October's End

After a busy month filled with work travel, vacation, and spooky season adventures, we reached the end of October this week.  The weather has been exceptional all month, and this week was no different.  While we are definitely seeing colder night temperatures and have woken up to a frosty world a few days this week, we also had a couple of days with temperatures in the mid-70s, and I was able to enjoy a last hurrah wearing my shorts and my favorite Teva sandals.  

This final week of October also allowed us to slow down a bit with all of our Halloween events done and nothing left but Halloween day itself to celebrate. It also gave Smokey time to start to settle into our routine and adjust to being here with us.  While he's been here just over a week, by Monday, he had pretty much fit right in and was figuring out the rhythm of our daily life.  His introduction into our home has been pretty seamless.

When we had an absolutely gorgeous fall day on Tuesday, he was happy to join the girls outside during the day while I worked.  He sniffed and explored, barked at Cody our neighbor dog, tried to play with the annoying dogs behind us, and eventually just relaxed in the sun with Mina.  Of course in between all of that fun were some trips inside for a meal, a good chew on a bone, and a nap.  I'd say it was a good day for all three of the pups in my house.

When the day ended, I was being stared (and whined) at by three dogs ready for some fun.  I decided we'd head out to Eaton Rapids for our evening adventure.  There is a dog park in Eaton Rapids with a decent sized fenced area for Mina to play ball and everyone to run and stretch their legs, and there are literally never any other dogs there.  I've been to this park several times with the girls and never encountered  another person or dog, so I figured it would be a safe spot for a visit with the three dogs.

Smokey explored along with Peaches while Mina and I played ball for a bit, and I enjoyed the beautiful leaves still remaining on the tree there.  We stayed there for about 35 minutes playing before I got everyone back in the car to head into town for a walk before sunset.

Of course I couldn't resist trying to get a picture of the group in this little pocket park that is always decorated with a Charlie Brown Halloween theme.  We're still working on getting Smokey to actually look at me when I'm taking a picture.

After our quick photo stop, we continued down the sidewalk through town and finally made it to the riverwalk.  It isn't a long path, but we always enjoy our walk along the river and to Island Park when we're in town.  It was just getting dark when I arrived back at the car after a two mile walk, and I loaded everyone into the car for the drive home.  It was a quiet drive home, and after dinner, everyone settled in for a quiet night.  

The dogs had a lazy Wednesday morning while I worked.  Since it was another beautiful 75 degree day, they also spent a lot of time outside enjoying what is likely the last of our 70 degree days for the year.

After work, I headed out to the shelter for our Wednesday night dog walk.  Caddy and Lt. Cable are just two of the dogs that joined us.  It was such a beautiful night for a walk, and it was our final Wednesday night walk before daylight savings ends, and we spend the next 3 1/2 months walking in the dark, cold, and snow.  

Halloween Day arrived on Thursday, and we had rain in the forecast for the middle of the day along with a wind advisory, so I took an early lunch and got the dogs out for some fun.  

It was a successful late morning outing.  We stayed dry, everyone had fun, and after eating lunch when they got home, everyone settled in for a quiet afternoon while I worked.  We didn't get the rain that was forecast, and the wind wasn't terrible, so there were a few afternoon trips to the yard, and I was excited to get them to all look at me for a picture before I gave them their special Halloween treats I had gotten for them, in addition to some pumpkin from the pumpkin I had carved on Wednesday.  They all loved their special pumpkin treat.
 

After work, I got them all dressed in their costumes and we headed outside for my customary outdoor Halloween pictures.  Mina and Peaches were very good girls for their photo shoot.

It took a little work, but eventually even Smokey sat nicely for a picture or two.  I was very proud of how well everyone did.

Then we headed inside so that they could eat dinner, take a potty break, and be ready for the trick-or treaters.

It was a long, quiet evening, with only six trick-or treaters visiting us for the evening, but everyone handled the excitement well and then happily napped the evening away.

I was sad that we hadn't gotten more kids because I love Halloween, but it wasn't a total bust.  I was pretty impressed at how well Smokey just settled in with his costume too.  He's a very good boy.

I was also excited to get an update on Fiona's first time out trick-or-treating.  She loved her costume and was so excited to go.  She spent about 30 minutes out in their neighborhood before they headed home to hand out candy.  She loved her Halloween experience.

I also made the most of the quiet time to get some work done, including prepping 12 lbs of meat to freeze for Peaches future meals.

I also cleaned and roasted pumpkin seeds...

and I roasted the pumpkin from my jack-o-lantern to add to the girls meals.  I left some out for meals over the next few days, and also have a bowl in the freezer for later.  This week, I plan to roast more of the pumpkins that I have been using for decorations and freeze it to feed to the girls throughout the Winter.  It's so easy to do and so good for them, and I hate to see all of that pumpkin go to waste.

We were up early on Friday morning to take Smokey to his vet appointment with Dr. Jason.  We were the first appointment for the day, and this silly boy immediately lifted his leg and peed on the wet floor sign as soon as we walked in the door.  Luckily, the rest of his appointment was much less eventful.

He got a thorough check up, some vaccinations, preventatives, and a good nail trim.  He was a very good boy.  After examining the cyst on his eyelid, the decision was made to do a session or two of cryotherapy to help shrink the cyst to make it smaller before surgery to remove it so that there will be sufficient skin on his eyelid to close after surgery.  I was so impressed with how well he did with the cryotherapy so close to his eye.  He was such a good boy that we stopped for a McDonald's hashbrown as a special treat for him on the way home.  He has to go for a follow-up appointment in two weeks, and I'm hopeful we'll be able to get his surgery scheduled at that time.  

The rest of my Friday was filled with work, a trip to have lunch with my parents for their anniversary, and more work in the afternoon.  I got the dogs out for a little adventure after work, but we didn't have much time before it was completely dark. Then we came home for dinner and a trip outside for a potty break before Peaches put herself to bed and Mina and Smokey made themselves comfortable in the living room for the evening.

We had a chilly start to our Saturday morning, but I was excited for the day.  It started with a trip to the shelter for our Saturday morning dog walk.  I was able to walk Ogo, the GSP.  He is a gorgeous all black boy and he is super sweet.  The sun was out and it was actually a really nice morning for a walk.  We were able to get four dogs out of the shelter and they all had a wonderful time.

After all of the dogs were settled back into their kennels, Smokey, the girls, and I were off for a visit with Tom and Barb and a play date with Ruby and Sherman.

The weather was beautiful and everyone was happy to be there.  Peaches spent her time exploring the yard.  Mina spent nearly the entire visit playing fetch.

Ruby took turns getting love from each of us and then sitting or laying in the grass to watch for squirrels.  I sure do love that little girl!

Smokey and Sherman spent most of the day lounging in the sun, while the girls were all busy. 

I brought a special treat for the group, and I was so excited that we got them to all stay nicely for a picture.  

We had a great visit and a quiet drive home.  The dogs ate a late lunch when we got home and settled in for a quiet evening.  The 6:27 sunset is the latest sunset we'll have for quite awhile now since daylight savings time ended last night, and we're in for several months of sunsets in the 5 o'clock hour.  Ugh!

The original forecast for today showed rain for most of the day, and I thought we might just have a quiet day at home.  However, the forecast changed, and the weather today was beautiful with temperatures near 60 degrees and a few peaks if the sun.  So after a slow start to our morning, I decided to take advantage of the weather and get the dogs out for a hike on the North Country Trail because I have nearly 27 miles left to reach 100 for the year, and I don't want to spend too many of those miles hiking in the cold and snow.  

After a nice drive through the countryside, we arrived at the corner of Noonan and Sheffield roads in Barry County, just North of the Kalamazoo county line.

I decided to start with a walk on the the road walk portion of the trail that follows Noonan Rd.  I figured this would give us a chance to burn a little energy and have everyone potty before we got into the woods.

It was a beautiful two mile walk along the road, and we arrived back at the trailhead just after 1pm.

The Chief Noonday chapter of the trail association was holding an event from 1pm-3pm today, so there were volunteers at the trailhead greeting hikers and handing out snacks. 

We stopped for a brief chat, and I was able to get the girls to sit nicely for a picture before we entered the woods for the rest of our hike.

It was beautiful in the woods, and the dogs enjoyed sniffing and exploring along the way.  The trail had been set up as a story walk and had some pumpkins hidden along the way as a way to get kids and families out on the trail.  It was a great idea and I hope they do something like this again next year because Fiona would love it.

The story walk was 1 mile out and back, but we continued on through the woods enjoying the crunch of the leaves and the beauty of the woods.

There was still some fall color left and the views here were gorgeous. 

This section of the trail is on private property where the property owners have given right of way for the trail to cross.   I'm always grateful for the people willing to do this because it helps to get us off the road an into the woods.

We made a quick stop for a picture at this lovely NCT bench.  It took some work, but I was happy that I was able to get at least one picture with everyone in it.

Shortly after this spot, we reached the road and turned around to head back to the trailhead and end our hike.

I'm not sure how I've missed this completely green Maple tree on our hike out, but it looked beautiful against the yellow tree behind it.

We finally reached the trailhead and I walked just a short distance down the road so we could complete a total of 5.25 miles for the day.  

When we were done, the volunteer at the trailhead offered to take our picture and somehow we got everyone to cooperate for a picture.   Then we loaded up the car to make the drive home.

We arrived back in Lansing before 4pm, and I stopped for gas and made a quick trip into Kroger for a few items, and then we stopped for a treat at Twisters because it's their final day of the season and everything was 25% off today.  The dogs shared a doggy sundae and I enjoyed my peanut butter shake, and we made it home for the Lions game against the Packers.  

After dinner and one final trip outside just after our 5:27pm sunset, the girls have put themselves to bed and Smokey has settled in for a nap on the dog bed.  I'm so glad we had such a nice day and were able to get out to enjoy it!  Now we start start the process of adjusting to the long, dark nights of late fall and winter.