This week's Sunday Scribbling topic is Fellow Travelers. I have had many traveling companions through my life, but today I am going to honor Nikki and Lucy. These two loyal travelers are the first two dogs I owned during my adult life. They traveled with me through the first half of my teaching career, my pursuit of a Master's Degree, a broken marriage, saying good-bye to a wide circle of friends, the death of my father, and relocating to a new job and new place to live.
Nikki came into my life in 1981. She came from a farm in the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick, Washington. From the first day this springer spaniel shivered in my arms on the way home she captured my heart. She was docile, intelligent and loyal. You could always get her excited by taking her swimming in the river, hunting in the orchards behind the house, or having "kissing sessions." Lucy joined our family in 1990. She was a springer/cocker/maybe poodle mix and Nikki and Lucy became fast and furious friends. They loved doing all the same activities. Lucy's energetic personality balanced Nikki's calmer one.
When my ex-husband left us these two became protective of me at home and on the road. We enjoyed trips to the ocean, southern Idaho, and moved to Moscow, Idaho one summer when I taught at the University of Idaho. I always felt safe as I began my journey as a single person with these fellow travelers.
Relocating to Inchelium was a big change for all of us, but Lucy took over the guiding role as she steered Nikki around as her eyesight faded. I think they were both the most at home in my present house. They could run the acres, not worry about gardens( not much was planted yet). and we were close to the lake.
In the spring of 1996 my father's health began to fail along with Nikki's. As my dad spent his last weeks at home dying of cancer Nikki was getting thinner and seemed a bit lost in the world. Dad died in June and Nikki in July that year. Lucy and me were left as fellow travelers for the next chapter in our lives. You can read another post I wrote about Lucy and Nikki here.
Nikki is pointing for the first time and going for a stick in Rose Lake. Lucy is trying out our new home in Inchelium and resting on the grass as a puppy.
You can read other posts about Fellow Travelers here.
Remember... I was the person that couldn't get a Christmas Cactus to bloom at any time of the year. Then last fall we got our first one to bloom around Thanksgiving. 
Now JEJ brought this one in from the greenhouse. The blossoms resemble a tropical plant. We could call this the Winter Cactus, Birthday Cactus, or Soon to be My Mom's Birthday Cactus.
JEJ said the only thing he has done differently this year is to give these blooming plants more fertilizer. I guess the combination of cool temperatures, light, and plant food as produced these revived Christmas cactus'.
There is only about five of these lovely blossoms on the plant so far. Wait until it is in full bloom. Stay tuned. If you want read some past posts about Christmas cactus go 
