Judgement vs. fun

Yesterday I finished installing my dog fence, and I was glad to have it done. The hounds like the fence and know about it and are really comfortable and familiar with the fence.  When I finished, I turned them loose to check it out and familiarize themselves with the new smells and sounds.  This new (to us) campsite was previously the site of the local sheriff.  It has full hook-ups, and a partial fence.  The fence is chain link and has those privacy slats in it.  It is immediately behind the Park Ranger's home.  But the main feature of this new site is that it  is in the "wandering routes" of the free range cattle and horses.  So, we have a series of dried poop from the horses and cattle!  My hounds have had great fun sniffing around and then looking for the actual horses and cows!

Last evening, I took the dogs out into the yard to get their final pee done. They were having fun doing their thing, and also playing a bit, when suddenly Power turned on the afterburner.  He took off and apparently forgot where the fence was, because he ran into the fence at full speed, hit it in his chest area, knocked the fence to the ground, and flew through the night!  I was horrified and wondered all kinds of things like:  is Fleur going to follow Power, can I get the fence back up in the dark, Is Power injured, will he get hit by a car, etc.


I got hold of Fleur and put her inside the motorhome so that I could work on the fence.

Why did you make me come inside Mom?

I put on my leather gloves and started lifting the sections of the fence.  After about 10 minutes I had the fence in a usable state, and started the search for my fun hound.  As I stepped through the gate to search, I was met by the big brown eyes that I was so worried about! 

Are you going to let me back inside the fence?

 He had apparently startled himself so much that as he was able to slow and stop, he end up next to a tree about 20 yards from the downed fence.  He stayed to watch me raise the fence, and then tip toed up to the gate, while he waited for me to see him and welcome him back into the yard, and hug him!

I was so very relieved and SO VERY RELIEVED that it is hard to describe how RELIEVED I felt.

We weren't worried Mom, we knew where we were all the time!

They hardly moved all night and the next morning!

Power had a skid or scuff mark on his hip(butt)

Power had a knot on his head

I guess all is well that ends well!

Winehounds

A while ago, a group of friends were camping in the low mountains of Arizona!  It was cold in the evenings, so we had a campfire each evening,  One of our crowd was an alcoholic so he had a glass of wine with him .  I happened to be sitting next to Bill, and as usual, I had both hounds with me at the fire.

Valentine and Fleur, and Phoenix


Suddenly, Bill says to Val "Hey there what are you doing?" Val looked up innocently, and tried his best to really look innocent, but it was impossible, because he had wine on his face.  He had helped himself to Bill's wine!

Winter is gone for this year.

Poppies on the desert floor

Fire restrictions are common in summer

My cacti are blooming

The park's horses are having babies!