Take A Walk With Us

Yesterday was the first truly beautiful day of the year, a day when I could finally believe that maybe, just maybe, spring is on its way.  We took that opportunity to take the girls for a walk.  Our vet didn't want us walking Indy during the winter, where she could slip on the ice and snow, so we've been waiting for good weather to come our way. 

Indy's stamina isn't very high, but the exercise will do her arthritis good, so we knew we needed to start slow.  It's tempting to let our stiff, arthritic animals just sit around, which is kind of what they want to do, but if you think about it, moving those joints is the best thing you can do for them.  Moving the joints encourages the production of synovial fluid, the natural lubricant in our joints that prevents bone from rubbing against bone. 

Indy was eager to get outside, as was Isis.  Indy was also moving pretty well, which was heartwarming.  The past year or so, she's had a hugely pronounced limp, which was significantly diminished yesterday.  Hooray!  We only walked her a few hundred feet before turning her around, so as not to overdo it.  She seemed ready.

Isis, however, was not, so Jim continued on with Isis while I went back with Indiana.  Indy's usually pretty uncomfortable with this arrangement, because (a) she is left out and (b) she can't keep track of her "pack."  So I was surprised that she only looked back a few times on the walk back home.  When I got her into the driveway, I turned around to look at her, and I see this:



She had gotten to the top of the driveway (our house is on a little hill, sort of), turned around, and laid down to watch for Jim and Isis.  My heart died at the adorableness of it.  So I walked back and sat next to her to wait.  We spent a lot of time snuggling, with me petting and kissing her.  She was ignoring me, instead choosing to focus her attention on the impending return of her Dad and sister.

Then, oh glorious day, she saw Daddy emerge from the trees, with Isis in tow.



See the intensity in her eyes?  That cracks me up.  She's staring at her Dad and sister to make sure they're actually headed home.  When they got close, Indy stood up to greet them.  She was pretty happy (and relieved) to have them back.  It was ok to head into the house now.



There's my sweet family, headed in from a great afternoon together.  I love how Isis' tongue is practically falling on the ground.  She definitely needs more exercise .  We're planning on daily walks now that the weather is good.  It will benefit us all, not just physically, but mentally too.