Summer Long

The summer is long for dogs (and me), but it hasn't been as hot as last year. This week it is in the 80's , but, as yet, we've not had the 90's/100 of last summer.

This morning and eight point buck came in, just briefly, what a beauty! Too fast for a photo.

Photo attached is from the herd at the local park. We see only one doe with a fawn coming in each day.

With the berries ripe (blue and raspberries) there have been bear and fox droppings on the trails.

Skinny gets very excited each day as he runs with the ATV and checks the smells. The field camera hasn't been catching much other than deer and occasional birds, a turkey.

June Wolf

Forgot to post this in June. At 6AM on June 16th I had just let Sierra (elkhound) out. I happened to look down to the deer feed and saw this wolf. Tried to photo it through the window, it is in between two water spot dots on right side of photo.

It came in quickly, looked around the feed area and ran back off into the woods.

Mama Mia

It's been a quiet summer for wildlife... the pigeons and the deer move in and out and we've only seen one bear, via the trail camera. But, shhhh, we know where Stripey is sleeping nights, with his beautiful six point rack in velvet.

We've rigged a new lead on the ATV for Skinny so he can get his daily walk without pulling.

Since he is such a good leader, I hook him up on his collar, tell him to line out and off we go, down the trails. He meanders a bit to sniff trees, but always gets back on the trail. The lead has a bell on it, so when he hears it he's ready for hookup. Usually I wouldn't hook up any dogs in this heat and humidity, but it's a low stress way for him to get his short walks.

Beach Boys and Dogs of Summer

Well, I sing to my dogs.... "Run, run reindeer" and "All the leaves are brown and the skies are gray, " so of course we had to to see the Beach Boys when they were here recently.

John Stamos joined the Beach Boys for a fun filled evening of great music. Missed Chubby Checkers the next night, but I do sing The Peppermint Twist to wriggling dogs.

Scare yesterday: Lillen ran off for 4 hours... she crossed the highway, the biggest scare. Neighbors helped me find her, a virtual needle in a haystack with all of the wild land around here. That ends her freedom to roam as I do yard chores... can't imagine what enticed her away as she's extremely reliable and obedient. But, good lead dogs do want to see what's around the bend. Whew! She'll be 12 in December.

Rivers

Took a quick run to the kennel's river cabin last night. The Brule River looked a bit higher than usual. The Menominee has been high as has the Pine. Good paddling on all.

The berries (raspberry and blackberry) are going to be good if this weather continues. The bushes are high and full of green ones.

The dogs are restless and for the most part, well behaved. The storms have been too much for Lillen, Quattro and Balto... they're OK, but have had enough, already. Skinny hides in the basement in his own designated shelter under a table. Martin seems to be toughing it out better than he had in past summers.

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