Yesterday, since it was a cool day(unlike so many other previous steamy ones these last few months), I decided my Jewel deserved a good long walk on the paths leading down to the bay--to Rome Point. I hadn't taken her there in almost two months because of the weather(and me working and also being away on vacation).
So...here are some thoughts that ran through my head as I walked the gravel path with my dog at my heels(some of the time--usually she is somewhere behind me sniffing something or running ahead of me or darting into the woods after chipmunks):
"Hey! There's a man selling his home-grown cherry tomatoes at the start of the path! What a good idea. Maybe I'll get some when I come back this way at the end of our walk(fingers a few folded up dollar bills in shorts pocket)"
"Why would someone leave that there?? To go to the trouble of actually picking it up, but then leaving the blue bag sitting at the foot of a tree?"(after noticing a bright blue "poop bag" full of dog poop sitting under a large tree alongside the path)
"This man is annoying me. He is walking behind me and talking the entire time on his cell phone...blah...blah...blah... Even a walk in the woods, I have to hear about someone else's business while they yak away into their phone. Can anyone just walk anymore?"
"I love how Jewel knows which paths we are going to take and how I *think* she understood me when I said we couldn't go down that path(the dark woodsy one full of rabbit and deer smells)until after we got down to the water and came back this way. As soon as we passed by that way again, she gives me this look, hesitating at the beginning of the path as if waiting for my permission to enter and as soon as I said, "go ahead, Jewel" she turned into it."
"My knees are feeling a little achey as I walk these uneven paths. A sign of getting older?"
"The sound of cicadas in the trees is so August."
"I love how happy my dog is here as she sniffs and runs and meets other dogs along the path."
"Most everyone I meet along this walk thinks my dog is a puppy! She isn't bumbly with big puppy paws, but quick and nimble with her teeny, tiny ballet dancer's feet. How can they think she is a puppy? Don't they notice all the white hairs on her muzzle?"
This is what I heard the entire walk, directed at Jewel, from groups of people I passed:
A puppy!
Awww...so sweet.
Hey there, Puppy!
Look at the little puppy...
Six months? ("Er, no--she's seven years old.")
Mommy, can I pet the puppy?
"Seeing the young families--father, mother and one or two young children walking hand in hand on their way down to the water--makes me happy. Makes me remember when we did this with R. Now, I rarely can get her to want to come for walk or hike with me anymore. At least I have my "other" girl--Jewel--to go on walks with me."
I did get those homegrown tomatoes and brought them home with me, by the way.
12 comments:
sounds like i nice walk (other than cell phone guy). i love home grown tomatoes!
PERFECTION !!
Wanna know a good thing besides salad and just popping those tomatos in your mouth?
Slice them and put them on a cookie sheet sliced side up. Drizzle with olive oil, salt them and add some fresh rosemary. If no rosemary use your imagination. I have sometimes used basil and oregano.
Put them in the oven at 200-250 and slowly cook them. I don't know a time but I know what they look like when they are done. They are all shriveled up and a bit brownish on top. I would say this will take several hours. The house will smell divine!
When you bite into one of these it is like candy - so sweet.
They are so terrific on a piece of crusty bread with a glass of great wine and maybe a slice of sharp parmesan.
Had these at a winery in sonoma and came home and made them immediately.
Let me know if you try 'em.
p.s. hate cell phone guy!!
It's sad that some people are joined at the hip, as it were, with their cell phones. He missed so much by yacking away to his invisible companion.
I meet a lot of people walking their dogs and it amuses me how much enjoyment dogs get when out and about the neighbourhood.
I always enjoy reading about your random thoughts.;) I know what you mean about the cell phones being everywhere.
I love the fact that you can hear cicadas, that is such an exotic sound.
Wishing you a great August.;)
xo
A wonderful walk and inner dialogue!
What a lovely post. I miss our doggie(s). Can't convince hubby to get one again. I love going for ambling walks and am looking forward to lots soon when I go 'home' for a visit.
The tomatos look crunchy and tasty!
Catching up... I didn't change the blog after all. Thanks for stopping by.
Nice walking with you... thanks for taking us along!
Hey... I missed reading about your vacation... didn't you blog about it or didn't I go back in time enough to read about it? Will have another look later.
Liked reading your walking thoughts! Hmm and yes little girls grow fast. Ingo's 17yr old godchild already spent her vacation with her boyfriend. Wow. Too bad your 'little' girl doesn't want to walk with you and your other girl anymore... but I still remember how I was in those years so I guess the detachment process is just natural (although it hurts I guess)
So many things that come to mind while walking, huh? I haven't been able to do so that much lately, as it's been raining way to much, and it's simply impossible to go out with my - yet- puppies. Or aren't they anymore? 1 1/2 years. They will forever be my puppies! :-))
Always loving Jewel pictures. Makes me want to hug her :-)
have a great day!
I got some great tomatoes today at the farmer's market. Yours look beautiful and you know exactly where they were grown too. Jewel will never refuse to walk with you ... ever. Glad you had a nice day. I enjoyed reading about what you saw on your walk. xo, Rosemary
~ c.k.,
Oh yeah...garden tomatoes are one of the best things about summer.
~Peg,
Thank you SO very much for this easy reipe idea(I would use oregano and basil). I definitely need to try making these.
~Sandra,
Yes, it is sad, isn't it, about people glued to their "devices". Another pet peeve? People at baseball games and concerts looking down at their phone because they are texting, instead of the game or performance.
I got to know more neighbors in a few months than I did in 6 years once I had a dog and walked her every day. It seems dogs make it easy for conversations to start.
~Zuzuna,
I would never have thought of the sound of cicadas as exotic-it is almost annoying and a little sad because it is usually toward the end of summer when they appear.
~Pseudo,
Thanks! In fact, as I was having that "inner dialogue" that day, I specifically decided then and there that I would blog about it!
~Clare,
You are HERE!(thought you mifght have ditched the blogesphere). Sorry if the entry reminded you too much of your own canine friend.
~Erin,
I'll have to come on by and see the "old" blog, then. ;-)
~Marcelle,
I never did get around to blogging anything about our New Hampshire vacation, actully. Might have to do that soon...
Yes, I keep reminding myself that it is natural that my teenage kid doesn't want to do some things with me anymore(sometimes she will, though).
~Claudia,
Aww...from a true dog lover-- I have to agree my dog is a hugs inducing type dog! :-) And your "puppies" are adorable, too. The new profile pic of you with them is great.
~Roesmary,
Thanks for stopping by, as always.
In fact, right after I write this message and one more, I am off for a walk with...the dog!
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