Almost every early morning begins with our dog Maggie and I walking around the neighborhood. She loves these walks and will dance about while I get the harness and leash ready for her — to be honest I look forward to them also.
Last week there were a couple of mornings of fog and mist the rising sun touched with a beautiful orange-yellow glow. I’m thankful in our case it’s fog/mist and not spreading smoke from wildfires as they’re experiencing out west.
Returning from our walk Maggie and I make our way to our front porch for a while…her to watch everyone getting up and about and I with a cup of coffee and my iPad to catch up on the world.
Routines…gotta love the good ones…the ones which provide stable and enjoyable anchors in life! :-)
I agree Earl. Certain routines — especially those early morning ones — are important. They help keep me grounded. They’re almost more like ritual than routine.
Hi pj, I agree ritual might be the more descriptive and correct word. Thanks!
Can you imagine how chaotic life would be without our routines? We need them as much as the air we breath.
I agree…they certainly provide at least a little stability in otherwise hectic lives. Thanks., Ken.
Sounds like a great way to start your day, Earl.
Well it’s either this routine or I have to view Maggie’s sad face all day when she doesn’t get her walk. :-) Thanks, Ton.
The foggy mornings must be a real treat during your typical summer heat.
We actually don’t get much fog until the morning start to be a little cooler…which they have of late. I love a cool morning. Thanks, Steve.
Oh, how I miss those morning walks with Hobbs. I still go, but it’s not the same without him walking beside me. However, I still take him for short walks once or twice a week, which is enough for him now.
That’s a beautiful scene at the top, Earl. I like how Maggie is eager to check out the happenings in the morning. Now that the mornings are cooler, it would certainly be nice to sit on the front porch. My new house doesn’t have much of a front porch, but has a huge backyard, full of hungry mosquitoes. :D
Paul, I know it must be difficult with Hobbs not being able to do the things he once did. It wonderful you’re taking such good care of him. A morning walk seldom goes by I don’t think of Foster at least once.
Yeah, I love our porch…you can keep the mosquitoes…although we seem to have a lot around here too.
Love both, the image of Maggie and the morning fog. We need those routines or rituals or traditions or whatever you wish to call them. For me the morning routines can set the tune for the day. I consistently get lost without mine.
Monte…for me it’s a love/hate relationship. Sometime I feel constricted within my routines but if I go without them for a couple of days I miss them. :-)
Thanks.
I can relate to what you write here Earl. We walk our dog Willow 3 times a day, at times it seems our life is somewhat arranged around it. I like how it gives time to absorb what is going on around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I don’t pass much in the way of scenics to photograph, otherwise I would certainly take my camera more often.
Mark, I had to smile when you spoke of your lives being arranged around the needs of Willow…we often comment on how Maggie rules our own schedules. However, it has gotten a little better now without Foster. As much as I loved Foster he came with a great deal of overhead. However, his needs were beyond his control…Maggie is just demanding. :-)
The shots above were taken with my iPhone4…I don’t try to carry a camera when we walk.