December 7b: 10 Days of Blazingstar - Cliff Rescue!

Well the morning was rather benign being chilly and all, but things sure heated up on our afternoon walk thanks to Cedar 'Evil Knievel' The Wonder Dog. I'm guessing that watching cliff diving on TV in front of your eagerly impressionable puppy is NOT a great idea...


Anyhow, the day started pretty much on cue - Cava dragging Cedar across the prairie landscape by whatever dead 'stuffy' Cedar digs up:

Cava training for the 100 m puppy drag at the next Flat-coat Specialty. Cedar doing her part by playing dead.

After being dragged through a few frozen cow patties (thank doG they are frozen!), Cedar decided she had paid her dues to 'The 'Queen of Blazingstar', enough is enough and the stuffy was hers! Run like you stole it Cedar!!

Waiting for retribution from Queen Cava for stealing the toy!

For some reason, Cedar really took to the 'Creepy Teddy Bear', it was her companion for the walk and no one was going to separate it from her. She was just so happy to prance along with it once Cava let her keep it:

A girl and her Creepy Teddy Bear

We (yes, a group decision) decided to walk a little longer along a different route today, along the eastern edge of the property looking down over the river bottom. Seemed like a good idea at the time.... 

The trail meanders along an embankment about 20 feet up from the flood plain, a well-beaten trail led down below. All was going well, we were toodling along and trying to get a shot of Puffin on an outcrop looking over the valley

Puffin at her lookout

I was looking through the camera when I swore I heard a collective 'gasp!' Cedar had dropped her Teddy Bear on the ground and somehow it rolled over the edge! I looked up in time to see a very dim light bulb go on over Cedar's head and a thought-bubble that said "Don't worry Creepy Ted, I'll save you" and over the edge she went!

Well, I just about shat myself! I ran to the edge in time to see her surf town the steep talus on a near vertical slope, she stopped about 12 feet down on a narrow ledge, 10 feet above the valley bottom. Shit. She looked OK, tail wagging, still in one piece and staring at the toy. I got her to sit and stay (Cedar?) while I raced to get down.

Cedar on the Ledge looking down at 'Creepy Ted' (top left)

At that point the Blazingstar Cliff Rescue team rolled into action, Cedar's bestest friend Puffin took me to a little trail that led down to the ledge, and along to Cedar. Puff ran along and got Cedar to follow her off and up the trail to me - Puffin the Hero! She also rescued Creepy Ted...

Super Puffin to the rescue.

From below, Cedar running back from the 'scene' (an illustrated diagram is at the end of the morning blog)

Idjit

Cedar showed Puffin her gratitude by sharing a special stick on the walk back up

Cedar sharing a branch with her buddy/hero Puffin :)

This little adventure put us behind a tad in our walk-time, which worked out nicely as we turned the corner up to the house. Cava & Puffin have this thing they seem to do near the end of a walk where they battle each other like gladiators to the death. I looked up and saw them backlit by a setting sun and incoming clouds.

The light was surreal and I thought of Wendy Devent and her wonderful silhouette photography, I was lucky enough to catch the girls in action.

Cedar sneaking out of the way of the Blazingstar Battle

Puffin and Cava doing a prairie silhouette dance

Puffin throwing down the challenge

Cava rising to the challenge

Two become one

Queen Cava retains the throne

 An interesting day, nobody got hurt, and due to our little adventure I got to witness a beautiful 'dance' by two wonderful dogs on a hilltop at the close of the day. Thank-you ladies...