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  These two have a special way of communicating. They make funny noises. Trade kisses and cuddles. Summer was only eight pounds the first time she sat on our laps. Now she is a perfect seventy six pounds. Are there lap dog weight limits? Summer says not. She is very smart and knows lots of things so we know she must be right. She also knows when my husband can handle a few minutes of in lap cuddles and is super careful. A great way to finish a great day. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Early morning for all of us. My husband had to be at the hospital for a scan so we had to get a move on. After the scan we had to do a quick turn around to get him to the dentist an hour away. As few things go as planned... The person doing his scan screwed up his ileostomy bag so a frantic drive home to clean up and make repairs before the dentist happened. Yikes. But back to the start of our day. Summer and I opened the front door to dark clouds. She insists on wandering the entire proper...

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  After all the appointments we decided to get some outside time. The weather was perfect and Summer said that she would lead the way. It is always fun to adventure together. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  More Summer beach adventure from this afternoon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  There were a gazillion brown pelicans and seagulls on the beach. We watched them come and go. Whole families of birds. Aunts, uncles and cousins. #Birds

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  Tomorrow all of the windows in our house will be replaced. Today I am shuffling furniture, medical supplies and anything else in the way. Baking cookies for the contractor and workers. No time for tooting. Take good care Mastodon friends. Happy Wednesday.

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  Lots got done today. We are almost ready for new window installation tomorrow. Cookies were baked for the work crew. The windows will be the last planned improvement at our house this year. Next year we will work on more accessible bathrooms. I told Summer that I'm allowing myself to feel hopeful. Way better feeling than the opposite. I figure why not? There are positive signs that people might be tiring of the current US political leaders. I am wondering if I should plan to be st...

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  I had business to attend to this morning so it looked like Summer's birthday adventure might have to wait until tomorrow. All of the sudden opportunity knocked. We quick grabbed our backpack and drove towards the break in the weather that seemed to have stopped right over our favorite beach. Summer was so, so happy. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  My sister sent me a packet of family photos today. I have been looking for a particular photo of my mother that was taken when she was working for the Howard family at Ridgewood Ranch. She also worked for the famous author Jessmyn West. I don't know what happened to her set of autographed books. The missing photo was of her sitting on Seabisquit. So far I haven't been able to find which family member ended up with the framed keepsake. It is probably lost. After she left Indian Boardi...

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  Today I tried to explain Mastodon to Summer's vet. I told her that Summer has friends all over the world. The vet asked what she does that is special. I said that I'm not sure that she does anything more special than other happy dogs. I said that we share photos of her doing everyday dog stuff. Usually she is smiling though. She asked if Summer's friends know how sweet and soft she is. Extremely huggable. If they didn't know this fact before they do now. The three of us wat...

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  I took this photo through a double pane glass door. The only way the hawk would pose for me. A sure sign that the seasons have shifted and are barreling towards winter are the birds who share our hillside. The birds of prey are back to haunt our fenceposts and stalk our resident covey of quail. The geese that honk their way over the house, in formation, on the regular. The flickers who tap on the house to pester Summer. I'm glad they feel welcome here. #BackyardBirds

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  Summer's beach adventure today. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Yesterday I responded to Indigenous Peoples Day by sharing some of my family's history. I have one more story for you. My mother was born Wailaki and lived on the Round Valley Reservation. At least seven families lived on the ranch. Three generations of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My mother always said that while the country was starving during the depression they had ample game to hunt, fish in the Eel River and a massive garden. But when she was sent to Indian Boarding Scho...

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  I am an indigenous person. My mother called us Indians. So did my classmates. In the pecking order that existed at my elementary school that fact put me squarely at the bottom until the first black people came to our school. At that point I shared the bottom of the order. Being Indian was lower than being a poor white person. Meet my grandmother. She was sent to Carlisle Indian Boarding School with her siblings. They were all tough as nails. She didn't stray far from the reservation a...

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  Summer was surprised when I started packing an adventure backpack. The fog was so thick you couldn't see much of anything. Exercise is the point so away we went. We couldn't see the ocean while we were standing on the beach. Stick throwing and retrieving happened anyway. Fun was had. Good morning Mastodon. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  So my daughter has dahlia growing skills. She was picking flowers in her garden today. #BloomScrolling #Dahlias

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  Summer brings her pal his slippers. Nothing makes her happier than being helpful. After she brings the slippers she slides right in to supervise the putting them on part. #Summer

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  Summer wanted a laugh. We all cuddled up together on the sofa to watch the Jimmy Kimmel monologues from last week. She loves a good Natalie Harp joke. We are on a mission to have fun. Summer is egging us on. She says go for it. This week will be the eat our favorite foods, go to the beach whenever we want and binge television that tickles our funny bone. Not to say that we won't take care of business but only if it doesn't interfere with the festivities. Hope your party is as fun a...

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  The moon barely seen through the clouds.

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  The last of our beach adventure photos. This was way more fun than staying home and doing housework. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  The media reminds us daily that the bad guys are running amok. Destroying everything in their path as they increase their access to power and wealth with no consideration for anyone outside of their class. It is a sad state of affairs. Yet those of us who live in the real world class have to figure out how to make the best of what they leave for us. We are not alone in this mess. I met some new people on the phone and in person today who seemed like they understand that we are all trying to g...

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  I spent some time lodging complaints about the lab that gave us bogus water test results. In the process I found out that they have had their certification suspended multiple times. I talked to the head of our county environmental protection department, my State Assembly person, my county supervisor and the CA State Water Board. I also lodged a claim for a refund of the test kits through our credit card. After that it was time for some fun on this beautiful day. A quick vote on where to go and...

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  Summer is such a helper. When nobody has time to take her for a walk she says no matter I'll do it myself. Away with the formalities and right to the exercise part. There's nothing Summer won't do to lighten the load on everyone else. I asked how her walk went. She said perfect. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Flowers don't notice when the going gets rough. They keep blooming. I am so thankful for our small garden. A refuge in a refuge. I love my home. It is a place I am happy to wake up to. #BloomScrolling #Dahlias

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  Summer is feeling pampered. Her groomer stopped by to give her the works. Her nails are filed and she smells like a critter that's not a dog who frolicked on the beach today. Not too mention she is super soft. Busy day for both of us on only four hours of sleep. Now we wait for the contractor to come measure the windows he will be replacing. We might need a nap after that. Summer couldn't wait she is already napping. I might need a late cup of coffee. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Even though it was cold with a heavy drizzle Summer and I skipped our way to the beach early, early this morning. Fun was had. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  The last of my beach adventure photos for today. Summer brings joy to us every single day. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Summer was antsy. She didn't get an epic walk this morning. Is one of the sweetest dogs in the universe but definitely has a need for speed. Running and running makes her happy. I told my husband that I was going to change into beach going clothes and take her down the hill. By the time I got outside he had changed too. He said Summer told him that we could get him to the beach and back. She had said no problem. I can't be the reason Summer let him down but this meant we had to take...

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  More beach adventure photos from Summer's trip to the beach with her pal today. I am so happy that we are in a place, in this moment, when this kind of adventure is possible. #Summer #DogsOfMastodon

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  Summer understands why we couldn't run down the hill for an adventure this morning. I promised to meet my daughter to shop at Costco. Sunrise is so late we don't have enough time to get everything done before I have to leave for town and still get an early walk. I know my daughter is feeling the same anxiety that I feel around the price of food. I think for a minute that I don't have answers but realize that I do. We carry on. Been here before. I will spend the time to cook and b...