The Hounds Enjoy The Sunshine

Every morning lately Stella is not certain she wants the morning walk. She has to think about it, sniff a little, thinks some more and look around. Today was a morning where she decided she would head out. Until she hit the field, she still wasn't sure. The grass yard was really wet and she does not like getting her paws wet.

It's official ... another morning walk in the books.

After lunch she couldn't resist to take a nap in the sunshine. Her nose was pressed into that stepping stone.

Heidi prefers grass if she is going to sleep.

She went outside three or four different times in the afternoon. She did explore the field again alone but spent most of her time in the yard.

She is a much happier hound in warm weather. Like me, she is not a winter person.

I took a little time for some baked salmon and peas with Kerrygold nonsalted butter. The next big project ... I am painting not just a couple of room like I had planned but all the rooms plus all the ceilings. Luckily I love to paint houses, inside and out. A bottle of Ibuprofen will be nearby right before I call it a day.

All is good in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Heidi Does Her Own Walk !!!

That 'to do' list I spoke of a few months ago is getting an early start this year and I am not waiting until the hot weather in July or August to start this year. Plus there are some other things going on, where I am really really busy and blogging has slid down the list of priorities to the bottom. I have a lot to do, so my blogging will be very sporadic for a while and it might be longer than a week between posts. This morning I am off to a slow start so I thought I'd update what the hounds have been up to.

It wasn't raining nor had it the night before but Stella wasn't sure she was going on a walk. On Thursday when she did this I turned around and went back inside just as she did. She didn't want to walk any time on Thursday so we didn't and the weather was great.

Friday morning was a different story but I had to yell while she stood there to "come on". We have also started our walks from the north part of the yard on the return path, such as she would do if it were raining or wet. New routine and I'll follow it if that is what it takes for her to go on a walk.

There have been a few times we have walked without the camera because I just don't have time to break up my day once I get started. I have to take advantage of my motivation and get the work done while I am in the mood for it. No matter what we do though, the field is growing taller by the minute, I'm still mowing every two days between the rains and I am trying my best to focus on one project at a time.

Around 7pm last night it sure looked interesting in the western skies. I turned around and Heidi was gone, out of sight, left, right, in the front yard, next to the southern bank ... nowhere. So I took off on the path in the field and when I got to the back, straight ahead ... she wasn't there, no sign of her.

I veered left following the path that parallels the edge of the field and woods as if Stella and I were taking our afternoon walk. Then JUST BARELY I see the tip of a white tail moving left to right. It was her and her white tipped tail was doing exactly what it is designed to do ... help find a basset hound in the field when they are hunting. I'm serious about that.

I didn't want her to see me because I wanted to see how far she would go. She was taking her time sniffing and investigating different spots along the path but never walking off the path. I stayed around 30 yards behind her the whole way. She walked as far as she normally would with Stella and I, when she usually lets us walk on and she stays behind.

It looked like the same exact area. About that time SHE TURNED AROUND !!! She was heading home and I didn't want her to see me. So I trotted to the house, went inside to grab the camera for her return entrance into the yard. I could see her white tail tip moving through the field

She stood there for a few minutes before she figured out where I was and then came running. I could not believe that she came to me inside to let me know she wanted to go outside, only to take off on her own walk while I was looking at the weird skies.

>This morning Stella was ready to walk but still heading out to the north side of the yard

Well I have to get back to the next listed task. Like I said, we will not be around much but will post some photos when I can.

Very busy times here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Heidi's Alive And Well

Yes Heidi appears before the camera but that picture was from two weeks ago. That day I glanced out the living room window and didn't see her. Looked out the window of the computer room into the backyard and didn't see her. Nor was she along the bank on the south side. About the time I started to walk outside I looked out the bedroom window and there she was. This photo was taken through a screen window, so slightly dark.

You can see color is increasing by the day. That field will be completely yellow by the time they plow the field. The dirt area you see is where it was flooded just last week. Based on photos from this day last year, they are running a week behind in their planting.

This part of the field is always the tallest of the 7 acres. Partly because that is the lowest part of the field and but it is helped by bloodhound fertilizer over the winter months.

She had already hydrated herself before we came outside as usual but today decided some wet grass was needed before she attempted any kind of aerobic activity.

Perfect weather this morning minus the gnats that bothered me. Mid 60's slightly overcast and no wind.

Stella's slow stroll begins.

She will walk at her pace and her pace only. It's up to me what I want to do but she is always in control of this walk, both in the morning and afternoon. I am only around to take photos of it, blog about it all under her supervision.

You can see how fast the grass is growing. They will not cut and bale it until late June or early July. Eventually I will barely see her when she is off the path.

I tried once again this morning to take the 'old' way home but she wasn't listening to me. She kept walking on her path as if she didn't hear a word. Again, it was up to me which way I was going to go.

I think you can tell that she knows she always wins.

I like letting that corner of the yard grow wild like it use to be all over the north section of the yard. It should help a little on the rain flow and soil erosion.

I don't have to say anything because you know once you see this picture the morning walk is officially over.

I wasn't sure what the plan was for this afternoon when I saw neither hound wanted to do much after their lunch. It wasn't an hour later when Heidi wanted to go outside. I snuck around the north side of the house to take some photos of her. I was able to walk up to her and take photos at will as she was very cooperative today.

It is another beautiful day here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.