Happy Hour with Ringo
A great time for a walk, despite the rain.
A light rain didn’t deter Ringo and I from heading out for a happy hour walk at Willow Metropark. It’s a great time of day to squeeze one more fun activity in before the sun sets on the day. Of course, we took a few minutes for Ringo’s signature shot peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser.
On the Road Again
Ringo and I took advantage of the nice weather.
January’s weather has been brutal. Bitter cold temps combined with high winds have disrupted all aspects of my routine, from daily runs to the weekly outings with the dogs, and I’ve been planning around the weather all month.
Ringo and I usually follow a rain or shine policy with his training rides, but rain or shine becomes play it by ear in Michigan’s winter months. We started the year off right with a New Year’s Day ride, but have missed a number of rides due to severe weather and a week I lost to illness early in the month.
We finally caught a break today with temperatures in the forties and plenty of sunshine, so Ringo and I headed out for a make up ride. We may be out of practice but Ringo’s posing skills are still sharp. He turned out two great shots in his signature pose peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. ❤️
A Brisk Walk with Rocky
Rocky poses on the winter landscape.
I took Rocky to Willow Metropark today and we had a nice but brisk walk in the winter weather. The temperatures are dropping and it will continue to get colder each day this week. Warmer and wet weather earlier this week made for muddy trail conditions, but the ground was frozen today which made walking more enjoyable, even with the colder temperatures.
A base layer under my clothes made it doable, but removing my gloves for photos was challenging. I kept the photo session brief and managed to get this lovely shot of the Rockstar posing on the winter landscape.
New Year’s Day Ride with Ringo
A new year begins with Ringo at my side.
I started the year off right with a fun day trip to Willow Metropark with my go-dog. A light snow set the mood for a winter walk, and of course, we took some time at the end for photos. Ringo aced his signature shot peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. He also turned out a few more fun shots, below.
Whispers of Winter
Our first day of winter weather, cold enough for gloves.
A snowy mist was falling as Rocky and I headed out for a trip to Willow Metropark today, and the air was cold and damp. We lucked out for most of November with unseasonably sunny and warm weather. Today’s wintry weather marked the first day of the season that I had to wear gloves, which had to be removed to capture this gorgeous shot of Rocky.
A Rain Check for Rocky
The weather cleared up for Rocky today.
It rained all day yesterday so Rocky’s regularly scheduled day trip got rained out. While Ringo and I have a rain or shine policy for his weekly trips, Rocky is not a fan of the rain so he took a rain check yesterday. The weather cleared up today for Rocky and we took a ride to Willow Metropark and hit the leaf-covered trails.
The leaves made a colorful background for the beautiful shot of Rocky above. Below, Rocky turns up the drama with his signature pose - a profile shot with that faraway look in his eyes. I love capturing these shots of him from the side as it really shows off that big, beautiful, blocky head. 😂
Morning Ride with Ringo
It was a beautiful morning at Willow Metropark.
Ringo and I took a ride to Willow Metropark this morning. We had beautiful weather as we hit the trails, the ground covered in a thick carpet of copper colored leaves. As usual, Ringo indulged me in a brief photo session before we headed home, adding another fabulous signature shot to the Ringo on the Go collection.
Afternoon Hike with Moose
Moose is a great trail dog.
Moose and I took a long walk at Willow Metropark today and explored some new trails together. We had a great time and he sat nicely for several great photos along the way. It was a perfect day for some extra steps and outdoor time for both of us.
Blazing New Trails with Rocky
Rocky explores a new trail at Willow Metropark today.
Today’s day trip to Willow Metropark marks Rocky’s 25th day trip since we began this weekly routine. We’ve clocked many miles and steps since then and that practice has led to a lot of progress. Today we explored a new trail, which Rocky enjoyed on both three and four legs.
A Moment with Rocky
Rocky as a role model for life.
I’m home alone with the dogs on weekdays so we spend a lot of time together. I often talk out loud to them when it’s just us, sharing my stream of consciousness. I have no idea if they understand what I’m saying but it seems to help me process my thoughts.
Today, as Rocky and I headed out for his weekly day trip, this time to Willow Metropark, I was talking about life being short. This is something dogs seem to instinctively understand, possibly because their lifespan is so much shorter than ours.
As my mind wandered on the topic, I realized there is a dichotomy there. On one hand, I want to linger in the present moment, taking the time to fully experience it, knowing life’s fleeting nature. On the other hand, I want to fit more things into each day, feeling this is the only way to experience everything I want to do in life before my time is up.
There is a balance to strike there and I often find myself making course corrections in one direction or the other. In today’s photos, Rocky is a role model for soaking up the present moment, and I’m able to put life’s distractions aside to linger and enjoy it with him.