Goodbye to CK's Grandmother

While I was off writing a different blog Caring Kim's Grandma Josephine passed. She graced the Earth for 90 years. This is significant in a blog about walking because of all the places Caring Kim and grandmother walked together:

 China
 Japan
(Old) Hong Kong
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Germany
Denmark
The Netherlands
Austria
(Old) Russia
England
France
Spain
Switzerland

That's an amazing resume!

New Soldiers, Old Battle

I have spent nearly two years fighting ground hogs. Checking Kim has handicapped me in this battle since I can do no harm but must dispose of them. I watched the family increase three fold while I made no difference. Then they were gone.

It took me a while to figure out the woodchucks had chucked it in. I thought they were still living in the flower garden south of my house. I was wrong. The rabbits and the ground squirrels have moved in. I believe they will winter under my deck. Who knows what damage they will do?

I will win this battle. When they leave I hope the skunks don't move in.

Character Sighting

Sometimes others walk and report what they see.   Most times I don't write about it but this particular sighting is too good to not share.

 An employee of my oldest was walking through the mall.    He walked past this event three times to verify what he saw.    It appears that Larry the Communicator was communicating while getting a massage by an Asian gentlemen in the middle of the mall. The commissioner, Bullwinkle, Tri Limb, and my oldest would have paid for a picture of this event.

 I'm glad he is comfortable in his skin.

Narrow Escape

I occasionally see a skunk a safe distance away from me.   I often smell the presence of the striped critter.   In late February I always smell South Dallas Suzy.   But I have walked thousands of miles and have never walked up on a skunk... until the other day.

It was dark and my dogs noticed something move along the side of the road.   I saw something about the same time that they did.   We took a few more steps before I saw the white tail pop in the air.   I pulled both dogs to the other side of the road and quickly made my way down the road.    When I believed we were out of range, I crossed back.

I had only taken a couple of steps when the same scenario repeated itself.   Two skunks, that close together, on the same day!   I never caught a whiff of any spray, not even on my way back.

Had I not noticed and let my dogs walk up on them, all three of us would have been loaded with spray.    If I would have brought home the two dogs covered with skunk spray, Caring Kim would have displayed new adjectives.

I had a "narrow escape" from the wrath of Kim.

Walking Wild Returns

I spent some energy trying to write in a different style, in a different blog.   I may do it again but I need to get back to walking, observing and thinking.   My dogs and I have walked more than ever.   All the characters you met before are still mostly around.

Tri Limb has moved from coyotes to copperheads; Doc and his wife have started walking more; Caring Kim still remarkably cares for me; Daring Dee bailed me out; Bean Counter has become a literary critic; South Dallas Suzy found a mate; and I will bring you the further wisdom of The Commissioner, Bullwinkle, and Larry the Communicator.

I promised myself on my return I would have photos of all the wild flowers I encounter on my walks in the country.   For the most part the drought (more on this in later posts) has broken my promise.

My first real entry begins tomorrow.