Hiking Adventures at Sheep Dung

More about the best place on earth (screw you, dogless-Disney)...

200 acres in 4 days = a LOT of ground to cover each and every moment we were awake and the sun was shining! I'm not sure if there is a rule about leashes or not, but I doubt it since it's a private property with only four isolated cottages sharing the massive space. The one time we did see other people/dogs was near the central pond, where I'm pretty sure most peoples hiking adventures end, and they were nice enough to give us a wide berth when I let them know that Z wouldn't welcome any greetings. Imagine that --- they were nice and didn't come back with the usual snarky comment. How very refreshing!

We did hike sans leash for the most part, especially once we got to the back end of the property where they were able to fully enjoy the rolling terrain. Luckily, most of the times when they might have been flight-risks (with the sudden appearance of rabbits, deer, and even little piggies) I happened to be standing within arms reach. Of course, there were a couple of times when I wasn't able to stop the inevitable and they turned into little dots on the horizon as they chased their 'prey'. Thank goodness for all of my training; I knew enough to yell goodbye, walk away, and hide until they came flying back, looking for me. They know that there is nothing better than us together.

Enough words, here are way more photo's than anyone wants to see of someone else's vacation...
(click on pix to view larger)

Bolt-"Heh heh, this bench says 'dung', heh heh."
Zainey-"Shut up, Beavis"

It was all so much fun. Exhausting (hit my first 25,000 step day on my pedometer...that's over 10 miles), but very relaxing as well. I packed so much for the trip, but forgot two very key items - my toothbrush and Z's medication. Whoops! Turns out a washcloth makes a decent enough toof' cleaner when you're only kissing dogs and if Z hikes between 5-10 miles a day, and is living in the middle of nature, there is no place in her little body and brain for her usual anxiety.  Hmph... I guess that confirms it, I need to retire and move to the country. Oh well, that's not in the cards for a long, long time.

At least we have our memories ...

Heaven is a Place Called Sheep Dung

Sheep Dung Properties operates two separate ranch properties a couple hours north of San Francisco and I have to say, I did not know heaven was located so close to home!

To get to the property, you turn off a somewhat hidden road at the edge of the quaint town of Boonville and pass through a flourishing vineyard before meandering up, up, up a windy dirt road that takes you to your private hideaway. The pups and I stayed at the Breezeway cottage and I have to say that it was probably the best time either of them have ever had.

The cottage was wonderful; clean, hardwood and tile floors, comfortable furnishings, and well stocked with everything a person would need to 'move in' (and boy did I want to). The view from the adirondacks of the valley below was absolutely picturesque, the hammock positioned under the oaks was the perfect place to enjoy the complimentary wine, and the grill did my salmon up nice and yummy, but the best part was what surrounded it all - several fenced acres for my pooches to roam and sniff and explore and even disappear from sight (gasp).

It was fabulous to pull up to our place and open the gate that would keep us in our own world for just a few splendid days and it was interesting to watch how each dog responded to this new setting. With little training and even less impulse control or fear, Bolt didn't even wait for me to open the car door. Up, over, and out the window he flew. Z had a slightly different approach (which, for our 'real world' makes me very happy); she stayed, even when I opened the car door and walked away, even at my first attempt to call her out, she stayed. She finally did get out though and after a few hesitant sniffs and encouraging words and pats from me, she remembered she was a dog and quickly took to running and sniffing and bounding around like the country dog I know and love.

We spent the first afternoon and night just hanging around our place, getting acquainted with everything there, and making sure that every inch of ground was touched by at least one of our paws.

Minus a little motion sickness on the way up for the little guy, it was a great first day in our very mini-escapcation (escape-vacation) and we couldn't wait to get up the next day to go see what the other 200 acres of the property had to offer (oh, did I not mention that part!?) ...

More to come in Part II

On My Way to Success and Why Dogs are Superior to People

Thought I would be back to a semi-regular blogging schedule. Oh well. I was wrong. It's been seven weeks since I said I was back - how very discouraging! But, life happens. Every single day, life happens. Somehow the crap and not-so-fun-stuff seems to squish out much of time for the things that I enjoy. Sick of it.

Also, I know it's supposed to be 'Wordless Wednesday', but I've been 'wordless' in too many other areas of my life and I'm sick of that too.
I guess all that is left to do is to try again since I'm apparently just on the road to success...
"Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." -Dale Carnegie

(Uhhh ...whatever, Dale. If this were true, I'd be living in my castle by now!)

Pictured below are two of the reasons why I have not had time for blogging recently (and the only two reasons that don't completely suck I might add. Although, they too have been quite the little handfuls lately!)

He doesn't quite grasp the 'selfie'

She's better at this than I am!

And now ...Why I will always prefer the company of dogs:

They use their senses to know how my day was, not Facebook or Twitter. They play with me when I am happy and lick my face when I cry. They genuinely seem to care; several times a day my pups are there just to 'check in' with me.

Their default is happy, or at least content. There's no reason for my dogs to have a 'smile' across their muzzles when they are just hanging out, but they often do. 

They will try anything once, for better or worse, their fear of adventure is minimal. Chase a skunk, swim in fast current, eat food that's too hot. They live and learn, but they rarely say no unless they've learned the hard way that something will hurt them. They LIVE!

They are good for my health. They increase oxytocin levels and reduce stress and blood pressure in people. For reals. There's real science behind it. Look it up yourself, I'm not your link guru.

They give freely of themselves in exchange for affection and food. How many people do you know will give so much and not expect something more than just who you are and the love (and treats) you have to share?

They don't criticize me or what I do or tell me I picked the wrong park to take them to play. They know how to appreciate in ways few people ever do.

They live here and now in this moment and will do the same again in the next. Z and Bolt will play and play and play and sometimes Bolt really annoys her. She might snap at him and that's okay because there's another moment right after this one where they'll be playing again like nothing happened! They don't hold grudges!

...People could really learn a thing or two if they really, truly paid attention to a dog now and then.

So, to sum up - I know this post may be all over the place and cryptic, but I super don't care at all... I'm done being 'wordless' and may or may not be on the road to success, but at least I've chosen the best possible traveling companions!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Dirty Doggy Edition!

Almost 'wordless' with just a bit of funky music!

Dirty Doggy!...

...Gross Doggy!

Happy Doggy!