Many years ago, my friend Bob and I were interested in backpacking. We talked about and planned to do as many of the 47 High Peaks of the Adirondacks as we could.
Backpacking, although it had many devotees, was not as popular as it is now. You could climb for days and not run into anyone on the trails. Just the Park part of the reserve is over 2 million acres.
On the second trip, I brought my dog, Dobie. I had missed him too much on the first trip. He always slept by my side, so I figured he would be fine, despite the radical change in scenery. At that time I lived on the New Jersey bayshore.
We got to the trailhead in Keene Valley and hiked in. I believe we climbed Gothics (one of the 47) and came down for the night. The next morning Bob decided he wanted to climb another peak which was close. I was too tired, so he went on ahead, planning to spend the night on the trail while I remained where I was. We would meet up the next day when he came down. I had the two-man mountain tent and my sleeping bag.
So off he went at around mid-afternoon.
Dobie and I hung around our campsite and went for a little walk.
After supper when it got dark I settled down for sleep.
I began to realize just how small we were. Me and my little dog in this vast wilderness. It was also extremely dark. I had a little device that held a candle surrounded by a reflector that really worked, so I could read my Bible in comfort. Snuggled with my dog, reading my Bible I felt a sense of comfort–not fear. I blew out my candle and went off to sleep with my darling little dog.,
The next day, when Bob returned from his climb he asked how I was.
Great! I replied (and meant it).
Something had changed in me–profoundly. I had a sense of confidence, a feeling that I could handle whatever came down the pike. Spending the night alone in the wilderness can do that for you.
I could use some of that right now.
More to come tomorrow.
God bless everybody.
Patty
I never get tired of watching kittens getting goofy over mirrors. I had an anole once who’d go positively postal if he saw his reflection in a mirror; and I once saw a hamster get very grumpy about it. But kittens seem to be having fun.
It is said that clams are among the very few animals to recognize themselves in a mirror; but they don’t do anything about it.
From 2018
Well, my WordPress prombles are just about all straightened out, although it took a lot of doing. I was fortunate in finding a very patient tech support guy. He had to be patient: my computer vocabulary is not much better than a cat’s.
Anyhow, there are some gorgeous kittens in this little video, including a couple who have just learned, “Hey, I can make my tail get puffy!” Cats are so funny when they first figure that out.
My daughter adopted an 8 month old pit bull a number of years ago.
Her name is Boo. She was only about 8 months old when my daughter rescued her and the vet said that even at that age she had already had a litter. One of those cases where some lowlife grabs a beautiful dog, breeds her, gets a litter, then takes the money and runs, kicking the mother dog to the curb.
A couple of years later, my daughter and her husband went to a concert in Jacksonville. They stopped at a convenience store on the way home, and there, outside in the pouring rain they saw a tiny black kitten–so young that his eyes were still blue. The man who owned the store had been feeding him and keeping an eye on him.
Georgia (my daughter) brought him home and Boo was thrilled. At last, she had a baby again! She took over all care of him, washes, cuddles, kisses, etc. They are truly inseparable. Jax is a very big boy now, but every night Boo washes his face before bedtime and they sleep cuddled together.
Georgia also has another cat rescue and another dog. They all love each other, but Boo and Jax have a very special bond. The picture is of Boo and Jax. She has her arm around him even while enjoying a Bully stick.
We could all learn so much from the wonderful animals that God has sent us.
God bless everybody .
Patty
If a dog (or cat) can’t cheer you up, you’re pretty far gone.
I don’t know why, but most of the dogs in this video are into jumping, mostly on top of each other at inopportune moments. My favorite is the little fellow on the trampoline.
Go ahead, tell me dogs don’t have a sense of fun! But why else would you put on a high-energy threat display for the benefit of a broccoli or a strawberry? On second thought, don’t answer that.
A few of these clips have already appeared in other compilations–which only means that you can enjoy them again.
G’day! Welcome to another weekend of Quokka University TV, live from Rottnest Island. I’m your host, Byron the Quokka. We always show a TV Guide page to get you cranked up for our offerings. I do wish I could watch Make That Spare, from the Paramus NJ Bowling Center–and Prehistoric Women! Uncle Shinbone thinks it might be the best movie ever made.
Well, here are some of our listings. Sit back with a handful of nice chewy leaves, and enjoy it!
8:14 P.M. 08, 09 HOWLER MONKEYS (Nature). A glorious 28 minutes of Costa Rican howler monkeys screeching at the cameraman, the late Ivan Pitfall.
8:15 11 Barney Dottle, Police Defective (Crime Drama) Barney thinks he’s hot on the trail of a desperate gang of armed robbers, but his continual misinterpretation of clues leads him to arrest the attendees of a PTA meeting. Barney: Jack Palance. Mrs. Dogless: The Lennon Sisters.
12 Movie–Classic Tragedy
“The Naked and the Clothed” (1957) The Bowery Boys are caught napping when Nikita Khrushchev, posing as just another neighborhood character, tricks them into revealing America’s funniest military secrets. Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall. Khrushchev: Himself. Timon of Athens: Tim McCarver.
13 Battle of the Brains–Public Affairs
Pinky Lee hosts a debate between former U.S. Senator Biff Boff and Rep. Rosie Hejaz on the topic, “Should prayer be allowed in churches?” With Willie Sutton and his orchestra, and the June Taylor Dancers.
8:32 P.M. 03 Bowling For Dear Life–Sports/Drama
If you really need that medicine, you’d better bowl a strike! Up for grabs tonight: life-saving medicine, parole from Chateau D’If Prison, ownership of a home, graduation from law school, and other goodies. Join host Willis Twombley as he reminds the contestants, “No pressure!”
Some readers have complained that they can’t trust these TV listings unless my picture is published with them. So that’s me, right up there–and it’s TV time!