When We Were (Relatively) Young

2005, First Day Home

July 2005

Thank Dog it's Friday

Friday Fact: Half a second before this shot, he looked majestic and noble, and then some blue jays got into a fight nearby, startling us both. I wasn't intentionally going for this artistic slant. Oh, well.

Actual Fact: Drive is older than he looks or acts, at a grand ten years of age. He was whelped July 3, 2000.

Wordless Watery Wednesday

At Rest

Willow on Long Sands Beach

We walked up and down this beach, a group of folks with their greyhounds. It was amazing to see every hound's distinct reaction to the water. Drive regarded it with dismay and suspicion. Other dogs strained at their leads to get at the surf. I love the individuality of a dog.

Willow, an elderly and graceful lady in her teenage years, was not on leash. No need. She would amble a short distance after the crowd and then lie down. When the people returned along the shoreline, she heaved herself up once more to walk for perhaps a hundred yards before folding elegantly into repose and waiting. Patient and confident. At peace.

Heat Wave, Baby

How hot is it here? It only looks like Drive is taking a dip. Really, he's being boiled.

No, not really. The water was perfectly, well, tepid. But not boiling. It was hot enough after our brief walk today that Drive willingly and with very little prompting overcame his natural distrust of this false body of water, and sat his bum down with intent. He didn't budge when the two-year-old boy got in and started dumping buckets of water over his back, either. He seemed to appreciate it.

Sprinkles in the Forecast

I don't usually clutter up this blog with pictures of the pink hairless types, but so many people have enjoyed this photo I wanted to share it with you. I would love to take more credit, but this is an unaltered snapshot of my 27-month-old son (sometimes referred to here as "The Pink Puppy") and Lanie. I did not place the watering can. I did nothing to provoke that expression on the baby's face -- in fact, that's not his eyebrow, that's a piece of grass stuck to his head. I did nothing but sit in my chair in the shade at the other end of the leash.

I just usually have a camera in my pocket.

Gonna Be Another Scorcher