Surviving the 4th of July

There was a lot of "horsing around" lately.  We tagged along while some of Maria and Linnea's friends went on a Sunday trail ride.
 In addition I want to mention that Linnea has been working with Merlin a lot lately. Merlin is a quarter horse who is shy and insecure. In making him more confident she is taking him out to walk around the block, or she rides him almost daily. Getting him ready for a day ride soon..

We hiked for three hours up and down the hills in Harvey Bear Park.  Ralle was a "champ"!  Talk about staying power he just keeps going.  Ultimately we were all tired let me tell you.

Another so typical American West kind of outing was to the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show.  Typically Linnea rides in the parade but did not this year.  She was there every day during the eventful week end however.  We too had an opportunity for some excellent tickets.

There was the customary calf roping........

as well as children (of all ages, between five to eighty-five) showing off they're riding skills.

Not to forget their "outfits".

There was bronc riding

with several brave souls trying

to "hang on" for dear life!

There was barrel racing

and bull riding!

There was Tri Tip Sandwiches and beer, Nachos and Ice Cream!

You too would be hungry after a ride like this.  We felt starved just watching.  Team Penning is yet another popular event.

Now the 4th of July is past.  Celebrated here with a back yard BBQ consisting of steaks, corn on the cob, Jalapeño peppers, zucchini on the grill along with cole slaw and the quintessential dessert of blueberry-strawberry shortcake with a big dollop of whipped cream to include all the colors of the American flag.  Traditional ending of the day fireworks!  Not much to Ralles liking obviously, but he survived it.  With the cherry orchards around here using mock gunshots regularly, for weeks on end, in an effort to scare off the birds, he has gotten used to the sounds of gunshots believe it or not.  Yea, only in America!  Right.  What can I say...... Happy summer to you all!
Cherry season pretty well done.  Apricots now.  Peaches next!  A delicious time.

Ralle has Gone To The Dogs!

It has been A Dogs Life or should we say we have all gone Dog Gone Crazy!  Guess to be totally correct it is all of that.
First weekend here we went to the agility trials at Casa de Fruta.
Then there was the Rib Fest.....Weekend after that takes us to the Hollister Dog Days.  An annual event promoting responsible pet ownership.  There were booths where all sorts of information could be found.  Schutzhund demos, food galore,

Ralle is ready to take the "Canine Good Citizen Test".

lot's of people and dogs, dogs, dogs!  Both Ralle and Buddie tried out for the American Kennel Club "Good Canine Citizen Award" and naturally made it with flying colors.

There was heeling left, right, about turns, distracting situations such as a person and a bike, another dog,  a person with a walker , etc. Then a long down where we had to go and hide from our dogs for three minutes,  a recall among other things.  Fun!  Buddie and Ralle were STARS!

Ralle earned his Good Citizen Award.

Ralle got his button and is now waiting for a Diploma from the AKC.  Good dog Ralle and Buddie too.

Between the weekends there were some walks at some parks.

Taking Ralle to Christmas Tree Park is always a fun outing for him.

Then there was a week end for "The Wag and Walk"

Some of us (Buddie included) were off helping take care of the youngest grand kiddies down south near Los Angeles while their Mom was off on a Swedish visit.  But,

David, Maria and Ralle were in attendance for wagging and walking.  OK!  Perhaps Maria and David did not wag so much.....

Old Timers

Can say though that David was especially happy to check out some of the old trucks and farm equipment on display.

So, who knows? Maybe he too wagged a little!

Registering for our Canine Charity walk at Granite Rock Quarry.

The "Wag and Walk" is an event benefitting pet adoptions, spay and neuter clinics and  helping fund local pet shelters.

The attendance was good.  Dogs of every shape and size..... All right Ralle was the BIGGEST!

People walked, some ran with or without a pet companion.

Ralle, family, and good friends.

This fun group of people who came to walk with Ralle included one of Maria's favorite co workers.

Ralle enjoying the California Sun.

Cheering on at a Lure course race.

Yet another weekend we were off to the races!

A primarily sight hound event.

"Buddie", Ralle's buddy.

With Buddie trying Lure Coursing for the first time.  He LOVED it!

The surroundings were nice. Everyone had a great time.

Bixby Bridge in Big Sur.

So its true.  We have gone to the dogs.  In the "dog days of summer" oops, NO

The "dog days of summer" do not occur until the end of August or early September.  I stand corrected.  So there is a lot more DOG days coming up.

Ralle at the Pacific Ocean

The water is a little salty.

After all those many walks along the ocean in Sweden....in beautiful Jonstorp, Viken, Helsingborg, at Kullaberg and many places in between here we are on the Gold Coast. Amazing it is!  Ralle seems as at home here as there.  He is an ambassador for his breed no matter where he is.

As Ray had an appointment in Carmel the other morning Linnea, David and I with our wonderful dogs Ralle and Buddie decided to come along.  He dropped us off near Asilomar Beach near Monterey and we went exploring on the beach and on the many mile long beach walkways.  What a great morning it was!

Many years ago David and I used to go and spend special weekends at this place.  There is a convention center where we could rent a room very inexpensively,  if they had rooms left over..... for us this is a very special place indeed.

With scenery like this, how could one go wrong!

It was a good morning for all of us, especially Buddie and Ralle.  Loads of dog traffic here so a fun adventure for our two four footed friends. Loads of sniffing going on.

The sound of the water and the waves smashing against the rocks is both awesome and comforting.

Walking in wet sand too......

with the color of the water being truly aquamarine this particular morning...

Everyone was having fun.

watching lot's of folks having fun, playing in the water...

Ralle leaves his mark in the sand.

leaving our temporary marks in the sand ..

enjoying the wind, the view, the scent and the sound,

Linnea and Buddie.

 most of all having the pleasure of Linnea's company.  That is life at it's BEST!

Those Ahaa moments!

There have been so many of those.........

Reflecting now on all those times I or we would drive to San Francisco to get our hair cut at Mister Lee's or later at Transitions for our appointments with Bernard.  Later we would drive there to see Lisa, as Leslie still does, and I would have to pinch myself just realizing we were driving to San Francisco!

The city by the bay, Treasure Island, Tiburon, sour dough bread, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge and all that.  I was always excited by it, never took it for granted.  Not to mention Alameda but that is another story.

Then when we moved to Mariposa after quitting our jobs in the bay area we would often say as we drove to work "just think we are driving here!" or "just think, we LIVE here!"

Then we contemplated and planned our move to Sweden feeling like it would NEVER happen.  We would NEVER get there!  One day we were on the train to Helsingborg from Copenhagen airport looking at each other saying "just think we are HERE!"

Same thing in reverse.  Once we decided that we needed to be here, trying to fit all those puzzle pieces together regarding home sale, moving everything and our beloved animals and ourselves.  How to make it all work.  Were we EVER gonna get back to California?  Here we are!  Walking the dogs in the cool morning breeze around Maria's neighborhood this morning saying to each other, hey look, we are here now!

There is much to get used to for everyone.  As Ray and Maria so graciously have allowed for us to turn their world upside down until we get a foothold here.  Buddy the whippet putting up with Ralle the Pyr. The cat trying to figure out his place in this extended family situation and vice versa.....
For now it seems to be working.

The days are warm and beautiful.  The mornings generally cool from fog or sea breeze.  We have fun cooking together.  Or, Linnea the future Chef, is  whipping up this that and the other with great flair.

Enjoy some images from here and now.  We are both glad and enjoying being here :-)