Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Swimming, $100






The extended cold rainy spell that threatened to ruin our summer finally moved aside just in time for a bona fide hot spell. Once the temps pass eighty the dogs engage in a game of stare down that quickly drives me insane, so a good portion of the weekend was spent soaking our troubles away.

It seems impossible that we well see leaves changing color soon. With this in mind, and while we still may, we drink in every last bit of summer that remains. The dogs are experts on the subject, always the first to turn up the fun factor. We follow their lead, and find ourselves enjoying a near perfect day.

The Labs waste no time finding deep water. It's too hot to just soak paws, so full immersion is required.



Of course, no visit to the river is complete without Nigel running an equipment check.




I was too busy laughing at Nigel to notice that Truffles had found a stick, and was giving Sola a serious case of stinkeye in order to prevent theft.




Nigel was kind enough to remind me that the best views were to be had a few feet away from the water's edge.




It was simply quixotic. I took in the smells of a truly hot summer day, smells that had almost faded from memory. The forest surrounding us was dank and mossy, and gave off a distinctly earthy smell that quickly fades as the cool nights of September approach. The sun shone right through me. I perched on the bank of this glorious river, surrounded by beauty. I watched my incredible, beautiful, kind-hearted wife and loving, wonderful dogs bask in the light of summer, and I knew complete happiness.




Once the dogs were thoroughly waterlogged we made our way up the banks and headed for the back porch to dry off. Twenty steps from the house I stopped walking and apologized to Mrs. Author. She gave me a puzzled look as I reached in to the pocket of my now drenched shorts. I handed her one fully submerged, non-functioning pink Motorola Razr.

There's a new cell phone in town. It seems to get along with Mrs. Author's headset quite nicely, so I suppose it is here to stay. Like it's predecessor, it is not waterproof. So each time the dogs stare me down and urge me to throw on the bathing suit, I will remember this moment: one utopian summer day when our family was at peace, none of us had a care, and the glass was categorically, unequivocally, and indubitably more than half full.



36 comments:

  1. What a great story! And great pictures! All three of you look like you were having a great time swimming and playing, and how great of your humans to join you in the fun!

    Sorry to hear of your human's phone mishap but such is the price for spontaneity!

    Lovely memory for all!

    Suka and K

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  2. Very very sweet afternoon....

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  3. A wonderful way to spend the day... sounds totally perfect other than the dead phone!!

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  4. Heavenly! I want to be there.

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  5. Whats the price of a phone compared to a perfect summer afternoon. (And we were talking this weekend that it is only weeks away from leaves changing and SNOW).

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  6. What a beautiful scenic place. No wonder you moved there. The furkids benefit too.

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  7. Oh my....you drownt the Momma's PINK phonie thingy. At our house, messing wit the Momma's PINKY stuff or my PINKY stuff gets you in trouble. But we twos girlies are surrounded by bouncy boy critters so our PINKY stuff is our way of marking our terriotory. You prolly don't unnerstan...it's a girlie thing.
    Bonnie

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  8. Hope the both of you can laugh at the phone mishap!
    Love the pictures....your area, uhhem... I mean your neck of the woods is absolutley breathtaking. Looks like a fun time was had by all!

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  9. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a beauty that last shot is! Listen...you know the writing is wonderful. You know that the whole picture with Sola and the stick had me a bit alarmed. You'd think she'd never want to touch another stick for the entirety of her life....

    But, that last shot? OMG! LOL I love coming here. I absolutely love it.

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  10. What a wonderful day (except for the phone part).

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  11. Bummer about your pretty pink Razr, Mrs. A. But I think the cost of a new phone was a small price to pay for such a wonderful afternoon spent with loved ones.

    Why do I get the feelin' that I will be seein' more of Truffle's serious stinkeye after we are married?

    Ches :0=)

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  12. Beautiful story....lovely day. Full of sentiments and chuckles.

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  13. Sweeeeet! What a great day--priceless! Who needs those annoying phones anyway?! :) Thanks for sharing.

    JNTR

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  14. Ugh, we need to take a break from those darn cell phones once in awhile.

    Beautiful lovely day otherwise though.

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  15. Beautiful pictures. The dogs look like their having great fun.My springer spaniel loves the water as well. This is just a great time of the year for them.

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  16. A lovely day that is well worth the price of a new cell phone.

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  17. Lovely pictures, sounds like a wonderful day. :)

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  18. The pictures are beautiful and my favorite is the deep water picture of Sola and Truffles. I wonder if Mrs. Author likes all the pictures you take?

    Kisses,
    Stella

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  19. Anonymous1:50 PM

    Almost makes me miss the east coast...almost! but i do envy the GREEN. whow. we left coasters live in BROWN.

    To think i had jump in a kiddie pool to coax my two doofus dogs in so they could cool off!

    Isn't it funny how our dogs are never to blame for any of our misfortunes?

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  20. As I sit hear listening to Ray Charles singing "It Was a Very Good Year" and reading your wonderful writing I shiver with goosebumps. Warning: never give out your address, you make us all want to be there in your front yard!

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  21. I wonder how much fun I khould have?

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  22. Anonymous3:39 PM

    Greyt pictures. Greyt story...but tell me that Mrs. Author wasn't displaying her "best side" in picture # 5. The gang here had baths today. Not as much fun as a river swim but about as close as we can get.
    the western SC gang

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  23. That looks like great fun! I prefer to enjoy the water from a distance even though I've been told we schnauzer are supposed to love the water. Oh well, I've never been too concerned with following the rules!

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  24. Very awesome post!!!! It has me longing for a Northeastern Indian Summer!!!

    Dory and her Mama Beth

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  25. Definately looks and sounds like a perfect day, apart from the phone of course.

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  26. I am soooo glad you all got some swimming weather, even though your pictures make me homesick all over again. You know you well, Mrs. Author, deserved a new phone, anyways...

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  27. Sorry about the phone, but very nice cover up for taking that picture with Mrs. Author's behind in it! You'll probably be forgiven for that with the sweet words!

    It really does sound like an idyllic afternoon, though! I'm in envy!

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  28. Nothing like jumping in the water. Definitely worth a sacrifice to the phone god. Reminds me of Cherry Creek. My mom lost a phone to the washing machine.

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  29. What a nice afternoon. Very jealous that you have such a secluded place for your dogs to enjoy the water.

    Love Truffles' face in the picture with the stick. That's one of the worst stinkeyes I've ever seen!

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  30. I'm not sure Sola was trying to steal the stick. She might have just been trying to see if it was Mr. Stick, so she could pee on him.

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  31. what a great way to spend a day

    RIP phone - hope the new one works out

    Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

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  32. One of the nicest posts I've read all month! :-)

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  33. Beautiful narration... I can feel myself right there in the forest at the stream's edge. It is truly the simple pleasures that make life rock! :)

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  34. Aw...while I love your creative, funny posts - I do love your posts with 'real' pictures the best! It's a nice chance once in a while to see the dogs doing 'natural doggie things'!! :-) Hee! hee!
    Hsin-Yi

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  35. Theresa5:59 AM

    That was a fabulus story - you are so fortunate to live in such beautiful surroundings! Hugs XXX

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  36. Did you say something about labs and water????? As in, can never find the lab again once it has sniffed that H2O?????? Runs away for hours and reappears soaking wet?????

    Huh. Labs. I don't do that. Oh no, not me a nice water free husky/GSD. :)

    Pippa

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