The birds are in full chorus heralding the arrival of summer on a day that promises to be a scorcher. To beat the heat, Noah, Ellie, and I have headed out in the early morning, walking along a shady towpath in Kintnersville.
These daily outings are the highlight of Noah and Ellie’s day, even taking precedence over mealtime. As evidence are two half-full dog bowls at home that Noah and Ellie abandoned in their excitement to be out and about. The time that we spend together outdoors is very special to all of us, giving Noah and Ellie an opportunity to work off energy and explore their world, and me an opportunity to clear my mind and enjoy all that nature has to offer while enjoying the companionship of my funny and good-natured canine companions.
No sooner do we step foot on the towpath than Noah and Ellie spy a bunny up ahead. They momentarily freeze, mesmerized by the sight, then simultaneously charge. Unfortunately, they come to a cartoon-like screeching halt at the end of their leashes, any attempts at chase foiled. Along those same lines, it brings to mind the old Bugs Bunny cartoons with Elmer J. Fudd whose attempts to “Kill the wabbit” are always frustratingly thwarted.
It’s a day for wildlife sightings, as further along Noah dives into the brush to pursue a quarry that greets him with a startling snarl. Ellie dashes over, not wanting to miss a moment of the excitement, but soon both are backing away from a very unfriendly and defensive ground hog. Foiled again!
Summer is in full swing and wildflowers abound, today’s walk resulting in a tally of 23 different varieties. Included are cleavers, so named because they stick to one’s clothes like Velcro making them excellent hitchhikers, which enables them to disperse their seeds. Also on the list is white avens, the roots of which can be chopped, roasted and then steeped in boiling water to make a chocolate flavored drink, while the upper parts can be used to make a tea to treat a number of physical ailments.
On our return journey we experience a surprise encounter with a great blue heron, spooking one and all. In contradiction to its gangly appearance, the heron takes off in graceful flight. Our walk at an end, Ellie and Noah leap into the back of my SUV where they slurp gustily from their water bottle.
Jonathan Swift once wrote, “Every dog must have his day.” For Ellie and Noah, this day and every day is a dog day.
Note: The rescue organization that I adopted Ellie from, Good World Animal Rescue and Protection, is looking to bring a number of dogs and cats who are in dire straits stateside over the next few weeks from Turkey, Kuwait and Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, many don’t yet have adopters here in this country. If you think you might be interested in fostering or adopting, please go to petfinder.com and search dogs from Good World and also visit the Good World website at gwarp.org.
Cindy Woodall resides in Upper Black Eddy.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
