Mountain day

Orion had his first mountain hike. We went to climb Mt. Monadnock (the most frequently climbed mountain in the US) but dogs were not allowed so we down graded to Pack Monadnock near by. Pack Monadnock happened to be all large boulders for a better part of the hike. Orion scampered up them. I did my best to hold on to him, sometimes reminding him to go slower or we'd fall over the cliff. He got a special treat at the top, as did myself, and we settled in for the picture above. It is funny to me to see this one because Orion is usually such a smily dog, I feel like here he is not smiling, but then, he is a dog and his face is probably more like, hey, I'm looking at the camera, what's suppose to happen now???

Snake snake snake?

Disclaimer: I've had a whole cup of coffee.

Orion has been enjoying the fall. Or maybe he's been enjoying the added company in his world. There's my dad, who I think secretly appreciates having another male in the house, even if he's a dog--and also the fact Orion is a buddy, ie. likes to just be around you--most of our other dogs just hang around mum.

There's Mum, who gives him treats and admonishes him like a true Nana, and laughs at his antics, gives him pats on the head.

There's Chloe, who acts like she wants to eat him, but wiggles her tail and chases him about and hangs with him on the porch.

Then, there's me, the constant in his world, so he looks to me and checks in on me and hangs with me.

So out we go, Dad and I, to collect some boxes from our friend's Don and Cindy's house. They live out in the country in this beautiful old tavern nestled in some fall leaves, an old cemetery on a ridge, and a horse field on the side. I could totally live there. That being said, we let Orion sprint around the yard and he was thrilled. I was too, right until he ducked his head under the horse field fence and sprinted in to the horse field. The three horses were fortunately far on the other side and not moving, so Orion sprinted around there, me hollering to "COME HERE ORION! COME ON!" Setting down my camera to get ready to hop the fence and he came flying back under. Dad's standing by the garage laughing... 

Then off we go up the street to hike across the dam and Orion was able to have his first experience with...

He was facinated. He didn't quite know what to do. His head darted left and right to watch the snake and I told Dad to hold him long enough to snap the pic. No clue what kind of snake but I thought it was cute none-the-less.

Nod

Sometimes I catch myself watching Orion sleep, watching as his head bobs ever so slightly, and it reminds me of my grandfather, who passed away at the ripe age of ninety-nine. He always had a slight bounce. Technically it could be considered Parkinson's I'm sure, but to me, it was just Grandpa--his head always nodding just a bit. I think he would have liked Orion. I enjoy those moments where Orion does bounce just to have a chance to be reminded of Grandpa.

Treat distribution.

"Yeah! You try and break his treats in half!" I say to my dad.
"Give it here you wuss," he says, getting up from the couch. I smile and pass it over. There's no way he's going to get this. I've used a serrated knife and still couldn't get it. He won't put that much effort in. I turn to zip up the treat bag. Dad disappears. Ma asks me something and I turn expecting to see Dad in the kitchen.
I hear instead, the faint sound of the table saw running in the garage.
Dad steps inside.
"Here you go!"
He tosses me two perfectly split halves.
Cheater.

Reflections

We're walking down the giant hill.
"You know the last time I did this hike I was with Chloe, about three years ago." We're huffing it to the college my mom works at that is at the end of town. I'm banking on an hour.
"I was not in my best place and everyone said to exercise. Chloe was hanging out with me then. She was younger. It was a long walk. I ended up with blisters on my feet. Then I drove home and me and I had an accident. I cried in some old lady's shoulder about how I was done and just was going to live in a cardboard box in my parents basement for the rest of my life." I pause.
"Good story huh?" Orion's trotting ahead of me.
"Actually, that's a terrible story." I giggle. "Well, it was kind of a funny story me telling you that story."
He is still dragging me down the giant hill.
My feet feel bruised.
"Dude. I'm tired already."
We take a break on the sewer.
"You're a good companion Orion."
We keep walking.