Gratitude. Giving back. Slow mo holidays. Happy Thanksgiving week.

‘Tis the season to take stock of all that we have - all that we are.

‘Tis the season of gratitude.

Sunday morning                                         Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

For the simple joys of life.

Sleeping in.

Snuggling up.

No politics. 

No agenda.

Slo mo Sundays.

Be fragile.

Be human.

Be dog-like.

Say “I love you.”

Better yet, show it.

Curl up.

Burrow under the covers.

Breath the same air.

Are we lucky to have each other, or what?

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

In Oregon, we are thankful for the majesty of nature around us.

Grounding us.

Sharing forest secrets.      

River currents.

The journey.

Mountain hikes to panoramic views.

Elk, bear, eagle and quail commuting through the yard.

Though it's a big, busy, loud world out there, life begins and ends in moments like these -- quiet moments.

Moments between moments.

If we slow down and stop rushing from A to B.

If we listen to the quiet.

The call of the quail in the yard.

Fall hike in the Pacific NW. Doodle hunting for sticks!                      Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

We don't all speak the same language - or live in the same neighborhood. Some of us eat meat – some of us, seed.

Tia and Doodle - lion and lamb.          Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

But wherever in the world we are, we are neighbors.

Maybe even relatives - whatever our species.

We are all on this planet together.

We are here to blaze a trail – to help – to give what we can.

To share.

To help each other find our way.

To find the meaning of life.

Sometimes we get lost - and in being lost, we find a whole new journey.

Give thanks. Give back. It's that time of year.

Whatever causes are important to you, help them.  

Whatever lives you can touch – please do so.

Here are a few of the causes we give to - believe in. 

Hood River Rotary service project at Hood River Middle School 2016 - cleaning up the track. That's me, Barb, on the right - the girl.         Photo: Michael McElwee

Snow will be closing in soon.

There’s a turkey, giving his all for us.

There’s a moment- in the quiet-  when we feel completely alone – and that’s when we know how much we need each other.

It will be a long time before the renewal of spring.

There’s a guy in a red suit coming to town at some point.

I think he has a list...

Doodle's Saturday selfie                        Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Happy holidays!

Barb Ayers and fur friends.

Celebrating all American small town spirit. The independence day parade!

The spirit of small town America comes alive in our tiny town. You'd think we were way more than 25,000 people here... because we all come out, we all show up and we all celebrate together. The July 4 parade in Hood River, OR - celebrating our independence!

Go Doodle, go!

Speaking of Go, yes that's a GoPro... video coming soon.

Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Doodle and our next door neighbor Kelsey and I - July 4, 2018 Hood River parade.                Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Doodle, my surf dog son #4 in 2018.   Photo: (c) Blaine Franger, BlaineBethanyGallery.com

Howdy, my first surf dog and I at Dog Beach circa 1998.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

At SurfDogDiaries, our first parade was in 1991, with my first surf dog, Howdy, on a surfboard in the Ocean Beach Christmas parade... marching with the OB Geriatric Precision Surfboard Drill Team.

OB had/has a total small beach town vibe. 

Howdy and I marched in red, white and blue, supporting our home beach - Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, where we held events to fix up the beach, and started dog surfing.

And it became a tradition... from surf dog 1 (Howdy) to 2 (Elvis) to 3 (Dude) and then generation 4 (Doodle.) 

Everyone but Elvis was named after Howdy Doody, the #1 surf dog. Elvis was always just Elvis.

For a while, I had three dogs on board for parades and surfing (RIP - miss you basset sons and brothers.)

L to R: Doodle, Elvis, Dude. Hood River July 4 parade 2014.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Dogs on parade continued after we moved to Oregon, where they redefine the term small town spirit. Our home beach changed from Ocean Beach's Dog Beach to Hood River's Dog River more than a decade ago.

Dude continued surfing, and doing parades, after he went blind. No biggie. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

About celebrating independence.... and the spirit of adventure.... Oregon goes off. 

Ever heard of the Oregon Trail? Lewis & Clark? Pacific Crest Trail?

Celebrating life - together with neighbors and family and friends - is what parades are all about. 

And now that July 4 celebration has come and gone - you know what that means.... 

Welcome back SUMMER, old friend! 

- Barb n Doodle, DogDiary.org