Fall in Skallman Park:

Left : The Crabby Tree is leafless but still holds bushels of apples.

Right : Many inches of rain have fallen in the last few weeks.

Goings-on in the duck pond:

The water level is extremely high. Late last week there were a breeding pair of mallards, but they've left the pond. The newest visitor is an otter who seems to be here for the Frog Smorg.

He swam close to pond's edge to investigate me ( 26 Oct 09).

Rain or Shine, grateful dogs are still loving it:

Left: Freckles with new friend ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Right: Nex awaiting a ball toss.

Smarter than who?

See this interesting slide show that illustrates the "smartest" and "dumbest" dog breeds.

http://cbs2chicago.com/slideshows/smartest.dumbest.dogs.20.696673.html

The Afphgan hound ABU

Blaine's Northern Light community newspaper published a very moving letter from Diane, the owner of the recently passed ABU the Afphgan Hound. See letters to the Editor, Sept 17-23.

Where were you?

On Monday night , around 7 PM, there were 11 dogs and 5 guardians in the park. It was a genuine dog circus.

Dog Days of Summer at Lake Padden

Visited the DDoS at Padden off-leash, but by the time I arrived ( 1:20 PM ) most of the exhibitors were packin-it-in. The event was spared the forecast rain but it was wicked-windy with white-caps on the lake's west end.

Adequate parking seemed to be the biggy. So much so that the fenced in off-leash area was used for parking. Hmmm ! Guess I'm just a Blaine hayseed, but I found that most odd.

Thoreau in Skallman

Nipped into the park today at 7:15 PM, in between heavy rain showers - just Frekx , Nex, and me.

The sky was a deep, dark gray except for a few breaks on the Western horizon, sunset was still 45 minutes away.

The low sun shone through the cloud breaks sending horizontal rays in between the cedars, illuminating and refracting through small rain drops. Slanting rays close to the ground lit-up condensed vapor of the dog's exhaled breath ... a familiar sign of the new season. To the East, beyond the airfield, was an oh-my-gosh, vibrant double rainbow.

Today's early wind & rain storm brought down a fine dusting of pine & cedar needles onto the shaded bare earth, and in the parched lower meadow, straw colored grass is starting to blush GREEN.

Why many folks & pets from Southern Cal have moved to lil-olde Blaine.

Left: See time lapse photography of L.A. fires ( Aug-Sep ).

Right: Satellite image, Cat_5 Hurricane JIMENA tracks North along Baja penninsula.

Hot Summer in Skallman

All-Time-Record high temps were record throughout the Pacific Northwest on Wed , July 28th. 96 degrees at the Bellingham airport, and around 90 in Blaine, depending on the specific location.

On Thursday, another near 90 degree day in Blaine, I mounted a thermometer in the park's shaded & sheltered bulletin board , it registered a relatively pleasant 84 at 2 PM. I noticed that winds were from the NW rather than the prevailing SW, sea-breeze. The air was filled with an unusually loud & enthusiastic chorus of song birds.

Were these amazing creatures rejoicing at Summer's PEAK, after an incredibley brutal, snow & ice bound Winter?

UFO seen at Blaine Muni Airport

Keeping Eden Snake Free

Unfortunately, popularity produces more Poop.

Therefore ~ additional poop bag dispensers and new & effective signage will be installed by week's end. See proposed sign below. Do you think this wording is appropriate?

The grass IS greener at Blaine's off-leash park

In the park today, whilst doing battle with blackberries , I met three retired couples and two miniature Poodles from Texas who explored Dierks' Serengehti. The Blaine visitors' center steered them in our direction, and they were mighty impressed.

Travelling to other places helps us appreciate what we have right here at home. In this case it was visitors to our

home field letting use know how good it is in olde Blaine .

The Southern folks cherised the uncrowed, cool- shady- green and secure setting. They helped me realize that Skallman is a GEM worth promoting as a DESTINATION dog park.

Trees in Eden

The bitter cherry trees are now offering low-hanging

ripe fruit. ( see image right) . The crab apple tree's fruit is putting on a blush.

Along with Cedar, Spruce, Holly and Cotton Woods - Skallman has at least two, not so common, Garry Oak trees. ( see image above-right).

Spiffing -up Dog Eden

Volunteers have been pruning low hanging branches & raking up ground liter in prep for chipping and shredding. Skipper Richard S. mowed the grass on Monday ( in both the new and original area). It's looking real good. More importantly, our pets are benefitting from the added space & setting. I sure notice a positive change in my two guys.

Today, at the restore, picked up some heavy duty lumber that can be used for simple benches. Over at GoodWill got a smoking deal on four white, plastic out-door chairs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today, in Seattle Times, interesting story about saving baby wildlife.

Racoonigan at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center
Also see our local wildlife rehab org

It's a beautiful thing !

It's a Superior Dog Park. It's an Arboreteum. It's a Zen garden.
It's 0.86 of an acre.

Thanks to spirited effort by a hardcore of skilled volunteers, the fence expansion was done by 2 PM. Forty five minutes later seven very grateful dogs were checking it out.

To those who wanted to pitch-in but couldn't make it; ease your guilt by sending in a donation for needed supplies. We will be purchasing more PooP bag dispensers and "pick-it-up" signage.

Special thanks to the City of Blaine's Parks Board for the expanded space and to Pacific Building Center for the Right-Stuff.

Special thanks to ALL those who made it happen.
Savor your Accomplishments.

| | | | |

Kudos to photographer Barb Shelton.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dog Park Expansion, progress report

* Weather is forecast to be cloudy & in the 60's for fence expansion day, Sat- June 20th.

* The new steel-gate posts and the corner wooden post are set in cement.

* New fencing material has been delivered.

* Will be attaching wire fence-to-posts with EZ clips. Slicker than twisting lock wire. See illustration.

* Appreciation to Blaine's Pacific Building Center for providing material at "cost".

* Many thorny Blackberry stocks around the perimeter have been slain.

* Today, Darell C. & me "pulled" 16 existing "T" post & repositioned them.

|-|-|-| See you on Saturday between 9 AM and 3 PM. |-|-|-|

June 20th is definitely the day for Fence Expansion

Left -- pounding posts, Middle -- Schmoozing, Right -- lunching

Images above are from the initial fence installation in Oct 2007.

Essentially, The "small dog enclosure will be left in place, and the remaining fence line relocated & expanded ( a lot). Partisans will be coming and going as they please from 9 AM until mid afternoon. Lets hope the weather is decent.

Some prep work will be done ahead of time so that production work on Saturday should go smoothly. There is no brush to clear nor gravel to spread. We will be carrying material, raking up stuff fallen from the cedars, Placing & "pounding" fence posts into the ground. Finally, the wire mesh fencing will be attached to the posts. In between, there will be lots of schmoozing. The park has both sunny & shady areas. Dogs are OK, but remember only the smaller area will be enclosed. I'm leaving mine at home.

== Please pitch-in by doing whatever you feel comfortable doing. ==

Chef Gou Cheng will be catering the event with her special menu. I'll bring a cooler filled with Ice & bottled water. You too can surprise all with additional goodies. See you there!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Drieks Serengeti:

The pond has hatched a new crop of dragon flies , water striders skate to & fro, bullfrogs croak in satisfaction, and an 11 duckling navy patrols the shores.

Today, by the newly mowed Dierks Field we watched a flock of about 20 Canadian Geese decend and land to investigate browsing opportunites in the fresh stubble. In ten days, we & our companions, will admire what the Seasons offer from a truly unique sanctuary.

Sincere thanks to all how made it happen.

Dog Park Fence Expansion Date

Consensus is weighing heavily toward Saturday the 20th of June.

Will confirm this no later than the 13th of June.

I did not realize that, during the month of June, we are competing for volunteers with a Blaine urban trail improvement project, co-sponsored by City's Parks Dept and the unaffiliated NWPRD2.

Savvy volunteers will surely choose working under the cool shade of Skallman Park's cedars rather than agitating gravel in the dust & heat of Blaine's mean-streets.

* * Pick a day to expand the fence * *

~ ~ We have sufficient funds.
~ ~ I've sourced, priced, but not yet purchased the fencing material.

~ ~ The "T" post puller tool works pretty slick.
~ ~ We only need to agree when to do the work.

Naturally, no one time will suit all. May I suggest any one day during the weekends of June 13th or June 20th, { the 21st is Fathers'Day}. June 27th would be cool too; the following Friday is July 4th.

A consensus based on your responses and advice will determine when & how the deed will be done.

Please contact me using any of these ways.

~ ~ Adding a comment to this blog.
~ ~ e-Mailing me at 20.10@comcast.net

~ ~ e-Mailing this blog at ByGosh@gmail.com.
~ ~ Calling my residential tele number at 360-543-7883
~ ~ Knocking on my door at 1218 Mitchell Ave

. . . . . ( SE corner of Mitchell & Cedar).

This blog and my e-mail list may not be reaching all those willing to pitch-in, so please contact other friends & partisans and let me know your preferences. ( Druids please note, the 21st is Summer Solstice.)

Hearty thanks to all who have contributed to Blaine Grateful Dogs.

Park Expansion Update

• The fence post puller arrived tonight, got to check-it-out to tomorrow. ( Not available locally.)
• Negotiated the lowest possible price for expansion fencing material.
• In The Park, adjacent to large trees, I tested for & marked root-free post locations.
• Cordial contact was made with the Chairperson of Bellingham Grateful Dogs .
• The bank added / authorized my signature on our Blaine GD account.
• The next issue of Bellingham's GD newsletter will make reference to this Blog. ( Jean was happy to have additional content.)
• Coordinated with NWPRD2 about procedural matters. ( Know thy Place. )

We still need about $100 to purchase materials. Please see the left margin of this page for contribution instructions.

After supper there were ten pooches playing in the park.

Most adored was the pup "Super Duper" Cooper, a very young-n-tiny, Mini Schnauzer/ Jack Russell mix. Coop was confidently showing-off his stuff to the bigger boys & girls .... Just last week Coop felt more comfortable in the smaller, safe harbor section, but the park helped him get over that! Richard and Gou brought four friends, and Nekx & Frekx took me along.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today, I put adds for used fencing stuff on "Craig's List" & "The Echo" .

• 50, 6' , heavy duty , studed "T" fence posts
• 250 feet of 4' , 14 guage, wire mesh, fencing

If you've got any, we can use it for the park's fence expansion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~

Your contributions have helped the parks fence expansion come closer to fulfillment, but we are still $125 short. So do what you think is right.

Donations can be made to: "Garteful Dogs off-leash Blaine".

- - - - - - -

Sunny day at Skallman

Nikkō

It was a beauty day at Blaine's off leash park. Got to meet old & new acquaintances. Met my first Japanese Shiba Inu named Nikkou. Other visitors were "Bob-n-Bill", Buttons, Bowie and "The world's cleanest Little White Dog".

Darel C. & me took accurate measurement & discussed fence placement for the park expansion. Darel offered his "post pounder " for the fence construction. We could use two such devices on construction day so if you have another please let me now, so we don't have to rent one.

We are still about $200 short.

Your contributions will make it happen.

Skallman Expansion Update

Dog Park Expansion Update.

If we economize by moving and reusing existing metal posts & wire mesh fencing the expansion can be done for $250 ( in addition to the $340 in the bank ).

Today I mail-ordered a "t-post" puller .

(as seen on YouTube)

Lets hope it's half that E.Z. to pull those puppies.

What remains is:

• Getting the additional 250 bucks.
• Aquiring the material. ( I'll do the shopping)
• Doing the work at an agreed upon time. ( lets shot for on or before The Solstice)

WildLife seen at Skallman pond.

11 ducklings and their mom, around twilight

Autocross at Blaine Municipal Airport.

The Chuckanut Sports Car Club

Today CSCC completed the third of six planned events at Blaine Municipal Airport. A young BgHam couple and three sptorty dogs watched the action from the dog park.

The Dog Park Expansion

During the third week in May. Terry (Tee Jay) Johnson handed my the ceremonial leash along with the map showing the boundaries for the long awaited expansion.

The Park has $340 in the bank and needs another $560 to purchase material and rent equipment to make it happen. The bucks can come from you & I , granting agencies , or a combination of both. If we request funds from granting agencies we will have to respect the time involved in their measured response. If we all chip-in some change it could be done before Summer Solstice. (imagine the twilight celebration).

I will pledge $140 toward that goal. Please let me know what path you would like follow to complete the expansion. You can use the comment section below to begin a discussion on this topic.

Greetings

As the new chairperson of Blaine's off-leash park I created this blog as a way for us to stay connected and promote the interests of our pets and Blaine's dog park.

I hope it will contribute to all the work done by the dedicated Charter Members.

Together lets build & maintain the best dog-gone park.