Sometimes you just need to get out, go for a walk, breathe clean perfect air, and appreciate the silence. And sometimes you need to do it all together, with the ones you love.

Me, my dogs and children have been working pretty steadily on designing and testing matches for our World Treibball League, re-writing curriculum for our puppy classes, trying new tricks, and working on life together. We’re actually always working on life together if I am being totally honest, sometimes it feels smooth and effortless, but other times a bit more like sticky peanut butter. After the holidays, everything feels a but sticky and seems to take more effort. And so the story goes. And so welcome the well needed outing.

Rhumb is pushing a whopping nine months of age now. Her recall and desire to stay with us has pretty much sucked up until about one week ago. Today she actually chose us, she wanted to walk in a group, play with her toy, and do lightening dashes back and forth. This is the first for real group photo, without me holding onto a long line with her attached at the other end. A big day in history for sure!

When Rhumb does a long fast out-run, her m.o. has been to keep going and make her out-run a dash for the state line. Today however, she would go out about 200 yards, turn, and hold a bow position until I kicked her toy out to her, or called her back. Her duration in this position was impressive, and super cute!

She loves dashing, at full speed, here and there and everywhere. Since the day we brought her home, when she was the size of a nugget, she has liked to run. Just run for running’s sake. It must feel so good to her. She is so strong, so agile, has so much power packed into her sexy little body. Watching her dash about gives you that feeling in your stomach when you go over those big roller coaster dips in a road and are going just a bit too fast. That is how she makes you feel when you watch her in motion.

$eeker will be nine this year, and he is just now starting to show his age in some ways. He was so charming today, just happy to be with us, toy or not, and have a day together. He had not one complaint about anything today, even Rhumb using him as a hurdle a couple of times!

And then there was this. For every 100 photos I take, I have one that surprises me. And this is that one. My Story, soon to be Eleven. He lay down in a snow field, and was just watching things, just enjoying the time. He has struck this pose often enough that it feels so deeply familiar, so comforting, so like home. To the moon and back, he is this awesome.

My house is currently quiet, everyone content. My children reading, my dogs sleeping, and the sun setting. This is my perfect, my nest, my joy, my contentment. So simple, so perfect, so complete.

Nancy