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!!!!!