Fall Leaves

A walk in the park today found me these beauties.

 

Three Dogs on My Wagon. 9.23.2020

Wally (Wall-E) is still with us.  He is adapting to life with the Webers.  This Sunday we are heading for the coast for a 4 day camping trip.  Of course Wally has never been in the trailer.  It will be fun exposing him the Pacific Ocean.  I bet he will love it.  To get ready Randa and I are taking short trips in the truck with all three boys.  For Hunter and Quam, this is "old hat".  Wally came home from Hounds Rest in the truck so it isn't his first time.  But getting in and out and occupying that back seat space with the two boys is a new learning experience.  To make that easier, we are taking this short trips.  

   Yesterday it was Eco Park in the north part of Canby. A nice walking trail  with sunshine filtering through the tall firs.   Today it will be another

Wally the contortionist.  Is he trying to outdo the stuffed dog?

park to explore.  The rain will not stop us.

    Hunter can leap up into the back seat in one magnificent bound.  I'm sure Wally will be able to do it  too, he just needs to be trained.  He is definitely smart enough and strong enough.   We will practice again today.  I will keep you posted.

The Smoke is Gone !

 The Skies are blue.  The sun has been out for a few days.  Life is good.  Right now the the clouds have moved in and we are due for several days of showers.  The rain will be welcome.  We had the awesome Thunder storm at 3am a couple of nights ago.  It dumped several inches of rain on us in a very short time, much of it was lost in run-off.  The rain we receive in the next few days will be slower, gentler and much more useful.  

    We have several solar lights in our backyard.  They were inexpensive ones we bought at Home Depot.  They stay on for a few hours after sunset and then go dark.  During the thunder storm there was much lightning.  After each bolt the lights would blink on for a few seconds.  Evidently lightning can charge solar batteries also, at least briefly.   

Three Dogs on My Wagon

Things are progressing nicely.  Wall-E has pretty well figured out the routine.  If we have a routine.  The smoke from the wildfires has been with us for 10 days so we have been indoors most of the time.  When we did do walks, they were short.  I wore my N95 mask, but the boys were left unprotected.  The weather is slow to offer any help.  The rain predicted for the past Monday, didn't happen.  Same for Tuesday or today.  Tomorrow doesn't look good either.  Our current air quality number is 187.  Not good but a whole lot better than it has been.  We had numbers in the 400s.   

   In past years I have dreaded the end of the dry period.  Not this year.  Come on, rain !  I'm typing this at 4:35.  The big boys are starting to get restless.  Running up and down the hallway, trying to get my attention.  Evidently they thing I am not smart enough to know that it's almost time for their late afternoon walk, which is followed by supper. 

Our noontime walk.

  

Three Dogs on My Wagon Day 3 and 4

 Friday,  I walked the boys under dark orange skies.  It was very eerie.  The only light was a bright redness in the north, the direction of the edge of the smoke cloud.  The boys didn't seem to mind, but I worried about their breathing.  I was wearing , my M95 mask which is not the least comfortable or stylish but effective.  I kept the walk short.

   Wally is doing great.  He seems to be adapting to our house and our rules.  Like any almost two-year old he explores everything, touches everything (with his nose).  Hunter accepts him but thinks of him as competition.  I have to hold Hunter to let Wally finish his food.  Friday morning he finished his meal and tried to get into Wally's.  I now sit nearby and supervise.

   Walking is getting better although three dogs at a time is a challenge.  I perform  quite a dance  during our walks.  I bet I look very rather comical.

   Saturday, the orange skies are gone.  Gray skies replaced them.  Just as bad.  Just as deadly.  The pollution level was near 400.  We spent most of the day indoors.

   

Three Dogs on my Wagon Day 2

Day 2 was Thursday.  What a day!  Wally was fine.  He is coming along fine.  Being a young guy, he is active, always checking things out.  It's like having another two-year old in the house again.  Smelling everything.  Grabbing anything that is lying around, most of the time hearing the words UH UH,  or NO.  Basically, he's learning his boundaries.  You can tell that he is taking it all in.  

   Wally is different from Hunter in many ways.  He is smaller by several inches and probably 15-20 pounds.    He is not as skiddish as Hunter.  He had no hesitation about using the sliding glass door.  Hunter needed to be pulled through the first time.  He is not leash-smart yet but is not freaked out when it wraps around his legs.  He is coming along.  

   The fires are a different problem.  Right now Oregon is ablaze.  About two dozen wild fires are burning in the state.  Several deaths and much destruction.  Portions of at least five towns have been burned.  Whole areas including several towns have been evacuated.  The Fire Bureau has set up a rating system for fire danger.  

   Class 1 - Be Careful Watch out for Hazards

   Class 2 - Fire Danger is close.  Have an evacuation plan. ( Where to go. What to do with animals.                              Prepare RVs. Gather up things that need to be saved.

   Class 3 -  Evacuate.  Get out. Now.

Yesterday  we were told that Canby was now in Class 2.  So we spent the afternoon and evening packing and sorting and loading.  Talking with our neighbors.  Deciding what to take and telling friends and relatives what was happening. Our truck and trailer were loaded and parked in front of the house ready to move out if necessary.  Some neighbors left. Most of us decided to stay and see what happens next.  We all had an app that would call us when the situation worsened.  We all vowed to call one another if we heard.    We went to bed wondering if our phones would ring during the night.

Three Dogs in My Wagon - Day 1

 Yesterday, Wednesday was my day to volunteer at Hounds Rest.  It was it's last day with occupants.  When I arrived there were six dogs there.  With the help of other volunteers from Greyhound Pet Adoption NW they are all at foster homes.  Foster homes provide a temporary home while these     dogs have been raised in a kennel.  They do not know houses, cars, stairs, garage doors.  This is what foster homes are about.  Transition.   The photo is of the vehicle that transports the dogs from Kansas back here to Portland.  

   That brings me to yesterday and the start of our 'foster  adventure'.   Randa and I decided that we needed to be a part of the grey's transition process.  So we have Wally.  Wally is a Fawn-Bryndle.  He is about 20 months old, still needing vetting plus meds for various "puppyhood" preventions.  I loaded him into the truck as we closed up HR.  He settled down pretty much right away for the ride home.  

    We spent the rest of the day mostly indoors, because of the smoke from all the fires nearby, but he explored most of the house, looking and smelling everything.  We kept a close eye on him so that there were no accidents, taking all of the boys "outside" (which means in the backyard ) for a potty break several times.  The day went well. No surprises.  Our boys have seemed to accept Wally and right now  he is asleep in front of the fireplace.

Wally is a young male about 18 months old.  He has not been fixed or vaccinated  and is a sweet boy.  He will be a great companion for his future family. 
 

Canby Car Show 2020

 How many car shows are there  in your area normally during the summer?  Lot, right.  It seems there  is one almost every week-end.  Not it 2020.  Not much of anything, right?

  Well, Canby had one last Saturday.  This one was sponsored by Cuthberts IGA and run by the Rotary club.  But you have to give them credit for the ingenious plan for making it happen and keeping it safe for everyone.   It  was  a "drive through" event.  The event was held at the county fairgrounds.  The vehicles were parked about 10 feet apart on both sides of a route  that wound through the fairground property.  The route was well marked with ropes and flags and masked guides were there to help keep everyone on course.  

    Lots of vehicles.  Lots of variety.  Old - New,  Hot Rods, Customs, Pick ups, Drag Racers,   I think that it was the best show that Canby has ever had probably because it was "the only show in town".  It was a chance to get the rig out of the garage.  Here are some photos.

Love old Porsches.  This Speedster is nice

You don't see many Dodges at shows.  Especially convertibles.

Anybody know what make this is?

My personal favorite.  We had one like it.  Had 2 kids and dog at the time.  Loved it.