WEEKENDS

             WITH WATTY

Meet Merle Watson Sears: aka Watson, Watty, Wattypants, Doufus.

This is a journey of letting go, embracing, discovery and reflection.  A dedication to one of the most loyal, compassionate, and at times annoying buttheads I know.  But most of all a journey of mindfulness, and gratitude, for what I have lost in the hustle and bustle of life.  Watson has always been there when I need him most, always with a dopey smile, a wag of his tail, or a head on my lap.  And  to that, I give him a weekend of adventure, because we both need it after the last few years.

                                                WATSON

 AGE 11.5 years old, large breed Catahoula  mutt, generally 80-88 pounds, depending on the apple season.  ( loves grazing on the apples in our back yard and when overindulging, chooses to- A: shit them all over our floor or B; puke them all over our floor), Note to owners, don't let your dog outside unattended when you have an apple orchard!  

                                                      ME

 52 years old,  large breed human - insert weight here- (Hell No) working as a Veterinary Technician for over 25 years, mother of two, wife of one, collector of all things wounded.  

 For five weekends throughout the summer, Watson and I will be taking ourselves and hopefully you on a journey through this lovely state we are proud to call home:  Vermont. 

I decided as many others have done, that 2019-20, sucked.  Covid-19; seclusion from friends and family for a very social being; and not being in control of all the chaos around me,( a major problem for me) were  just a few of the letdowns.

For Christmas my husband gave me a lovely monetary gift with a note saying "do what you want with it", So, I decided, hey I'm gonna do just that!  When do we actually get out and do something for ourselves, heal our minds, free our thoughts, just be away from it all.

 Enter Watty. 

 He eats, sleeps, repeats, but he does it with enthusiasm!   

I want to do a happy dance every time my food is served! 

I want to run in the woods, ears flopping in the wind with a huge grin on my face!

I want to let go, wallow in mud, stink like cow manure and not give a shit! 

So I'm doing it, and I'm doing it with one of my best mates, Mr. Watty Pants! This is a blog about our journey, locally, just the two of us, a kayak, and /or a bike and always an adventure.

First trip:  June 11-13th   Yurt in Monkton, Vermont.

Welcome to the yurt on the hill.  A gorgeous spot overlooking an organic working farm in Monkton, Vermont. 

 After a busy day of 8th Grade graduation excursions, Watty and I packed our bags and headed to the distant town of Monkton, Vt.  Approximately, 31 minutes from our house in Jericho.  I was very grateful for the short distance, since it was already getting dark and I was worried I would not be able to find the place.  Which, held true, since the google directions had me on the wrong side of the road, searching for a Yurt. However, at last we found the dirt road to our retreat and made it before the sun completely set. 

 Unpacking went easy, as I bring only essentials, engrained in me from being a flight attendant many years back, and you had to pack lite. The Yurt was roomy, a queen bed, bunk bed, fold out futon and a couch with a dresser, and wood stove.  A wooden deck led around the yurt with a connecting out building that had running water, a kitchen, stove and refrigerator and table with 4 chairs, definitely more room than Watson and I needed.  Homey, and memorable of the time I had spent in Maine on a small commune that was off grid.

 Once settled in I enjoyed a small meal of Brie, fresh bread, grapes and Almonds, with a nice glass of wine, Watson had a delicious bowl of Hills digestive diet with a splash of water.   Such a comforting go to meal mine of course,  And you can pretty much have it for any meal, plus or minus the wine.  

After dining,  Watty and I went for a small hike down the road to do our business, before we settled  in for the evening, it was 9:45, way past my bedtime and I was exhausted from the emotions of my youngest daughter now becoming a high school student. the baby not so much a baby anymore.  The view was beautiful, the sounds of the wood frogs, and crickets surrounded us and I let out a deep sigh and  let go of the days worries.

The night was crisp, fall like and perfect for sleeping, Watson was enthusiastic on having a whole half of the bed to himself, it felt good to enjoy this moment. not always possible with three cats, another human and a new dog on your bed at various times throughout the night.  I cannot tell you I slept perfectly through the night, I normally never do, but it was still  a restful night. 

Being pretty much on a wooded hillside, the morning started with veery's and oven-birds, Robins and blue-jays, wood-thrushes and warblers I cannot identify.  They wake up early, 4am to be exact, and through sleepy eyes, I just listened, snuggling my dog and enjoying this moment of being.  As the sun started to peak over the mountain, Watty and I got up, to  begin our day.  

It's odd when you don't have the normal routine of daily life in your morning, no need to let both dogs out, feed all the cats, start the coffee,  unload the dishwasher, blah blah blah....I just got up, made a cup of tea, fed Watson and sat, listened and swatted at the occasional fly that landed on my leg.  The day was shaping up to be beautiful.

Watson and I decided to follow the trails that were scattered around the property, a mountain bike group was developing them with the farms permission.  Wide and well maintained the trails were perfect for our morning walk. We discovered, bunnies and red efts, now  called spotted newt, and magical bird songs that were happy to start their day.

  It's funny, how being a Veterinary Technician all I could think about after we turned each corner was " watch out for porcupines, bears, moose", but soon those  worries  eased as the sun slipped through the trees, creating beams of sunlight that touched the moss covered rocks and filled the cool air with warm rays. 

 Watson and I were happy to be able to share this with the woods,  the sun and  all of its surroundings.

My plan for these getaways was to slow down, listen to what was around me and enjoy time with my aging, albeit gracefully. best bud.  I think we were nailing it. 

 Today would be a bit different then I think my other weekends will be, today I was to celebrate my dads 87th birthday with my sisters. Luckily  they live in Middlebury about 25 minutes from where our Yurt was.  We had to be there around 11am, which gave us plenty of time to sit, read, relax and just plan nothing. 

 The farm was beginning to wake up, tractors engines were churning, voices were carrying over the morning fog, and the crow of the rooster was echoing through the valley.  Watson and I sat on the patio, I sipping tea, and him sniffing the air to all the new scents.  

  I started reading one of many books, that I have piled up for these trips, the sequel to " A dogs Purpose" called " A dog's Way Home" by W.Bruce Cameron.  written  in the dogs perspective.  I found it to be entertaining but at the same time extremely repetitive.  Probably why it is a Young readers book, but non the less entertaining, and just  to be able to sit and read for several hours un-interrupted, was what I was aiming for.  The sun was brilliant and Watson and I were happy to have its warmth after the cool evening. 

Following our reunion with our Yurt, after Middlebury, we walked up the road on the trails, and swatted the deerflies that had come out in the warmth and were hiding in the shade to swarm us.  I hate deerflies. 

 The heat of the day, and the three walks Watson and I took, were proving to slow our steps, and we retreated to the coolness of the Yurt, and the goal of completing my book.  Two and 1/2 hours later, that goal was accomplished. Which if you know me, reading is tough.  I have never been one of those people who can sit and read a book in one setting. I'm distracted, dyslexic and have an attention span of a flea.  I always would read on vacations, but that too was also trying, as there were so many people to watch, and children to take care of, just basic needs that I would always put before my own, because its easier to nurture others instead of yourself.  So for me, this was a huge success. I think Watson could have cared less, but was extremely happy to be by my side with a fan blowing cool air in his fur. 

  The sun was starting to fade, and I made a fire to chase the bugs away, simply content not to worry where my children were, what I needed to make them for dinner, if the new dog was chasing the foster kittens or what I was going to face when I got to work.  Watsons' and my day had been a success.  And that was what I was hoping for.

 
 Not all the trip was perfection, the sound of the traffic at 3am which sounded like an episode of the Fast and the Furious, Vermont style, on the near by route 116; the bothersome deerflies that for me have no purpose in this world, however  to a flycatcher means life or death to its young; the barking dog across the road that jolts you awake at 4am after you had just fallen asleep from the traffic incident I mentioned earlier,  But it  reminded  me, that life itself is not perfect. Which unfortunately many youth and adults of today strive for,  Perfection is not real, (unless of course you are talking about my Watty pants.)  This little time out, space for myself and my thoughts, just being outside, and doing the simplest things as being able to read a book with no interruptions, is all I needed. Yes I will be stressed out at work, and at home again. Yes, I will pressure myself to teach my children respect and kindness. Yes, I will wake up with anxiety running over the days plans and what I need to do to complete certain tasks I have set forward. But I also know that I can let go if need be, and that tool is the greatest gift I could ask for.  I am so grateful to have had this experience and cannot wait to see what our next Weekend with Watty holds.  

Watson, I liked to believe enjoyed his experience too, watching my anxiety and brain slow down,  allowed him to be content, happy to be with his person and just be a dog, out in the woods, in some weird shaped house, with food, a bed and his friend.

I got to walk in the mud and not give a shit

Do a happy dance when I was fed

and walk with my best bud with the wind in my hair.  I'd say that's a solid! 

Enjoy some of the photos we were able to capture on our journey.  The  fawn was a day old and my sister Anna saw it on the trail behind our house, which I had just walked Watson on twice.  such a lucky find. Please feel free to comment, share or just sit back and enjoy.  Our next Weekend with Watty will be August 6-8 we will be exploring the river in a tent in Enosburg, Vt.  We hope you will join us.