Happy Black Jack and K-Dog's Joy Ride

It is a drizzly day and I don't have to water my plants.  Perfect for doing other not so popular chores, but I opt instead to do yet another blog post.  At least, when the first "back to school" day arrives, and the inevitable question arises: "How was your holiday?", I'll have a tangible record of some of the good moments (punctuation a bit iffy:)

Black Jack and I walked through the military grounds, on the way to Spanish Banks beach.  This squirrel caught our attention right away, and knew it.  Up it went to the highest branch and best hiding spot it could find.  It was successful in convincing Black Jack to move on to other sights and smells, but I couldn't resist seeking it out. 

The rest of the pictures in this post are in random order.  With 5 photo stops, these of Black Jack should be at the very end, as they were taken when we finally arrived at the "dogs permitted" portion of Spanish Banks beach.  It's a very long walk to get there.  

1. Military grounds (the squirrel) 

2. Jericho Park (the bird)

3 and 4. Fishing wharf (seagull and bald eagle) 

Locarno Beach (no pictures there), 

First part of Spanish Banks (no pictures there) 

5. Spanish Banks dog beach (Black Jack).  

Next time, I will bring some rubber sandals!  When the tide is out, you can walk for ages and ages, without encountering water higher than Black Jack's knees, but there is just enough water to make running shoes impractical.  I took my shoes and socks off, left them on a huge piece of driftwood, and then "ouched" my way through the sharp shells and stones, and "ughed" my way through slimy, squishy, weedy muck, until we reached the lovely smooth sand.  It was worth it, and fortunately, not too far a distance to get  to that point.  Black Jack was absolutely ecstatic.  With her long leash, she felt at liberty to bounce around and around, as I tried my best to protect my new camera from sand and water droplets.

Here, she steps out with confidence.  Somehow, this picture manages to avoid showing her leash, but it is there.  I still don't trust our recall enough to risk giving her complete freedom.
She suddenly stopped, and looked at me, with the clear message, "Well, throw the ball."  I was most regretful that I had forgotten to bring it along.  This is my favorite picture of the day, because of the alertness (euphemism for insistence) in her eyes.  It is still a challenge to get her to make eye contact, but there was no question we had it here.    
Once she realized there would be no ball play, she set about to enjoy herself without props.
She pranced around me in the water, ears flying.  I was laughing so much, it was difficult to focus, but I think her joy comes through quite well.
I have never, ever seen her ears fly outward like this.  I could swear she is about to take off.
4. The fishing wharf seagull.  I guess it's Jonathan Livingston Seagull that cemented my love for these birds.
Webbed feet dangling, it came almost directly toward me.
Webbed feet tucked, I thought it was saying, "See you later."
But, it did me the honor of coming in for a landing.
Just before it left, it gave me a little chuckle.  Foot stamp?  Waving goodbye with its foot?  I don't know, but I love this pose.
3. I saw this bald eagle off in the distance, just as we arrived at the fishing wharf.  I can't tell what it is carrying.  I hope it's a fish.  Don't get me wrong.  I feel bad for fish too, when they are caught, but somehow, a bird is even worse.  (I am the granddaughter of a Newfoundland fisherman, and I know the first time my mother took me out in a boat to experience the joy of fishing, she was somewhat shocked to see my cry when she caught a fish.)  

As I was photographing the eagle, I heard a voice behind me ask what the eagle was carrying, and was happy to re-establish contact with a former colleague, Malcolm.  He was there because of a fund raiser for Canuck Place, a hospice for children.  I checked out his blog, and found this wonderful video of a laughter-filled ride he took with a boy known as K-Dog.  I am full of admiration for Malcolm's involvement at Canuck Place, and inspired to think about how I could contribute in a way that would add not only financial help, but happy moments as well.  Take time, if you can to view the video of K-Dog's Joy Ride.  I can promise you will love it!  (I really hope this link works.)
As Malcolm and I talked, I noticed an altercation in the sky between the bald eagle and.. a juvenile eagle?  a crow?  I really wasn't sure.  Apologies for this picture.  It was off in the distance.  So many questions.  Maybe a crow chasing the eagle to get whatever was in its talons?  Maybe the juvenile was still working on its flying skills?
Whatever the story, I think they were both okay when they disentangled.
2. The bird at Jericho.  I checked in my bird book, but couldn't make any sort of positive identification.  Maybe, a Pine Siskin?
It leaned way forward...
... reached way down
...and then sort of hung upside down.  It gave me a great smile.  What an athletic little bird!
It continues to rain and this post is finished.  I am running out of excuses to do those chores.  Maybe today.  Who knows?