One of the online dictionaries defines the term "Dog Days" as the hot period of the summer reckoned in ancient times from the heliacal rising of Sirius (the Dog Star). Other definitions include naming specific dates for these Dog Days to occur. All I know is the temperature was 78 at midnight here in Southern Maine and that it was still that temperature early a.m. this morning. One room in our house has air conditioning in it and that's our bedroom. I was sizing up the situation last night to figure out if our master bath that attaches to our room would help me to accomodate ALL (and I mean ALL) things Brittany in the A/C. There's a large walk in closet too which I've been in the process of emptying of my clothing which no longer fits. (Driers these days shrink EVERYTHING you know?!) Alas, the very best I can do for the crew is simply keep them cool, in the shade, hydrated, and very very quiet. No training no nothing today. John did install a soaker type hose in the shaded outdoor kennel runs to mist the crew down at various intervals. Inside it is very cool with the fans on, 2 quart pails are filled with fresh water, the flooring is cool to lay on. The dogs have a raised platform outdoors to lay upon in their runs but a day like today they choose the coolness of the concrete. They each have 5 quart oblong galvanized buckets to soak in. No one is going anywhere or doing anything in this weather. Pupsters are being kept quiet in the X-pen under the kitchen ceiling fan and I am extremely forgiving in regards to house training mistakes today. We did all of our chores long before the sun rose above the treeline and began to heat things up. Much much later today they'lll indulge in the pond which probably won't bring much relief given the warm temperatures. The dock which John built floats in the middle of the pond itself as the level of water continues to decrease. It's 35' feet deep at the far end when the water level is at it's peek. Even though the sides have receeded right now it doesn't take very long to walk out and be over my head. The fresh spring that feeds into it keeps the water cool just below the surface and so far this summer life is sustained in regards to the stocked brook trout as they remain in the deepest part of the pond during the day, and I assume they're enjoying the shadow of the dock above them.
I want to mention that we had an extremely enjoyable visit here on Tuesday. You may remember Miss Ruby Rose (Scooby's Ruby) from the Mega Litter. Well we spent the afternoon with some of her new family as Marilyn and her daughter Megan drove up from Massachusetts. We also had the pleasure of meeting Silvia, who is visiting here from Paris, France. I loved seeing Ruby again, she's such a beautiful puppy and is clearly a well balanced and very social girl. Her family is doing well by her and I'm happy with what I hear about her trainer and various methods regarding undesireable puppy behavior. Marilyn took the picture of me with Nova, Brook, Ivy and Molly (Ruby's mother). Solomon was hiding in back of us! There's a real nice album posted on the ATB Facebook page courtesy of Marilyn and Megan. You may remember back in March that Megan also took some fabulous photos at the New England Sporting Group Dog Show of Bullet, Pippin and some of Dawn's Brittanys. Marilyn is a wonderful cook who has happily shared her talent with us whenever visiting by literally catering a magnificent lunch for us here! As a result I have several new recipes added to my collection with their family Mint Green Ice Tea topping the list courtesy of Ruby Rose. I was so happy to meet Silvia, I have felt as though I knew her already from afar. She is a part of Marilyns family as having been a foreign exchange student in years past. It's clear she has become so much more! Silvia also has a Brittany dog she loves which is back in France with her grandfather.
NO RESPECT
I still will not complain about the heat - much. A popular Facebook status going around reminds us all to think about the soldiers heavily clad in their uniforms wherever they may be in this hot weather. The men and women who are serving this country to keep us free. Last night John and I enjoyed going over into New Hampshire to an outdoor demonstration of Karate which our daughter and family participated in. It was amazing to see our daughter 'take down' a 6'2'' adult man! There was a Beatle tribute band there which I thought was totally amazing called "All Together Now", K-9 demonstrations, Mounted Police Horses, etc. The evening concluded with fireworks over the river. Which brings me back to what I wanted to say about soldiers, lack of respect and patriotism.
A young woman was introduced to the crowd which was seated on the ground all around the stages, along the park, here there and everywhere. She began to sing our national anthem and MOST everyone there immediately stood to their feet in grave and solemn respect. Some of us sang along, some of us placed our right hand across our heart. A young couple was sitting on their blanket just in front of us. I have to wonder if perhaps there was not some type of disability which made it difficult for them to comprehend the meaning of what was going on around them. Anyone who knows and loves John understands he is very outspoken about many things, not the least of which he considers to be proper and respectful. Standing during the National Anthem is very important to both of us. John spoke to the couple that they should stand up. The girl immediately did. The young man did not, despite the fact that his girlfriend also asked him to. I was wondering if John might decide to help him get to his feet but he didn't. It was simply ignorant though in my opinion that in this day and age of uncertainties regarding our individual freedoms, and as we lose more of them each almost daily - here we have young men and women fighting, risking their lives just so we can even have things like public displays of patriotism and so much more... And that young 20 something old man could not be bothered. He was more interested in putting on a public display of tasteless behavior in public with the young woman the darker it got. Gross. And then both of them put the glow in the dark sparkly red, white, and blue thingies in their mouths and so one has to wonder about their level of intelligence. It was not that the guy couldn't stand. He was very much physically able. Soon I tuned them both out and enjoyed the fireworks with our daughter and her family as the Beatles Tribute band played on. It was a wonderful display and I sang along to All You Need is Love. Yes, you have the freedom to even ignore tradition in regards to patriotic and respectful gestures such as the singing of the National Anthem. I could question why they'd even want to remain in a country they cannot offer such a simple demonstration of respect towards. But I would daresay it probably is the social, government benefits that they do respect. Yes it's hot.
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