Happy 4th Birthday Ace!

> Happy 4th Birthday Boy! You've gotten a little bigger since we got you!

Mountain Dog vacations at the Beach!

Who could have known that a dog who has grown up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, would be so at home at the beach? Here is Ace on our family vacation at Sunset Beach. The moment we arrived, this Golden Retriever ran right to the water and jumped in!

Little Red

Ace and I have found a dog. We have named the dog Little Red. The dog appears to be abandoned, and lives in the woods near a former school where we go to walk. The dog has been there the last 7-8 times we've gone there. Only recently has it let us get closer. Today we got close enough to see a collar. There seems to be a tag on it. We bring it bags of dried food and leave them in the woods along the trails it follows. I can't stand to think about it being cold at night. We'll make friends, if we have to go everyday, and we will find Little Red's owner. I have it on good authority.

The Adventure Box

 

I love this.  Ace never gets tired of "Loading Up!"

(Our term for going on a ride.)

 

 

Ace Conquers the Elk Knob State Park

 

Today, Ace and I made the 2 mile climb, up the snow covered rocky trail, to the top of Elk Knob State Park.  At 5520 feet above sea level, the views are panoramic and breathtaking.  Ace led the way, and could have easily hiked another 20 miles!

 

After the winter we've had, it did us both a lot of good to get out of the house, and help us both beat our cabin fever. 

 

(Above, this view is toward the north, and looks toward Mt. Rogers, Whitetop Mountain, and as far to the northeast as Pilot Mtn.   Below, to the south, you can see Grandfather Mtn, Sugar and Beech Mtn, and all the way to Mount Mitchell and Tennessee. 

 

 

(The photo below shows where our hike started, and where we were when we reached the peak.  What a blessing this was to stand atop this mountain, and experience God's glory with Ace.)

 

He claims that he can't read ....

 

... but I know he can.

 

Ace is MY Dog.

Ace and I have become best friends.  He watches me leave for work from the front door.  He waits for me to come home, and is excited when I arrive.  As I pull into the drive way, he pounds on the door, barking and wagging his tail. 

When I come in, he sticks right beside me.  If I move, he moves.  He watches and listens for instruction.  If I ask "Would you like to go for a ride?",  he bolts for the door and runs to the car.  When I open the door and say "Load up!" he leaps into the back seat.  If I ask "Want to go for a walk?", he heads for the door.  

The picture above was taken in a nearby park where we like to hike.  He is sitting on a rock in a stream, and I am sitting on a bench taking his picture on my cellphone.  Right after I snapped his photo, I began checking my email on the phone, and my attention was drawn to a work related message.  

Ace sat patiently, then stood up and walked over to me.  With one swat, he knocked the cellphone from my hand and onto the ground.  He stood their looking at me. I honestly think he was telling me that he'd been waiting all day, and this was his time with me.  I thought about it for a second and agreed, and I put the phone in my pocket.  

Ace is My dog, and he has chosen me to be his master.  That's quite an honor.  I plan to live up to it.  

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY ACE!

 

I hope your treats and toys have made you 

feel special today.

Ace comes home from the Doggy Spa

 

 

Here's the Tough Guy after his visit to the Doggy Spa.  He's had his summer cut, and and his "manny-peddy".  With his short cut, he's fluffy again, like he was when he was a puppy.   

 

Ace will be 3 years old in a few weeks.  What a great 3 years it's been!

   

Scroll up to the main photo, and compare it to the one in this post above.

 

What a special dog he has become. 

High Tailing it in Virginia's Grayson Highlands State Park!

What a blessing today was!  Here is my beautiful Ace, strutting along the road in the Grayson Highlands State Park, near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.   Today was an incredible early spring day, and the weather and scenery could not have been more perfect.  Despite a few snow drifts that had the road closed, we walked out to the high meadows (in the background), and had the park to ourselves.

 

For a Golden Retriever that spends most of the winter inside, this was a wonderful opportunity for Ace to run, explore, and play. We sat on this rock for a while, enjoying the view, and soaking up the fresh mountain air and the warmth of the sun.  

 

 

From the top of this mountain, you feel like the whole world just unfolds out in front of you. Almost unbelievably, from a location not far from here, we could see all the way back to Beech Mountain in Avery County, North Carolina. 

 

It was truly a glorious day!  

____________________________________

Ace, the Deer Chaser

The Deer Chaser

One thing about this dog is certain; when his sense of smell takes over and he is focused on something, his brain and ears will shut completely off.

Here we are in the New River State Park on a mild February day.  Ace I and were walking down this path, when two huge deer jumped across the trail and took him for a cross country marathon.

He was gone for 15-20 minutes chasing them, with me calling and whistling for him.  And when he returned, his tongue was dragging the ground and he was as happy as he could be.  I wonder what he planned to do with those two deer if he'd caught them?

Shortly after I took this photo, two fighter jets came streaking across the ridge top at low altitude, - as if they were in a chase.  The screamed out around a distant mountain peak and circled back around, roaring right back over my and Ace's heads.

It was surreal that day with deer jumping around us, and thundering fighter jets swirling above us.  My first thought was that I really wished someone was here to witness these events with me.

Then I realized, ... there had been.

The Silver Bowl
 

Ace and I have been spending our free time down at the park in our neighborhood.   The park has been neglected for a number of years, and there's a lot of clean up to do, mostly from winters storms.

I cut and carry brush and limbs.  Ace explores and smells for deer tracks. 

 

Ace amazed me recently while we were working.  For several days, he's watched me pick up trash and debris, and put it in a plastic trash bag while we work.  So, he has started locating old drink cans in the leaves, and bringing them to me to put in the bag. 

 

I really think that dogs are capable of understanding more than we give them credit for.    

 

On our last visit, we were working near a little mountain stream that runs through the park.  I heard him coming up behind me.  He had a silver mixing bowl in his mouth.  It was a mixing bowl that I recognized.

 

Years ago, I had taken a stainless steel mixing bowl to the park, and hidden it under a rock out cropping.   I used it to dip water out of the stream,  for my previous Golden Retriever "Luke" to drink from. 

 

There was Ace, standing there with the bowl, looking up at me.  It brought back such incredible memories.

 

I took the bowl from him and told him what a "Good Boy" he was.  Then I washed it out a little, dipped it in the stream and placed it on the bank, so he could drink from it. 

 

Then we both sat down and listened to the sound of the stream.  I petted him, and told him about his brother Luke, and how we used to enjoy coming to the neighborhood park too.     

 

I like to think that Ace understood. 

 

Smart? .... or Lazy? You decide.

 

The Purrfect Day Off

   
    My Dog and "Cat". 

    (It Just Don't Get No Better Than This.)

 

 

  

My Boy Ace 

• Stink Bug
• Big Boy
• Tough Guy
• Mr. A
• Sweet Boy
• Biggun'
• Acey
• Good Boy
• Big Guy

 These are just a few of the names I have for Ace ... and he answers to everyone of them.

The Secret Waterfall

It was hotter that Blue Blazes, when Ace and I finished our hike to the top of the ridge, high above the New River State Park in Mouth of Wilson, VA.  The view is incredible and the ridge that we like to hike to, is actually in North Carolina.  You can look down into the New River, across to rock cliffs, and over the ridge to Virginia, with a sweeping 360 degree view.

Ace desperately wanted to jump out the car window as we left the park, and drove past the New River.  There were just too many people, dogs and vehicles, so we didn't stop.  We decided instead to head straight to our private waterfall (above).
Ace loves to stand, splash, drink, wade, roll and dog paddle in water.  Here he is banging his paw at his reflection, with his trademark bushy tail high in the air!

What a great day this was.  I love this dog.

From the Movie MARLEY & ME

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water logged stick will do just fine.

A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb.  Give him your heart and he'll give you his.

How many people can you say that about?

How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special?

How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

My Best Christmas Present

My Best Christmas Gift

I received this framed print as a Christmas present.  It's a Golden Retriever, asleep on a patchwork quilt. 



The title block below the print includes this verse from Psalm 4:8.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, For you alone, O Lord make me dwell in safety."

My wonderful Ace has been climbing up on the bed to sleep along side me, on a patchwork quilt for the last few nights.  He looks just like the dog in this print when he is asleep.

I've watched Ace sleep many times, and observed him while he dreams.  Sometimes he will wag his tail, or whimpering softly, or even growl a low growl sometimes.  I would give anything to know what he is dreaming about. 

When he wags his tail in his sleep, I like to think that I'm somewhere in his dream.  I know that I try to fill his little mind with reasons to wag his tail when he's awake.  

Sleep in Peace my little puppy. 

  

Ace - The Red Nosed Retriever!

This is my sweet Ace being a good sport for one of my bright ideas.  He's wearing felt antlers, and waiting patiently for the "photo shoot" to be over.  His red nose was photoshopped in later.

Ace is making excellent progress, and finally starting to respond to his treatments.  I can tell he's feeling better, and this week, he's actually been acting like a playful, loving, energetic puppy again.

This is going to be a great Christmas.  I got the gift I really wanted.

I got my puppy back.