A Book and a Puppy

Posted on by Rebecca Wallick

It’s been so long since I’ve posted that my WordPress create-a-post screen is different, updated!

I’ve missed posting and reading the posts of others I follow. Sorry for being absent with my likes for so long.

I’m happy to report two monumental things happening in my life:

First, my manuscript is nearly done. At 98,512 words, it’s ready (or nearly so) to hand off to a developmental editor I found and am eager to work with. Many revisions await, I am sure. But it’s a relief to have reached this point after ten years of desire, good intentions, and struggle. I still regularly ask myself “Who cares?” as I work on this memoir, but, I hope, my editor will help me answer that question and focus in on the appropriate audience as I revise.

Second, on July 8th I will welcome a new member to my pack! This is something I’ve contemplated for a long while but was, in part, waiting until Finn was gone. In the past, bringing a new dog into the mix when the current one was about seven worked well for all involved. But Finn has no plans to leave. He’s now 15.5 years old, much older than any dog I’ve had, and going strong. And Conall is 8.5 years old. That math tells you how long I’ve been waiting. At sixty-six, I’m no spring chicken, either. So, last fall, I realized that if I wanted to have another large, strong dog in my life, a Malamute, it had better happen sooner than later. Long-lived Finn will simply have to adjust. I reached out to Conall’s breeder in Colorado because Conall is so awesome and why mess with perfection, right? After deciding it would be too challenging to get a puppy from Colorado to Vermont in winter, I chose a male puppy from a litter born May 11th. A good friend from Seattle will fly to Denver, pick up the puppy, and fly with him into Boston, where I’ll meet them and bring them to Vermont. A logistical nightmare, but ultimately, I trust, worth it.

I can hardly wait. Conall will be over the moon. A playmate! Finn will, I hope, also be happy, but less enthusiastically so. Finn was great with Conall as a puppy, but at his advanced age, less able to wrangle puppy energy. I’m confident it will work out to the benefit of all.

I’ve chosen the name Chann. It’s Irish and means Young Wolf. Conall’s name, also Irish, means Strong Wolf. Sticking to a theme.

Chann, age five weeks.

Working on my manuscript these past few months, writing about trail running with dogs in the wilderness, I was constantly reminded of the important role Malamutes have played throughout my adult life. I wasn’t ready to say, “I’m too old for such an energetic dog.” I’m still running, not as far or as fast as ten years ago, but enough.

While I’ve been writing, and scheming how to get a puppy from Colorado to Vermont, the boys and I have continued our daily routines of running and walking in the nearby fields and woods through the seasons. It’s been a while since I’ve posted some dog photobomb photos, so indulge me as I use them to bring blog readers up to speed because I’m kind of worded out from working so hard on my manuscript.

My last photobomb post included photos through December 2021, so this one includes a mix of seasonal wildflowers and plants since then. Life is good!

Trout Lilly. May 9, 2022.
Marsh Marigolds. May 19, 2022.
Birds-eye Speedwell, May 30, 2022.
Pink Lady’s Slipper, June 6, 2022.
Blue Flat Iris, June 16, 2022.
Ox-eye Daisies and Orange Hawkweed (aka Devil’s Paintbrush), June 20, 2022.
Milkweed, July 4, 2022.
Kalm’s Lobelia, July 28, 2022.
Fireweed, August 22, 2022.
Monarch caterpillar on Milkweed leaves, August 22, 2022.
Nodding Ladies Tresses (an orchid), September 6, 2022.
Clubmoss among fall’s leaves. November 2, 2022.
Some long ago gone-to-seed plant buried under snow, November 24, 2022.
Purple Trillium, May 14, 2023.
Quaker Ladies, aka Bluets, May 29, 2023.
Painted Trillium, May 29, 2023.
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Published by Rebecca Wallick

I delight in exploring the national forest near my Idaho home on foot, whether trail running, hiking, or xc skiing, with my two dogs by my side, taking photos of nature and wildlife. An author and freelance writer, I love observing and writing about the natural world, and dogs, and am a long-time contributing editor at Bark magazine. I used to practice law for a living. I much prefer the writing life.

16 thoughts on “A Book and a Puppy”

  1. Oh boy, double congrats!! I can only imagine the feeling of having that manuscript almost ready to send off to your editor. And a new puppy…he’s adorable. I hope the boys will love him as much as you surely will! Thanks for updating us with a bunch of pictures too…enjoyed this.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. To my big surprise, my Aussie Mindy — who was 13 when Bear came to live with us — was very happy to have a puppy around. She did a lot of the immediate training of Bear, house-breaking in particular. Bear adored her and the first thing she did every morning was give Mindy a kiss. I didn’t expect that. I hope it goes just as beautifully with Finn and Chann! I’m very excited to “meet” the little guy.

    I was only a little younger (63) than you are now when I brought home Bear and not nearly as ambulatory. Three years later I got my second hip prosthesis. I worried, too, but I got the great reminder about dogs — they just love us and they will find a way. Bear has no idea (nor does Teddy! who joined us when I was 67) of the athlete I once was. To them everything we do is GREAT. I think it’s going to be WONDERFUL, Becky! And the book will be, too. 🐾🐾💚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m hoping the puppy brings out the inner puppy in Finn. He still has his playful moments with Conall (though not enough from Conall’s perspective), so I think Chann will be good for Finn. Conall will be in nirvana 🙂

      And yes, despite loss of former athletic ability, we can still provide our dogs with rich lives full of smells, sounds, sights, and experiences, no matter our age! Thanks for the reminder and encouragement, Martha!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Lots of progress then. Congratulations.

    In the US does a puppy travel as cargo when you take it on a flight? My niece relocated across the country recently and she and my cousin drove so that she could take her dogs along with her without subjecting them to the stress of travelling in cargo. She was not sure how they would handle pressure and temperature changes.

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    1. On most airlines today dogs can fly in the passenger area so long as they meet certain criteria. Every airline is different. Most say the animal needs to be under 30 lbs, which is easy for a puppy. But almost all say the animal (dog or cat) must be contained in a carrier (sort of hard) that fits under the seat in front of you. That’s the challenging part, with clearance usually 10-12″ depending on make of airplane. But again, doable with a puppy. I did find one airline – Jet Blue – that will let you purchase an extra seat and the carrier can rest there most of the flight, but still must fit under the seat in front during taxiing, take off and landing.

      I’d never send an animal to fly cargo. Too risky, especially in hot weather. Most airlines do have a pressurized section in cargo, but still. I’ve read too many horror stories over the years of dogs lost after they were offloaded with all the other luggage, or being left on the tarmac for hours in excessively hot weather without water, etc.

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  5. OM Goodness that is wonderful news on two fronts. Beth and I are eagerly awaiting your book.
    Chan will be wonderful! I can’t believe Conall is 8.5 year old already. Where did all that time go? Good to read your blog again with the TM photobombs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I, too, have a hard time believing Conall’s eight. That was a large part of my motivation for getting Chann now; I want Conall to have plenty of time to teach him and play with him. Conall’s gonna be SO HAPPY to have a willing playmate; Finn’s brain says sure, I’ll play, but his old legs just don’t last very long.

      I may reach out to you and Beth to act as Beta readers. Stay tuned.

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  6. Welcome back stranger!
    Congrats on your soon to be new addition to the family. He’s adorable!
    Lovely wildflower shots. I’m so glad to see the milkweed. We used to have some in our fields but it all died off a few years ago.

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