This was my family's first dog. Born in 1974, when i was 8, Misty was mostly Golden retriever with a little bit of German shepherd and a wee bit of Collie. We adopted her as a puppy from my family's best friends, whose dog, Shamber, had a litter of pups... Misty lived a very happy 15 years, five in Illinois and 10 in California.
i adored dogs as a kid... i loved all animals, really, which is why, after a visit with classmates on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago at age 10, i stopped eating lamb. It wasn't until age 16 that i eschewed all meat; at 21 i nixed eating fish. Still working on kicking out from my diet products that have whey in them and an occasional bit of ice cream... i don't eat cheese and i'm allergic to eggs...
My fave show when i was a kid was a short-lived Saturday morning series called "Animals, Animals, Animals" with Hal Linden http://www.skooldays.com/categories/saturday/sa1395.htm Not sure if anyone knows that show... i also loved Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htmlW/wildkingdom/wildkingdom.htm
When Peter and i went on our trip last month around coastal California, it seemed that we were constantly around animals in one way or another. Camping led us to some close encounters with wild animals and we made friends with dogs everywhere we went it seemed! i was able to get some snapshots of a few of our doggie pals.
Kota the 4 month old, who reminded me of Misty!
Ralph, our 4-legged next-door-neighbor at Limekiln State Park for 2 nights. i adored this 9-year-old retriever mix. i was decidely not a fan of his "family" of four as they left him out in the cold both nights while they got snuggly in their tent. i spoke up on his behalf but was met with disdain and some quizzical looks. Not surprising... the "dad" had murdered a fish and left it hanging in front of my car (with all those veg*n stickers on it) at Peter's and my water spigot. Incredibly horrifying for me...
Anyway, i digress!
This gorgeous gal waited for her fisherman father come up from his boat at Morro Bay. i thought she was a Chesapeake Bay retriever but she was a very sweet, chocolately Labrador!
This is Blue, who lives in Pacific Grove, lucky boy!
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In yet another coastal town in which we stomped around, Cambria, we stopped at what we thought was a fresh fruit stand but what turned out to be something much bigger... Linn's Fruit Bin Farm Store. http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/
One of the Linn family's 10 dogs... on the prowl.
The Linn family owns and operates this cute little store and among other things, makes preserves, jellies, jams and pies from all sorts of fruit, including the "olallieberry" which is a confounding, confusing (make believe?) berry that i'll leave this place to explain: http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/faqs#1
They also had 10 dogs - and a peacock - on site.
Another Linn family dog. Ralph Nader's his name!
Peter and i snuck up behind the store up a semi-private road to catch a closer glimpse of the Linn family home, check out the view (amazing!) and the farm (so many trees, so little time) and to meet some more of their dogs. We had befriended three of them at the store as well as the peacock, which seemed to like hopping up on the roof and jumping back down again. And again. And again.
The Linn family peacock. Gorgeous.
We decided to eat lunch at the family restaurant "Easy As Pie Cafe" back in town, a few miles away from the store. Not a lot from which to choose, but they had a fantastic roasted veggie/hummus wrap that was a tasty, filling treat!
i also got to meet Mrs. Linn and one of her sons, who runs the restaurant. i told them we'd met quite a few of their dogs and they kind of raised their eyebrows... good thing i didn't tell them about the road less traveled to their home. (Can you say "illegally trespassing"?)
Tasty vegan wrap at Linn's Easy as Pie eatery.
Some last few memories of our trip...
A goat right next to the road in Cambria, and on a leash... Why?
A sweet goat, i wanted to "kid"nap him for REAL.
A wild turtle in San Simeon State Park.
Peter in Pismo Beach, trying to help... too bad it was only a mural!
Peter looking the wrong way in Morro Bay, where we picnicked. The rock is truly AWEsome, isn't that right, Crystal? http://www.slostateparks.com/morro_rock/default.asp
Where all good hikes in Limekiln State Park end. Stellar waterfall.
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HERE'S TO A HEALTHY, HAPPY & COMPASSIONATE WEEK FOR ALL OF US!
