Friends

Summer is getting closer to the end again already.  There are still a lot of hot days to come so its not too bad.

We are going to the park early in the mornings so that we don't get too hot.  Rufus is finding friends all over.  Some are friends we haven't seen for a while and some are new friends that we have come to meet for the first time.

Like in this photo.  There is Rufus's best friend Bernie.  And we have a new friend too.  His name is Zeus. He is still just a puppy but he out weighs Rufus by about 80 pounds.  Rufus is trying to give Zeus  a hug.  Bernie is not really sure what to make of it right now.  But they soon made a Rufus sandwich.

Rufus has been so busy at the park these days that when he gets home he just crashes in his chair or on his bed or just in front of the patio door with Bella.



Then we have our people friends too.  Rick and Bernie enter the park and Rufus knows right away.  He lets out a howl as if to say "I have been waiting and waiting for you!!!"  Then the chest bump from Bernie and a tussle in the water or on the grass or where ever we meet up with them.  Then, he turns his attention to Rick.  He lets out the same howl and just waits to be petted.  Once all the greetings take place then they are off for a really good romp.  Sometime Gracie comes too
if she is going to come and play.

Dexter gets in there too so that he is not left out.  We sometimes go about a mile around the park with all the dogs rustling and tussling.

There are sometimes too that there are no friends at the park when we get there,  Rufus is really disappointed when that happens.  We try to go at the same time everyday to meet up with the same people and dogs but they like to mix it up too.

Our friend Chicha had to have an operation about 2 weeks ago and we did not see them until yesterday again.  Chicha is doing really well and she is able to go to the park and play again.  Ana and Felipe and baby Edward met us at the park last night for a short walk.  Dexter and Rufus were really tired and I had to wake them up to take them to the park.  Both of them looked at me as if to say "Really. Again?"  They had a long long walk in the morning and were still tired from swimming in the river with Jersey, so they were not prepared to go again.

But when Rufus saw Ana and Filepe, he let out howls and was just not too sure what to do.  He was waiting by Ana so that he did not step on the baby.  Then Felipe, was there and Rufus was just so happy.  We will meet them again tonight after supper for a short walk and cool off in the river again.

Edward is just such a cute little boy.  He is not afraid of Rufus at all.  He has been trying to throw the ball with the chuckit, but he is just a little short for it.  He is only  13 months old so he is doing well just toddling around the park.

Rufus and Edward look at each other and say hello when they first see each other, then Rufus just sort of keeps and eye on Edward just to make sure that he is still following him. Rufus takes it slower whenever Edward is with us and walking.  He knows that he is just a little boy and not ready to run and chase like Dawson and Nick.

Well we have to get ready to go to the park now for our morning walk before it gets way too hot.

But there have been thunder storms forecast for the day so we may have a short walk this morning and dodge the storms this afternoon and evening.

Lazy Summer Days

Well we made it to the middle of the summer without to much relief from the heat and the sun.
We are starting our days with a walk before it gets too hot.
One day last week we saw an old tree split and fall right in front of us.  If Sebastian was not there to warn us off we would have been under it when it fell.  As it was we just all stood in awe of nature taking its liberties.

After a good romp with friends and Dexter of course.  We head for the river for some good ball catching time.  In the mornings there are not a lot of dog friends out so sometimes we just go straight to the river.

After about 3 or 4 times of swimming to get the ball that is thrown, Rufus just holds on to the ball to signal that he has had enough for now.

We walk around to see if there are any other friends that came while we were at the river.  Sometimes we find some other friends and sometimes we don't.

The first thing that both Rufus and Dexter do when we are just really wet out of the river is find some dry silty sand or just plain dirt to roll in.  I know it is to keep the mosquitoes and other flying insects away.  But, all the fine dust that they both leave all over the house is not nice at all.

I have been trying to get Rufus to fetch the ball other than when we are in the water.  Sometimes he is really good and will bring the ball back.  But most times he is still up for a chase.  He waits until I am about 15 meters away then he flops down and rolls around with the ball in his mouth.  When I am less than a meter away from him he jumps up and starts trotting off.  Then he gets about 10 meters away and spits the ball out.  He stands and looks at it, then at me, then at the ball again.  As soon as he thinks I am close enough to reach the ball then he picks it up and runs away again looking over his shoulder most of the time to see if I am coming. He could do that for hours.

Then we go back to the river to either cool off or just wash most of the dirt and mud off.  Just when I think the boys are clean enough to get back in the car.  They both manage to find another pile of dusty dirt to roll in.

Needless to say I spend more time than I want to sweeping up the dust at home.

Bella has some issues with the dogs coming home dirty though.  When we first come in the door she is usually on the kitchen chair to observe, without a sloppy nose swipe from Rufus or a wet hip check from Dexter.  She waits patiently until I sit down for a few minutes to just relax a bit then she is on my lap and telling me all kinds of stories about how the smelly, wet dogs are just not what she was waiting for.

Once they are dry and almost dirt free she will choose one of them to cuddle with as long as she knows that no one is watching.

 I think in this photo if they both could have said you don't see this they would have.

But after a nice walk in the park everyone is ready for a nap of some kind.  Even if all of them are on the floor beside me or if they scatter to their favorite spots they usually just nod off for about 2 or 3 hours.  If I don't have to work I manage an hour or so too.

Sometimes it is too hot even to clean the house or do anything other than just relax.... so some days that is just what we do BEST!!!!!