The sky was so blue through the oak trees. It kept asking me to climb to it.
The sun played with the mountain roses. It kept telling me it was a warm day.
And George and Gracie wanted to walk. They demanded, as only Cocker Spaniels can, that we all go for a bit of a wander.
Well, to be honest they wanted to play “run and sniff”. It’s a little game where they they to run into the sage and I have to call them back. They stop and sniff at whatever the last animal left on the ground and THEN come back to me.
The walk consists of a serious climb up to our water tower. (No, it didn’t rain today. This is a pic from this winter. Just wanted you to see the angle of that hill!)
The dogs love it. They are off leash and free to run as long as they stay on the road and they are within eyesight of me. They know the rules. They just sorta push at the edges every now and then.
The view from the water tower plateau is spectacular. The air is a heady mix of rosemary, sage, pine, manzanita and oak. There are flowers and plants that I have seen all my life. To the dogs, it is nose candy. If they could get close enough to sniff it, they did.
They did avoid that rather odd looking vine that was growing spikey, hairy things. I have no idea what it is.
It was a warm afternoon and the walk back down the hill was a tad slower for everyone. Even the dogs. No running. More of an amble.
Once back home, well, the tongues tell the tale.
All that effort for just a little wandering.
Talkin' to Myself 
I just nominated you for the Liebster blogging award. Check it out and see if you want to accept. https://secretlifeofcom.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/liebster-award-nomination/
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The post-criminal-defense life looks good! And congrats on your Tartan approval!
Where, generally, are you located? It’s probably on your blog, but I missed it.
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I live in the Central Coast area of California. Sorta close to San Luis Obispo. And the post- work era seems to agree with me! 😉
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Lee, I am excited about this! BUT, I am in “Hell Week”. We had a concert last night and there is another on Saturday night. Give me a couple of recovery days and I will formally accept this! It looks like a lot of fun! Thank you so very much!
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A fellow Californian. I’m in wine country. Eyeing my next step toward new explorations.
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Near the fires? I hope not.
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It took me an hour or two of hunting and pecking to do a proper response to being nominated, but that’s just me. I enjoy your writings and reflections, so I wanted to pass it on.
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Actually yes. Near. Not in. Experienced aspects of it and have enough friends who were impacted to have it leave ashen memories. Thanks for asking.
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