Oh Katie, How Do I Love Thee?

Let me count the ways.

I love your shy, serious look.

And the cute little spots under your chin.

I love the "snaggle tooth" expression you get,

when your lip catches on that big lower canine.

And those adorable white eyelashes. 

(How did you get such beautiful white eyelashes? 

Your brother doesn't have white eyelashes.)

So many ways and reasons to love you. 

My only wish, 

that you'd come sooner. 

So we could love you

longer.

Wordless Wednesday

Bathing Beauty

"Look dogs! You're not the only ones who have a bathing and grooming regimen!"

All clean! 

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

Three dogs in a tub! Well, not in a tub exactly...but all three had an appointment with the hose after our weekend hike. Even Katie, who did not think that was fair, since she did not swim in the river. Turns out, however, that although Katie dislikes getting wet, she sure does love getting dry! She was so cute, snuggling into the towels for drying. That little girl loves to be pampered.

Even when she was finished and it was Lucky's turn, she kept burrowing in headfirst and just standing there, waiting to be patted and rubbed. "More please."

Adorable!! (Katie on the right)

First the towel dry, then the blow dry. Katie isn't real keen on the blow dryer (read: terrified), but Lady and Lucky don't mind it. Normally they would have just dried off outside, but the forecast high of 83 degrees turned out to be 70 and overcast, and they were shivering! So, out came the blow dryer for the whole spa treatment.

After the blow dryer..... (drum roll please)...... The Furminator!!! 

For those of you who might not be familiar with the Furminator,

this little beauty removes vast quantities of loose, dead undercoat hair. 

When I first got it, I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. I used it outside, and all the hair blobs flying everywhere made me crazy. I couldn't easily collect it, and found tufts of hair stuck everywhere for days. Hair in the petunias, hair stuck to the patio table legs. Yuck. The key for me, as unlikely as it sounds, is to use it indoors. All the hair collects in one area, easy to sweep up afterward. Much easier to manage without a breeze to send it wafting every which way. 

(Lady says all this beauty treatment is exhausting)

"But look how beautiful we are, all fluffy with our coats just shining!"

Labor Day weekend hike

Tropical storm Lee was forecast to arrive late in the holiday weekend, bringing with it inches and inches of much needed rain. 

So, we seized the day and got out for a hike while the weather was still nice. 

This delightful spot is alongside the Laurel River, where a 7 mile out and back trail runs alongside the river until it meets up with the French Broad. And the most amazing thing of all? The trail is FLAT! I didn't think western NC had any flat trails. Lucky loved getting into the water at every opportunity, paddling out into the current until I'd get nervous and call him back. Lady waded in reluctantly, only because this was necessary to keep an eye on Lucky. She never has been much of a water dog. And Katie said "no thank you, I don't like to get my feet wet." 

Actually, Katie's body language wasn't even communicating "happy," until we turned around to head back at about the 2 mile mark (four miles is about the limit for the two senior dogs). Her tail finally began wagging when we arrived back at the truck. I thought she would read Lady and Lucky's happy hiking energy, but I guess she's still learning to trust in new, unfamiliar situations. Hopefully her confidence will grow with each new outing.

Lady says hiking is fun! The only downside to swimming in the river? Returning home smelling like mud and river water. Which can only mean one thing...

*stay tuned*

Enjoy Summer While You Can

Before long, red, yellow, and orange will paint the mountainsides, and the air will be crisp and tinged with wood smoke. For now though, summer hangs on; the breeze is hot and the water sparkles. Think I'll go pour a glass of lemonade. We hope all our friends are having a nice Labor Day weekend!

Driven Insane By A Cat

How can such a small, innocent looking creature wield power capable of bringing a full grown adult to the brink of madness? This is what I was asking myself as I ground my teeth together and turned up the music in a vain attempt to drown out Lucy's meowing. The eyes you see in the above photo are the eyes of PERSISTENCE. They are saying "you will do what I want, or I will meow until the end of time." 

Here she is catching her breath for the next stanza. I don't know what was going on, but Lucy got it into her pointed little head that she wanted to go outside, and she was not to be deterred. 

However she's not allowed outside without a chaperone. Since that wasn't possible, she had to stay in. I am not exaggerating when I say Lucy meowed for 3 straight hours. These photos were taken as she orbited my chair at the computer desk as I was trying to work. MEOW. MEOW. MEEOOOW. But I outlasted her, oh yes I did. She finally gave up, much to the relief of every living, hearing being in the house. She found a good spot on the sofa and stretched out for a long, leisurely nap.

I confess, I was fantasizing about turning on the vacuum.
I resisted the temptation. When she's asleep, she's quiet.