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Thursday, April 7, 2011

A new day

Yesterday was misty and cold. Pogonip filled the air and blanketed the budding plants.
The wild crocuses, Pasqueflowers, clenched their petals tightly closed to wait out the nippy weather. They gathered water out of the air on the fine silky hairs covering their stems.
In the thick fog, animals moved close to me on the trail as if the usual rules no longer applied. The entire hundred-strong elk herd paraded within 50 yards of me, with each of them stopping in a gap between the trees to gaze at me. I must have been almost invisible in the fog.
Deer also disregarded me, walking deliberately within yards of me in the misty world.
Today, the world dawned fresh and clean.
The same Pasqueflower as I photographed yesterday, closed up tightly, opened its petals wide to soak up the sun.
The elk herd and I crossed paths again but, this time, they were more careful to keep their distance from me. Notice that a bull near the right of the photo has only one antler. Antler-shedding season must be starting.
After thundering up the hill in a single file line, they paused before disappearing into the trees.
K and I had a rebirth as well. We were out shortly after sunrise. K looked at the new day quizzically, wondering what it held for us.
For the first time since K's toe amputation, I started pedaling along my favorite path in the forest with her by my side. I remember when we decided to have her infected toe removed - I specifically thought of my favorite trail and that we might never be able to ride it together again. The vets warned me that losing a "weight-bearing toe" could mean the end of her running days.

Today, K loped effortlessly along our favorite trail, glowing with happiness.
We didn't go all the way to the end because I'm still very slowly rebuilding her strength. As we paused to turn around, she stared into my eyes. She knew... We both knew that we have the gift of more time together in the forest. We hugged and celebrated!
Like the plants and wildlife who waited out yesterday's nasty weather to revel in today's sun, K and I weathered a 6 month long ordeal but now we can shine again.

Here's to the Power of the Paw!

24 comments:

  1. To the awesome Power of the Paw! May you have many more happy days on the trail.

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  2. Big smiles here! I never doubted you'd be out on the trails this Spring! :)

    Do you ever find that K has overdone it a little and you have to back off a tad? We're having a devil of a time figuring out the right distance for Blueberry these days. I think she'll be fine, but we're supposed to go on a trip at the end of the month, and I really want her to be able to make it out and about with us!

    Just curious, what kind of lens did you use to get those flower shots? I'm still learning a lot about our new camera as I go, but I just love those pictures! Well, I love all of your pictures...

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  3. We celebrate the joy of rebirth and reblooming and returning to higher ground! But we hold nothing more treasured than the heart-filling gratefulness of seeing K resurrected!

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  4. Oh the resounding joy of Spring, new life and a new chance at life. Your post fills me with awe. Incredible photographs!!!
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  5. K in silhouette. Superb contrast. Just like winter and spring.

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  6. Kb the pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
    the power of the paw...wonderful!
    have a great wknd!
    xoxo

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  7. Silly hoomans thinkin' we dogs will back down due to a minor set back...bwhahahaha...not gonna happen. Okay, at least in K's case.

    Incredible fotos!

    Puddles

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  8. Hi Y'all,

    What a wonderful moment in time! K's eyes shining as they gaze at you and into the camera lense...

    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  9. I saw your comment on Tales and Tails and since I love her photos, I had to hop over to see yours, especially since you said "point- and-shoot" and that's the type of camera I have. Sheesh! I guess what I expected is true. It would be very helpful if I would find and read the manual to my camera. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I'll check back this weekend and learn more about K and R.

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  10. I love that photo of the deer in the mist - looks almost like a painting in a fairytale. Just lovely!

    Your pal, Pip

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  11. The deer, the elk, the happy dog and rider, what could be better? We are so grateful for K's recovery!

    Kisses,
    Stella

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  12. Big smile on my face!!

    Happy Spring - literally and figuratively!

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  13. Beautiful!! Mom can't wait to see the beauty of your world first hand! She'll be out at RMNP in May!

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  14. Such a wonderful thing to see K running the old trails! Gorgeous photographs...AND I learned a new word. I had never heard of pogonip weather before.

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  15. Pogonip - we love that word:) We had some fog here today but not cold enough for pogonip.

    We so agree with The Herd - thank goodness for the Power of the Paw - it must really warm your heart to see K doing so well.

    We are still filled with oohs and aahs over that phenomenally blue and clear sky in so many of this post's photos.

    Have a great weekend.

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  16. "K loped effortlessly along our favorite trail, glowing with happiness."

    This is the biggest smile I've had all week.

    Those flower macros are incredible. With the new camera???

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  17. Amazing photos - I love the ones you took of the flowers. So gorgeous.d

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  18. So glad K is able to run and climb once again! Your photos of the buds and blooms are amazing, KB. I look forward to seeing your earlier (than mine) glimpses of a mountain spring.

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  19. Every single picture is so beautiful....we wish we were there!! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

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  20. Renewal. Rebirth. What a lovely post! You've come a long way with K - I joined you when all this was starting. That ride with her at your side must've been exhilarating!

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  21. Your words and photos are medicine to me .
    thank you for sharing so much,,,
    thank you for being you,,,,
    thank you for being here for us
    love
    tweedles

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  22. The devotion that you and K have to each other makes me smile and tear up, all at the same time.

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  23. Congratulations to all of you. Today is a new day and the picture of 'the world dawning fresh and clean' is so appropo...K knows you so well and will be faithfully at your side always.

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