Farewell to Ariela

 

(Photo taken June 2, 2020)

Ariela was my beautiful dog, security guard, hiking buddy, and companion. She will surely be missed.

 

 

She  loved to accompany me on hikes for nearly thirteen years. When she got old, she would lose her balance and topple over, but she would get right back up and keep walking. I called her plucky. The vet called her tough. It wasn't that many months ago that she hiked Chimney Rock with me, and did better than me. She was a canine inspiration to me!

Surveying her domain

Protecting her charge

Things I Think of When I Think of Ariela

A family getting rid of all its puppies except one in the woods at Steinhatchee

Me sleeping in my van with a six-week old puppy in the yard of friends

A little puppy almost drowning when set afloat on styrofoam in the river

Her meeting the adult LaFiera

As a little one, a pic of her sniffing Paul's empty shoe, which was bigger than she was

A young Ariela sitting on my lap as I played Scrabble with friends

Going with me to Chimney Rock and having to be carried, so some guy asks me to carry him, too.

Cleaning/licking out pans at Aunt Vicki's behest

When I came back to pick her up after she was spayed, her excitement at seeing me knowing no bounds

A lady hiker she unfriended: "Ariela, what have I DONE?!?"

Going toe to toe with a snake that had invaded her space outside the guest room window

Her penchant for grapefruit

Catching her chowing down on a cake sitting on the kitchen counter

Hearing more than once from strangers, "Your dog is so pretty;" "She is well-behaved."

Lying in my car in the church yard at night during WMC, guarding the ladies inside

Her warily socializing with the new black, half-grown black Lab

My cousin Mark trying to overcome her disdain for (some) men, speaking to her in a falsetto

A wire separator in my car to keep Ariela and Sapphire apart and from helping me drive

A child in a school group looking at her and saying, "Is he a dog?" [No, he's an elephant, honey.]

Sapphire and Ariela chasing each other around and around their yard

The vet telling me that the natural cure I was giving her for heartworm wouldn't work. It did.

Hiking the woods with her male buddies Chase and Snowball, and of course Sapphire

Her large, cushy bed under the house

Hearing her snoring from my bedroom

Spoiling her in her golden months: tuna or chicken or beef to eat; breakfast in bed; only hikes she liked

Due to her dementia, not recognizing Grace or me, which was hard

Her still being able to walk and walk in old age, but...

Me chasing her across the street when she leaped up the tall curb to go to the neighbors' front door

Stroking her in the back of my car as she drifted peacefully into doggie heaven

Conquering Chimney Rock

 

I made it to the top! No dog with me this time. Ariela came with me last time I hiked it by myself.

A BEAUTIFUL VISIT TO ME

                                        What else to start the post with--a jailhouse. For rent.

Almost dinnertime at Grammy's

                                    Keeping balanced  by a few minutes of outdoor play

Would this be a case of "Oh, pear"? Pun intended.

    More pear picking, with help

                                     "She has followed us to The Goldenrod??"

                                         Towels for sale, with a little smart-mouthing

                                                            York Beach, where I lost my purse

                                            Walked this stretch twice, looking for the purse.

                                                            The famous Nubble Light

                                             Looking the other direction from the lighthouse

                The farm dog who brought me his frisbee, then deemed me not worthy to throw it for him

                                                            Raspberry picking time

                Let's be selective in choosing our autumn decorations. Gotta see them up close.

                                                                The neighborhood hike

        Further along the trail. A flock of turkeys ran by, heads down, like they had guilty consciences.

                                                The men of the family come to meet us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                        Where church meets currently

                                                                   I blend right in.

                            The birthday girl opening her presents. Her husband is also present. :-)

                                                "Come on, Daddy. I know you can do it."

                                    "Here we are again. Slave labor. Blueberry picking this time."

                                                                    "I'm TALL."

                                                              Postcard scenery in Limerick

           The showdown-- Checking to see if Clarity's biceps are the size of Daddy's and Grandpa's

                                            The inimitable Bella, after a hard day's...play?

                                                                Relaxing on the river

                                            Might as well get some family photos

                                                                    Looking good

The kayak we circled Treasure Island in

Beautiful day for kayaking

 

Southern Life B

Bath time for the inimitable Aria

Beach walk at Fish Hoek

A street in Bo Kaap

 Cool nameplate

Caleb Young and his fan club

 Intricate ceramic work in the neighborhood

Kalk Bay Expresso, a 1904 train car

At the flea market on the beach, a very interesting place

 Kalk Bay ladies' shop

Gloria and Connie at home

Under the overpass  bedroom of some homeless

Pretty bouganvillea

Looking out the office window to the back yard

Manenberg township street meeting

Gorgeous view of Muizenberg from Boyes Drive

 Exchanging jokes from the Internet at the Collins' house

Pastor Louie on my last Sunday there

Looking down from Boyes Drive

Surfer's Fellowship

"Howl I get along without you to pet me??"

 Quick, WiFi is on!

Berwick and Aria amiably sharing a  bed

 The lovely nearby Marina de Gama, where all the houses have to be white

Lovely bouganvillea  gracing the wall

Oh no, a serpent/crocodile in paradise!

Kalky's, the very popular fish and chips eatery. Not to mention samoosas, one of which turned up in my jacket pocket at the airport.

And the seagulls lurking to steal food

 Lexi?? THAT'S where Grace's dog Lexi went when she left us?

 "Seals are extremely dangerous wildlife. It is illegal to go near them." Ha, who wants to anyway?

A view of the few little planes at Atlanta's Jackson-Hartsfield Airport