How cute is Tank?!! We've been dying through two weeks of high heat and humidity and feel like we've not been tracking in months! This morning, I felt there was a short window of opportunity if I could get away early enough, and there was heavy due...make fast plans! We would go to the closest place I could squeeze in two tracks, one for Blast, one for Tank. Even better, since it would be tight for time, before being too hot again, and I just wanted them to do something short and fun, I'd have one go over the other.
So here's how it began....
Coming out my driveway onto the road, three wild turkeys confronted me, and began walking the way I wanted to go. They were in no hurry, and spread out across the road. (Pictures taken through the windshield, yes, I take pictures while driving, slowly...but I don't text or use a phone!!! And only on our backroads!)
I was getting darn near ready to run them down (kidding) when they finally turn up a driveway further down. Temperature is rising...
Anyway, arrive at destination and begin to lay track. A works crew shows up, and as I walk, I also watch them. They were near where I planned to end, but didn't look like a problem. So I complete the track, get Blast out first, and off we go. Oooh, this will be great, grass portion nice and dewey, 3 hard surfaces interspersed. And then I see two more trucks showing up, and in total, must have been 12 men walking all over our last corner (on asphalt) and the grass leg leading up to it, back and forth, the whole thing. Annoying men! So, Blast did great on his track until we got to that leg. He worked, but was very distracted, watching them as they had moved back to their trucks, and were milling around. We were nearing the asphalt with the final corner coming up when they all began to walk back towards us. Up goes his head.
This is a topic for another discussion which I will save for another time. Briefly, we continued "working", I didn't let on I noticed...and working close to him, we got to the corner, he turned it, and did great with them all left behind us. He did very well on the asphalt to the final article, had totally lost interest in the group of men.
So after we played, I put him away, and brought out Tank. I figured these men would still be there, so would decide then whether to end the track or work through them, and depending on what they were doing. Tank did a great track (over Blast and I again) and as it turned out, they must have been due for a coffee break after 15 mins. of work as they had gone! He worked through the area pretty good and also did nicely on the asphalt. End of the track picture above. I had picked up the final article for Blast and forgot to leave one for Tank, so threw out the glove I was wearng. You can see Tank was pretty happy.
So, once again, planned for something easy, fast and fun, and "things" happen in these urban situations!
By the weather forecast, I doubt we'll be able to get out for at least another week. Meanwhile, I want to think about some possible scenarios with things that are unexpected and how to handle them....maybe I'll run it through Donnas' blog....
But, unfortunately, a huge thunderstorm went through last night, 'downing' many plants in the garden, and right back to high temperatures and humidity. The large amount of rain was welcome, we badly needed it, but was hoping for a cool down.
Well, I have over 25 varieties and colours of daylilies in bloom and they are lovely right now. However, I just want to track...!
Kira looks like a little devil dog racing towards me on the driveway. Left this walk a little late, and luckily didn't run into anything scary!
The "lookout" before heading along the forest trail.
Blast turns purple at dusk to scare off the forest creatures!
This heat is knocking us out and tomorrow is forecast as possibly the hottest day ever! And that's before the humidity is taken into account!! We've been trying to get out early in the mornings for walks and watering where necessary. Behind the house this morning I was trying to pick up some branches, and toss them on the pile before Kira discovered what I was doing....as if....! She climbs up and finds the ones I've just tossed and races down with them just about knocking me over. She's never wrong, always finds the one I've just tossed up!
How cute is Tank?!! We've been dying through two weeks of high heat and humidity and feel like we've not been tracking in months! This morning, I felt there was a short window of opportunity if I could get away early enough, and there was heavy due...make fast plans! We would go to the closest place I could squeeze in two tracks, one for Blast, one for Tank. Even better, since it would be tight for time, before being too hot again, and I just wanted them to do something short and fun, I'd have one go over the other.
Coming out my driveway onto the road, three wild turkeys confronted me, and began walking the way I wanted to go. They were in no hurry, and spread out across the road. (Pictures taken through the windshield, yes, I take pictures while driving, slowly...but I don't text or use a phone!!! And only on our backroads!)
I was getting darn near ready to run them down (kidding) when they finally turn up a driveway further down. Temperature is rising...
We have two Linden trees we planted about 13 years ago in front of the house. They bloom with fragrant flowers every few years, I don't know why not each year... Funny little flowers,they totally cover the trees which are now buzzing with bees. The fragrance just blows you away, especially in the evening, early morning and when it is humid. There's nothing like it, and it's very strong at times, wafting in through the open windows. Love it.
My first time to have a Passion Flower Vine plant - little alien-like flowers just began to bloom yesterday. They are amazing! How intricate and involved they are.
A number of little buds had dropped off and I was convinced I'd never see a flower on this plant. I bought it this year, called a patio plant, and it is hanging on the north side of the deck against the house, receiving morning and afternoon sun only.
Just amazing! If you double click on any of the pictures, they will come up large and are clearly more visible to see how 'involved' these flowers are. I just love it, it is covered in more large buds, so will be really interesting in the next few days to see!
FEED ME! FEED ME! We love the wood thrushes, the most beautiful singing coming from the forest at dusk every night. We knew there were a few nesting around us this year, and now the moms are bringing the kids to the sandy areas for 'sandbaths'. Other than that, they don't spend a lot of time in the open, so it's just luck to catch them with the camera.
Mom and one of the goofy-looking kids....only a mother could love it!
Here's two of them, mom flew off for a minute, probably to bring back food or to have a brief rest from their demands.
Ahhhh, finally...that sought after 'bath' in the sand!
