With temperatures next week to soar in the 90’s and humidity levels almost as high, Charlie and I took advantage of today’s gorgeous, tepid weather to head to the lake for our daily walk.

Charlie pranced as we set out on our walk. She glanced up at me and gave me her heart-melting golden retriever grin. She LOVES going on walks! We started off visiting with the dancing mallard ducks watching them maintain a steady stream of quacking conversation and then continued around the winding path.We stopped to soak in the beauty of a few on the wildflowers before Charlie’s first of three chances to swim.

Charlie is 9 years old with hips that are getting bad. When she first gets into the water, she will wade out into the water to a depth where she can barely touch lake bottom. She will “hang” in the water letting her buoyancy take some of the stress off her hips. She can “hang” for a long time! Eventually, she will swim for a bit and head back to shore signaling that she is ready to hike on to the next watering hole.

With that in mind, we set off at a somewhat slower, but still at a reasonable pace. As we got nearer to the watering stop, she definitely knew she was close. She whined in anticipation and quickened her step. When we got close, I unclasped the leash so she could run down the hill to the water, lest I would get drug faster than my short, little legs could go! I heard her splash into the water and then a loud chorus of honking. I quickly ran the rest of the way and saw the problem.

Evidently there was quite a gathering of Canada geese hidden in the long grasses by the beach. They were alarmed at Charlie’s presence around their babies. Although the goslings were halfway grown and past the darling “awe-phase,” they were still pretty cute. It was quite evident though that they were the pride and joy of all the numerous grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. (Is that what you would call the extended family of geese?) Charlie stayed long enough to get a quick drink and float. She then beat it out of the water without any coaxing or before any “wing-thrashing” from the geese.

With the third, and last, nature-made swimming pool to visit, we sat out at a still somewhat slower pace. When we got close, I again unleashed her. Although there wasn’t a steep hill, this spot has gouged a rocky, single-file path formed by rushing rainwater. The path is dry now, but difficult to traverse. I heard her splash, but no honking, so I knew that we hadn’t disturbed any other gaggle of geese. This hole is her favorite so we spend quite a bit of time here. Her first order of business is to wade back and forth looking for the schools of fish that frequent this area. Unfortunately, this time the fish had vacated the area (perhaps warned so by the geese). Charlie did her usual hanging float. Once bored with that, she decided to look underwater for rocks.

The rock has to be just the right size. Small ones aren’t enough of a challenge so those are ignored. It took several head dunks and quite a bit of hunting before she found the perfect one. Once she finds a rock, she will turn her bottom to the shore and back up using her front feet to start dragging the rock closer to the waters edge. Once it is at the correct depth, she will put her head under the water, close her mouth around the rock, and gleefully bring her prize to shore! Mission accomplished! I oohed and aahed over her winnings while she gloated and smiled. I told her I was proud of her, but to leave the rock. She prefers to bring it back to the car, but we had parked quite a ways away and I knew her hips were hurting. She didn’t need any more weight. With a backwards look at her prize, she gingerly picked her way back through the rocky gully-washed trail. Once she reached the perfect comfy space, she proceeded to use the lush grass as her towel. She laid on her back with her feet to the sky, letting the sun do part of the drying as well. Besides drying, these motions also got at any itchy spots. I think she likes to watch the clouds skirting across the sky, too.

Then she got up and shook, sprinkling the area with short bits of grass clippings. Now her pace had turned quite slow. We stopped several times to enjoy the wildflowers.

While I was looking at them, she would stand with her nose to the wind letting it comb its fingers through her hair. She occasionally took in a deep breath and huffed it out. Was she enjoying the wildflower smell or trying to catch a whiff of her tasty chewy bone waiting for her in the car? We repeated this stopping, gazing, deep-breathing, and huff scenario numerous times. Interspersed between these sequences was a few grinning “thank you-looks” up at me. Even though her “prance” had totally gone, she loves our mornings together. I do, too!