ANIMALS ENCOUNTERED ON MY VACATION

While visiting with friends for a week, I met again with the son of my hostess, and his Border Collie. Lively is the word for him. We all had fun watching him play.

Down at the end of the backyard four horses cropped grass, so I went along to chat with them. The Bay male was friendly and let me pat his nose a few times. Obviously, he looked for a treat. I had none. The largest horse, a Roan male, or Liver Chestnut--I am not good with horse colors--ignored me. He had a huge, rather ugly head, and continued to crop. Another male, a Chestnut, cropped weeds near the fence, but would not lift his head to me. Whether he was intimidated by the electrified line or not, I do not know. He was not as high as the Bay. Behind him, on the other side of the run, was a lovely female, a Black. Her head was decidedly feminine. She watched me the whole time, but remained cropping. The Roan had scars. All had beautiful black manes and tails, with uneven blazes, and short, white socks on their back legs. They all appeared to be related. When the Roan wanted to move on, he bit the quarters of the Bay, to get him to go, and all moved along. The Roan was Top Dog? Or Top Horse?

The area was truly country, with a number of horse farms. Not far away were cattle farms. It was the first time I saw an Alpaca farm. I had seen Alpacas in Peru, but these had all been shaved. They looked funny with their bodies bare and fluffy heads, necks and legs. I do hope they grow out their coats before winter sets in.

I enjoyed the visit with my friends. We talked, walked, shopped, and ate, etc., but the animals I encountered played a large part in that enjoyment. Truly it was a pleasant vacation.

WINDS AND WEBS AND WINGS AND WEATHER

The weather definitely is changing. I have two old maple trees needing cutting, but have as yet to arrange for the deed. Because the one at the front of the house is slowly dying, its leaves always fall first in my area, beautifully red in color. I have had to rake again and again--especially when the prevailing winds drive the leaves across the street and next door to my neighbors. It is a clear indicator of the fall season--that, and the cooler days and nights.

This coming week I have to clean up my small blooming plants outside in my garden, to ready them for indoors. That involves spraying. Our area produces extremely large garden spiders, so that by fall my garden is full of them. They do their work taking care of small insects, but I rather suspect their growth is due to their cannibalistic tendencies feeding on smaller chums. Ugh! The webs are everywhere so that when I go outside, I must take a stick to clear my path. It is not as bad as Miss Havisham's house--but bad enough. My former neighbor used to say "they'll be gone soon because the birds eat them." Oh?

Well, I am not sure how that can be because the birds themeslves appear to have gone. They have already packed their tents...and silently stolen away. I still hear the chickadees but so few others. Another month before the blackbirds are gone perhaps, (since they congregate here before they leave) then I can fill my feeders again. In saying I especially miss seeing the Cardinals and Blue Jays, I repeat myself. Fall has arrived.

Winds, webs, and wings. The weather vane has turned itself about.

MY DARLING JEWEL, A SUPERB SHELTIE

I had a darling Shetland Sheepdog named Jewel. I was given her by a breeder who wanted to find her a home since she had been bred three times. Breeders often try to find an appropriate home for their bitches--especially when they already have a 'top dog' in their home. The breeder wanted a loving home for Jewel rather than leave her in the Kennel.

Jewel was 'top dog' in the Kennel. I watched as all of the dogs deferred to her, young, and older dogs. She appeared unruffled by the noise and jumping about her. I was thrilled when I was first introduced to her. My comments were, "She's beautiful! I've got my work cut out for me." She had a full coat. In Shelties this means 1) a smooth top coat, and 2) a thick, fluffy undercoat. Brushing out such a coat is work. Shelties can be outdoors in all weather, unconcerned by rain, etc. This is part of their heritage as herding dogs.

Her color was what is called Tricolor. Breeders are careful with the genetics, so I won't go into it here, but she was mostly black with tan around the muzzle and back legs. She had a white bib (with some black) and skirt, with white front legs and white back feet, plus a bit of white on the tail tip. Jewel had good bone, single-tracked, a lovely eye, and conformed so closely to the Standard, I believe she received her Championship on one weekend.

I paid for Jewel to be spayed, and when she was recovered, I brought her home. I had already fallen in love with her. Although dogs adjust to a new home, older dogs never completely forget their past. She was reserved--a queen. I could hug her, but she always retained her own feelings. Not especially intelligent, as some of my dogs have been, she made up for it by her beauty. She was bred to be a breeder. I knew one of her Blue Merle puppies, also a Champion.

The breeder was sorry to lose her. We went back for a visit, but when she saw Jewel run from her to our camper, she knew Jewel had 'left.' There were tears in her eyes. Dogs pull at your heart strings. I truly miss my darling girl. How priviliged I was to know such a superb dog.

CHANGES. THEY OCCUR IN NATURE, AND IN OUR LIVES

You may have noticed that I do not speak of a current dog. I do not have one at present, but I hope that will change. I would love to have a dog. The timing has not been right, but every time I see a dog--wherever I see one, my heart is there. Change.

I picked both tomatoes and cucumbers from my garden yesterday. The weather is cool, but promises sun this coming week, which should ripen most of the tomatoes, and cause the cucumbers to grow larger. Although my flowers bloom merrily, they will benefit from more sun. It is time to consider bringing in some house plants. The nights are cool. There too, is change.

Summer appears to be on its way out. The days are shorter. The leaves turn color and fall around me here. I do not look forward to the truly cooler days. The sun shines, the wind cools. Change is coming. As one favorite poet has said, "Now goes the golden autumn far away, now nearer comes the winter to my door..." It does not yet apply, but I can feel it coming. You can tell I am a summer person.

Let us hope that this change does not come too soon.