Category: Uncategorized

A Reminder

A Reminder

I thought it might be good to remember on this warm summer evening that winter always comes, and that I’m kind of looking forward to it.

Sailing to Philadelphia

Right now I’m listening to this CD. Mark Knopfler is a marvellously talented songwriter/composer. The lyrics he wrote for this CD are almost uniformly magnificent.

While the lyrics about coming to America and about stock car racing are great, who would have ever thought that you can write great lyrics and music about The Mason-Dixon Line or about mail order wives?

Puzzled

Puzzled

Chilidog seems fine. He spent most of last night next to the laundry room door, which is most unusual for him. Appetite was fine this morning. He was eager to go for a car ride a short time ago. Right now he’s outside on his own.

Concerned

Concerned

I am a little concerned about Achilles. During the past few days he has had loose bowels and puked several times. In addition he has spent a little more time off by himself than is usual. His energy level is normal (for example racing around the yard Thursday evening) as is his appetite. Chili is drinking a normal amount of water; does not appear uncomfortable; and has no unusual reaction when stroked, patted, and palpated.

A bland diet may be a good idea so I am thawing some chicken and will make chicken and rice for his dinner this evening and tomorrow’s meals.

I’m not panicking or Freaking Out. Almost all dogs occasionally get sick. This has gone on a little longer than is good so I will keep an eye on him. If it continues to Monday a vet visit may be in order.

All Ears

All Ears

The cattle dogs were extremely focused on something outside the rustic cottage we recently stayed in. Faye and I never did see it or figure it out.

Quite a summer

Quite a summer

We have sometimes wondered whether we have slipped from early summer directly into early fall. Other than one uncomfortably warm week, temperatures have been strangely mild. One morning the low temperature was 11.5 C and this morning’s low has been about 13.5 (I haven’t checked the thermometer yet).

We do not complain though. Memories of summers past, particularly summer in Texas, help us be grateful for this mild summer. I think that we are generally appreciative of our climate, no matter what is going on. Though we may sometimes grumble and not like it, we cannot change it. It’s better to, at minimum, accept what we cannot change.

I sometimes call Texas ‘the land of hot and not as hot.’

Sunset

Sunset

Ontario’s west cost is justly famous for its sunsets. We recently spent an evening with friends at a cottage near Goderich and were treated to this wondrous spectacle. This is only one of many photos that Faye took as the sun went to sleep for another night.

Dogs at Play

I am sorting through photos and came across these from the time shortly after we moved back to this house.

Achilles kicks off a merry chase game and Kendal joins in, which he rarely did.Image

Achilles leads on with Kendal in hot pursuit of him. Achilles is so fluid and graceful, Kendal is pure power. Chilidog can outmaneuver Kendal but if Kendal caught him, Chili would be bowled over. Stella is in hot pursuit of Kendal. Stella and Achilles have been buds for seven years now. Sometimes she singles Kendal out for special attention more than I like.Image

Chase games happen less frequently now, the dogs are older. While it would be easy to be sad about that, I prefer not to be. I look at these photos and smile. I look at Stella and Kendal now, several years on. They are crashed on separate dog beds on the deck. (I would look at Achilles but he is inside, crashed on the love seat. They are our dogs. They are good dogs.