Good morning. 🎃🎃🎃

25 October 2025

Charlie’s Clock

I overslept this morning. When I finally stirred, dim ambient light was seeping through the windows. It was exactly 07:30—Charlie’s mealtime. Which makes me wonder: was that a coincidence?

I don’t recall Charlie bothering me while I slept, but I did leave the bedroom door open last night. So the question lingers—did I wake naturally at the precise moment of his breakfast, or did Charlie give me a subtle nudge? He was right there, waiting when I opened my eyes. I suppose that will have to remain a mystery.

It’s odd that I even think of it as oversleeping. I’m retired. I have nowhere I need to be on a Saturday. My only real appointment was, in fact, Charlie’s mealtime. Well… that, and this morning’s dispatch into the digital universe—which I’m composing now. I usually begin around 06:00, but that’s not carved in stone. It’s more of a soft ritual: whenever I get around to it—with coffee.

I keep thinking there must be a point to this morning’s meandering. So far, though, the point eludes me. It’s as if I set out with nowhere to go. And yes, it is Saturday, and I do have nowhere to go—but that’s not quite what I mean. Thoughts are supposed to land somewhere. Yet here I am, nearing the end of this morning’s reflections, still adrift in a wilderness of words.

Then again, I am retired. And it is a rainy Saturday morning. Perhaps I don’t need a point today. The question of whether Charlie woke me remains unanswered—and maybe that’s just fine.

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” — Richard Whately

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” — Paul Valéry

#morning #dog #words #sunset

Good morning. 👻🦢🦆

21 October 2025

I’m in a bit of a hurry this morning—I’ve got a doctor’s appointment. I really don’t like those; they literally suck the blood out of me. 🧛

I got up and hopped straight into the shower. After getting dressed, I headed to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. I was mid-brew when I happened to glance back the way I came—and saw that Charlie had left a surprise on the hallway rug. Ugh! 😒

I grabbed the carpet shampooer and cleaned it up right away. Then I walked through the house checking the floors. At first, no other messes caught my eye. But on my way back to the kitchen, I spotted another spot on the living room rug—once again, Ugh! 😱

I tackled that one too, and no sooner had I put the shampooer away than I noticed a camouflaged blotch on the family room rug. Ooh noo! 🙀

Anyway, it’s all done now. I briefly considered not feeding Charlie—but he’s gotta eat. Besides, he’s my friend. And if taking care of him means doing a few unpleasant things now and then, well… that’s what I’ll do.

“There’s a saying: If you want someone to love you forever, buy a dog, feed it, and keep it around.” – Dick Dale

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #dog #accident #waterfowl #darkness

Good morning. 🌕🌖🌚

9 October 2025

Snow Geese, and the Law of Kinship

I'm writing this morning from an undisclosed location on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. A big house on a lake. We’re staying with some in-laws for a few days—well, they’re my in-laws, and a couple of them are my wife’s in-laws. That’s how it goes with in-laws, I suppose. I think it’s the law.

Last night, a flock of snow geese descended just behind the house. I felt both thrilled and let down—thrilled by their arrival, let down by the darkness that kept my camera silent. They mingled quietly on the grass near the lake’s edge, like spectral guests at a moonlit gathering. Except for the honking. I don’t think ghosts honk. Do they?

I tried to get a photo, but the light refused to cooperate. I considered stepping beyond the small wrought iron fence to get closer, but something told me that was a bad idea. Snow geese are sizable creatures, and they’ve been known to go on the offensive—me thinks. It’s one of those lessons I learned the smart way: through someone else’s misfortune.

Yesterday morning, I dropped Charlie at the veterinarian’s office. It tugged at the heartstrings. He didn’t want to stay—propped himself up on my lap, tried to make a break for the door and the car. I’ll feel better when I pick him up in a few days.

The house is beginning to stir. Footsteps, voices, the subtle shift in atmosphere that signals coffee and quiet time are drawing to a close.

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — Michael J. Fox

“How do geese know when to fly to the sun? Who tells them the seasons? … There is a voice within, if only we would listen.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

“The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be.” — Konrad Lorenz

#morning #moon #snowgeese #geese #family #visit #lake #dog #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers

When Lucy came into my life 11 years ago, I had no idea how deeply she would impact me or how completely she would change my world in ways I could never have imagined. I thought I was simply adopting a puppy from Illinois Animal Rescue, but what she gave me was far greater: a deeper understanding of patience, love, and a joy that fills every corner of the heart. What I didn’t expect was how much she would teach me about myself along the way. She became more than a companion. She became my teacher, my comfort, and my heart.

Through her little paws and big soulful eyes, I learned more about myself than I ever thought possible: how to slow down, how to be present, and how to truly cherish life’s simple, beautiful moments like a magical sunrise or a fiery sunset. Through her, I discovered a softer, more nurturing side of myself that I didn’t realize existed. She taught me how to find joy in the smallest of things, like a morning walk or the quiet comfort of simply being together.

Lucy didn’t just become part of my life; she transformed it. She reshaped my perspective and changed me for the better, showing me new ways to see and appreciate the world. I will forever be grateful for the love, happiness, and light she continues to bring. Because of her, I love more deeply, live more gratefully, and carry light even on the darkest days. For all of this and more, I will always be thankful to her.

Happy 11th Birthday, my sweet Lucy! You are my joy, my heart, and my greatest gift.

#Adopt #AdoptDontShop #Beagle #Dog #Dogs #pets #Rescue #rescuedog #morning #dogsofpixelfed #dogsofmastodon