March 17, 2013

field notes, st. patrick's day '13



This is the first trailside bluebonnet we've run across this year. (We've seen a few in landscapes - yards and highways - but we're counting this as our first sighting of a native.) Down below is an early wild dandelion.

We've given up on the head harness with Ondine. We tried for two weeks to get her comfortable with it, but she hates it. I realized it was probably a lost cause when I saw our neighbor's big Rottweiler-Blue Heeler wearing one without batting an eye - and his owner said, "The veterinarian recommended this yesterday." Sigh. Now she's back in a regular harness, but we're taking a different tack with treats. I think I've been "overtreating" her, which may be contributing to her excitability. That's the opposite of what we need. I dunno. We'll keep at it. (I don't want to leave the impression she's impossible, though. There's nobody I'd rather be with when we're away from cars and bikes.)

Pan remains as brilliant as ever on a lead. He's a real joy. He had his first birthday this week. Woot!

My calendar tells me that National Wildlife Week begins today. Pan likes robins.


1 comment:

  1. We had a robin in our front tree this last Monday (before the "surprise snowstorm" on Tuesday). When he saw us starting up the front walk
    he tried to "hide" behind a bush--the bush that has no leaves and is
    bare stalks. nice try, but we see you!
    The neighborhood geese (of which there are Plenty in winter) are now
    fewer--those remaining seem to be in pairs--Spring!

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