Animal with Home Value

  Wind, Waterfalls, and Good Company — Our Oct. 17 Waterton Run Oct. 17 turned into one of those Alberta days that reminds you just how alive the prairies and mountains can be. Kim and I headed out to Waterton in the middle of a severe windstorm — the kind that makes the highway feel like it’s breathing, pushing, shifting under the tires. Even before we reached the park, we saw the power of it: a trailer tipped over on the side of the road, waiting out the gusts. That set the tone. Wild weather, wild scenery, and a day that felt like it had its own pulse. We started early, voting first thing, then doing the classic “Lethbridge loop” — back home for food, back again for a parcel, and once more because Kim needed to change pants. Three tries to leave the city, but eventually we made it. Once we finally hit the open fields, the mountains pulled us in like they always do. Despite the storm, Waterton was beautiful. The temperature dropped fast, the clouds rolled in, and by the time we w...

  First Snow, First Signs of Slowing Down The first snowfall of the year always lands with a certain weight. Autumn tries to hold on, but Alberta doesn’t negotiate — one cold front sweeps across the province and suddenly everything is white, quiet, and a little more serious. Dixie and I stepped out into it this morning, the kind of snow that softens the world and reminds you winter has officially clocked in. She loved the walk itself. Tail up, nose working overtime, paws crunching through the fresh layer. But the stairs afterward told a different story. Dixie is 91 months old now , and for the first time I saw her hesitate — not because she couldn’t, but because she didn’t want to. That small pause, that look back at me, said more than anything else. Winter hits everyone differently, and once you reach a certain age, those temperature swings feel sharper in the joints. I get it. My forties have been a whole new chapter of back pain and stiffness, and I’ve had my own days where cli...

  There is a specific kind of quiet satisfaction that comes with an early-morning park walk right before a shift starts. Today was one of those crisp, four-degree October days—windy enough to remind you winter is waiting in the wings, but free of snow and ice, which I’ll take as a win any day. Dixie got her full ten minutes around the park, handled her business, and seemed just as happy to stretch her legs as I was. Dropped the waste in the bin, kept us moving, and managed to stay completely dry. Honestly, I kind of thrive in this colder weather once it settles in. Throwing on the work bibs and pulling out the proper winter gear feels like getting ahead of the season. Once you're bundled up right, a cool fall morning isn't something to bundle away from—it’s just plain invigorating. Kim was home catching a nap after tackling some online computer work early today, with more on her plate for later. It’s a busy rhythm around here, but it works. It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and while ...

  What started as a quick, ten-minute loop around the block turned into a proper 2.4-kilometer autumn walk today. My mom completely surprised me by keeping the pace going, and we ended up spending a delightful 33 minutes taking in the neighborhood. The trees are in that beautiful, unpredictable transitional phase right now. Some have turned vibrant shades of yellow and orange, while others are holding on to full summer green. That randomness is one of the best parts of the season—nature doing its thing on its own timetable. Dixie joined us for the trip, and all that extra distance definitely did the trick—she's out front thoroughly worn out and relaxed while we unwind. While sitting out front brainstorming how to capture the walk for this post, Mom spotted a few rare late-season dandelions on the lawn and picked them—a quiet little moment before the afternoon's yard work kicked off. Now, the saw battery is charging up so I can tackle cutting down a tree, and the weekly grass cl...

  Welcome back to the blog! I'm balancing a busy day of appointments, but I couldn't resist sharing a quick adventure from this afternoon. I've already tackled one appointment, and I have another one coming up soon. To manage the pre-appointment stress, I took the best co-pilot I know for a walk—there's nothing like fresh air and endorphins to clear your head. The main event, though, was our run to Tim Hortons. When I asked her if she wanted to go for a drive to get potato wedges and a drink, I practically got a round of applause. She thinks she's a shotgun rider at heart, always trying to sneak upfront, which she simply can't do. For this trip, we debuted the full setup to make sure she stayed put: a cozy back seat car seat and her new goggles. (Here is my gorgeous girl looking like a complete icon in her pink goggles). We are working on car ride behavior, and I have to say, it went pretty good today! There was only one incident. We were driving past the neighb...

 A Warm Day, Yellow Leaves, and a Dog in Goggles Some days just land right where you need them, and today was one of those steady, good ones. Kim and I headed out to take photos of turtles, wandering through the coulee while the leaves showed off their full September yellow. It’s that time of year where the whole valley looks dipped in gold, and even a simple walk feels like a little seasonal reset. I’m still in that maintaining‑training groove—runs with Dixie, walks, work shifts, all keeping me moving. The weight’s something I’ll wrangle soon enough, but for now I’m doing good, staying steady, staying active. The dog was in full sniff‑mode, nose down, tail up, checking every patch of shade we passed like she was inspecting her kingdom. And yes—her new eye goggles made their debut. They’re supposed to tint everything into one colour and keep the wind from tearing up her eyes when she sticks her head out the window. Turns out they also stop her from barking at the vehicle ride, whic...