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.

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?