Thursday, June 16, 2011

Dog Days of Summer--Yuk!

Why do humans use the expression “dog days of summer”? Do they think we like it any more than they do? For weeks, Chica and I have been pent up inside, thanks to heat that has hovered at the 100 degree mark. For the past two nights, we have had no walk at all, since it never cooled off. It was kind of surreal being on the front porch and having no one to bark at; there were simply no passersby.

Things weren’t much better when we went to the country over the weekend. Hondo creek is no longer a creek; it’s a creek bed. Fortunately there was a hint of a breeze at night which, helped by ceiling fans, saved the night. The good news is, my master and mistress are getting an attic fan. So hopefully, it will be more tolerable if they decide to go back upcountry anytime soon.

It’s a good thing Mary started her wildflower photography project last year as now there's hardly anything in bloom, thanks to the drought. But on our way back to town her son Maverick spotted a devil’s bouquet blooming by the side of the road. It’s a spectacular flower and the photo she took will be a nice addition to the Texas wildflower book she and granddaughter Christina are compiling. Given the paucity of blooms, it was a true "dog days of summer" treat.