For a variety of reasons, we don't walk our dogs;
not since the last months of Misha the Airedale's
life in the Autumn of 2001.
Chrissi, however, needs walks.
LOTS of walks. Enough to lose ten pounds.
Our first walk is usually at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m.;
I like being out before other people or dogs are up and about.
We began with a walk around the block;
we now walk around several blocks, a different route each time.
We've watched several sunrises so far this month,
when it hasn't been raining, that is.
It dawned on me (pardon the pun) that we both use our noses
to increase the enjoyment of our walks.
Despite the unusually low temperatures (eight degrees below normal),
spring is in full bloom here in Wisconsin,
with the scents wafting about, but not being blown away by the wind.
A floribunda rose bush . . . reminds me of my Mother.
Ditto the lilacs, mock orange and Sweet Williams.
Honeysuckle. Azaleas (which I never realized were scented).
Even petunias have a scent early in the still early morning.
As I'm sticking my nose into the flowers,
Chrissi is sticking HER (much more talented)
nose into the peemail at the bottom of the bush.
To those few folks who are driving by, we must make quite a pair . . .
noses in bush, backsides toward the street!
And much as I don't like dogwalking,
this has been a nice experience; I like to think for both of us.
Although Chrisse STILL will plop herself down
and semi-refuse to walk any farther.
She is learning the COME HEEL command quite well.
Chrissi is ready for a Forever DogWalker;
let's all hope she finds her perfect
Forever Home to live out her days with
love & kindness (and lots of peemail to read).
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