Late Summer in Southern USA

Early goldenrod bloom showing signs that summer is waning and fall is on its way to Mississippi. 

Late yesterday brought heavy rains to our place here in the country. We had winds in excess of 25 mph and close to an inch of rain here and the house and it seemed to come down in buckets at times. Roads briefly flooded and my drive home was challenging at times due to the intense rain, but once home I enjoyed sitting on my porch and watching the weather roll through. It rained off and on during the night and the morning brought a freshness to the countryside. August is usually a dry month here in Mississippi and rain is always welcome when the changing weather patterns of the late season often bring rains and cooler weather that breaks the normally hot, dry weather giving us a taste of what we can expect a couple of months from now.

On my early morning walk, I noticed goldenrod which first popped open its first blooms on August 3rd is farther along in the bloom than is usual for this time of the year. I watch that bloom and, more often than not, can predict our first frost of the fall within a day or two. This year may not prove to be a good one to use this sign of nature to predict that date but, it is really too early in the season to say that conclusively.

Pet Update...our family has grown again.

If you have followed this blog for long you probably know already that our family is a household full of animal lovers.  Since we live in the country, in the middle of a pine tree farm we have abundant room for lots of animals.  Our menagerie is comprised of two horses, a potbelly pig, a number of chickens, a cat, a rabbit, a ferret, a sugar glider, an aquarium full of tropical fish, a goldfish and eight dogs.  Three of those dogs were either found abandoned on the road or left on the outskirts of our property by someone who obviously doesn't have the respect for life that we do.  Yes, they were left there to fend for themselves because someone decided they didn't want to take care of them any longer. Two of the three were puppies when we found them and the other is what we think was an old puppy mill stud who had developed a skin condition and outlived his usefulness to an unethical breeder who probably should not have one dog much less a yard full of them who was put out on the highway to die. Well, Cooper, as we named him, has become a sweet yet cantankerous, loved member of our family.  He is old, very old and has only one tooth; a rather long lower canine that protrudes out of his mouth making him look like a muppet more than a dog.  He is a great dog who asks little of his family.

Anyway, the two puppies have come of age and yesterday we had them spayed.  We feel strongly that our animals should be spayed. It makes them happier, healthier and much better companions. The surgery went well and the girls are at home resting so they can resume their duties of joyfully protecting their family and home.

These two little girls are wonderful additions to our family.  The older of the two who is about 18 months old is either an English Lab or a mostly English Lab mix.  Her name is Hadley and she is a natural retriever, full of spirit, life, and energy. She is a fearless watchdog and that is always welcome in the country but in spite of her penchant to protect is a joy around the house. if she has a flaw she thinks she is a 42-pound lap dog. She will lie at your feet for hours, fully satisfied to be with her adopted family. Then without a moments notice or any warning, she will climb on the sofa with you and try her best to get in your lap.  Her nose goes to your face and she stares longingly into your eyes, making you completely and totally aware that she is wanting a little more attention than you have been giving her. 

The other little girl is still less than a year old. She is almost solid white. We had her DNA tested and it showed that she is a Swiss Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Lab mix. Macie is her name and she and her sister were left on the railroad tracks that cross through our family property. A friend adopted her sister and she became one of our family. She was about an eight or ten-week-old puppy when she showed up last December.  Now at probably ten-months-old, she weighs in at almost 60 pounds. She is going to grow to be a much bigger dog and is presently eating us out of house and home. Macie is a gentle giant and except for the length of her hair looks remarkably like a Swiss Shepherd. Like most shepherds, she is protective of her family.  When guests show up at the house she expresses no aggression, other than her very loud barking but, always places herself between the guest and her family until she is sure there is no threat. Once she has accepted that there is no threat to her family, our friends are her friends, too. She is a majestic dog and another very special member of our family.  

Both of these girls are on "bed rest." Of course, they really aren't on bed rest but, they are taking it pretty easy this morning. I can tell their anesthesia has completely worn off but they are still lying around a good bit. As the day rolls on they will feel better and better.  These girls have a pretty good life; not a dogs life by any stretch of the imagination.  Both of these girls have added a lot of love to our family.  

...Today is Saturday

Well, today is Saturday and I have to get to the chores that the end of the week always brings.  I am putting my computer away and grabbing a bite to eat to go with this early morning cup of coffee and then I am off to take care of a few chores.  

Until next time...I hope you are having as good a weekend as I am.