My week (or two) in photos

Once a year, depending on when the dogwood blooms, I photograph my pups in the backyard playing ball.
The above seven photos were shot May 4, 2014.

This is a long term project for me. I started it in 2012, the first spring Kona spent with us. My intention is to show them changing, all while the dogwood goes about its much longer life cycle. It is a bitter-sweet project. Even now I can detect the changing colors around Torvald's eyes and it is worrisome. Below are two photos, one from each year of the project.

Kona 4-1-2012 Only 8 months old and 36 pounds she has not yet suffered the injury to her right front leg that would plague her for the many months. Her face looks open and loving in this shot.

Kona and Indy 5-5-2013. Kona is fully grown at only 42 pounds. She is a petite girl, 2/3 the weight of the boys. She bullies her larger, stronger male house mates regularly. We speculate that her leg injury made her a bit meaner as she was (and still is) always concerned that some other person or dog might step on or bump her leg. Yet she is intent on catching the ball in my hand.

As this blog mainly talks about paddling I will return to that subject in just a moment but first I wanted to share some of the beings that fill my life with joy. Having dogs, large dogs, is not always easy or pleasant. And yet they bring so much to me in trade for the hassles they bring as well. They walk with me, which allows me to feel slightly safer walking forest trails without another human. They lay at my feet or next to me on the sofa sharing warmth and comfort. And they poke and prod me, encouraging me to get moving when I seem to have no other reason to arise from my lethargy.

I have been suffering from left shoulder pain now for the last 6 months or so. It became worse after I had a slip on the ice in March. Paddling is not actually hard on my shoulder. As long as I practice carefully and with good form I don't feel any shoulder pain at all. The pain gets me when I am moving around my desk, or moving in bed. Or dressing, dressing has become very hard indeed. Especially bras, they are hard to pull over my head or fasten. I hurt it really bad putting on my pjs last week. This is ridiculous.

Today the arm is tingling and numb on and off. From my shoulder down to my elbow and then my ring finger and pinkie there is a feeling of shooting nerve "pain" people often describe as "pins and needles." I've cut back on paddling but am going to yoga as the shoulder moves more easily after a yoga lesson. But even that is in jeopardy. I'll have an MRI Tuesday and then see what the orthopedic surgeon says. Snap. But I can walk, and walk with my dogs I will do.

I have paddled less but got out on the river last Wednesday. I billed the event as a full moon viewing but the misty rainy weather did not cooperate. It was okay though. We still paddled almost ten miles and enjoyed the misty view of the fancy real estate and National Harbor.

Andy

Lisa

Becky

The group crossing the Potomac to the Maryland side and then paddling up stream to the National harbor.

First break. Due to the river being so high we never were able to find a place to land.

 Well, that was a nice paddle. And I am still getting out. I will beat this shoulder thing back.