Out and about with Sherlock

The Green Dogs out and about class was at Patch brewery this evening. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take Sherlock out in the public for the first time. He saw another dog as soon as I got him out of the van and started barking like crazy and pulling me around by the leash. It was obvious that this wasn't going to be the outing I had in mind. 

Sherlock is good with other dogs around here. He likes everyone and they all seem to like him. But his reaction when seeing a dog that he doesn't know in a place that he doesn't know, is to bark. I expect he's just talking, shouting that is, because he's happy to see one of his own kind. But he comes across like a crazy man shouting at everyone he sees. Plus, he's not good on a leash. I haven't been pulled that hard in a very long time. 

We kept our distance from the other dogs and even got out of the line of sight completely. Then he was very calm. We met new people. He is a little nervous about that at first, but he does warm up quickly and I think that the more people he meets the more he will like it. But he needs some leash work and needs to learn to control his reaction when seeing other dogs. 

The group was all outside in the field, so Clay and Sherlock and I went inside. We met more people and Sherlock settled down. He is a great dog but he definitely needs to learn to handle himself in new situations.

Sherlock the lap dog, with Clay.

Sherlock smiles like our Cabell used to. He lifts his lips in a big grin.

The effect makes them wrinkle even more and is quite hilarious.

When we got home Sherlock and Maya started playing together in the kitchen,

but then Elvis got involved and poor Sherlock got left out.

We went outside and it was just Maya and Sherlock.

Paisley were there too, but she doesn't know how to play.

Maybe she will learn by watching.

The fine art of puttering

It's been too hot to do any serious work except for short periods when the shade happens to coincide with the area where work needs to be done. But I find that I can still putter around outside for hours, doing dozens of little things and occasionally something more serious. 

I have been getting a ridiculous amount of pleasure from playing around with my garden spaces this year. I've really built out the area on the north side of the boxwoods that I call the Garden of the Dogs, which includes the pyramid garden now joined with the shade garden by many new containers in between. All that remains to do in there is to cover the ground with mulch, which will really make it look nice. 

There's still plenty of work to do in the fountain garden, the space between the two rows of boxwoods, and the new perennial garden on the south side of the boxwoods, although that is now at least started. My water gardens really took off this year too, and there's still a lot of work to do over there.

Sherlock has really made himself at home around here and wants very much to be part of the pack. My guys are all pretty accepting of him, although he requires some correction from time to time. Maya has even been playing with him on occasion. His house manners seem great and although he isn't crazy about being crated at night, he accepts it without any real complaint. He's sweet and friendly. I really have nothing but good things to say about Sherlock. 

There is now lighting, solar candles, in the Garden of the Dogs.

They don't create a lot of light but do give a nice ambiance late in the evening.

The sun really lit up this caladium early one morning.

Della gets me up by 6:00 a.m. most days so I have plenty of early morning time to spend outdoors.

Of course, after she eats breakfast she's ready to go back inside and back to bed.

Paisley, Elvis, and Sherlock will stay outside with me.

I put Maya back inside with Della because it's too hot for them.

Sherlock likes to hang out.

Elvis found a perfect sized spot for him with a good view of the front yard.

Back inside, Elvis takes a spot on this bed and Paisley always moves in and shares it with him.

The original pond is in the foreground. I've added two more just recently, in graduated heights behind it.

Della is drinking from another stock tank pond in the rear. 

This area has been an overgrown mess for years, infested with poison ivy too. I'm gradually working on cleaning it up by developing a series of water gardens.

Farewell to Kirtley

I took Kirtley and Sherlock over to Green Dogs to meet potential, separate, adopters. Both prospects loved the dogs, as I expected. Kirtley's spent the day shopping for him and then came and picked him up Saturday evening. I think Sherlock's prospects are good too. I'll be taking him to meet the adopter at her farm on Monday. 

The only bad thing was splitting up those two dogs. They were the best matched pair of fosters I've had in a very long time. We'll get Sherlock another foster buddy soon, I'm sure, but in the meantime he can spend some time learning the ways of our household and rules laid down by Della (any bed I want is mine) and Maya (no running in the house). 

Kirtley is a great dog and it was a pleasure to foster him. In his time here he helped another dog along his own path from foster to forever and I appreciate the help. Dogspeed, Kirtley.

That is one handsome hound.

Kirtley found a toy, played with it, and destroyed it. Good times.

We also discovered he's a good ball player.