Mom is a big fan of birthdays. She has always celebrated all month long. Mala and I share a birthday month in March, and Mom makes sure we both feel extra special. The kitties celebrate their birthdays in July, and Dad's is in January. This month, we get to celebrate Mom. Her birthday was on Wednesday, and we kicked things off with a long weekend of hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and biking (we had to stay home for that part).

Mom loves being outdoors, so our activities involved being out in nature. We followed up our big Saturday hike with a relaxing stroll along the creek and a paddle on Big Soda Lake on Sunday. On Monday, Mom and Dad went for a morning mountain bike ride, then came home to pack us up. We headed to Bailey, where we hiked a portion of the Colorado Trail before setting up camp at Wellington Lake. The wind calmed after dinner, so we went for a paddle. I was a bit antsy and impatient on the board, so Mala and I ran around on the beach to burn off some energy.

We woke up to sunshine on Tuesday morning, so after breakfast we paddled again. Mala and I were content to relax on the boards while they paddled us around the lake. Dad had to work that afternoon and the next day, but Mom took Wednesday morning off so we could join her for a birthday hike. On the way home, she stopped at the pet supply store to buy special cookies for us so we would feel included in her celebration. Dad took her out to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants that night.

Mom has more plans for her birthday month, some of which don't include us, like dinner out, a soccer game, and a candlelight concert. We know she’ll include us as much as possible. She loves hanging out with us. Who wouldn’t? We’re pretty fun. If you have a birthday this month, be sure to celebrate with gusto!

I was rescued from New Mexico as a wee puppy and brought to Colorado, where my parents adopted me on a bit of a whim, even though they weren’t looking for a dog when they met me. Mom saw something special in me and knew I belonged with them. They weren’t even living together then, so I split my time between Dad’s apartment in Denver and Mom’s house in Broomfield. I adore rolling in grass, so Mom’s backyard was heavenly.

I had a lot to be grateful for right from the start – a loving family, plenty of walks, a big sister to show me the ropes, and two kitties (one of whom I cuddled and played with frequently until we had a falling out).

Wherever we went, people wanted to say hello to me. My fluffball puppy look drew a lot of attention, and I was more than happy to accept it. I loved other dogs and saw them all as potential friends, even the ones who weren’t interested in playing with me. In fact, one dog didn’t appreciate my advances and bit my snout, but it didn’t stop me from trying.

My positive attitude has been part of my personality my whole life. I tend to look on the bright side and go through life with a smile on my face. Whenever anyone says my name, looks at me, or walks toward me, I start wagging my tail. My parents tell me how much joy I bring to their lives and that my smile is infectious.

There are so many things in this world to be happy about, like treats, grass, snow, sticks, family, friends, sunshine, mountains… I could go on, but I think you get the point. Life is good and meant to be lived wholeheartedly. Sure, there are times that are less fun than others, and moments I’d rather skip (like going to the vet), but overall, the life of a dog who is loved is the best life!

My parents have been talking a lot lately about my predecessor, Ella. Ella passed over the rainbow bridge five years ago, so I never met her. Mala and the kitties lived with Ella for many years.

Mom is attending an Author Fair tomorrow in Fairplay to sell copies of Ella’s book, Pawsitive Perspectives. We also just learned that the place where Mom held the book launch party, Evermore Wine Bar & Cafe, will be permanently closing next weekend. We all went there for dinner last Friday to say farewell.

All this talk about her book made my parents wonder whether Ella would have liked me. They both agreed she might have appreciated my spunk and how much I express my opinions and question the rules, since in those ways I’m much like she was. However, they think my playfulness might have annoyed her. While Mala enjoys wrestling with me, Ella was never a big fan of playing with other dogs. She probably would have run around with me, but she wouldn’t have had the patience that Mala does for me biting her back legs.

Whenever we’re out for a walk or hike and come across a closed trail or side trail (not an authorized trail but one that’s been traveled by someone, most likely deer and elk), I always want to see where it leads. Mom has plenty of photos of me in front of signs meant to keep people and dogs out because I try to convince her we should check it out anyway, sign be damned.

Ella also liked to take the path less traveled. She wrote about taking the road less traveled in the post embedded below and her love of exploring here. This Substack started as a way to share life lessons from Ella’s POV, and Mala and I have had the pleasure of continuing it.

Ella is still present in our household, with photos, mementos, and toys scattered throughout. When I came around, Mala switched to Ella’s bowls, and I started using Mala’s smaller, lower bowls since I’m the little one now. Mala is hardly ever called the “little white dog” anymore because she’s bigger than me. Ella’s dog bed is in the living room, and Mala and Kali both sleep on it often. Kali was a big fan of Ella, and while she likes me, I could never replace the bond she had with Ella (even though it was one-sided).

I wish I could have met Ella because she sounds like a great dog who was skilled at getting her way. Her book, Pawsitive Perspectives, recounts the 15 years she spent with Mom, told through 40 life lessons. Mom tells me I have some of Ella’s spirit in me, and I’m glad that having me around has helped heal Mom’s heart after losing Ella. She left big boots to fill, but I’m doing my best to live up to her esteemed reputation. Maybe someday I can become queen!

I’m writing today’s post to wish a belated happy birthday to the kitties. On Tuesday, they turned 12. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since I was on the phone with my manager, who had to put me on hold because a kitten had snuck out of the pen and into his office. I asked him about the kittens and learned there was a litter that his sister had brought down from her farm in Wyoming, hoping Mike could find homes for them.

It had been five years since my previous cat, Anabelle, who had moved from NH to CO with me, had passed away from kidney disease. She was such a special cat that I knew no other could fill the hole she had left in my heart. But I asked for a photo anyway, and a little tortoiseshell kitten caught my eye. I went to meet her and fell in love with her and her sister, who were playing together under the kitchen table. I told Mike I would take them both as soon as they were old enough.

When I went back a couple of weeks later to pick them up, the tortie was still available, but Mike’s wife explained that the other female kitten had gotten sick. They had turned her over to the local shelter, which would take care of her medical needs. They had another kitten who still needed a home - a male with tiger stripes and a white underside. He was the runt of the litter and, honestly, not very cute. Since I had already committed to taking two kittens, I agreed to take both the tortie and the runt home.

I named the tortie Kali and the runt Mateo. Kali hissed at Ella when they first met, and Ella hid under the bed – a 50-pound dog afraid of a two-pound kitten. Ella didn’t mind the kittens joining our household, but mostly chose to ignore them. Kali, on the other hand, decided Ella was her best friend and could always be found near Ella.

When Mala came into the family, Mateo formed a close relationship with her. They could often be found cuddled up together in Mala’s bed. As Mala grew up, they had a falling out. She got tired of him taking cheap swipes at her.

When Tessie joined the family, Mateo found his new love. They play and snuggle together. Tessie has taken on the role of cat-herder and keeps Mateo in line. She’s on him whenever he scratches the couch or tries to go down the stairs from the deck, since she knows he’s not supposed to do those things. We reward her with treats for her diligence.

Kali likes the dogs, but she never became as enthralled with Mala or Tessie as she was with Ella. I’m her favorite now. She’ll sit with John when I travel, but she prefers my lap to almost anything else. There is one fuzzy blanket we keep on the couch that she sometimes chooses over my lap.

The cats have their quirks and unique personalities. Mateo is the social one who loves meeting new people, while Kali is the shy one who initially hides when someone new comes to the house but eventually warms up. Sometimes they fight (usually initiated by Mateo), but mostly they get along and even cuddle together. Mateo loves to play with his stuffed mice. Kali’s toy of choice is a shoelace, but she also likes the dogs’ tennis balls.

They both watch the birds from the windows and enjoy spending time on the deck with me. They have a catio so they can get some unsupervised (but safe) outdoor time in the summer. In the winter, they enjoy sleeping next to and under the woodstove. Like most cats, they love being warm.

Mateo likes to “work” and often sits on my desk or lies on John’s open laptop, discovering new menus we didn’t know existed. It often takes a while to figure out how to get out of those mystery windows and back to the homescreen. He is quite the contortionist and likes to sleep on his back in a twisted position. Kali mostly likes to sleep, play, and eat. Both have a sixth sense for when we sit down on the couch. We are guaranteed to have a cat in our laps within 10 seconds of settling in.

Here’s to 12 years and many more. Happy Birthday, Kali and Mateo!

Last weekend, Tessie and I were feeling kind of bored. Our parents went to yoga on Saturday morning, then out to breakfast. By the time they got home, they mostly focused on chores, so we only got a short walk, which is not much for a Saturday!

Sunday came around, and they both left again in the morning! Mom went to teach SUP Yoga, and Dad went to do a brick (a bike ride followed by a run) to train for an upcoming race. Tessie and I watched impatiently from the bed, out the window, for them to return.

After getting home and having lunch, they started packing their backpacks, and we got excited. Then we saw Mom put dog treats in her bag, and that’s when we knew it was true – we were going along for this outing!

We drove through Evergreen, then turned and started up the road toward a couple of our typical hikes. As we passed those trailheads, we wondered where we were headed. We got almost to Echo Lake, where we used to go regularly during the summer when Ella needed her wheels for walks because it was cooler at that elevation and the path by the lake is fairly wide and flat. Apparently, we weren’t going there this time!

We had to stop to talk to a guy and show him a ticket. He gave some advice and let us pass. As we started driving up the mountain, Tessie stood in the middle, watching out the windshield the whole way. The windows were down, so I sniffed the fresh mountain air. We came to a small lake, where we all got out. Mom and Dad strapped on their packs and grabbed their hiking poles. They leashed us up, and we were off!

We were ecstatic getting out of the car – it was nearly 15 degrees cooler there than at home! There were many new smells to check out, so we spent a lot of time by the lake before starting the trail up the mountain. There were big rocks to climb over, and I misjudged a couple of times and slipped. At 11 years old, Mom and Dad tend to worry about me a bit more these days, but they don’t need to - I’m still a great rock climber! I just took some bad steps.

Along the way, Mom reminisced about why she never took Ella on another 14er after Ella practically dragged her up Quandry when she was young. Ella always had summit fever. On that hike, she could see the summit for much of the trail and was determined to get there fast. When Dad hikes 14ers, he usually picks really challenging ones, so he goes with his friend, and we stay home. That means I’ve never hiked a 14er. On our big adventure last summer, we reached about 12,500 feet above sea level while crossing West Maroon Pass between Aspen and Crested Butte.

We took a break at a spot overlooking Chicago Lakes, the destination of one of the long hikes we did last summer while training for our grand adventure.

We pushed on and made it to the summit of Mount Spalding at 13,842 feet. Our hiking pace was much slower than our typical 20-minute miles, so Mom and Dad kept their eyes on the distant clouds.

We continued on the trail toward Mt. Blue Sky, but after going up a bit, they decided it was time to turn us around because the trail was getting rockier and harder to follow. Tessie was nervous with all the marmots around, who make a noise that sounds like a smoke detector beeping. We were completely happy to turn around and head back to the lake, enjoying the expansive views in all directions and the abundant wildflowers. I cooled off at the lake before we piled back into the truck.

After returning to the car, we continued driving to the top of Mt. Blue Sky. We saw some mountain goats along the way, and Mom picked up a tuft of fur from the ground for us to sniff – Tessie tried to eat it, of course.

We reached the parking area and walked the last 1/4 mile to the summit. It was a good thing we didn’t try to hike the full way, because it was past our dinner time, even with how we ended up summiting.

I was tired and slept through most of the car ride back, but Tessie kept watch because there were more mountain goats and even some bighorn sheep along the road. Overall, it was a terrific outing, well worth the wait!

We returned from our adventure in the Dakotas on Monday. It was a whirlwind trip that spanned four states and included two national parks, national grasslands, a national forest, and a state park.

We departed Colorado on Thursday morning, drove through Wyoming, and arrived in South Dakota, where we stayed at a hotel in Rapid City, which was larger than we expected.

On Friday, we started the day with a quick pit stop at the famous Wall Drug shops, then visited Badlands National Park. The Lakota peoples originally called the region mako sica, which translates to "land bad," because the rugged terrain, extreme temperature fluctuations, and lack of water made the area incredibly difficult to cross or live in. Dogs aren’t allowed on the hiking trails, but we stopped at many overlooks along the loop road. 

We headed back to Rapid City for lunch in a park with plenty of grass for rolling around and letting off some energy after the morning in the car. Next, we drove to North Dakota and set up camp at Buffalo Gap Campground near the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We hiked part of the Maah Daah Hey trail, a 144-mile trail that (unfortunately) has many ticks! After dinner at the campsite, we went to Painted Canyon for sunset. None of us got much sleep that night because Dad kept finding more ticks crawling on him and Mala.

On Saturday morning, we packed up and drove the loop of the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where we enjoyed watching the solo male bison near the road and taking in the beautiful scenery. From there, we drove to Watford City for lunch, then drove through the park's north unit. There was a huge herd of bison, with many females and calves. Thank goodness Roosevelt fell in love with this place in 1883 and went on to establish the US Forest Service, proclaim 18 national monuments, and protect over 230 million acres of land (including five national parks, 150 national forests, and dozens of federal reserves).

We set up camp just outside the north unit of the park at the CCC campground. After we all settled into the tent, Mom noticed a tornado alert for 18 counties in North Dakota. Looking outside, we still saw patches of blue sky, so Mom and Dad wondered whether we would experience any of the bad weather where we were. After a bit of discussion, Dad found another tick on him, and that was the final straw. They broke down camp, and we headed to a hotel in Watford City. Soon after settling into the hotel, Mom and Dad started receiving alerts on their phones about potential 80-mile-per-hour winds and severe thunderstorms. Boy, were we glad to be in the hotel and not in the tent. The wind was pretty bad, and there was a lot of lightning and rain, but we stayed cozy and dry in our room.

The above video covers Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, the video wouldn’t download with the music (Against the Wind by Bob Seger).

After a good night’s sleep, we awoke to blue skies. Aside from some debris and downed trees in the surrounding area, you would never have known anything had happened the night before.

We drove all the way to Custer, South Dakota, where we stopped for lunch before heading to our cabin at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. As we pulled up to the cabin, we all noticed it was the exact same one we had stayed in four years earlier during Tessie’s first road trip as a Wild Western Wanderer. We went for a hike on the Sunday Gulch Trail, had dinner outside the cabin, and then watched the sunset over the lake.

In the morning, we got up and went for a paddle. It was quiet and peaceful – even Tessie was silent as we paddled around the lake a couple of times. Mom and Dad packed up the car, and we took one last walk by the lake before driving six hours home. We were a bit overwhelmed by all the traffic once we crossed over into Colorado after being in such open spaces with so few people for several days.

We enjoyed the trip, but are happy to be back in Colorado. Below is the Reel from our Instagram about the last couple of days of our trip. The Wild Western Wanderers are grateful for these opportunities to see what a vast, beautiful, and varied country we are so lucky to live in. We truly lead charmed lives.

Last week, Mala shared that her song is “Escape” by Enrique Iglesias. Now it’s my turn to share the song that Mom and Dad attribute to me - “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran. They change the chorus line to “When they say the party’s over, Tessie brings it right back.” The video wouldn’t download with the song, so I decided to share the link to the reel …

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Each of us dogs has a song that Mom and Dad say is ours - mine is Escape by Enrique Iglesias. Just one simple word swap and the chorus becomes “You can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape Mala’s love.”

Ever since I was a puppy, I’ve loved giving kisses to my favorite people (and even the cats occasionally). Mom had fun going through photos of me doling out kisses. This video is a collection of some of her favorites.

When they leave the house, I either watch out the window from the bed or from the back of the loveseat until they return. When they pull up, I bark, whine, and purr. When I run out to greet them, I do big, fast zoomies (Mom calls it my Indy 500). What can I say? I’m a lover.

All it takes to make me wag my tail is a glance in my direction or hearing my name. I love my family and express how I feel – often and enthusiastically. I’m not sure how many kisses I’ve given in my 11 years, but I have plenty more to give!

Mom and Dad are both working normal schedules this week, and during the time they had off on Tuesday morning, they opted to go mountain biking rather than take Mala and me for a hike. All this lying around, even if it is outside on the deck, has me bored. My parents tease me about my reaction, saying, “Oh, you poor dog, your life is so tough,”…

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Spring has sprung here in Colorado. This is the time of year when we can get snow, rain, and sunshine all in the same day. In fact, we had our heaviest snowfall of the season just a couple of weeks ago. We have had more snow in May so far than we did in January or February. It was a strange winter.

The warm temperatures and lack of snow meant les…

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After six years of living in Evergreen and hiking the nearby trails over and over, we started expanding our territory last summer in an effort to find longer options to prepare for our trek between Aspen and Crested Butte.

It was a blast, and appropriate for us as Wild Western Wanderers, to keep exploring new terrain. We continued the trend las…

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My big sister, Ella, was one smart cookie. She had a lot of personality and taught all of us many important lessons. In 2024, Mom compiled 40 of these lessons into a book, Pawsitive Perspectives: Life Lessons from the Shelter Dog Who Became Queen. The book uses stories told from Ella’s perspective to explore themes of survival, trust, healing, a…

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Saturday, April 11, is National Pet Day. I thought I’d celebrate by sharing all the ways that loving a pet can improve your life.

The best prescription for well-being might be wagging its tail at your front door. Sharing your life with a pet can make you healthier and happier. Lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and increased joy are just a fe…

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Now that our birthday month is over, we (the dogs) are taking back control of this Substack. Mom wrote the last couple of posts about Mala and me to celebrate our birthdays.

In her post about me, Mom mentioned that I exhibit some traits of a typical Australian Cattle Dog (ACD). I'm smart, have a lot of opinions, and can be quite the "velcro" do…

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I have the opportunity to write again this week, this time in honor of Tessie's birthday. It’s hard to believe she is already four years old, especially since she still thinks of herself as a baby. On the other hand, she has been on many adventures during her time with the Wild Western Wanderers. It feels fitting that today is also National Pu…

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I’m taking over the dog’s Substack today to wish Mala a happy 11th birthday! This sweet little bundle of joy chose us at a charity event in 2015. We had no intention of adopting a second dog when we were introduced to Mala by a local rescue organization attending a walk for farm animals. She was so tiny, I scooped her up in my hands, and…

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Mom tracks her activities on her watch. She gives herself a star on her calendar whenever she reaches her weekly intensity-minute goal. The number of intensity minutes she earns depends on her heart rate during an activity. When her heart rate enters the higher zones, she earns double minutes.

In most weeks of the year, she reaches at least tw…

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Longevity seems to be a popular topic lately. Mom is writing two articles with tips for healthy aging for an upcoming issue of Well magazine, so she has been researching longevity. While she has been focusing on topics such as what to eat to increase the diversity of your gut microbiome and how to improve your mobility and range of motion, I thi…

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Our Mom survived a heart attack when she was 31. That was in 2009, so it was before our time, but we are happy that her friend convinced her to go to the hospital that night so she could go on living and adopt us.

Today is National Wear Red Day, which supports women’s cardiovascular health by encouraging everyone to wear red, share in…

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