One spring walk
May 13, 2026
Folks, spring is busting out all over. The trees have leafed out. The bushes are bursting forth. We’re moving from forsythia and daffodils to lilacs and azalea. People say the Vineyard has no spring, that we move right from winter to summer, but this year it’s much more gradual: you actually have time to smell the flowers.
I’m a Miniature Schnauzer and I chase rodents and other small critters. Like the leaves and the flowers, they are all over the place this time of year, so my nose is twitching and my feet are itching to chase them. Of course, my ol’ man keeps me on a short leash, but I can try.
Yesterday morning we stopped by a little house along the water. I knew someone was there. I doubt my ol’ man could see it, but I smelled a rat. We stopped and waited. I took my stance: feet planted in the lawn. nose twitching, eyes focused, ears erect. I was ready to make my move. I lunged, but of course the leash prevented my forward motion. The critter scuttled away. And it was a rat.
No other excitement on the morning walk. The ol’ man is getting better on using the clothesline attached to my leash. I have some distance, some running room and some stopping room to sniff what needs to be sniffed. He doesn’t use it while there are cars around, as he can’t hear them and I don’t always notice them, so we keep it short and safe. [People don’t believe I look both ways when we cross the road, but I do, most of the time. Or at least some of the time.]
More company. As the birds and the bees enjoy the change of seasons, my folks have ‘summer people’ stopping by. As we say, ‘summer people, and some are washashores,’ here for the long haul. Any way you slice it, I love this time of year, after the winter storms and before the full onslaught of summer arrives.
Enjoy it before we lose it.
Kutter
