Sticks and balls

Thursday evening I finally got the shepherds out to the pasture for a good romp. I got a new box of used tennis balls the other day, about 60 of them. That should keep Theo happy for a while.

Max and Jack first found sticks to carry and I was fine with that. When Max gets a ball he never returns it and he ends up chewing it to shreds. Jack doesn't really return with the ball either, but he keeps it with him although he often drops it in a water tank and then rejoins the game without a ball of his own. Theo likes to retrieve. He's not really keen on giving it up, but once he's got two in his mouth he knows he has to drop at least one in order to run after the third one when I throw it.

Max (left) and Jack (right)

Jack loves the stick, but he wants to do whatever Theo is doing, so he eventually dropped the stick and joined the ball game. Max did too, just wanting to go along with the crowd.

They may have both been playing the same game, but not
necessarily together. Max always goes his own way, but he
sticks around nearby more than he used to.

Jack with stick, Theo with two tennis balls

Eventually even Max switched to a ball.
They are easier to carry.

Jack with ball, my mower will find the stick.

Five dogs, no ball

It was a cool, cloudy day. I took five dogs out to the pasture, but not the usual Theo, Jack, and Max group. Today it was Scarlett, Sparky, Vince, Gigi, and Duke. They had a good run. Later I took Maya, Trooper, and Duke for a 3.5 mile hike. Tomorrow I've got to get the three big shepherd boys out for a run.

Scarlett enjoyed the pasture romp today.

I haven't been hiking with Sparky so he was happy to get out
for a little run today, but that was enough for him. He loves
his spot upstairs in my office these days.

It doesn't take much urging to get Duke to run.

Gigi runs in short spurts and then stands and poses for the camera.

Vince is now our most senior dog. He's got a lot of lumps on
him too, but he keeps on going.

Sparky near the bee kennel

Scarlett should be going home on Thursday, I believe.

Gigi may have missed her calling as a dog
model. But she still has the role of princess
to fall back on and that's not bad.

Duke decided Scarlett should play with him. He knocked her
over a couple times but she bounced back up and didn't seem
to mind. She may have enjoyed some puppy play.

Duke did not seem to understand why
Sparky was rolling in the grass.

Gigi and Scarlett

Scarlett and Sparky

Duke doesn't have a clue about how good looking he is. 

Flowers and Dogs

Here's a few pictures of dogs, garden, and yesterday's hike.

Duke, strolling through the garden.

Long view of the container garden. It's on the
north side of a double row of boxwoods that
extend off the front of the house.

This is a big, semi-circular bed out in the front yard. All those
tiny green specs are sprouting zinnias. It should be pretty if
I don't let the weeds get out of control as happened last year.

This is the end of the container garden nearest the house.

That's Scarlett. She's here until Thursday, I think.

Duke, out on a hike yesterday with Maya and TJ.

Bee heaven

For my milkweed and butterfly loving friend.

TJ is happiest when hiking.

Maya walks with a dogged determination.