The Hounds On A Late Walk

It was barely an hour after the last post when Sadie is at the doorway giving me the 'stare down' wanting something. They hounds had fresh filtered water in their bowls so it wasn't that. They knew it wasn't time to eat. They had been out a couple of times since the last post but just stood staring at me.

They were bored ... and I was bored enough that I was almost starting to go back through older blog posts to edit them and change the justification from left to full.

It was time for a walk ... even in the danger zone of seeing potential deer at this time of night ... not quite 7pm. With daylight savings time it wasn't going to get dark for another hour. I doubt with the overcast clouds the full moon will be seen tonight.

So I grabbed the camera, Sadie and Stella became excited and off we went.

It was strange to see Stella lagging so far behind from the very start. I'll not describe what she is doing and most likely eating. Still bothers me.

Sadie and I were almost to the first corner where we veer right and Stella was barely in the camera view finder. Then .... she came sprinting.

I was well aware of the time and knew I had to be very observant looking ahead for any kind of deer movement. During this time of night I have seen 3-5 deer jump out here at the corner and I have seen up to more than 10 standing at the bush line looking at the house. 

So my radar had to be in tune just like the hounds already were with their tails upright and curled. They were both onto something.

About this point in time Sadie becomes almost frantic with what she smells. The photos don't show how she was moving in different directions ... then she turns a sharp right into Stella's favorite area ... that is Sadie in the very far corner.

I was happy to see that both hounds came in my direction when called. Stella had found one of the spots where the deer have jumped into the bushes and over a small fence when they have seen us in previous walks last year. I am pretty sure she walked into the bushes to the fence just to double check the scent.

After running at full speed a couple of times on this walk, both hounds were happy to head home ... yet, there were a few more places in the open field they had to check out.

By the time we returned it was dark enough I guess, that the automatic flash decided to get in on the action.

You didn't think I was going to end my day with just one hound walk did you? If really felt good to get that 2nd walk of the day in for the hounds, they were sound to sleep minutes after coming back inside.

It will be books and maybe some blog edits for the rest of the night, here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Wednesday Zapped All Energy

I'm not sure who suggested it first but soon after I mowed half the backyard and just a small corner of the front yard .. a siesta wasn't too far behind. The hounds didn't have a lot of energy either after their lunch, even Heidi. Then while I mowed the yard, Sadie and Stella never moved out of the yard but just watched my every move.

I think it was Heidi who finally turned toward the house and said "it's a great day for a siesta".

It's interesting how the photos for Heidi turned out. She was wagging her tail the whole time non-stop, yet that was not caught on camera. 

The winds are picking up speed, the clouds are dark but the radar shows no rain anywhere around us. 

That's the danger of retirement living ... things can change in an instant from being productive to in a deep state of sleeping in the middle of the afternoon. I knew it was dangerous when I "took the job" and am willing to accept all responsibilities for my actions.

It's all good here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Sadie Wants A Different Routine

I guess the daylight savings time routine has set in with the hounds. Of course the 70° threshold determines when and how long Heidi goes and stays outside. Sadie and Stella like all kinds of weather and all kinds of temperatures ... "just let me outside".

What's the routine?  Same as always with a few minor changes I mentioned yesterday. Sadie is becoming more demanding, wanting to go on the "daily walk" practically every time she goes outside. 

Now she has influenced Stella to whine to help convincing me it's a good time to take a walk all the time. That is one thing they will not get her way. What happened to the days of letting them out and they roamed the field at their pace every morning or afternoon?

I could feel the air was a little warmer this morning as I took the daily photo of the field across the highway. It was strange to see overcast skies when it looked like a forecast of sunshine all week. Still, no complaints .. winter is over here in 'the tropics'.

After the hounds make their first trip outside, I make coffee and prepare to read the latest blog updates on my sidebar, check out some news, sports, and answer any emails I received overnight. During this time the hounds are sound to sleep, both bloodhounds sleeping with Heidi.

Usually around 10am or just as I finish my coffee, Sadie lets me know it's time for their morning walk. Heidi checks the temps and doesn't move if it's not 70° or above ... at least in the mornings. 

As we step outside this morning I glance at the thermometer and see it's just a few notches below 60°, that's a nice change. It looks like rain is near. Feels like rain is near but I find out later there is no rain around us for 500 miles. It will be a good time to mow part of the yard this afternoon, where it is growing faster than other parts of the yard. The thunderstorms will be here later tonight. 

Stella took off to take the lead like she was on some sort of mission. As she moved inside the bush line I could tell she had found something interesting to eat. It's still a bad habit they both have that I cannot get use to, so I turn my head and continue to walk.

A fresh piece of missing bark on this tree limb looks to me the deer have been in the area. That tree limb was blown down one winter when we had a small tornado pass through in the month of February.

Stella wasn't there long before she is running to catch Sadie. Neither are stopping to check out different spots. They seem to be tracking but more like a brief fly by. As I make the turn to veer right, the winds pick up with a slight chill.

As I turn to head to the halfway point, Stella comes charging past me and heads in the direction of her 'no fly' zone. Luckily by the time I got near the turning point, she heard me saying 'hey' or 'come on' ... and came running.

It was uneventful on the way back. They walked together most of the time, waited for me a few times to catch up and ended up walking so close to me to the house that I did not have the distance between them and me to get anymore photos.

A little change up ... did all my writing today first and then added the photos. I believe it is easier and faster to load all the photos first, since I will not have to read and pick and choose the photos separately based on what I am writing about.  {note:  it is much easier and faster to load all the photos first then write between the photos.}

As usual Sadie and Stella are sound to sleep and will be that way until they tell me it's time for lunch. You would not believe how quiet this house gets with 3 hounds inside. It's like no one is here.

A relaxed Wednesday so far in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.