Irish Blessing for Our Brother

© Pat Murkland

And for all those who need a blessing on their journey:

© Pat Murkland

May the road rise to meet you.

© Pat Murkland

May the wind always be at your back.

© Pat Murkland

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields;

© Pat Murkland

And, until we meet again, may

God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Tall Comfort

Courtesy of Heartsong Irish Wolfhounds

Yankee embraces the concept of a pull-out couch.

Therapy Dog

Photo courtesy of the Cox family

Ocho visiting a care home in Texas.

Me & My Shadow

© Pat Murkland

Ring around the Rosie

More scenes from Lompoc:

© Pat Murkland

© Pat Murkland

© Pat Murkland

Showing Our Joy

BSS CH Glenamadda Starkeeper Verity © Pat Murkland

Verity had not attended an Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast specialty show since she won Best of Breed in 2008.

On July 28-29, 2011, she returned.

This time she brought her daughter, Rose, with her.

Gryffindor's Wild Rose O'Starry Glen © Pat Murkland

Rose won first place in the 12-18 month puppy bitch class on both days of this year's back-to-back specialties under two breeder judges.

Then on the second day, she won Reserve Winner's Bitch!

We are deeply appreciative to Breeder-Judge Tom Powers.

Rose flies around the ring. © Pat Murkland

We thank Breeder-Judge Dr. Lynn Simon for his kind remarks on Thursday about Rose's conformation.

Dr. Simon examines Rose. © Pat Murkland

Rose had fun!

We thank our handlers Bill Buell & Erin Hines.

And her mother, who loves being with her.

Rose in the ring. © Pat Murkland

On Friday, we were again thrilled when Mr. Powers chose Verity as his champion select bitch, earning a major toward her Grand Champion title.

Verity at age 5. © Pat Murkland

There's more!

Verity went back into the ring with Rose and her handsome son Colin, and won Brood Bitch.

While at the specialty, Verity also earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.

So, now she's BSS CH Glenamadda Starkeeper Verity, CGC.

A Walk in the Old West

GCH Glenamadda Starkeeper Liberty (© Pat Murkland)

Miss Liberty is a dual citizen.

She was born in Canada but was born on our U.S. Independence Day, July 4.

This year she'll be 3 years old, and in honor of her birthday, we traveled together back in time.

We went to the Old West.

(© Pat Murkland)

This is Gilman Historic Ranch & Wagon Museum in Banning.

James Gilman came here in 1869 and began running cattle, along with a stagecoach stop.

Later the family harvested apricots, peaches and other crops, and was especially famous for olives. Their ranch is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since the 1970s, it's been a historic park that showcases California ranch life in the 1800s.

Unfortunately, recent budget cuts have severely limited its public access, starting today, July 1.

So, the other day Liberty and I took a walk in the Old West, a farewell for now.

We walked on the Bradshaw Trail together.

Walking on the Bradshaw Trail (© Pat Murkland)

I closed my eyes and imagined the dust and noise of arriving coaches at the Gilman Station.

Stagecoaches, freight wagons and prospectors traveled this old route from Los Angeles to the Arizona gold fields in the 1860s.

Overland Stagecoach used in Southern CA (© Pat Murkland)

We passed the ruins of the oldest permanent, non-Indian structure in the Banning area, the Jose Pope adobe building from 1854.

But before then, Native Americans lived near the spring here, and throughout San Gorgonio Pass. Archaeologists found a Native American hearth and other artifacts under the adobe ruins.

And although the stagecoaches are most famous for traveling this road, they were not the first travelers.

Imagine!

Here is the terrain that travelers saw in the Pass:

White sage blooms in foothills (© Pat Murkland)

We are thankful that we still see this beauty, Liberty and I, when we travel back to 2011. Happy birthday, sweetie!