Wordless Wednesday 39

Suncatcher

Wordless Wednesday 29

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.

mY fRiDAy FivE

Nigel Buggers reporting. Forget you two-leggers and forgive my sloppy post title. I had to get Fudgepants to show me where that pesky capslock key is. Smashed it to bits. If anyone does have a keyboard with a catslock key I want to hear about it.

My simple two-legger left his laptop open for the first time in three years and I'm not missing my chance. I never get enough air time, so this Friday I'm celebrating five things about me and I'm keeping the hydrant and it feels really good.


Truffles: Excuse me Nigel.
Nigel: Yes Fudgepants, what is it?
Truffles: It's Thursday chicken brain.
Nigel: How do you know?
Truffles: You know how two-legger brings home that special piece of paper on Fridays? The one that pays for our dog food?
Nigel: Of course I do.
Truffles: And you know how we get a chewy every day? I've only had six chewies since the last time he grabbed that paper, dog.
Nigel: Oh crap! Where is the back button?!?
Truffles: You're live fool. Roll with it.


Ahem. So where was I? Oh yes...


1. First of all, I just rock.



And not only because I fitted my two-legger with cement boots, as Sola's mastery of the camera clearly shows. He did make bubbles for a little bit, but rest assured, he won't be back to Photoshop me anytime soon, and that gives me a special feeling.


2. Of course, before I rock I have to get my bearings. Orientation is not my strong suit.

Let's just say my inner compass points to the couch.

3. Next, you have my fear of heights.

I'm not looking!

Which I am able to shake off faster than Sola sheds brain cells.


4. One of my less proud moments. Do you remember the little black bar? I sure hope not. You need to remember this one. See, it's been raining nonstop here and the river is running really fast. For a minute there, I thought the current had washed my black bar clean off!



A quick undercarriage inspection confirms that Mr. Business and the backup band are in fact very good swimmers, and will not require life preservers for my return to shore.




Ok, I can stop staring at my dangly bits. I'll let my fridge opener live for now.


5. You know where to find me this weekend.

I'll be rocking.

*The real Friday Five returns next week. :)
Tomorrow, we gas up for the weekend...

Wordless Wednesday 26

And Now for Something Completely Different.

I'm guilty; we've been MIA. It's the job thing. Years of no free time have taken their toll, and I'm trying to find time to catch up.

But there is a change. A big one. We up and moved, to the (initial) dismay of the dogs. They like their routine, and we certainly broke that up a bit. The downside: they are fenced in. In actuality, Nigel is thrilled. He had to be leash walked until now, and he's happy for his relative freedom. But the ladies had been free to roam for years, and are not so happy to have boundaries.





They have yet to discover the good news. The house comes with a river. Winter has arrived early and the river is too fast for them, and will stay so until summer. We have not let them near it, and the river falls away in front of the house, while they are fenced in behind. They will forget about it until it's warm enough to keep the windows open, right about the time that the last snowbank has melted.

They have stopped pouting, and all seems right again. I ran downstairs to throw wood in the stove last night and noticed something on the side of the stairway.




Call me dog-centric, but it almost looks like it could be... : )