Weekly update July 12-18

Monday: Dense fog in AM. Took dogs for run, fed and kenneled, husband in town. Late to work, overslept. Rain off and on during day, husband had gone to pick up tractor part, pouring when returned. I return, has stopped raining, dogs are all gleefully splashing around, wet and muddy ... take for a run, all full of 'piss and vinegar', make 3 circuits of property, Corey and Snoopy chase cars, Corey gets tangled up in leftover evil vine from the woods cleanup, I get bloody getting it loose, he keeps grabbing it back from me and getting retangled, finally get it loose and throw over fence. Whew. Back to trailer, take Corey inside and attempt to clean him up, he also has sandspurs, (This is the main problem with Irish setters out here, they attract burrs like magnets ... the other dogs, even long haired Banshee, they don't tangle up, but that long fine Irish red hair, oh my.) All dogs still revved up, send husband out to play ball while I fix food. one ball gets stuck under mower deck, Corey wont give up the other, take him in and exchange for Kong. back out, Corey heads for the tractor and barks furiously at the deck... where the ball is. Won't be dissuaded. I get food and feed and kennel (I knew he'd trade the hidden ball for food.) a good end to the day (which workwise was really annoying.)

Tuesday: Foggy again, good long run, then back to kennels, feed then take Corey in dog shed while wheat straw put in his pen (latest attempt to find a bedding that wont stick in his hair...) Give all extra chewies, go to work. return to all 4 dogs greeting me at gate, husband working outside ... change clothes, take Corey and Banshee inside to brush ...the wheat straw seems to be an improvement) then out to mow ... have a new clippings bagger that doesn't work real well, but it is very pleasant out, a nice breeze, the dogs are having a fine time, taking pears from the pear trees, rolling on them, playing ball with them... rolling in the grass, chasing eah other ... return at nightfall, feed and kennel, Snoopy eating well again. rains in night... A good day!

Wednesday: Husband has gone to town, workers here, take dogs for AM run, feed and kennel, then to work.  Hot and muggy when I return, husband has gone off again. Let dogs out, too hot to do anything yet ... brush Corey and Banshee, finally go out to mow around 7 ...still very muggy, buggy, unpleasant, the dogs are sluggish too, trotting around but none of the exuberance of yesterday ... get in an hour then storm blows up around 8 PM (I'm scared of lightening when in the field, so come in ... get food ready, clip Corey's nails, sit on porch, never rains...) Feed and kennel.

Thursday: Rather nice this morning, not as humid ... morning run, dogs burst out of pens gleefully, feed, kennel, go to Columbia for hearing ... when get back to Aiken decide to go home for awhile as I have to do a talk at 6 PM and am really tired (didnt sleep well last night, toothache.) Greeted at gate by DB and Banshee ... Snoopy and Corey are inside. brush Corey (the wheat straw is better, but still tangles up) after awhile bring Banshee and DB in, but its just too many dogs in too small a space. Put Snoopy and DB out, looks like rain so crate them. Never rains, let all back out then go to Aiken, return 745, all are out with husband mowing. Pretty pleasant out, in 80's. Join them for an hour (all this rain, the grass-weeds are growing fast...) then feed and kennel.

Friday: Another pleasant early morning ... all dogs cheerful and bouncy. run feed and kennel, then take DB to have nails clipped (she is all excited, there are 5 dogs at the vet! DB wagging her tail and wriggling all over like a pup...) return her home then go to dentist (yuk) and work ... get home about 530, arrive at gate at same time as husband who has been in town ... let all dogs out, bring Corey is to TRY to get him cleaned up, the wheat straw is about as bad as the pine straw... gosh, he's a hard dog to keep groomed ... but he's having such a grand time being a 'farm dog'... start mowing about 630, pleasant, nice breeze, Corey and Banshee pick green pears and settle down on hill to chew them, while DB and Snoop 'stand guard', what a lovely picture this would make ... nightfall, feed and kennel, put Frontline on them (hate to use these poisons, but, the herbals just arent handling the ticks this year) ...  Snoopy eating well, Corey's ears looking pretty good, DB is now covered in red clay, Banshee happy and bouncy ... a good day!

saturday: Yet another pleasant day. Am run, fed and kenneled, let out again to help me mow ... and i mowed til noon. (i think this is first time since May it's been cool enough to keep going after around 1030! let Corey in, brushed (the wheat straw is I think even worse than the pine straw. I may shave him.) after husband's workers left, let Banshee in, took brief nap. then was getting ready to go out again, looks like a storm coming ...decided to take dogs for van ride ... Corey saw cows for first time and got ALL excited ... while waiting in parking lot of BiLo for husband, I clipped ALL of Snoopy's nails! (this is a milestone!).. lady from Cato's came over and met all 4 dogs (she rescues too). Return home, it never rained (rained everywhere else we went), so let out, mowed, then fed and kenneled.

Sunday: Pleasant early, morning run, dogs spotted neighbor at mail box, ran to greet him, then fed and kenneled, went to church. Return around 1130, sill relatively cool, mowed until 1,  let Corey and Banshee inside, then Snoopy gets in, Banshee decides Snoopy is after her Kong and snarls at her, put all out, then it looks like storm blowing in, crated DB and Snoopy , little bit of rain, thunder grumbling all afternoon. 5 PM let all out, mowed a bit, then brought Corey inside, then friend and her 2 Irishes arrive! Apparently DB,Banshee and Snoop met them at gate, Corey was laying down inside (I attempting to untangle his tail) when he springs up, goes to glass door and stands in perfect setter stance, whips his head around and joyously carols 'they're here !!' Let Corey out, then join all outside, get on mowers, mow awhile ... dogs having a grand time, the Irish bitch Maggie So reminds me of Angel Ginger, the way she'll take off and run off joyously, circling the property ... the others stick fairly close by, Db and Banshee digging in the woods, then it's time to go, Maggie decides she wants one last run and takes off, whoops, friend's car dor open, DB decides SHE wants to go for a ride ... finally get dogs sorted out with the proper guardians, then feed and kennel my gang. a good day!

An excellent week ... no big adventures, but nice weather, good pack interaction, a nice visit from friend and her Irishes ... Snoopy eating well again, and even getting her nails clipped without panic attacks, Corey's ears doing OK, the dog gate working well, even with 3-4 dogs inside, Damcat more relaxed ... memories of Angel Ginger fill my heart, I can almost see her sometimes, and, i know she's watching over us... God is good.