Strange Sunday

It was a weird sort of day. We had brunch with Clay's mother in town, which was nice, and then I had to take him to work because we've been down to one car for the past couple of weeks and will be for another, but that's another story and not a particularly interesting one. Anyway, I dropped him off at Patch in Gordonsville and then headed home planning to do as much yard work as the questionable weather permitted.

My plans necessitated a stop at Lowe's but it was closed for some reason so I couldn't work on the new fountain project. I did get my new perennial bed planted and I mixed potting soil and filled all the new planting containers I brought back from Kentucky to add to my flower gardens. It's too early to plant annuals but I got the planters ready for them and did some more clean up work in the flamingo garden. 

About the time I finished all that it was started raining hard enough to make me go inside. I delivered one of the doodles (Chips) to her new foster home, and then decided to take Della to Patch for a beer before we picked up Clay to come home.

It was the perfect day and time to take Della, who hadn't been to a brewery in quite a while. It was towards the end of the day, and a slow day at that, not too many people, and most importantly, no other dogs. Della prefers to be the only dog because she wants to be the center of attention wherever she goes. All the people who were there eventually made their way over to meet her and tell her how pretty she is. Plus there were treats. Della was in her element and I enjoyed a couple of beers waiting for the place to close. It wasn't the most productive day I've ever had on a weekend, but I was happy to get some planting done.

Standing at the bar, Della is as tall as many of the customers.

Here's my new raised bed planted with perennials. Most of them I just bought yesterday, but on the far right are some peonies that came from my mother and grand mother. I just barely managed to keep them alive for the past several years because I didn't have a decent place for them until now.

Spring Saturday

Here's just a few pictures from this beautiful day.

I picked up these two early this morning as very temporary fosters.

They are owner surrendered doodles named "Fish" and "Chips."

Fish is a one year old male. He'll be neutered soon.

Chips has a another foster home tomorrow, Fish will on Monday.

They enjoyed the dog yard today and were fine in crates when we went to town in the afternoon.

They both seem like nice dogs.

Chips is a three (?) year old spayed female.

Candace spent quite a bit of the morning outside as I did some work around the yard.

Della working for treats when we picked up the doodles at Green Dogs.

She is very attentive when there are treats involved.

She met Killian when we were there too.

Killian was happy to see both of us.

Bailey and Ford playing in the kitchen early this morning.

Bailey at Decipher Brewery this afternoon.

I stopped at my local nursery on the way home.

It's too early for most things, but I picked up some perennials for my new raised bed perennial garden.

That's Paisley checking them out.

Elvis

I've been bringing Norman to the dog yard and pasture for run time.

He's out there now with Ford but it's time to get everyone in.

This is Norman on top of Playstation K9. This is where Trooper always hung out.

It's a good 6 feet off the ground, but easily accessible.

A watery run

We've had about 2.5" of rain over the past week or so. That's more than the thin layer of topsoil we have around here can handle, so much of the water is just standing on top of the ground. Even where there are no puddles you splash as you walk. I don't see how anyone ever made a living farming around here. But the sun was finally trying to break out late this afternoon and the dogs and I were bored, so I took a group of five out to the pasture to run – Norman, Bailey, Paisley, Elvis, and Ford.

Norman ran, and ran, and ran.

Paisley and Ford both had an interest in a tennis ball they found.

Bailey did her pouncing act and then ran to another place to do it again,

without any reason to believe there was any prey about.

Norman just ran after her.

Ford stuck pretty close to me most of the time.

When the ground dries out enough I'm going to get someone out to cut the grass in the pasture.

Bailey will be disappointed for a while but I plan to let it grow again.

Ford and Norman are my only two fosters at the moment. 

That will change soon.

Norman, Bailey, Elvis, and part of Paisley

Ford has a pretty coat, but his legs and belly got wet and muddy out there today.

Bailey thinking (hoping) she's located a mouse.

Here's all five in one picture: Paisley, Ford, Norman, Elvis, and Bailey

Ford was not interested in hunting but he ran with them sometimes.

 Bailey was torn between wanting to run and wanting to hunt.

Mostly she ran and Norman followed.

Paisley and I actually played fetch for a while. I had no idea she was into it.

It's probably the most normal dog behavior she's got.

This wasn't out on today's run, it's Candace in the kitchen. But it's a remarkable picture because she came up to me on her own, touched me with her nose as if wanting attention from me or just wanting to connect. This is not something Candace typically does, she's normally very aloof, so it was very nice to see.