Sugar and I decided to take a long walk. I am up for some exercise and a bit of exploration of our new digs. I have mostly stuck to walking near our end of the complex, but the time has come to investigate more of my new world. We head toward the stop sign, then I urge Sugar to move beyond it and into the as yet unknown. She keeps looking back at me with worried eyes. Is this right? Should we keep going? This is wild country. She is not sure it is safe.
We had been walking on the edge of the road, but now I turn into an open field. The grass is short, the buttercups are rife, and I embrace wandering on the good earth. Sugar steps gingerly onto the grass, then looks at me as if to say she thinks I have gone daft. Then, seeing I am resolute, she begins to run across the field to the safety of the sidewalk on the other side. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a good sized jack rabbit jumps up and dashes off to the left into the brushy bushes along the marshy area, the little puff of white of its tail disappearing into the cattails and milkweed pods. Clearly other animals have gone down this rabbit hole, for it is a well worn bending of the grasses.
Sugar is startled, jumps back and whimpers. What are you doing?? Help me. I am not a wild animal. I laugh at her confusion, and we head to the safe sidewalk and wander around near the empty business buildings. We discover a good sized holding pond of scummy green and brown water with just a tiny fence between grass and water. A huge bullfrog jumps out of the grass right in front of Sugar and she scurries behind me, out of harm's way. She tugs on her leash, begging me to turn back to the house. I oblige, but walk slowly. The weather is warm, the breeze gentle, the day welcoming.
Others are outdoors too. Two young boys riding big wheels tricycles clack noisily up and down the sidewalk by their house. The older boy calls out that he likes my puppy. I thank him and he goes back to his furious driving. Several other walkers nod and smile. I greet a young woman who sees Sugar and comes to say hello. I note the porches and patios, appreciating all the unique decorations and plants and lawn furniture. Finally, we make it completely around the complex and head home. Just before Sugar reaches the safety of her own little place, we encounter a bejeweled hummingbird darting in and out of hibiscus flowers at a nearby neighbors - to the scorn of a carefully placed hummingbird feeder.
I stand and watch for awhile and Sugar, sensing she is back in familiar territory, rolls around in the grassy area and snuffles the air. Finally, we head inside to get a drink of cold water and rest. Nice orientation. I think it deserves a repeat. Just not today. I think I will do more walking here. Nicer scenery.
We had been walking on the edge of the road, but now I turn into an open field. The grass is short, the buttercups are rife, and I embrace wandering on the good earth. Sugar steps gingerly onto the grass, then looks at me as if to say she thinks I have gone daft. Then, seeing I am resolute, she begins to run across the field to the safety of the sidewalk on the other side. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a good sized jack rabbit jumps up and dashes off to the left into the brushy bushes along the marshy area, the little puff of white of its tail disappearing into the cattails and milkweed pods. Clearly other animals have gone down this rabbit hole, for it is a well worn bending of the grasses.
Sugar is startled, jumps back and whimpers. What are you doing?? Help me. I am not a wild animal. I laugh at her confusion, and we head to the safe sidewalk and wander around near the empty business buildings. We discover a good sized holding pond of scummy green and brown water with just a tiny fence between grass and water. A huge bullfrog jumps out of the grass right in front of Sugar and she scurries behind me, out of harm's way. She tugs on her leash, begging me to turn back to the house. I oblige, but walk slowly. The weather is warm, the breeze gentle, the day welcoming.
Others are outdoors too. Two young boys riding big wheels tricycles clack noisily up and down the sidewalk by their house. The older boy calls out that he likes my puppy. I thank him and he goes back to his furious driving. Several other walkers nod and smile. I greet a young woman who sees Sugar and comes to say hello. I note the porches and patios, appreciating all the unique decorations and plants and lawn furniture. Finally, we make it completely around the complex and head home. Just before Sugar reaches the safety of her own little place, we encounter a bejeweled hummingbird darting in and out of hibiscus flowers at a nearby neighbors - to the scorn of a carefully placed hummingbird feeder.
I stand and watch for awhile and Sugar, sensing she is back in familiar territory, rolls around in the grassy area and snuffles the air. Finally, we head inside to get a drink of cold water and rest. Nice orientation. I think it deserves a repeat. Just not today. I think I will do more walking here. Nicer scenery.
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