Forward...into the past!

Another BCR Xmas!


BCRxmasfunday2013

The weather was perfect: light breezes, temps in the 60's, clear skies. As opposed to those events where the temps were into the triple digits F (around 42C) or 40 mph gusty winds...or that year when the even ended with people scrambling to beat the snow storm heading that way. Those events always have me remembering to be grateful for mild weather.

There was the usual abundance of home-cooked food and dozens of hyper border collies. No altercations, though-- which would surprise most border owners. There was much begging, though: even the dogs trained not to beg at home know this is a *special* place and time.

The interesting thing that happened was that I found a R0ndo doppelganger. She looks like she could be his sister-- very similar markings, mannerisms. I think her name is Savannah. Very sweet dog! Speaking of doppelgangers, Tay's doppel was here, too: Skeeter looked great!



Apache was somewhat low-key, as noticed by several people (usually they have bruised noses soon after she arrives...and she didn't jump up this time). Probably the prednisone she was on. But that didn't stop her from her usual mischief towards the other dogs. Instead of her usual "11", she was more like a "9" that day.

The dogs and I got a precious, rare invite: to celebrate King Dog Tay's birthday up in Oakhurst!

There are more gorgeous images of the Ranch, dogs and snow here

The timing turned into the most perfect trip we've ever made up there: the day after we arrives it snowed. Just enough fell that the ranch and the mountain turned into a winter wonderland. This was *ideal*: the snow only lasted for about two days-- then it melted and allowed us to drive safely back down the hill and home.

The night we arrived there was also a bit of excitement: on the night walk Carol and I discovered a brush-burn that had gotten out of control (these are supposed to be watched by the burner until the fire dies down). Between the windy gusts and all of the pine needles that hadn't been cleared, the fire had spread well into the brush nearby. A fallen pine was in flames and embers were spreading under the pine needles. We went back to get Eric and shovels...Carol got all of the water jugs (they keep them for pump failures).



With a lot of work we got the flames down and the embers mostly doused. The owners of the lot finally arrived with a tractor and used that to completely bury the rest of the fire. They were grateful that it had been discovered, so it was all good. Plus, bonus activity points for me.



We awoke the next day to a winter wonderland: several inches of snow fell during the night and it was cold enough to stick. Check out the link above to see how beautiful the area became. The dogs (all four border collies) and I took a number of hikes in the silent, white world. I love walking in fresh snow (especially when it's only a few inches deep) and watching four crazy border collies run around on Very Important Business.

There are few places that aren't improved by a fall of snow. Since Casa Coyote starts out quite lovely, the snow transformed it into a fantasyland. R0ndo and Apache loved it: they had experienced a dusting of snow in Seattle a few years ago and had a lot of fun...but this was like doggy-disneyland for them. They bounded through the small drifts and still managed to dig ghost varmints. They loved that it was nice and chill out and if they get hot or thirsty they can just eat the refreshing "white dirt".

Tay was showered with goodies and treats. He enjoyed the ribeye steak he got as a present. As any good tyrant, he tolerated the manic attention of all three of the other dogs. He's well-deserving of his Kingdog title!

I managed to scrape together the money for Eurofurence again. Love Germany, love this con. This time I tried something different: flying out of SFO and staying at my sister and BiL's place for a few days before and after. Big difference: much less stress because anything I forgot I could still get in SJ. Also, dogs stayed at dog-sister's place, so were less stressed than if they'd just been boarded (their regular boarding place is great, but still a boarding place).



Full Flickr Set Here

The trip started well: food and more food. A friend highly recommended a place in Buttonwillow, CA to stop and eat at. A bit early in the trip, but he raved about this place. He was right. The pulled pork was delicious on its own...and the salsa that came with it (served on the side!) was also perfect-- a pleasant burn, deep flavor. But the PIE! Oh, the peach pie was the best I've had in decades. Crisp texture, deep flavor and a perfect crust. So good we're making a roadtrip -just- for this pie. 100 miles and worth it!

Same friend also got tickets to the Ikea Crayfish Party . I'd never heard of it, but they sell out fast. Thank goodness there was more than just crayfish- which has too low a ratio of reward-to-effort. Eat, eat, eat.

A big bonus was getting to meet Don Knuth and his wife, Jill (who were part of the group). He wrote the seminal book, The Art of Computer Programming. Anyone who has taken a college-level computer class has seen this book; it is so far out of my ken that I have to take their words on this. Not only is he a really nice guy, but he brings a unique take on current events. I could listen all day, week, year to him. My friend was also able to get him to autograph another seminal work: an early writing sale-- to Mad Magazine. Read his Wiki: wicked sense of humor!

I also got to visit a friend who's back to working at Apple: like most large, hip tech companies, they have wonderful food-services. The seared ahi sandwich is...wonderful. It's no wonder I gained four pounds even before leaving the country. This, despite a bunch of hikes with the dogs in the hills around SJ.

R0ndo had his delayed birthday/Adoption Day rumpus yesterday. Since his AD falls on Veteran's day, it behooves us to do stuff later in the week, when there aren't crowds about. dustmeat and martes joined us for lunch at the Park Bench Cafe (whitest Mexican food I've ever had) and a day at the beach.

We couldn't have asked for a more-perfect day: temps in the 70's, light cloud cover, a very low tide and a nearly empty beach!


Full Flickr Set

We frisbee'd and walked the beach for several hours until the sun set. R0ndo was very pleased.

There were a number of interesting sights this trip-- more than usual. First off there were a ton of shells (alive and otherwise) lying around. A bunch of teeny clams and some very small sand dollars. I saw a moon snail moving through the sand (they're kind of gross, actually). We found a mystery creature that I think is a kind of sea slug...googling leads me to believe it's a green sea slug , but it's not green and those seem to be on the East Coast. This picture looks very close to what we found.

Also found a deceased pelican ...it was beautiful. Strange to see an adult pelican dead like this-- looks like it drowned or broke its neck. But the way the surf left it on the beach was lovely in a haunting way.

On a more prurient line, I think I found a pair of hermit crabs having nookie. .

The sunset was gorgeous and a fantasting end to a wonderful day.



EDIT: Mystery creature solved! I emailed Phil Zerofski of the Scripts Institute some photos and he ID'd the creature as a Sea Pansy! (Renilla reniformis) It's a community of polyps!

Omigosh! I almost forgot-- Tomorrow is R0ndo's Adoption Day! 11-11-05



Now I have to figure out how to celebrate...definitely a big treat. Hike? Beach?

Any suggestions?

Full Flickr Set

Another BCR Funday! My favorite of the year: Halloween! Candy, dogs, great food.

The weather this year was *beautiful*. Breezy, clear and in the 70's.

R0ndo and Apache got matching skeleton dog costumes. Watson was too big to fit into his, so he got halloween jingle bells.





There was a dog that Apache was absolutely giddy about: an Aussie tri (male) who seemed aloof-- yet Apache adored him and even puppy-play-bowed and wriggled up to him. Weird little dog.

I loved R0ndo's reaction to the talking/grasping zombie hand in the dog treat bowl!


He would be a great zombie-hunting dog.

One of the best days, ever. Goofy border collie pup and doofy asian guy. Match made in heaven. Or the Soupy Sales Show. Either.


Six wonderful years! And he has a cooler day than me-- 11-11-11, 11:11!



Thanks, buddy!

One of the best days, ever. Goofy border collie pup and doofy asian guy. Match made in heaven. Or the Soupy Sales Show. Either.


Six wonderful years! And he has a cooler day than me-- 11-11-11, 11:11!



Thanks, buddy!

11-11-11 is not just a field day for insipid marketing, it's also R0ndo's adoption day! This will mark our 6th happy year together. I'm not really sure what to do: he would be equally happy with an all-day hike in the mountains or snoozing with me on the couch and a regular dogwalk. He's like that. Still, it gives us something to celebrate and remember. Maybe I'll give him a meaty bone and lock Apache in the house.

Also remembering Frieda by dog-sitting a friend's very old husky. It was almost like she was here again. Sigh.

On a wholly non-sequitur note, I love it when the internet works like I imagine it should. I was asking at work if anyone knew of any abandoned airfields out in the Mojave that we could shoot some footage at. Someone googled around and came up with "Abandoned & Little Known Airfields: California: Mojave Area" . Teh Internets is such a vast repository of eclectic information. It still feels like sci-fi!