together the pieces of his preferred paths through the forest. They don't include many human trails! Moreover, I'm discovering that predators rarely use the same trails as prey like deer or elk. It's fascinating to figure out how our wildlife moves through our landscape without us seeing them very frequently and also while avoiding each other.

At a nearby spot, a deer foraged in a snow squall and frigid temperatures. It wasn't an easy night to make a living in our forest.

Now, I'm going to take care of K. I'm trying to keep my hopes high that we've cured her by amputating her toe. I simply cannot think about the alternative.