Raveling… is a contronym. That means that it can describe both the act of tangling and depending on use: Untangling. It can mean snarling, unweaving, unbraiding, mucking up, or… smoothing, clarifying, simplifying, resolving. The assemblage of words surrounding a contronym, or a photograph that arrests time at the right moment, can provide guidance that can lead to an understanding of the intended meaning. I choose photos to speak for the 1000 words I could bring to bear about a raveling that is taking place on Great Northern. But… I will exercise constraint and stick to a more pictorial exposition. The causal element leading to most of our current raveling: Bliss our new family member. I introduced her several blog excerpts ago.
On December 5th, Les, Leo and I traveled to Victoria on the Coho to go on a “get to know ya” walk with Keren, her daughter, Tony, Keren’s top breeder, Leo her up and coming breeder, and Bliss one of the mom dogs. We took a very long walk together from the ferry landing down to the Fisherman’s Warf area and back. It was a 4 mile hike. All the dogs got together well. Bliss and Leo were fine together. He was his usually aloof self, but the top dogs and Bliss thought he was just fine.
On December 16th we took the Coho ferry to Victoria again and picked up Bliss from Keren’s home. We made our way back to the Coho ferry landing through a very rainy day and disembarked from Victoria for the passage back to Port Angeles.
Day 1, Tuesday: A snap of the three dogateers after leaving the Strait and making it inside the Port Angeles breakwater: Les, Leo and Bliss…
Day 2, Wednesday: Reality has set in. Unweaving, unbraiding, mucking up was in order for that day. Bliss no longer has her chaotic Pom pack to play with and is mourning her loss. Leo is in shock. If he looks the other way maybe she’s gone home. It just couldn’t be that SHE IS HOME! Bliss appears… wistful:
Day 3: I had no idea that laps could be so relaxing…
Day four: Sitting in the same chair with minimal sapien guidance…
Day five: Smoothing, clarifying, simplifying, and resolving… the nobler elements of raveling appear to be on display:
There we have it. Our first few days as an enhanced interspecies inhabitance. We are realists and know that it will not all be smooth cruising. For now… it is traveling in an encouraging direction. The inhabitants are relating well…
That’s it for now folks.
Salish Sea Cruising With Blair, Les, Leo, and Bliss 