Sunday morning mud; Sunday afternoon meetings

Sunday was a day that just looked like fall. It was cloudy, breezy, and looked like rain all day. Our little piece of the Great Dismal Swamp didn't dry out much, if any, under those conditions. Walking the same path to Daneland several times a day has already torn up the soggy ground to the point that it's a slog through ever-deepening muck every time I walk back there. I decided it was time to deploy one of my best anti-mud strategies, the boardwalks.

I had already pulled out most of the sections I built last year and laid them out in Daneland in front of the puppy shed because that area is almost a pond when it rains. I pulled out the remaining sections and began the walkway from Daneland to the house. That didn't get me far, so I went to Lowe's and bought enough lumber to make eight more 8' sections. I'll need at least two more to finish the pathway to the backside of the dog yard shed. Now if only I could convince the dogs to use them too. Actually the Danes do tend to follow them, unless they are running. Next step will be laying down straw on the areas that the dogs turn into mud on their own.

A nice couple came out to meet Bessie on Sunday afternoon. They liked her and she liked them, but they aren't in a position to adopt just yet because they are looking for a house. They brought along their little dachshund, so it was a chance to see how Bessie was with new people and small dogs. She was good with both.

Still later in the afternoon we took Sam into town to meet Clay's mother, Berta, and her cat, Portia. Sam was very friendly with Berta but completely ill mannered, jumping all over her with excitement. When she met the cat it seemed that she didn't know what it was. It wasn't an immediate, aggressive, prey-driven reaction, but after she figured out that it was alive she definitely wanted to get close and check it out. The cat wasn't crazy about that. Sam did back off when the cat hissed and swatted at her, but would go back to trying to get closer to the cat. I suppose someone with a dog-savvy cat could introduce them slowly and carefully, but a cat-free environment would probably be the best option for this dog.