Santa!

Pip gets a lifer and a World Series win!

 

 At 12:47 am EDT on November 3, 2016, (it was still before midnight on November 2 here in Duluth), the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Pip had watched all seven games with me. She and I are usually in bed before 11, but I was so elated that I couldn't tear myself from the television, watching the celebration, for over an hour. When I could finally turn the television off and settle down for bed, I took Pip outside first. And in our backyard, what should we hear but a Boreal Owl—Pip's lifer! My education owl Archimedes was calling back and forth with it, too. What more proof did we need that Nature itself approved of our beloved Cubbies finally taking it all?

 

Pip the Amazing

Pip is such a good little dog! We had a book signing at the Village Bookstore in Grand Rapids today, which lasted three hours. She sat at the table the entire time, greeting people and giving them high fives. She makes these events so much more fun for me! She's so well-mannered and calm—I've had several wonderful dogs in my life, but never before had one who could last for so long in anything like this without getting the least bit antsy.

A book with good taste!

Pip's with her!

Before and after the grooming

Pip the Chicago Cubs Fan

Pip doesn't understand the fine points of baseball, but she loves anything that makes me happy.

Pip's Perfect Birding Manners

On Sunday, Pip and I went to the Western Waterfront Trail where some Soras were calling within a lovely little marshy area. I got close and knelt down, in hopes I could see one. Pip came down and sat right next to me, and next thing I knew, this Virginia Rail came skulking out. I didn't make a sound, but Pip intuitively knew I needed her to stay put, and she stayed at my side, moving her head to track the bird as I photographed it. I was almost too close—the photo above is not cropped at all.



 On Monday, we headed to Port Wing, Wisconsin. From the car, I got some great photos of a very close Hermit Thrush. Pip looked out the window with me, and was clearly watching the bird, but she didn't bark or do anything that would frighten it. It spent its time rooting through the leaves looking for food, ignoring us.

 

When we walked along Big Pete Road, some Pine Warblers were singing back and forth, probably new on their territories, and Pip was so good they ignored her completely.

 

 Great birding dog, or the greatest birding dog?

Pip gets a haircut

Waiting patiently....

Robins are singing outside, and I'm getting impatient for Laura to take me birding again! 

Pip sees an Ivory Gull!

Pip got to see her LIFER Thayer's, Iceland, and IVORY Gulls on New Years Day—her lifelist is now up to 244! The Ivory Gull has made front page news in Duluth two days in a row now, and we were sort of at the epicenter of some of the news. I wrote about the exciting saga on my own birding blog.

It takes a village...

...to raise a puppy! My treasured birding friend Pat Thomas arranged with Joanne Elliott, owner of Matilda's Dog Bakery and Boutique, to make this lovely concoction for Pip's first birthday. Pip approves!

Joanne with her concoction.

Pip's curious!

This many years old!

Oh, dear--she can't wait!

Baby's first birthday!