K's world expands

This morning, K and I headed out for our short hike a world that was changing by the minute as clouds whooshed over the Divide covering the blue sky and then exposing it again. I love having K back by my side, making small explorations of off-trail terrain. Her new boot, a Therapaw, has made her immeasureably more comfortable on our rock and boulder-strewn terrain. The sole is strong enough to help support her atrophied paw. Her world is expanding daily.

I've been letting K walk off-leash for small parts of our hikes for the past couple of days. Yesterday, she lagged behind briefly to nibble on some rose hips. As I prepared to snap a photo of her foraging, she leaped a log! "Noooooo", I wanted to scream. I didn't. Instead, I leashed her. Her paw and forearm muscles are not strong enough for leaping yet but I'm glad that she's feeling so good. She looks as surprised as I was!

I do let her survey the meadows from boulders because I know that if I tell her to "stay" until I lead her carefully down from her perch, she will.

I'm just plain thrilled to be doing more with K. I've missed having her with me in the forest.

Winter is hovering on the sidelines here. It hasn't walloped us with our first big snow storm yet. The first big storm usually means a couple of feet of powdery snow, and it shuts down north-facing trails to mountain biking until the spring melt. So many trails are in wonderful shape that I just keep riding and riding and riding. My spine is very happy with the dry conditions since riding my mountain bike is the best muscle spasm-busting medicine available.

R joined me at the start of my ride today and gazed at the tumultuous mountains.

Then, he made a face, just like a little boy playing to the camera.

By the end of my ride, the mountains beamed. Their snowy coats glittered in the sun and a puffy veil of clouds clung to them in the endless blue sky.

This is my world, the one that I love, and I enjoy it the most with a dog by my side. On my way home, I passed one of K's favorite perches. It stood empty but I'm betting that she'll be back on it by springtime.