5/18: Cabin Dinners and River Valley Wandering

A great few days at the cabin! 

Plenty of school work, but also: 

A fun walk/dinner/music/dance party at the cabin with Sam, Sara, Bobby, Adam and Liz. We were up late and our feet were really dirty the next morning. 

Some great wandering and all kinds of creatures, including a few of these gigantic beautiful caterpillars!

Actual size. I'm not kidding. They're like 3 - 4 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Gorgeous things.
What do they grow up to be? Anybody?

And now for a glimpse into hermit life with Allison and Mattie:

So when we spend all kinds of time together (...just the two of us...), we find ways to keep ourselves entertained. One of my favorite things is playing "Where's Mattie?" She really invented the game.

It kind of evolved like this.

Usually I go wandering around looking at the ground for long periods of time finding cool rocks and chips and bones. Mattie at some point figured out that she doesn't really have to walk the whole way with me (she's an old lady), but she wants to stay within eyesight.

So basically, after wandering around in bushes or trees for a while I'll sometimes lift my head and try to find my well-hidden dog, who is almost always staring straight at me from a distance like a total creep. She's very efficient. And sometimes camouflaged.

It just always cracks me up when I finally do see her. And that's the game.

So below, a picture from today's game of Where's Mattie:

See her? 

Zoomed. Totally creepy.

The creepiest! She's the best!

Anyway, maybe you have to be there? But it always makes me laugh to see her sitting in the distance watching to make sure I'm still there. We don't like being away from each other.

Time for bed before class tomorrow.

Love,

Allison & Mattie my Sweet Stalker Dog