From The Patio This Weekend

Not much to say tonight. I pulled the Nikon off the shelf to take the photos for this post. That is the Aerostat that Biden grounded in December. It was back in the air for a short time on Saturday. Maybe a test run if he changes his mind on using cameras on the border. I had a lot of different animals pass the house in back today and you can see it was a pretty laidback Sunday for the hounds and the dog.

New Blog URL

 

Some of you already know about this new blog url. Instead of 'deactivating" the blog where I could bring it back after making some changes, I hit the button called "permanently delete", where you don't get it back. So I started this new blog with an appropriate url "bhoundsandadog" instead of the old "bhounds3". I am slowly getting this blog designed the same as the old one. Before deleting the blog I did download all the files. Noticed when I imported that file to this blog it was missing pages, comments and the first four years when I talked mostly about RVs.

The Hounds Enjoy Their Sunny Sunday

I was curious what my hip would feel like this morning after riding two days in a row after taking eight days off the bike with soreness in the lower back and hip. I was thinking I'd ride for the third day in a row but it's never a bad thing to ride for two days and day off in between. It was cold as I opened the door to let the hounds out for the first time this morning. By the time I had their breakfast kibble poured, they were standing at the door wanting back inside. I could tell it was going to be a good day today.

I did my usual morning coffee while looking over the websites I visit daily. The hounds sleep next to my desk while I do this and if we can wait for just a couple of hours before our morning walk, it warms up quite a bit. This morning we were out the door at 8:39am, a little later than normal and too late if it were a weekday but perfect time on a Sunday.

It was almost warm enough to go riding when we got back. As you see the hounds took up their normal sunny positions as I tried to decide if I wanted to ride that early or wait an hour for the temps to get just a little warm. A few degrees more would make all the difference in the world.

By the time that hour wait was finished the winds had picked up, strong enough that I was feeling them sitting in my patio chair. The warm sun felt great on my face and I knew I wasn't going to pass this up. Cool air, hot sun ... but too windy to ride. When I say windy I mean any flag is blowing straight out with ripples and if a plant is thin it's bent over from the wind.

While the hounds slept I took some photos and enjoyed the sunshine. I have a couple of different once I don't think I've ever had on the blog.

Looks content, sound to sleep but if I were to leave and keep her in the backyard, she is now digging to get out. More than ever.

Heidi might look like she is awake but she is in a deep sleep. I noticed when I downloaded this picture the lump the has been there for years on her year seems like it has grown or opened. Six different vets over the years have looked, felt and said it didn't need to be removed. I'll look at it closer. We might be going the vet on Monday for that. From this angle it doesn't look good.

People have always commented how big Stella or Sadie's paws were ... well here's a close up to get a better look at them.

With a hot sun and cool breeze ... this is Heidi's favorite daytime spot.

Stella thought she was going to sleep up in the corner of the fence where the shade is. After standing there for a few minutes looking lost, she decided she would wander back over to the 'dirt spot' that she continues to dig out whether I fill it in with rock or leave it bare.

That hot sun moved behind a cloud for only a couple of minutes.

Stella thinking on what to do ....

She never did lay down.

Heidi heard me talking to myself and thought she heard the word Bisbee. I left the patio door open so she could come and go as she pleased while I was gone. Stella spent time in her crate with the blinds closed in the bedroom. When she knows I am leaving or going bike riding she walks into the crate on her own before I can get there.

It was a nice drive over to Bisbee. It was a pretty quiet town for being a couple of weeks before Christmas. I found a parking spot right across the street from the bicycle shop. On the way back for the first time I took the "southern" route back home. It parallels the border a few miles north before curving later on near the Huachuca mountains. With too many cars I like to exercise them every once in a while.

By mid-afternoon I was feeling a siesta was right around the corner. I think I might head over to the Mall Theater tonight to watch Ford vs Ferrari.

Actually a pretty lazy day here in the "Wild West" today.

Hounds Relax On Sunday

Sunday afternoon after their lunch kibble all the hounds went outside to enjoy another great day in 'the tropics'. It was cool enough yet warm to sit outside for as long as we wanted ... so we did. When Heidi walks toward the backyard on her own I know she wants to spend some time soaking up the rays.


Each of them sniffed around to make sure it was safe while identifying most likely, the cat that visits during the night while the hounds and I sleep. I've seen two different cats cross this area since March. I guess that is why my mouse traffic is nonexistent this summer.

It didn't take Stella longer than 2 minutes to literally 'flop' on the ground for a short siesta under the sun, one of her most favorite things to do.

Once she heard the small automatic beep of the Nikon when the autofocus locked in she raised her head as if to ask me what was going on ... since she was trying to sleep.

She tried it again.

Sadie rarely lays down outside. Her nose will lead her to the field, always active and always into something ... unless she is inside enjoying the AC, then she will lay down to sleep.

Heidi moved into the same spot she always takes. It just past 'Winston's Patio'. She lifted her nose a few times to enjoy the breeze from the southwest, but never laid her head down. She just sat there enjoying the sunshine. What is really strange, since the Yews have been removed she never goes to the front yard. That is where she would go all the time to dump her tanks and sit in the sunshine.

Just as I predicted, Sadie moved out to the field ... I decided to turn my chair so I could get the perfect angle with sun to work on my 'farmers tan'. I don't so that for long but just enough to give me some color so I can show myself I have a little more than just a pulse, that I am alive.

I use to live on the beach in Carlsbad California when I worked 3rd shift in a night audit/computer job ... all on purpose, so I could spend all day at the beach. I use to go through 7-9 layers of skin on my nose. I can't remember if the sunscreen with a rating was invented in the late 1970's. I remember the white zinc oxide paste was the choice for blocking the sun.

I glanced through the camera lens again and noticed that Sadie was getting bored. She already had a walk, a nap and two meals by noon. It's a fast paced life being a bloodhound.

I thought I heard the sound of snoring ... sure enough, Stella had entered the dream state of her sleep. She was knocked out.

One thing that Heidi cannot stand ... flies. Whether they are inside or outside, she will never let them get away from bothering her. In her younger years, I've seen her nose dive after them trying to jam the fly with her nose up again the baseboard of the wall.

Sadie is trying to decide if she is really going to lay down in the yard. She never does that. Stella actually taught her now nice it was just to relax a couple of years ago. Still, Sadie is going to put some deep thought into her decision before she does something that drastic.

Ah, not quite 80° ... nice breeze from the southwest and a warm sun relaxing those muscles. Heidi is enjoying this.

Finally, Sadie does lay down but that doesn't mean she will sleep ... her nose still finds plenty of scent for her to think about while she lays there.

Once Stella woke up and sat up I knew all of us were about to go back inside ... sunbathing was going to be over soon. Once she gets too hot all she thinks about is air conditioning to sleep in ... and that's back inside.

Sadie acted as if she didn't want to leave.

But with her tongue starting to hang out she also knew it was getting pretty warm under that thick coat of hair.

Heidi was willing to do whatever we decided. She didn't care either way. I was going to leave her out there by herself, which she likes to do at times ... but when Sadie, Stella and I walked for the door ... here came Heidi.

That was it for their afternoon. They slept inside for the rest of the day and prepared themselves for Sunday Night baseball on ESPN.

One thing about the hound bred in case you have never had one ... 95% of the time, they do nothing but this. Both breeds are quiet yet curious. That curiosity is what keeps you on your toes as a hound owner, especially when they are puppies.

They loved their Sunday afternoon here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

A Relaxing Morning With The Hounds

The stainless steel shield was a good idea, otherwise I would not have tried it. I've seen that same design inside barns above fans. I just didn't like the way it looked outside in the open, that could be seen all the time.

Today I feel this same way and am glad I took down the thermometer even after it had been hanging there forever. I was able to take a glance on Weatherbug online to check the temp before our walk ... that's good enough for me. That wall now looks better since the paint dried.

The hounds slept in late this morning after their breakfast ... actually I did which caused them to. Yet they sleep during the same time period every day after eating. After a cup of coffee we headed out for the walk ... wet field and all.

I knew from this pose of Stella she was going to be on her own pace again this morning since I am pretty sure that she will always come running before being left behind. I didn't call her to come in any of these photos.

You have to look close to see her tail.

Her first sprint of the day.

Try to lay your ear on the back of your head like this.

Up near the area where I think the deer hangout, it got real interesting when I saw her cock her head and look with her ears perked up. From the way she was acting I was sure there was possible deer movement in the gully.

She decided to head to her other favorite place. Sadie in the meantime checked out a couple of strong scents along the path we were walking.

This is Sadie if you can't tell the two apart.

This is Stella due to the black on her tail.

Almost home.

I think the wall looks pretty good after the paint dried and the 'nesting' thermometer wasn't around. I am curious if there was ever something in that one space where it looks like it was filled in with a separate piece of plywood or was it another place the Amish pieced something together not to waste any wood? They pieced things together in separate pieces at times throughout the house, inside and outside.

Maybe I'll move out the FJ and once again check out that light and see if I can turn that bottom piece out and install a new light. I can't remember today but I think I have failed trying to do that in the past.

With the Weather Underground showing I have until 2pm Monday before it starts to rain again, I may mow my yard later this afternoon. The back needs it and it's only been a couple of days. I hear a neighbor mowing so that's all the permission I need to mow on Sundays here in the bible belt.

It's cold today yet sunny here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.