Guest Post by Harvey: Running with Mom

It's been a while since Harvey has done a guest post on the blog, and after our run yesterday, he thought it was time he share his point of view again. Harvey is getting to be a middle-aged dog-- he'll be six in August. He's getting a little more particular about things as he ages, but he still loves to run. I hope you enjoy this post from Harvey!

Hi Everyone! It's Harvey, here! Harvey T. Dog. Mom says the "T" stands for "the," which is kind of boring. Why didn't they give me an actual middle name? I'm a person, after all! I suppose it's OK though because I also have some cool nicknames. My people sometimes call me Harvinator, and Red Rocket, and Harv McGarv, and lots of times they just call me Buddy. I like all my names and I love my people. They can call me whatever I want, I just want to be with them.

One thing I love about my people is that they take me on a lot of runs and walks out on the farm where we live. Yesterday, my mom took me on a run and I had so much fun, I wanted to share it with you and tell you all about it, from my perspective! I love to run. 

I knew we were going for a run before Mom even said the word run. I knew it because she had her special shoes on that means we're going for a run. When Mom or Dad put their shoes on, I know it's almost time to go and I like to try to help them get ready faster by doing my happy dance and jumping on them and putting my head right where their hands are. I just get SO EXCITED to run!

Mom takes forevvvvver to get ready to run. She likes to stretch and do other silly exercises before she runs. Not me. I'm ready to go all the time. I am always ready to run. When Mom was finally ready, she said "Let's go!" and I ran out ahead. I like to be first. I have to be first. 

Mom says I should tell you that I don't wear a leash or collar when we run. I almost never wear my leash or collar except when we go to town. Honestly, I don't really like going to town that much. I like my farm where I can run free. I would never, ever leave my people and we barely ever see any other cars when we run, so Mom says she's not worried about me out in the country. That's good because I hate wearing a leash. This Vizsla cannot be contained! 

Lately, I've been becoming more choosy about when I like to run with my Mom. If it's too dark, or if it's too hot, or if it's the same old boring route she almost always runs, I don't like to go as much. Also if it's too windy. Unless I'm really, really excited and it's been a long time since I've had a run, I'm getting a bit more picky. This time was one of those times. I was excited at first, but then Mom was headed down the same old boring path. Ugh. Why doesn't she just run out in the fields and grass like me? Who needs roads?!  I decided to tell her how displeased I was with her route selection by stopping in the middle of the road and sitting down. Mom seemed nonplussed. She acted like she really wanted to run. Uh... Mom? This road is the same as it's ALWAYS been! Chill out! 

I was just about ready to just turn around and go home when Mom said that maybe I could "Get the bird!" Oh boy! Oh boy! I LOVE to get the bird! Getting the bird is one of my most favorite things in the whole world! Mom pointed a little ways up the road, and I began to sniff... and she was RIGHT! There WAS a bird there! I could smell him with my nose and I knew it was the bird that Mom and Dad call a Hun (Hungarian Partridge). I showed her where they were by giving  my special point, and then she told me to "Get 'em!" and I pounced and not just one bird, but a whole big bunch of birds flew up and I got to chase them and it was so, so fun! Guys, I got the birds! I was so happy! I was so proud of myself. Mom seemed happy too, especially because after that I was excited about running again, even on this boring old road. Mom kept going and I stayed right with her because clearly she knows where the birds are at and maybe she could find me another bird. 

Then Mom did something that surprised me. Instead of going straight down the road like she always does almost every single time we run this way, she did something that I wasn't expecting and she TURNED and started running along in the grass! Mom said it was because the farmers who own this field mowed the grass next to the field so it was short enough for her to run there. Me, I don't care how tall the grass is, I just run. I was so excited that Mom turned here that I sprinted way ahead!

The short grass in the middle is where my Mom ran. I ran all around. On the right side is a field of winter wheat. It's almost ripe and it kind of rattles when I run through it. I have to run/jump when the wheat is high because it's taller than I am! Mom says I look like a mule deer when I do that. We didn't see any deer on this run, though, but sometimes we do. 

 Just a little bit after my mom stopped to puparazzi my picture (again!) she asked me if I knew where the bird was. So, I began to use my nose again and sniff around, and there they were right there in the wheat! Guys, I got the bird AGAIN! Two times in one run I got to point a bird and then flush him and then chase him! Mom likes it when I chase the birds because she says it gets me really tired out. She's probably right, but it's just so, so, so much fun. I am pretty much the best hunter that I know.

I don't know why Mom took this picture of the alfalfa. I guess she thought it was pretty. I don't know why she wasn't taking a picture of me. I'm the star of the show, after all. I'm not even in this picture!

Moving on to my favorite part of the run. Guys, I don't know if you know this, but we dogs really love to roll in things that smell good to us. My nose told me that something dead was laying in the alfalfa field next to the road where my mom was running, so I took off and found it and I rolled and rolled and rolled all over the dead thing! I was so happy to roll on it! I was overjoyed! Guys, it smelled so good to me! My Mom said it smelled horrible and she could smell it from the road, but, oh man, guys, I thought it smelled amazing! Plus, if I roll all around in something that smells great like that, then it covers up my normal dog smell and I can hunt better without my prey knowing that I'm coming! After rolling on the dead thing, I could be even better than the best hunter!

 I ran off ahead again, but Mom had stopped to wait for Abby, my dog friend, who also was rolling on the dead thing. I decided to head back and make sure Mom was OK. She didn't pet me when I got there, though, and she called me "Stinky," which isn't one of my usual nicknames.

 Mom took us on a little further, right up to this creek. She told me to go down and get some water. She said she hoped it would make my dead thing smell go away. Whatever, Mom. I was thirsty and hot, so the water looked good. I decided all on my own that I wanted to wade into the water. I don't like to swim because I like my paws to be on solid ground, but I had a good drink and I got all wet and I felt so good! Mom says this is one of her favorite views on the farm.

 After I got out of the water, I was all wet and it felt so good! I think Mom was disappointed though because now I smelled like dead thing AND yucky creek water. That's just her opinion though. Obviously, I smelled great! And, I'm so handsome. I'm pretty much the best that I know.

 Finally, Mom said "Let's go home to our house," and I knew the way, so I decided to lead. There were a lot of hills, so I stayed on the road because it's the easiest path. I wanted to make sure Mom could see me. She seemed like she was really struggling. I'm faster than she is, but I looked back to check and make sure she was OK and to see if she was still coming. Even though my Mom is slower than me, she's getting faster.

 Finally, we made it home and Mom gave me some pets behind my hears, even though she was still calling me Stinky. She said it didn't matter because she was going to shower anyway and then she said that I was going to have a bath. I hate baths. The best part of having a bath is when it is over. Usually I get a treat after I have a bath. I guess that's one downside of living on the farm- I have a lot of baths.

 Guys, I just want you to know that I love to run and get the birds and go places on the farm with my people. Even though I wasn't too sure about this run at first, I made the right decision to stick it out. I got to get the bird twice, and I got to roll in a dead thing, and I got to cool off in the creek. This was pretty much an epic run for me! I'm so glad my people take me running and hunting and that we live in the country so I don't have to wear my leash and I can go wherever I want!

Also, I wanted to show you this picture my Mom took of me in my little pickup. Mom and Dad call it the Ranger, but it's actually my little pickup. If my little pickup is going somewhere, I'm going too. And I'm sitting in the front, because I'm a person, and I'm important. I love my little pickup.

After our run and after my bath (ugh!) I was so happy to just lay down on the porch in the sunshine. Mom says a tired Vizsla is a happy Vizsla-- she's probably right. :) Catch you later, everyone! Harvey T. Dog, signing out!

I hope you enjoyed Harvey's guest post about running on the farm! If you'd like to read the other post he did, you can find it by CLICKING HERE! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thankful Thursday ~ The Vizsla Perspective

Today's post is "guest written" by my dog, a Hungarian Vizsla named Harvey. He is nearly five years old now, and has lived his entire life on the farm. After his recent altercation with a rattlesnake he felt pretty sorry for himself for a few days, but now he has regained his focus and wanted to share with you some of what he is thankful for here on the farm! Enjoy Harvey's perspective!

Harvey used to be a puppy!

Hey everyone! I'm Harvey and I'm a handsome, good, Vizsla. Actually, my parents say that I'm a Vizsla, but they don't realize that I'm actually a person, just like them. See, guys? I belong in the front seat.

Anyway, not too long ago I was out for a run with my Dad (Jeff) and I began to smell something in the grass that smelled familiar but I couldn't quite place it. I decided to point it like a bird, like when I'm hunting--I love to hunt!--but I couldn't wait for Dad to come over to me, I just had to know, so I got closer and then the thing bit me! Then my parents were pretty worried, and that made me worried, and we had to get in the car and I had to ride in the back seat (!!) the whole way to see my friends at the vet, where they poked me with more sharp things. My face felt really weird. Mom said I was bit by a snake. So that's what that thing was! I felt so awful but everyone was giving me lots of pets and sympathy so that was nice. I even got a Get Well card from Jeff's Aunt Linda!

Guys, I don't know if you know this, but I'm kind of a big deal.
I felt really special to get some mail of my own!

When I was feeling sick I had lots of time to think about what I love about being a Vizsla, I mean person, living in the country, and my mom (Katie) thought I should help her with her blog and write it out for you all to read. I have lots of things I'm thankful for about living here. I love it here. This is my home. I'm a country dog. Mom says there are lots of things I get to do because I live in the country that dogs who live in the city don't get to do.

Like roam naked all the time. I have a collar but I don't wear it unless I'm in town. I hate my collar and I always scratch at it with my back foot to show my mom and dad that I'd rather not be wearing my collar. I'd rather be just in my own skin and fur, not wearing a collar. I'm thankful that I can run around naked and collar-free when I'm at my home in the country.

I have a long and handsome neck! Doesn't it look great without an itchy, scratchy, noisy, jangly collar? My parents say that since I'm the only Vizsla around (I don't know why they still call me a Vizsla-- I'm a person!), I don't have to wear my collar because everyone knows who I am. I don't ever, ever want to leave my people, so I don't run away from  my home and my yard, either. I just stay with my people. I'm thankful for my people.

Ok, this isn't a picture of me with my people. My mom is always always taking pictures of me and usually I don't like to hold still for very long, but sometimes she gets me in a moment of weakness. This is one of my rugs. I like rugs. Mom says she doesn't like that rug but I don't think she's ever tried laying on it. I like this rug. I can see the whole kitchen and watch for when my people drop food. They have thumbs, but they're still clumsy. I like this rug. I'm a Vizsla/Person, and I don't belong laying on the cold ground. I'm thankful for soft rugs and furniture. At my parents' house I go on most of the same furnitures that they do, even the bed. I love, love, love the bed! I'm so thankful and happy when I get to snuggle under the covers with my people!

Inside stuff is good and I like to be inside but I really love to be outside. At my house, I have so much room to run and explore! I love to hunt and run and chase bunnies and jackrabbits, and get the bird! Sometimes I try to chase those big things my mom calls antelope but only if I have a lot of energy. Those things are fast. I love to run in the grass and fields by my house. My people take me for lots of walks and runs and I usually just get to roam around free. I only wear my collar and leash...ugh...when I'm in town, so not that often. I'm so glad I have so much room to run and play!

I get to go with my Dad wherever he goes to work, too. Really, I'm working with him. He doens't like to be alone and neither do I so we're a good team. I help him in the tractor or in the combine or whatever big machine he's driving. I look out for birds when we're driving in the field. I could get 'em.

Guys, I don't know if you know this, but I'm a good hunter! There's nothing I love more than hunting, and my people. I love my people too. But hunting is what I was made for! I love to hunt the birds so much! I get so excited when my mom or dad say we're going to get the bird! I do a happy dance and hop around and tell them how excited I am. But when we get to the field, I don't want to be distracted. I just hunt. My people have to keep up to me. I'm so glad I live somewhere where there's so many birds I can get!

I got this bird for my dad. I use my nose to hunt the bird along the ground, then I do a special point to show my dad where it is. Then when he tells me it's Ok, I get the bird and it flies into the air and my dad shoots it! I am so proud when we get a bird! So is my dad. 

I also hunt for gophers. My people didn't know I was so good at this until recently but I showed them. I can get gophers right out of their holes in the ground. I can smell them and hear them and I pounce on them and dig them up. Then I like to show everyone what I caught for them by casually strolling around the yard with the gopher in my mouth! Do city dogs have gophers? Here's me going after a gopher in the snow-

Sometimes when I have a lot of energy and my parents are really busy I get to have a date with my girlfriend Bella. Bella has even more energy than I do! She can run and play forever and ever. I like to wrestle and play with Bella. When mom and dad say her name, my ears perk up because me and Bella always have so much fun! Bella lives at someplace called "Uncle Mert's." That's what my dad calls it, anyway. 

Sometimes I get tired before Bella does and then I'm ready for a nap and some people-snuggles and to have my tummy scratched. I'm so, so thankful for my people when they scratch my tummy! This is how I show them that they can scratch my chest and my tummy. Also, see how I get to be on the couch with my people? That's because I'm a person too and I don't belong on the floor.

There's lots of other things I'm thankful for. I just love my people so much. All of my people. I love mom and dad, and Mr. Tom and Miss Carol, and Miss Stennie, and Mr. Josh and Auntie Toad (Mom says I shouldn't call her that on the blog because that's not her real name. Mom says her real name is Auntie Katie, but I just know her as Auntie Toad. I don't understand why I can't call her the name that I know), and I love Mr. John and Miss Penny and Mr. Ryan... I just love all of my people! I wish I could have them all together in one place all the time! Why would any of you ever want to be away from me? I'm the best! And I love you guys! 

 I also wanted to tell you guys that sometimes I get to do races with my mom. She's not as fast as me so I have to slow down for her, and I have to wear my leash and collar and sometimes my harness. I really, really don't like my harness, but if it means I get to run with my mom and do a race I can usually put up with it. Me and my mom have done four races together and I have been the First Place Dog in each race we did! Mom says to be sure to tell you guys that's because I was the only dog, but I wanted to leave that detail out. I like to run and I like to be first! Here's a picture of me and my mom after we did her race in some place called Choteau last summer:

So, everyone, I hope you liked hearing about some of what I love and what I'm thankful for on the farm! As a Vizsla/person on the farm, I have so many things to be happy about, even if I have to put up with a few snakes. I'll try to stay away from those. Just so you know, since that happened, my people are making me run with my leash and collar with them now. Or we run at Tom and Carol's house where there aren't so many snakes. As long as I get to run and be outside, I'm happy.

Mom says this is the part where I'm supposed to ask you: What are you thankful for this week?! But what I also want to hear from any other dogs out there. Are there any dogs that read my mom's blog? What are you other dogs thankful for, too? 

This is Harvey T. Dog, signing out! Until next time, everyone! 

Thankful Thursday ~ Soundtrack of the Prairie

Happy Thankful Thursday, everyone! I hope you're all having a great week! The weekend is just around the corner!

What do you think of my new Thankful Thursday post header?

First off, you may have noticed that my blog looks a little different. I was a little tired of the previous look and so I'm working on tweaking it. You'll probably see a bunch of changes throughout the next little while as I keep working on finding a new look that I like, and adding features. Let me know what you think. I don't really know what I'm doing, so input and advice is greatly appreciated!

Next, a bit about my new Thankful Thursday image. I'm going to start each Thankful Thursday post with that picture because I like it, and for uniformity's sake. It's the inside of a "Mind Jar," which we made at school this past week. We were exploring the Virtue of Peacefulness and this was one of the projects/crafts we made to go along with that. I just think it's so pretty and it makes me think of a lot of the people and things I am thankful for, so I think it's appropriate as a header for Thankful Thursday posts. :)

Everyone's Mind Jar, all in a row. So pretty!

I got my Thursday started off right this morning with an easy three mile run. I don't run with headphones or music when I run outside. When I lived and ran in a town, I never went without music, but since living out here, I've made the change to running with my thoughts and nature as soundtrack. Jeff originally suggested that I go without headphones out here so that I could hear a rattlesnake, if there were one rattling. Sound advice, although, ironically, I have never actually heard or encountered a snake when I have been out for a run! (Jeff HAS...)

At first, it was really difficult for me, mentally, to get used to running without music or podcasts. Music especially was a motivator for me while running, and sometimes a distraction. Over time, however, I've grown accustomed to not running with music. I think I'm more in-tune with how I'm feeling as I'm running. I think I'm mentally tougher because I don't have the distraction. Most of all, however, I've grown to really enjoy listening to my surroundings. As I ran this morning, I had no idea what I'd write about for today's Thankful Thursday post, but as I kept plodding along, Meadowlarks and Mourning Doves cheered me on and made my run even more enjoyable. I realized that I am really thankful and glad to have their songs as the soundtrack to my run!

The Western Meadowlark is actually the State Bird of Montana so that makes it even more special to me that I get to listen to him sing. I feel like the Meadowlark is welcoming me to his State and to the prairie. Jeff was just telling me the other day that the Meadowlark has many songs and spent some time pointing a few of them out to me as we listened. Here's a great video that not only shows the beautiful, bright-colored appearance of the Meadowlark, but also shares several examples of his song:

Carol and Tom also have this really neat ceramic Meadowlark in their garden. Ok, I'm a bit biased because I gave it to them! But it's probably the closest I'll get to photographing a Meadowlark up close!

I've also been hearing a lot of Mourning Doves lately. These birds are common all over the country and I remember seeing and hearing quite a few of them in our backyard growing up in Ames. Some people confuse their cooing with an owl's hoot, but it is a little different:

I also see and hear Pronghorn Antelope frequently on my runs. Did you know that the Antelope is actually the fastest North American land animal? It's second-fastest in the world after the Cheetah. Pretty cool, huh?! We have them in great numbers around here. This time of year, the does are having their fawns. It is a very rare treat to see an antelope fawn in it's infancy-- I've only seen one or two since living here. But recently when I was running, an Antelope doe was acting sort of strange. I came upon her in about mile 2 of my 6 mile run and she ran just a bit ahead of me and then stopped and looked at me. As I approached, she took off another 100 yards or so, then stopped again. This went on for about a mile of my run. Jeff had told me in the past that sometimes if a doe has a fawn, she'll act this way to try to lure predators away from the fawn, who is likely curled up in the grass somewhere. Her pattern of running ahead and sort of baiting me was unmistakable and it really kept me entertained for about 10 minutes of my run that day.

Kind of hard to see, but this is the antelope doe that ran with me a few weeks ago.

Antelope make a funny but distinctive sound, too. It sounds sort of like a cough, or a person clearing their throat. I couldn't find a good video with the sound, but National Geographic has a great fact page on Antelope with an audio button you can click to hear their sound. With that doe on my run the other day, I may not have initially noticed her if she hadn't coughed. Again, when I first moved here, I don't even remember noticing the Antelope sound. Now, I again find that it's a common component of the soundtrack of the prairie.

Sometimes, too, I am serenaded by the "sweet" sounds of coyotes if I run in the mornings or evenings. We're pretty sure there's a den in our pasture, so hearing coyotes is pretty common. Here's a video of a coyote pack howling at night. If you have a dog, you may want to pay attention to it's reaction-- when I played this, Harvey became very interested!

Ok, so "sweet" probably isn't the right word to describe the sound that coyotes make, but it is more and more becoming a sound I associate with my home on the prairie. So, in that sense, it's sweet to me.

I'm thankful that I get to live and run in such a place that has really great nature sounds. There's also the sound of the wind in the grasses and fields, and of course, the sound of the dogs who accompany me on my runs! It makes me happy to hear their feet padding along in the gravel or grass and to hear them panting and breathing next to me. Harvey, Iggy and Abby each come along on runs sometimes. Harvey is definitely my number one running buddy!

Harvey! Harvey is fast and he likes to be first!

Iggy is old, but he still likes to come along and plod at his own pace.
We officially adopted Iggy this spring. He's a Saint Bernard mix.

Abby is Tom and Carol's Golden Retriever. She never stops smiling!
Out of all three dogs, Abby is the one who is closest to my running pace. 

Do you run/walk/hike with headphones or music? Next time, I challenge you to take them off and notice all the sounds that you hear. You might be surprised at the richness of the soundscape!

Today was the last training run before my Governor's Cup 10K race! I am so excited to do this race! I haven't done any "official" races yet this year, only virtual runs, so I'm really pumped to get the racing season started. Jeff and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Helena and I just can't wait to get down there and start taking in the entire event! I am doing the 10K and Jeff is doing the 5K on Saturday morning! In the spirit of today's post, I wonder what the sounds of the race will be? Anyway, wish us luck!

What are you thankful for this week? What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Just Ugly.

I had just settled down to my computer to catch up on some mindless internet surfing when the phone rang. Chances are I was on the Oiselle website, reading their blog or picking out what my next purchase would be (if I had unlimited budget.) I looked at my caller ID and saw that it was Jeff. He'd been gone on a run with Harvey for only about five minutes but here he was calling me? 

"Hey. What's up? Everything Ok?" I answered the phone on the second ring.

"No. I need you to come get me." He sounded fairly calm but something must have been up or he wouldn't have called.  

"Ok. Do you need me to bring anything?" I asked, already wondering in my mind if I should try to round up the shotgun...

"No, just hurry up." He hung up. I had a suspicious feeling I knew why he had called. If it had simply been that his run had started off poorly, he wouldn't have asked me to bail him out. He would have either turned around on his own, or plowed on through. No, it must have been Harvey. And it was snake season...

I pulled up in the pickup. Jeff was only a short distance north of the yard and scanned for the dog. I saw him soon enough and he appeared to be trotting along just fine. I gave Jeff a questioning look and he said, "It's Harvey. He found a rattlesnake." 

Sure enough, there were the two telltale puncture marks on the left side of his face. From fangs. 

We hurried back to the yard and ran inside. Jeff called the vet and said we'd be on our way. We gathered up a few things, loaded up the dog, who by now was starting to walk a bit more unsteadily, and headed for Havre. It was an hour's drive to the vet clinic from our house. 

Harvey, soon after being bit. You can see one of the punctures and the swelling around it.

As we drove, I recalled the first and only other time Harvey had been bit. He was not quite one year old at that point. Jeff and I had been inside preparing dinner and Harvey was outside in the yard. After a while, we went out to get him and bring him in. Typically, when we open the door and call his name, he comes trotting on up to the house with bright eyes and tail wagging. That night, he was laying down in the grass. He looked at Jeff, tried to get up and walk toward him, and then swayed back to the ground. He had long strings of saliva hanging from his jowls.

Jeff and I together picked him up and brought him inside. As we carried him, we noticed a few places where he had vomited. I was pretty scared we were going to lose our puppy. We called the vet and explained the situation. No, we hadn't seen the snake, but Harvey did have a puncture on his snout, and after describing his symptoms, the vet confirmed that it had been a snake bite and to bring Harvey in as quickly as we could. Harvey was really out of it that first time. He could hardly walk and was sort of drifting in and out of what I told myself was sleep. His face had swollen up significantly by the time we reached the vet office and he seemed pretty dazed. I was terrified.

Harvey's face beginning to swell, en route to the vet this past Saturday night.
You can see both punctures from the fangs in this photo.

With that first bite, Harvey's symptoms were severe enough that the vet suggested he stay overnight in their hospital. She said she thought he would be fine, but maybe it would be best if he stayed over. She had administered a powerful steroid shot to help with pain and inflammation and also began an antibiotic regimen. We left feeling reassured but still sad and worried. We had Harvey vaccinated for rattlesnake venom just a few months prior and I remember thinking, what if he hadn't had that vaccine? The conversation with the vet may have gone differently. When I went back to get him the next morning, he was still very swollen in his face, but his eyes were brighter and he was happy to see me. I knew at that point that he'd be OK.

Since then, we've had Harvey vaccinated each spring. It always seems like an insignificant price to pay for the greatly increased likelihood of keeping our best friend around longer if he gets bit. We've encountered snakes every year that I've lived here, but he hadn't been bit again. Until now.

Harvey at the vet, this time around. The swelling in his face had increased at this point and even started travelling down into his chest a bit.

Harvey had been bit on the snout, again. Our neighbor had told us that he'd seen some snakes out and to be careful, but we hadn't seen any yet. Typically, if we have a chance to find a dead snake or kill one, we'll use the dead one to train Harvey to stay away from that smell. This year, we hadn't had a chance to brush up on his training yet, like we normally do. This year, the first one he found nailed him.

But I wasn't nearly as afraid this time as last time. I felt like if he could survive that first bite when he was still so young, not quite fully grown, he should be OK this time. Plus, his initial reactions were so much less severe-- he could still walk mostly OK and he hadn't vomited. His eyes never got dull like they had that first time. He was sleepy and sore, definitely, but he still stayed sharp throughout. The vet again administered a steroid injection, but this time sent Harvey home with us, along with some antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory pill. He could stay the night at home, at our house. Another good sign.

With Harvey and his meds happily secured back in the vehicle, it was now about 8:00 on Saturday night and we realized we hadn't eaten anything yet. After tossing back and forth a few options for a quick dinner in Havre, we settled on Rod's Drive In.  I'd lived here four years and still hadn't had one of their famed "Ugly Burgers." Our ourder was simple: two Ugly Burgers and two fries. It seemed like a fitting end to an ugly kind of evening.

Messy, greasy, and, well, ugly, but delicious!

We all went straight to bed when we got home. Harvey was struggling a bit to find a way to lie down that was comfortable to him- his swelling had gone into his chest and forearm by now and he was acting like it was quite painful. I had to laugh at him though, even in his pitiful state, because he looked inflated like a cartoon and was obviously very sleepy, but he couldn't figure out how to lay down in a comfortable way. He actually kept falling asleep while sitting and standing up! I've never seen a dog nod off like that before.

The next morning, Harvey's swelling had already gone down some. I was amazed at how much better he seemed already, especially since the last time it took him almost two weeks to cycle through all the inflammation. He clearly felt quite a bit better, too. As I was sitting at the table with my morning coffee, Harvey and I heard the unmistakable whistle of a gopher through the screen door and he was off like a shot! He just HAD to get outside and get that thing!

As soon as I began to unlatch the door, he bolted through it and scurried right to the lilac bush. Then, he pounced right into the middle of it! I heard a scuffle and some frantic gopher whistling and within seconds Harvey had emerged from the bush with a newly-dead gopher hanging out of his mouth! He made one big circle around the yard, with his trophy hanging out of his mouth, showing off his prize. Rattlesnake bite or not, nothing's keeping this guy down for long!

Thankful Thursday ~ Pride of Place Photos

Two weeks ago in a Thankful Thursday post, I wrote about how I appreciate this place where I live. You can read that post HERE. I also put out a challenge to my readers, family, and friends to submit photos of places they love to use in an upcoming post. Today is the day of the big reveal of the photos I received! 

The amount of photos submitted was incredible. Several people submitted upwards of 10 photos! Wow! In the interest of time and space, I couldn't include every single photo that everyone sent me. So, at most I included two of the ones people submitted. Apologies to people who sent more, but I do thank you so much for your enthusiasm!!! 

Without further ado, let's get to the real reason you're looking at my blog today-- the PHOTOS! With each person who submitted, I'll first list their name and how I know them, then you'll see the image(s) they sent. If people submitted a caption or explanation, I put it as the photo caption in most instances. As you look through the photos, I encourage you to think about why that person might love the place or be thankful for the place in the picture. 

From Melissa, a friend and fellow Hi-Liner--

"Our farm, north of Gildford. Farm life is the best!!"

My blogging friend Jessie sent two photos. She blogs mainly about running but sometimes also posts fantastic vizsla and animal photos, as you can see below. Check out her blog at www.therightfits.com!  Jessie's vizsla is named Matilda. Isn't she perfect? The cats are pretty cute, too. :)

Jessie says: I'm thankful for having a warm bed to share with all our animals. 

Not going to lie... Harvey sleeps on our bed, too! :)

Jessie says: I'm also thankful for my home near Lake Calhoun where I can run with Matilda and watch beautiful sunrises!

Looks like a pretty awesome place to run!

Next up, two photos from another friend, Christy. She lives near Billings, MT where her family ranches. Christy is a fellow Team Beef member with me and also has an awesome running blog, which you can check out at www.christyruns.com.
 From Christy- They weren't the ones I had in mind, but they are of the family ranch and a place I am eternally thankful and grateful to have grown up on and now get to raise my children on.

Pretty awesome views on Christy's ranch, right?! Southeast Montana. Lovely!  Skies for days!!

 The next two photos are from my mom, Penny. She is quite an accomplished photographer these days! She sent me probably about 12 photos and I just chose two because they are images of places I am also thankful for! She didn't include any captions, so I added a little background for both photos.

First, this barn is in a park very near the house I grew up in. As kids, we spent a lot of time playing in this park! Mom has some really great photos of this barn and this is one of them--

The next photo from my mom was one that she took on a visit out here last summer. We were all driving home from catching a movie in town, it was early June and, well, check out this awesome image of the Sweetgrass Hills at sunset--

The Hills are a place I have a view of every day and I am so thankful for that!

Next, from my friend Tara. She and I are friends from college and this is an image of the Campanile on the Iowa State Campus. Iconic image for people from Ames or who went to school at ISU!  I am also pretty thankful for this place, just like Tara!

"I really work in a beautiful place."

Now, two images from Jane. Jane grew up a little bit west of where Jeff and I live, with a great view of the Sweetgrass Hills. Now, she lives in Choteau, MT.

From Jane:

Sweet Grass Hills – I love where you live now

I love where I live now

The next image is from Jon, who is the cousin of my Father in Law, Tom--

"Aja (aka Hound of the Baskervilles)  on a foggy Oregon day."

My friend Kathy also sent me several images and I chose this one out of the ones she sent.  She lives near Geraldine, MT. It would be pretty difficult not to be thankful of this view every day! WOW!

this view is facing South and is west of our home by my garden...the mountains are Square Butte and Round Butte, which we see out of our dining room, living room, and bedroom windows! So Beautiful...

Jeff's Aunt Linda (Tom's sister) sent this image from the Oregon Coast, near where she lives. Again, pretty amazing view!

Thankful that we live near the awesome Pacific Ocean , hope that I never take it for granted!!

From Ashley, another photo from the Geraldine area...check out that sky!  Ashley's view looks pretty similar to Kathy's... neighbors, I wonder? :)

Love the view from my deck 

And from Lorrie. Here is another person who was very enthusiastic about this "assignment" and sent many photos! Lorrie lives on a farm near Big Sandy, MT. 

I love the colors in the above image. Plus, if you know Big Sandy, the colors are extra appropriate! Purple and yellow are their school colors. :)  Pretty awesome view in the photo below. Again, I think I'd be pretty thankful for that place if I got to look out at it each day!

Next I have two photos from Lisa, who is a former student-athlete at North Star, where I work. She was a high school senior in track the first season I was a coach here. Now, we stay in touch via social media and she sent me these images to use in this post of places she is thankful for and/or loves-

 Lisa goes to school at University of Montana in Missoula. This is a view of campus and surrounding environs. :) The next photo is from Havre, and the third photo is from some hot springs in Idaho.

Peggy, a local Rudyard resident, sent me this photo of Glacier National Park as a place she loves-

The next two photos are from Darla. She and her family are long-time family friends from my hometown. You'll notice that her photos are a little different from most of the others submitted...

Katie, I know this isn't exactly what you asked for but my favorite place to be is anywhere with my family-anywhere with my friends is good too! 

Here's another one - again my favorite places is anywhere with my family

Whew!  That is A TON of photos of places that are loved! I hope you found at least one photo on here that made you smile or feel happy, and I hope that you can look around you and find reasons to be thankful, wherever you are. Whether it's a beautiful mountain vista or somewhere close to home, such as your own bed, there's always reasons to be thankful for the places in which we find ourselves. And, sometimes, as Darla points out, it's not the place that's important but the people we're with.

As I was going through all the many images that were submitted to me I was struck by how many people submitted pictures of places that I also feel thankful for. Places I grew up or places where I live now or travel to. I suppose it's because the people who read and comment on here most all have a connection to me somehow, our lives intersect in some way. It's a great reminder of the interconnectedness (is that a word?!) of all of us, everywhere. Food for thought. :)

It has been so much fun uploading everyone's photos and looking at them over and over in compiling this post. Thanks again to everyone who submitted! I worked on this yesterday evening and felt myself feeling more calm, even amid a somewhat stressful, busy week. I carried the good vibes outside with me as I headed out for a sunset run. It was hard not to notice the beautiful light and, yes, to feel thankful for the place I call home and all the people (and animals!) in my life I'm connected to in one way or another.

Happy Thankful Thursday, everyone! What are you thankful for this week?

Just heading out my driveway to start my run. 8:20pm. That's Iggy, and Harvey has already raced way ahead somewhere.

Thankful for these dusty gravel roads I get to run on, and the setting sun!

Goldstone used to be a town and now it's the site of our farmland!