Dog days of summer

Sorry. I couldn't help myself. I'm pretty sure that I've been in some sort of a funk lately. And the weather has had a lot to do with it. I've been stuck in the house for days and days and more days.

No photos=Unhappy Photog.

So I visited my friend yesterday and she had her grand-dog, Cameron, at her house for the week. And her much loved, favorite sweet fur baby, Sandy, was not happy. I did not pose her. This is Sandy giving me the scoop on the new invader.

Well, she was happy to see me but only because she was so certain that I was there to take the year old, mostly leggy critter that insisted on being by her side every step of the way.. AWAY. And she quickly became very disappointed when that didn't happen. Cameron is the sweetest thing. He is sooo big and gallops all over the house and yard. And he will click his teeth on command. I fell in love almost immediately. Look at those eyes!! And he tried to crawl in my lap. All 100 pounds of him. He's so full of energy. All the time. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week.

Oh, and I can't forget Sadie... the 20 year old cat that lives on the porch. She's been the yard cat since my friend moved to the end of the road in the middle of nowhere. And she would never come in the house... she preferred the yard. And now the porch.

Tuesdays with Iris

Almost every Tuesday, Iris gets out of the house. Most of the time, she goes to Lake Ella for a nice, brisk walk. And then to Black Dog Cafe for a water.

Iris is the one on the right.

A couple of times, I've tagged along. And this time, Tyler joined us. But, unforturnately, Falcor did not. It's a sad story of sibling rivalry and a bad memory of a fully-clothed swim in the lake.

This is Tyler and Jessica. And Iris on the left.

Iris belongs to Jessica's sister, but spends most of her days with her parents while her sister works. And on Tuesdays, she gets to go out. Jessica invited us to join she and her mom at the lake for a lap and a visit and I loved it. I haven't seen her mom in a while and, well, any day I get to spend some time with Jessica, is a good day.

Sweet Jessica. That's what I call her. She is absolutely, positively the sweetest, nicest, kindest, most compassionate person I know. She loves her family, her friends, her school, her community, and her environment with all that she has. It's awesome.

Tyler and Jessica met and became friends during their freshman year in high school and started dating during their senior year. I asked Tyler recently what his most favorite thing about his relationship with her (almost THREE years) is.

He squirmed and grinned as boy does when his mom asks him about his feelings. It was so cute.

"She's my best friend. She makes me laugh. I can tell her anything and everything. She lets me be me."

AWESOME!!

Neighborhood Watch

Well, the weather has finally warmed up a little, but it's been raining for days now. And when it's not raining, it' so foggy that I can't see my mailbox. I did hear on the news tonight that December 2010 and January 2011 were in the top 5 for the coldest months EVER in Tallahassee.

Yes, I was aware of that. And I have the electric bill to prove it. I'm pretty sure that my heat didn't turn off for 8 long, cold days in December.

But things are looking up, at least for the next couple of days. And I happen to see this little cutie yesterday in my neighbor's yard, just hangin' out, keepin' an eye on things.

She really loves me... she just won't admit it

Meet my friend, Gabby. She is a member of the Bond's family. Whenever I go to their house, I try desperately to get her to let me pet her. I talk baby talk to her, sing her songs, and dance the hokey pokey. Most of the time, she runs and hides behind her momma. But sometimes.... sometimes, she lets me reach waaayyyy across the table and rub her sweet face. And then she runs and hides behind her momma.