Portia

Have I mentioned how much I love this little Border Collie named Portia? Named Portia out of my love for Porsche but spelled like the character from Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. I often tell people it's because she moves like the car but acts like a person albeit a fictional one.

Traveling with a dog is a lot like having a child, a little simpler than a child but still, there's a lot of guessing and one-way conversations. However, after a while much less guessing as to what they need or want and conversations definitely go both ways. That Border Collie stare tells me all I need to know. That's why they are such good herding dogs, they herd with their eyes. It's as if she is in a trance when focused on something such as a squirrel, cat, gopher, rat, bird, etc...anyway, I don't know what I would do without her.

When I can find a park with some water, like a creek, pond, lake, or even a kiddie pool or a beach along a lake or ocean, she is in heaven. And honestly, I don't know who enjoys it more, me or her. I am so thrilled when she is able to be herself, whether it's playing one-on-one with a dog trying to retrieve a ball, or herding birds on the beach it is amazing to watch and the border collie instincts are on full display.

Pics are from yesterday along Lake Superior where she had a blast spotting birds out over the lake and running along the shoreline racing or chasing them. Others are from the ferry to Madeline Island where Portia was a little nervous on the ride over so she sought refuge from this cute couple behind me on their 60th wedding anniversary.