HOMECOMING

Well, kids, I fell in love this weekend - with a beautiful 11 month old wolf-pup! Smokey is my newest granddog, a rescue, who came along with Jon and Zenny, on their trip home to the Island. They live in Regina these days, for the sake of good jobs. But they are Island people, who miss the forest, mountains and ocean of the West Coast. Not to mention the mild climate!

We went to Stamp Falls, one of our favorite spots, the wildest place I can find around here. Watching Smokey discover the wild smells and beauty of this place, I had tears in my heart. This is the spot that saved Pup and I, living here and missing our wilderness home so much. He has been gone almost four years now, and it is only this summer that I have been able to go back there. I miss him so much all the time, but especially there, where we shared so many 
happy hours.

Jon has loved the wilderness, hiking, fishing and camping, since boyhood, and Zenny enjoys the lifestyle, too.  They get out camping at every opportunity, year-round, even ice-fishing in the winter, which sounds very cold to me. 

Smokey looks well pleased with the river!

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Then we took Smokey  to the lake, for a swim, and came back home for a family barbecue. A great day!

It gladdens my heart to see happy, well-loved dogs. Zenny calls him "my puppy-boy" which reminded me of Pup, always "my boy", forever missed, in my heart.

We had four dogs at the barbecue. The highlight  was Smokey making an agile leap, from standing, right  up onto the center of the picnic table. Yikes! He didnt spill a thing though.

 I  was so enraptured by Smokey's beauty, I had to remember to include some photos of the humans.

Frisbee in the yard - fun for dogs and humans!

The table was bountiful - that's how we roll, around here!

 A great big armful of wriggly puppy joy.

I swear this dog is laughing, all the time.

This morning they headed north-Island, which has a few small communities, and much beautiful wilderness, as yet untouched by the tourism and development that makes  the rest of the Island so busy. I wanted to hop in the car and go too!

Was so good to see them and to get the family together. Sigh. I miss them already and they've only been gone a few hours. Smoke reminds me of Pup. He has the same wolfish look, the intelligence, the humor. A happy boy, who thinks each day is a new opportunity for joy.  And, with him around, it is!