Tag: Golden Retriever

pausing

“Learn to pause … or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.” ~ Doug King

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Today I paused. I went to the Memorial Garden and worked only at my pace. I walked some dogs; stopping in the garden to spend time with each. A pat on the head; a belly rub; a promise to help them find a home again.

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The garden is quiet in January. Everything is curled up in a tight, frost-bitten bundle protecting its roots and the shoots we will see by this time next month.

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Just a few of us here – the walkers,

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the birds,

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and the dogs who keep us company.

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“Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay –
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.”
~ Charles Kingsley

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Until the spring leaps, we will gladly make do with dog kisses.

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When it Rains: Walk

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” ~ Roger Miller

Day three of five, of pretty much non-stop showers, punctuated by downpours.

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The garden is a pond at the moment, but at least the water is in the paths – the beds having been built up with soil and mulch.

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Everything seems humbled and bowed in the garden;

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no point in putting things right with the fiercest of the storms due tomorrow. We’ll just wait, watch and deal with it when it clears.

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But the rain will not dampen our spirit at Homeward Bound.

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The feeders, walkers, cleaners, groomers and more were still out in force – covered in muck. We walk in the rain; the dogs don’t seem to mind.

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Even Santa put in an appearance! Annually, he takes time out of his busy schedule for holiday photos of the dogs with homes in support of dogs without…rain or shine.

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Many thanks to our photographer Eric Schuman, who’s much-better photos will grace our holiday album.

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A full, wet, windy day of juggling pups leaves even Santa tired!

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