I figured out today that I probably spend at least an hour a day walking with my dog, many days it’s more than that and in every temperature and weather.  Andy is off on an adventure with brother/kids/dogs this week and so Lucy and I have spent a lot of quality time walking and quietly thinking.  (When Andy is around, he and I talk through all of the walks, but with just us girls, it is very quiet.)  I suppose I could carry on a conversation with her as she is a very good listener, but I think the neighbors might think I am nuts.  Lucy is 14 and she has gone from turbo speed hyper puppy to lady of leisure.  She is very enthusiastic to walk (once you wake her up) but she is no longer in a hurry to be the first one to get to everywhere.  She is also getting a bit deaf, so I am certain the neighbors who can hear me saying “Let’s go for a walk!  Do you want to go outside?” in an enthusiastic overly loud voice when I get home from work also think I am a bit crazy.  I think I can live with being the crazy dog lady.

The photo up above is from about 10 years ago.  Andy, his brother, Lucy and I went hiking at a place called “Jack Whacker” in Colorado, just before we moved to MN.  I got altitude sick, but Andy, Lucy & Chris hiked to the top of this basin and played in the snow while I lay in the sun with the tiny wildflowers at the bottom and watched.  By the time they got to the top and back again, everyone was worn out.