A Dog's Life

 When we first got Cassie three years ago, it was a bit of an adjustment for me.  She required a lot of time and energy, and although the girls swore up and down that they would walk her and play with her, they were on the bus by 7 am and the morning routine fell to me.  At first it was difficult to give up the extra time, but now I've worked it into my routine.  Here's what our day is like:

 After the girls get on the bus, Cassie and I walk around to the backyard and enjoy the sunrise.  Sometimes she rolls down the slope and gets a nice back scratch on the way down.

 Then we sort of pootle around the yard a bit.  Sometimes I do some weeding or some exercise.  Cassie sniffs everything...

 and rolls a little more!

 Sometimes she finds a nice stick to chew...

 or we have a catch with a ball or a frisbee.

 Very often, Sophie and Sandy from next door are out sniffing about too.  Sandy is still a playful puppy and she always looks forlornly over the invisible fence to see if we'll come over to play.

I usually bring Cassie over there on the leash a couple of times a week so they can both blow off some extra energy.

 As you can see, they greet each other very enthusiastically.  No one says hello better than a dog!

 After hello, we all run around to the backyard.  Sandy loves to fetch so she usually brings me a ball.

 While she keeps me busy throwing, Cassie wanders around sniffing out chipmunks along the rock walls.  She usually makes her way all the way down to the water and can't resist a swim! (She can't do that at our house because of our Invisible Fence).

 After her swim, she smells like the lake!  Sandy doesn't mind.  They chase each other a bit...

 and then discover they can get up on the trampoline (a couple of trees came down on it last winter, so it's now pretty much defunct for jumping, but easier to climb on if you're a dog).

 As you can see, it's covered with leaves and still has a little lopsided bounce left in it.  They have a great time jumping and rolling around!

 I throw their balls up there and now it's a real dog playground!

That is one happy dog!

 Before we head home for breakfast, Cassie rolls a little bit more while I enjoy the scenery.  It's another beautiful fall morning.

Sometimes Cassie needs to be hosed off before we go in for breakfast, depending on how much dirt sticks to her fur after her swim.  Today she's pretty clean so I just towel her off and we head in.  In nice weather, I can leave her outside all day because of that invisible fence.  But if the weather is wet, she stays inside and naps...

We have one or two other short play sessions in the afternoon or evening.  She loves tug-o-war indoors or out.

Finally, it's dinner and bedtime.  What a life!

Around the Wet Garden

"Rainy Day"

I do not like a rainy day.

The road is wet, the sky is gray.

They dress me up, from head to toes

in lots and lots of rubber clothes.

I wish the sun would come and stay.

I do not like a rainy day.

-William Wise

We've been getting an awful lot of rain lately!  Now that I think about it, it seems that this year, we got all our flowers in April and all the showers May!  But dogs need to be walked, so this afternoon I put on my raincoat and took Cassie out for a wet tour of the garden.  The grass is getting long again, so Cassie is doing her part by nibbling off the tops.  Lots of dogs and cats I've known do this; it must taste good!

And look what we found near the ferns:  Robin eggs.  I do love that particular shade of blue.   I think Cassie would have eaten them if I'd let her!  Maybe the robin parents appreciate the rain for bringing out all the worms so it's easier to fill the gaping beaks of their hungry babies. 

Yes, everything is growing and swelling and bursting with the rain.  Here are some daisies coming up in a corner of the walkway, where plants shouldn't be growing.

 The apple blossoms are already gone, but here are the little apples, already starting to swell.

 And soon the irises will be blooming.

 The strawberries are filling out too.  I guess there are some good things about rain...

"April Rain Song"

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night.

And I love the rain.

-Langston Hughes

Hibernating

Don't you wish you could hibernate? Lately, napping is my idea of fun; must be the single-digit temperatures and list of chores and errands that are decidedly NOT fun. Just give me a flannel comforter and good book... Ahh! That's what I call fun!

Perhaps now would be a good time to elaborate on my theory about the differences between cats and dogs. They are very similar, both being furry, lovable, popular four-footed pets. But I am discovering the differences are vast.

The first major difference you may notice upon meeting a dog or cat is the way they view another's personal space. Cats have definite physical boundaries that they will cross when they know you well and feel comfortable with you. A cat may not wish to have her physical space invaded the first time you meet her, and may appear standoffish, unfriendly or shy. Dogs, on the other hand, have no qualms about jumping all over you and enthusiastically licking your face even on the first meeting. They gladly sniff your shoes, hands, and private parts whether you want them to or not. Dogs don't seem to get the idea of personal space.

The second thing you may notice about how these animals differ is their eating habits. Cats can be very particular about what they will ingest, from how it smells to the texture, to whether it's hot, cold, or room temperature. Dogs will eat anything, regardless of whether or not the item is even considered food. My vet told me he saw an x-ray of a dog who had eaten an entire string of Christmas lights. I have seen our dog eat some pretty disgusting things and she will happily chew on dirty gray socks that have been sitting in the yard for weeks, other animals' excrement, even days-old mice that have been lying on the driveway in the rain! (I actually had to pry open her jaws, reach in, and grab said decaying animal by the tail to prevent her from actually swallowing it!). Yuck!

The final major difference I'll highlight here is their sociability. Most wild cats, with the exception of lions, are solitary creatures, and I find housecats to be the same. They take care of themselves and prefer their own company. Dogs, on the other hand, love company - especially yours or another dog's. They let you know that they enjoy being with you by following you around from room to room and greeting you enthusiastically when you return from being out. Dogs are highly sociable.

Other differences? In general, dogs: loud; cats: quiet. dogs: large; cats: small. dogs: dirty; cats: clean. Which one do I identify with more? Definitely cats. But do I love them both? I guess I do!

It's the last day of January and I have not finished my first monthly collage. I think if I can finish 3 or 4 by the end of the year, I will have enough to present to a publisher. I can have sketches for the other eight or nine and the poems to go with them. I am finding the writing is easier, probably because you can do it anywhere and don't need any special supplies. Also writing is not as messy as collaging!