A QUICK VISIT TO MY FAVORITE HAUNT

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I really wasn't going to put an entry in the blog about today but, I thought, why not?  I paid no particular attention to taking good pictures and this morning was very overcast with about 25 mph wind making good photography challenging with the little Elph Canon Camera.  I've discovered that Falcor, being so light in color, is always over exposed in my photos.   He's just the opposite of Shade, who is pure, glossy black, making her images look solid black without shades and shadows mixed over the image.  The reason is that the camera is metering the lighted areas and adjusting the exposure to correspond.  If I could hold the camera down to the dog and set an exposure reading, then back up and take the picture;  the animals would receive the proper exposure.  But, alas, dogs just won't hold still for that kind of exposure manipulation.  I really am not that concerned about it anyhow.  Many photos of Falcor are blurred because I don't have control of shutter speed with the Elph camera.  I wanted to capture his joy and love of life.  I will, however, attach a fast lens on the big Canon next time for the specific purpose of photographing him.  He is a lively, fun loving dog and deserves to have all those movements and facial expressions captured.  Enough of the excuses for bad photography.   Before I move to the actual blog entry;  the family got together when Falcor and I returned home and I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for us all.  I splurged and gave each a whole sandwich.  We talked about their morning and then kicked back for a nap.  Well;  its Thanksgiving!  And I give thanks that I'm in a position to offer the best of a wholesome life to these wonderful friends of mine.  My reward is their absolute and total devotion to me.  It's wonderful!

Looks like Falcor has a good spot

Darling little Happy;  the velcro dog.  She has selected a place to rest as close to me as possible.

Shade grabbed her favorite spot at my feet, under the computer desk.  She has made it clear that no other entity lays in that spot.

Sweet little Chestnut;  the timid hound who listens better than any of the others, accept Falcor.  Everyone else laid down so she figured she may as well lay down also.  Funny!

And, last but certainly not least is Homer, who was brought home by my golden boy Douglas when he was a puppy.  Douglas simply walked into the kitchen one morning with a little gray kitten at his heels.  They both stepped to his food bowl and shared his food.  Homer's been with us ever since.  He thinks he's a dog.





The state boat was at Madisonville Marine located in the town of Madisonville near my old home of Greenback.  I took it there to have a cold weather starting problem repaired and they called yesterday informing me it was ready to go.  I am off today but, then I love this job so much that working is just as good as being off.  Falcor and I saddled up at 5:30 AM and down the road we went.  I won't get into the usual morning's interstate struggle as I've probably worn that story out by now.  
Falcor is a great passenger in the truck.  He is very laid back and low key.  He sits straight up beside me like a little guy for a few miles and eventually lays down and stretches out with his head on my leg and falls instantly to sleep.  We did stop at the interstate exchange for an egg and cheese croissant that I halved with him.  I wasn't very hungry at all.
As we pulled into Maryville and picked up Route 411, I thought I might introduce Falcor to the old state park.  We were early, as I always am, and would be driving right past the park and Wildlife Management Area (WMA). 

As I drove to my favorite parking place; the old feelings and memories started.  I tried to push them away and focus on Falcor but, they crowded in.  I wanted Falcor to walk the same paths that my boy Douglas walked.  This was without a doubt one of Douglas's favorite places to visit. 

This old state park has been a blessing for the dogs.  I brought them here, some weeks, every evening through the Summers for eight years.


Shades of Brown

The beautiful fields and meadows-I used to refer to them as shades of brown in Wintertime.  The dogs had room to grow out there and to learn.  But mostly;  they could just be dogs and act like dogs were supposed to act.

Falcor walked directly at my left, a foot away from me.  No leash is needed out here.

Many different dogs have walked this path over the years.  Some were temporary rescue dogs who needed some time away from the fence.  Those have gone to folks who have adopted them.  I remember them all and a few stand out in memory as outstanding dogs.
Now, a new member of the family walks the same path that all the nobile ones walked, who came before him.

Then, the two stone pillars appeared on the left, indicating we were at the ruins and sadness started to overcome me.  I looked at Falcor and suddenly I felt better.  I talked to him, as I always do with all members of my family.  I explained to him why this place was so important to me, and now to him.  I guess I just wanted to hear myself talk.  My words were for my own ears as much as for Falcor's.

"Falcor;  see that old tree over there?  Douglas used to run straight to it and plunge his entire head inside that hole.  He loved to chase the squirrels and they would always run into that big hole."

"Look here boy.  There's the stone steps.  I have written many journal pages while sitting on those steps.  Douglas would join me after chasing squirrels,  by lying down beside these steps in the shade.  He would wait until I was done writing.  As soon as I would stand, he would be on the move toward the trail.  He was always ready to move out."

"Falcor;  you are walking where a very great dog once walked.   He was a king and a master of his environment.  He, in his innocence, could do no wrong and blessed the wilds with his presence and bearing."

I sat down and played with Falcor.  He was enjoying the moment.  He's such a happy little guy!

Falcor is lightning fast.  I wish I had the big camera to stop motion.  He's a typical happy, healthy, young Golden Retriever.

We had a few minutes left to spend on the trail before going back.  I wanted to walk down the road to nowhere, as I call it.

The leaves were really falling off the trees.  Soon the limbs would be bare and Winter would be upon us.  We are ready.  The old road is so very familier and the memories many.  I've watched many dogs trot down this road heading for the old cut off that puts them at the lake's shoreline.

"Falcor look;  the path to the shore.  Many great, great dogs have used this trail to swim in the water of the lake.  Verdan, Olmandine, Robin, Wren, Vivie, Turnip, Analine, Spruce, old Sigh, Happy, Chestnut, and Shade; to name only a few.  They were all here and they were all shown the way by the greatest;  Douglas, the Golden Dog;  the Golden Retriever and the love of my life.  And now you, Falcor, join them here, in this most important place, on the soil that will not see many of them again.  You are the prince who will follow in the footsteps of Douglas and someday, like him,  you will be a king."


The waves and water are just a little scary for him. 



I had to go to the end of the road to see if the tree was still hanging off the cliff.  
"See that tree ahead, Falcor?  Douglas tried to walk down the length of it from the cliff, slipped and fell off.  He frightened me very much.  Don't you ever try that."
I had had enough and was ready to leave.  I let Falcor inspect the immediate area for a while before we left.

It was time to leave.  They should be turning the key in the lock to open the boat shop.  I'm glad I visited here today.  I'm happy Falcor could walk here.  It is a special place.  It holds so many special memories for me;  memories that are more near and dear to me than any I've previously known.  One special friend has cemented the bond between me and a canine family.

Thank you Douglas, for giving me your life and all the many happy memories associated with it.  I will always love you and hold you in my thoughts and in my heart.  You were magnificent in stature, and as a companion.

"Falcor is a great little guy, Douglas. I think you would approve of him and find him worthy to follow in your paw prints. All he needs is time. I remember your growing pains well. You drove me crazy when you were a puppy. But, you made me so very proud of you when you grew up. You're driving me crazy even now. Please look approvingly upon Falcor. He will make you proud of him. I know he will. He's following the same path you took on your way to being great. But never fear great golden dog; there will only be one master of the wilds, and one only. You have that position filled. We'll talk again. I'll see you later Douglas. I miss  boy!

FALCOR'S FIRST DAY ON THE JOB & AN OLD, OLD CEMETERY

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Falcor and I walked out the door of the house at 5:30AM today and jumped into the state truck to head to the lake.  This was his first day on the job as a state worker.  Neither of us knew what to expect from the other.  My state boat was in the shop getting the motor looked at as it wouldn't start two cold mornings ago.  That meant I would have to drive the truck from shoreline to boat ramps seeking out anglers fishing from dry land.  Actually, that would probably be beneficial to Falcor on his first outing.

Falcor laid on the seat with his front paws resting on my thigh and his muzzle in the crook of my right arm.  This is a strong sign that he and I are bonding very well.  The little guy has impeccable manners.  He is quiet and easy going.  It's hard to believe he is only 7 months old.  The trainer did a wonderful job bringing out his personality.  We arrived at Quarryville Boat Ramp after about an hour of driving.  A gravel road skirts the edge of shoreline that borders the boat ramp, and lays alongside a few acres of woods.  There is usually a fisherman or two fishing from that shoreline.  I was in luck.  One lone angler was sitting in a fold away chair beside his pickup truck drinking coffee and waiting for a fish to attack him.  I interviewed him and collected the data I needed and moved on around the peninsula.   I have never had the leash off Falcor to date and noticed how nice he just walked beside me, constantly looking up at me.  That's another good sign.  I reached down and removed the leash.  He walked beside me as if it were still attached.  Wonderful!

I found myself wishing he would move away a little bit and sniff at things and loosen up some.  I don't expect him to be a lap dog at all.  He can move about at will as long as it's within my eyesight.  I looked through the tree branches into the woods and saw a tomb stone.  Ah ha;  something to explore. 

What in the world is this place?  The cemetery is all grown up and the stones are toppled on many of the graves.  It appears that no one cares enough to even put the stones back in place.

This is a remarkable old cemetery.  Many of the stones date back to the 1700's and the majority are 1800 vintage.  Wonder what the story is here?  I don't have room on my plate for two investigations at this time.  Scona Lodge has all my attention but, I will get back to this cemetery.

Look at the dates on these stones.

It would be interesting to look up the genealogy for some of these people

Check out the date on the stone above.

We had to move on.  There were no more fishermen on the shoreline.  We would drive South to an accessible shoreline that was still in the area of my responsibility for the day.

Falcor was doing fine.  I am convinced he does not require a leash when we are in big country.  He stays with me at all times.  The leash would only be necessary when moving vehicles were present.  He's doing great!  Falcor has never been in the big outdoors.  His only introduction to the great outdoors was a yard.  The world is his to explore, and he is exploring it.  Nothing gets past his nose.  He will eventually be confronted by Great Herons, Gulls, Coots, Deer, Bear and unfortunately he will eventually meet up with Wild Boar..  But, he will be a much smarter dog when he meets the Boar.  He'll no doubt have that meeting at Calderwood Lake.  That's Wild Boar country.  The Chilhowee Lake shoreline opposite the Route 129 side of the lake is filled with Wild Boar also.  Perhaps the old Scona Lodge site will produce a Boar for him.  I will be there with him.  Not to worry.
Falcor has never seen a lake, let alone step into one.  He did for the first time today.  Falcor is indeed a water dog.  He did not swim, as that's a big step alone but, he almost was afloat retrieving a stick.  He's going to work out just fine.

At first, he tested the water.  He just walked out into it and stood there and stared at it.

Then he moved around a bit, getting used to the coolness of it and the new sensation of liquid surrounding his legs.

And then I threw the stick in.  He didn't give the water a thought.

All of a sudden he became really alive.  He made the discovery of how wonderful it is to be in water.  The amazing thing is that he brought the stick clear back to me and sat down and dropped it.

He was feeling joy and he was becoming full of himself, tossing the stick around and playing with it like the puppy he is.

Falcor was having the time of his life.  His education for the lakes and wilderness has begun.  He's done well on his first day,

In a day or two he will be on the Gheenoe motoring across Chilhowee Lake to the Scona Lodge site and, the big mountain country.  I guarantee he will be a tired little dog at the end of that day.

Falcor has proven he is up to the task.  He is young and I will not allow him to get into precarious situations. But, he needs challenged by things wild.  That's how he will learn.   He's a very smart little dog and learns quickly.  Already we have bonded very tightly.  He watches me intently and doesn't stray far.  He will range out further and further as he gets older but, that's fine as long as he responds to my calls to him.  I'll have to take him out alone for awhile as he will tend to follow the other dogs when in a pack.  I do not want that environment for him just yet.  I'll let the other dogs join us in a month or two.

Stay tuned in as another Scona Lodge site visit is scheduled this week if the weather cooperates.  Not sure it will at this point.