A FAVORITE DOG. DO YOU HAVE ONE?

Of all the dogs I have known, one has stood out as charming. She was, of course, a Shetland Sheepdog, one of the dogs I bred. She had good bone, but the body was too long--She was too broad across the beam, as one breeder friend said. She did not have a classic Sheltie head, but she had the "Sea Isle" eye--a soft look. (Her Heritage)

When she was a 'newish' puppy, and I had to decide which one to keep, or which ones to sell, or which one to give to the breeder who arranged the stud for my Julie, I had a visit from a friend. She latched on to this puppy, and said, "She is Katusha. (my friend is Hungarian) She is like a little Katusha doll." The name stuck, and so did the dog. I kept her for breeding. The breeder would have taken her, but when she knew I wanted to breed her, she relented.

When young and able to jump up onto my bed (at six months?) Katusha used to come into my bedroom in the morning before I awoke (I was awake actually, but it was a good show--I pretended.) She lay along my side and wiggled her body to get my attention. When that did not work, she kept flopping her ears. I finally burst out laughing. She then pounced on me. I was up. It was our game.

Some dogs have a particular charm and intelligence that draws you to them. Katusha was one of those. I called her Katya, or Kat. When others heard me call a dog cat, they looked at me in surprise. I merely laughed; it was our secret.

Have you a favorite dog who has that special charm? All animals have their own personalities, but there are the specific ones who draw us to them by their uniqueness.

Do you have such a favorite dog with this charm?

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE--A FORCE OF NATURE

That has been our lament for so long. Now we are in a heat wave.

The young Robins have eaten most of the chokecherries, and are off again. There will be none for the Cardinals in winter. Whoops! The adolescents are back again today for the last few. Apart from some cheeky squirrels outside my window, the animals and birds have mostly abandoned my garden. Even the toads are asleep.

Before this past week, water, in the form of rain, was on most people's minds around here. This week we have lots of heat. I needed to water my vegetables and flowers. I believe I only watered once this summer--or was it twice? The majority of folk are happy, and off to swim and enjoy their holidays. The heat, although late, is most pleasing. I had thought it would never come. The sun is making its presence felt in the garden. I picked a cucumber and some tomatoes today. Neighbors busy themselves cutting grass--a summer sound. I notice more planes overhead. Perhaps people are optimistic about traveling with sunny days.

I remember the rain in my youth, lying under an aluminum roof at the cottage, enjoying the sound as it pattered on, sending me off to sleep. It was a comforting sound--as was the lap of waves on the beach. We lived at the end of the lake and the prevailing winds brought the waves our way, along with the driftwood. I loved the waves on turbulent days. The sounds of water can be a pleasant memory--as my watching the insects in our small spring cavorting about. A favorite poet called it a water carnival. How truly apt. I miss those innocent days.

Who wouldn't wish for sun rather than constant rain? We are well rid of those dreary months. Water, water, stay away. We would enjoy the sun!

FRUIT FROM ONE'S GARDEN IS A BENEFIT OF NATURE

This year fruit has abundantly blessed my garden. Red and black raspberries, red currants, and of course, rhubarb. I must pull it once again. When one lives in the country, it is pleasant to not always be bound to shop for food. A garden is delightful.

One day this week a friend arrived with her son to gather berries from the heavily laden chokecherry tree at the front of my house. The tree, trimmed afterward, looked much better. The rain--that is the secret. The last time I saw the tree so heavily laden, was three years ago. At least the rain has some benefits. Happily, I have been promised a jar of jelly.

Beside my den/studio window stands another chokecherry tree. It also bears heavily laden fruit. This one enjoys the cavorting of two young, immature robins--from a second nesting. They wear the creeping red breast, but mostly mottled, immature spots. They will be ready for their trip in the fall. Mom or Pop hovers when they are jaunting about. The fruit depends from a stem--awkward for the young ones to get at, but they soldier on. This occurs several times a day and is delightful to watch.

I just noted a catbird there. No doubt other birds will find the tree. There may be little left for the cardinals in the winter, who enjoy picking at the dried fruit.

I gathered the last of the berries this morning. Do you have fruit in your garden? What kind?

Posts:
July 04/09
August 02/09
August 08/09


Wild Rabbit
Monarch Butterfly
Common Toad
Robin

Posts:
June 17/09
July 04/09

Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Ruffed Grouse
Leaf Beetle

Animal and Bird Photos
by iStockphotos

Posts:
May 15/09
June 11/09

Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gray Squirrel

MY GARDEN INHABITANTS

It is quiet around here these days in my garden. I see mainly squirrels seeking nuts for winter. The small warblers, etc., appear to have already left for greener (warmer) pastures. So, I will talk about the other inhabitants.

Walking the woods, we usually saw Monarch butterflies about because of the many milkweed plants. The Monarchs came to our garden as well, but I haven't seen them this summer--actually, I haven't been able to get out much because of our aggressive rain. I have seen several of the smaller varieties of butterflies. Even the ubiquitous cabbage whites have been scarce.

Summer is peeping out late, so more interesting garden action could still occur. Animals, such as raccoons, have not tackled my lettuce this year--only the slugs. They love the rain. The tomatoes are distressingly green, but without the sun, what can they do? By now there are often many large garden spiders, but I do not see these, perhaps because the rain destroys their webs. I do see cellar spiders in my house, of course, but country houses must deal with such nuisances. Once, after an extensive cleaning for visitors, I commented that I must have missed a little guy since I saw a slight web on the lamp hanging above our table. One older visitor very graciously said, he deserved to live since he had outwitted me.

I have a family of toads. I regularly saw a big, fat, papa toad. Since I had to move the (flower) barrel he wintered under because the wood rotted, I am uncertain where he now lives. He is a successful toad, however, because quite a few baby toads hop about. The little guys are cute; I have to be careful not to step on them. I enjoy having them about. A friend from England said that if I have toads living in my garden, it is a good one.

We used to have snakes, but they have long since disappeared. Change is good.

With all of my flowers--especially my bright geraniums, hummingbirds came to my feeder, but it has been a bad summer. Lots of rain for berries, but too much, causing mold. I am looking forward to the day in the fall when the blackbirds leave so I can begin feeding the birds again. They live so high in the trees, unless they come down for food, I hear, but don't often see them. Now that the young have all hatched and grown up, the garden is rather sparse in the bird category.

I love my garden and its inhabitants. It is fascinating to watch their comings and goings. Do you have a garden?