One of those rare days

The absolute heaven of being able to spend an entire afternoon outdoors made for a very rare day.

The dogs were almost confused realizing we were not to be on our way from any particular spot but were there to laze away the afternoon. So numerous mud bathes ensued.

And just happy wagging tails through the woods, returning to the lake again and again for splashes.

While I sat and enjoyed a chorus of frogs who would fall silent every time I turned to stalk them with the camera. A hawk sailed by overhead and numerous crows noisily on their way.

Fish jumped in the water and leaves lazily drifted down from the overhanging trees while the dogs played in the lake and the bog.

Gusty winds rippled across the water and occasionally brought branches crashing down around us.

It was the sort of day Ripley enjoyed so much and I missed her laying in her favorite spot though Charm kept close watch over me.

Domino amused us so much with his mad dashes up the trail and his adventurous rock climbing that we decided to join him for a climb.

All of us were wind and sun blown and feeling the life rushing back into the forest.

And though Ripley was not with us, I think she might have been pleased at how well the pits have turned out and how manners have kicked in.

At the top of the cliffs, everything was in motion due to the wind and photo ops were fleeting.

The dogs were soon too hot and ready for more swimming while I watched the swallows busily constructing nests in the cliff walls.

Listening to the soft lapping of the water against the rocks.

Charm seemed to be trying to remember what it was like to have nice weather and finally decided to go to work on some sticks and brush drifting in the water. It's like both dogs have forgotten what it is like to linger.

Bird sounds drifted down through the trees and a cardinal stopped to check us out for a moment. Butterflies and insects zipped by on occasion.

The wind died as the light changed into the softer tones of evening and we were still reluctant to move on.

Everything just seemed wrapped in magic.

The chaos of nature scoffing at any sense of order.

And for a moment I thought I might have walked this trail for a million years. A butterfly landed on me and then perched on a tree and as I approached carefully snapping shots until I was close enough, it seemed when his face loomed in the viewfinder, he was watching me with the same sort of awareness.

And just when I thought the forest was done with surprises...I spotted a Flicker in the trees. A rare sight indeed.

Domino ran back up the trail and reappeared dripping with mud and so home to another shower for Domino, which he graciously complied with. Soon the puppies were snoozing with full bellies and lots of dreams.