Summer’s Unfolding
The cherries are ripe and ready for picking in the food forest, each one a small burst of sweetness and color. The mulberries are not far behind, still blushing their way toward deep purple perfection. Overhead, sunlight streams through slow-moving clouds.
This is the gentle unfolding of summer. Not a sudden arrival, but a gradual opening. A quiet reminder to savor what ripens in its own time.
Ripe—Cherries
Almost Ripe—Mulberries (with raspberries not far behind)
Magical—Summer Light… Read More
There have been some interesting shifts up and down on this year’s list. For instance, the Yorkshire Terrier has moved up a couple spots and the Bulldog has dropped a few. No surprise, Aussies and Cavaliers make it into the Top 15. Miniature American Shepherds (mini Aussies) are also rising quickly. Always, when a dog breed becomes popular, it’s super important to find reputable breeders who have dogs with good health.
Every time I take Arrow for a walk, I stuff a random number of small biscuits into my pocket. This is mostly for backup in case we encounter something really exciting (like a jogger or a biker flying past), and I want to be able to quickly grab his attention without grabbing his collar or cinching the leash. Also, as we walk, I like to randomly reward him with food (and always with praise) for looking back and checking in … 
I recently had a reader ask if it was a good idea to shave Aussies in hot weather. Let me quickly get to the short answer for those who don’t have time to read. NO! Do not shave your Aussie!
Looks good enough to eat, doesn’t it? That’s because it’s delicious— to non-vegetarians and dogs alike. They’ll come running every time they catch a whiff.
I have a fool-proof thunderstorm detector — more accurate than the local weather Doppler system. And he’s sitting right here on my lap (which makes typing a bit of a challenge). So I know a thunderstorm will be hitting here before too long.
Having been away for a few days on a business trip, I walked into the house to my happily leaping dogs. Riley came rushing up the chair in front of me and used it like a springboard to catapult himself up into my arms. Arrow, wanting to lick my face, had trampoline feet, he was jumping so high.