Marching onward

I have stopped running through the woods anymore. My knee has suddenly grown old and tired and refuses to put up with that kind of behavior. Now, me and the dog, we march. Quick-step, arms flying forward and back (except when my companion stops to pee or poop or sniff something, which is pretty often, and then my leash hand stays behind me and doesn't resume the fro-ing until Miss Daisy catches up again), striding forward through tall grass (don't they mow here anymore?) and muddy bogs, I look ridiculous I think. This kind of walking looks out of place here, I am sure. This poor turkey gaped at me for a full minute and a half before turning and quickly striding off into the woods, exactly as though he was afraid to be associated with such an odd person.

 But the wildflowers didn't mind at all.

 Nor did the crooked tree.

 The dew ignored me.

And this baby toad just hoped I wouldn't step on him. So I didn't and took a picture instead.

What the dog saw

 Here's a series of pictures of my dog, Miss Daisy. She's sitting well off the path while we wait for a man with two border collies to pass us. Daisy likes other dogs, she's just not very calm around them. I usually have her sit and wait for whoever else we see on the trail to walk on by. It's easier that way.

I usually have some pepperoni in my pocket to help me keep her attention. On this day, alas, I did not bring it with me, and so I couldn't get her to look at me instead of the very interesting animals going by.

It's okay. She's getting there. It's not that I worry about her so much, as I worry about other people's dogs. They're almost always off leash when we see them and whoever is walking them doesn't appear to have any control over them at all. If they're friendly dogs, no problem. But some of them are aggressive.

Daisy is not, but she's always on high alert when we meet anybody else. She hasn't learned yet not to jump up on strangers. This is my solution. If I have her sit to one side, people assume that she's aggressive and they put their dogs back on leash and walk carefully around us. It all works out.