Walking at Home

It's time for another post in which I obsess about living here. This goes back to Memorial Day weekend, when Mike and I basically sat at home and hit the reset button for a change. We took the dogs for a walk right in the back yard. I knew there was a little hunting trail in the woods behind the pasture, but we had never really explored it.

I had just played a game of fetch with Herbie, and she was already pooped. Still, she was excited to tag along on an adventure. I kept Julio on a leash because I don't trust him  not to put his nose to the ground and run off tracking something. Better safe than sorry.

We walked past the horse pastures and Tookie watched us go. Herbie bounded along next to Mike while Julio explored all the things.

I paused to take a picture from the back of the pasture. The view of the property from the woods is one of my favorites, but I never remember to bring my camera when I'm back there.

We walked down the trail and chatted and day dreamed about calling this place our own. What would it be like to build a cabin back in the woods, away from the road. Would we clear the woods to make more horse pasture, or keep this little secluded spot as our own little secret?

Herbie was pretty hot and tired already, she she kept taking breaks in the shade. She looked so content.

Julio was busy rolling around in something dead and looking quite pleased with himself.

By then, Herbie was ready for more, and I took a picture of her eager little face.

Some time later, we passed a fallen tree. Where the roots had pulled out of the ground was a really muddy puddle full of tad poles. Herbie splashed right in, dropping her ball in the process. She got herself nice and filthy before diving in to retrieve her toy. I was choking with laughter watching her snorkel in an attempt to find it.

Soon after, we crossed a lovely little stream. Herbie was already self cleaning and didn't look like she'd just been rolling around in a mud puddle. This is for those of you who have asked me how I keep her so clean. I really don't. She gets disgusting and then she kind of gets clean on her own. I do bathe her when she stinks.

We eventually hit a spot where the trail got narrow and hard to follow. I think the landlord is in the process of clearing it, and it will be interesting to see if it expands in the future. We turned back for home, taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Herbie wasn't done being gross yet and rolled in dead stuff too. This is the point at which both dogs qualified for baths.

We emerged from the woods, happy and dirty. The horses watched us make our way back towards the house.

Needless to say, the dogs got washed when we got upstairs. They were both tuckered out and promptly went their separate ways to take naps.

It's nice to have a little bit of woods to call our own. It's not a lot of trail, but it's enough to take a walk on a busy day without having to get in the car and drive somewhere, or walk down the road past other people's barking dogs. I love having a place where I can safely let Herbie off leash without breaking any rules. I see a lot more wandering in the woods in our future.