The Sunshine Returns

Like I said earlier this morning, the weather in Indiana can change in a split second, so the weather men/women have a tough job.

Consequently after going out a few times this afternoon and mostly under a real light rain, by 4:30 the skies were on the way to clearing up. Sun was trying to shine in the NW. The temps were nice, all of the water that I had surrounding the house this morning was gone. Everything is growing fast and is really green.

Checking out the wunderground site for my local weather, no rain is noted for the next 7 days ... so the rain moved out of the area about 6 hours early. One of our first trips out right after lunch, Stella and Sadie thought it was okay to go for a walk, as they stood there in a light sprinkle of rain. They like four things a LOT ... food - sleep - daily walks - rides in the FJ.

By 4:30pm they wanted to check out the ground for me, although I thought I heard their paws squishing in soft wet ground as they checked out their field. I could tell how wet it was by the way they tiptoed in certain spots.

Sadie wanted to ask me again for a walk but we never go when the ground is really saturated. Snow yes, rain no.

She is persistent ... this is the same look she gives Heidi when she finds her in the big chair in the living room. Sometimes Heidi ignores her, curls up and sleeps, other times Heidi feels the visual pressure to get off the chair and does, heads for the bedroom to sleep in there.

Stella wanted to give it one last chance to go on the walk ... giving me the okay sign. That look right there is one of her begging looks ... please, please, please.

They finally realized the walk was called for today. I expect it will be nice enough tomorrow to two different walks.

My friend in Chicago has kept me informed throughout today about the weather up there. We both want to see the Cubs/Reds game tonight in Chicago. Although she lives much closer to Wrigley field than I do ... we will both be watching the game on tv.

I've spent most of the day reading, reading and reading. The urge to return to an online sales business has been getting stronger and stronger. So I've had to read a lot of information to catch up on any changes in procedures, look at new sources and talk to my teacher from 2005 who has been in online sales since 1999. We have talked on a regular basis even when I was out of the business.

No decision has been made, just doing some research.

I was also looking around on Flickr today. I follow just 3 people but one feature on that program with any photo that is available for the public ... you can see what camera they used, click on that camera link and then see every public photo on Flickr taken with that specific camera. Pretty interesting to see the graph in the upper right hand corner showing how many photos were taken by that camera and uploaded into Flickr for the year.

I saw that the Nikon D3200 had a large decrease curve in the number of photos taken. I wonder if that is because other users were/have the same issues I've had with mine? Or is it because less photos were uploaded into the Flickr program?

It's been a good day here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Non Stop Rain

It started raining again last night after the afternoon storms ... it has not stopped since. Consequently the hounds have not been really enthused about their outdoor explorations.

Heidi did her immediate right to stay under the roof overhang and behind the yews. Sadie and Stella stopped to analyze the situation with rain coming down that the camera didn't pick up. Stella couldn't go under overhang in back like she normally does because that is flooded. Sadie ... didn't matter, out to the yard she went.

When the rain puddles in this one spot that means my gutter system is over worked, even with a clean route to the downspouts and nothing blocking the downspout entrance. It will come right over the edge of the gutter.

Another sure sign my 6" dia, corex underground drainage system is over capacity ... it runs parallel to the house, away from the house along the edge of the driveway and over the embankment underground, left to right.

As I turned the corner it was confirmed we have had a lot of rain. My drainage system runs along that edge between the river rock and grass. Yet this is not even close to the worse amount of rain I have seen here.

The record was having a 'river' running down the driveway, the culvert filled and overflowing across the highway. The fields across the highway were completely under water with some parts of the highway flooded out and one lane closed.

The  forecast is for rain the rest of the day and tonight. Some time around 10pm it is suppose to end and then bring us 7 straight days of sunshine and temps getting as high as 76° ... but that can change in a split-second in Indiana.

It's a wet one today in 'the tropics" of Southern Indiana.

A Good Sports Day For An Addict

It wasn't long after this morning's post that I glanced to my right while on the computer and there sat two bloodhounds in stone silence, giving me the eye ... it was time for them to be fed. As usual it took longer to pour out the measured cups of kibble into 3 different bowls than it took for all three dogs to eat it. 

Heidi made her one and only appearance outside but unlike yesterday it was one of her quick out and back in trips and she called it a day. The weather was nice to get a walk in and Stella was so anxious about it, she took off running from the start.

One every walk Sadie will 'escort' me through the first part of the walk by trying to grab my hand with her mouth, similar to holding hands I guess. She soon realized that Stella might get something she would want so she left me and took off sprinting to catch up with Stella.

They stay ahead of me for the 1st part of the walk and then fell way behind. I didn't yell for them to come at all today ... I let them go at their own speed and I only stopped my walk when I took the photos.

Stella saw that I was not joking around and was going to leave them ... she came running. She ALWAYS will run following the path that I took, where Sadie always takes the short cut.

On the way, Stella found something else that was interesting ... Sadie and I kept walking, not even looking aback until this running photo was taken.

While Sadie walked to the house right next to me ... she had her exercise for the day ... Stella wandered off and found a 3rd spot that she wasn't going to leave. Once she saw Sadie and I get to the house, she decided she had better get home ... of course ... she took her own path.

They were in for a surprise. Heidi didn't want to go, but the bloodhounds were as excited about going for a ride in the FJ as much as they do going for a walk. Dairy Queen for lunch and back in time to start watching the Reds game at 1:10pm.

I know it's really really early in the MLB season but when your team is predicted to lose 100/162 games by the tv "experts" .. then starting the season 5-1 is nice.

By the time the baseball game was over ... it was a channel flip to CBS to watch the last 9-13 holes of The Masters. It was so nice and sunny in Augusta Ga that I wasn't paying attention to what was taking place outside my window ... until I saw lightning really close and a huge bang of thunder soon after.

Stella jumped from sleeping on the couch onto her feet, her ears back, tail between her legs and pacing in no specific direction. The storm was loud outside and something I never expected. While it stormed I was just hoping I would not lose my DirecTv reception, not only for the golf I was watching ... but I was also taping the bicycle race on NBCsports - Paris to Roubaix, racing over the cobblestones.

Although the storm was intense, I never lost reception. Stella went back to sleep as soon as I assured her the thunder was not inside the house. Heidi and Sadie never woke up.

So for a sports junkie like me, the day turned out pretty well ... I still have the bicycle race to watch.

Probably warmer outside than it is inside my house right now here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Hounds Are Slow This Morning

As you can tell from this mornings photos, the world has stopped here in 'the tropics'. The temps are up into the mid 50's, its not raining so that is good.

Maybe it's the overcast skies that laid out the energy levels for today???  I do know one thing and it's just not me but Sadie and Stella also ... today has turned into a slow-motion movie. They are taking the morning off so far ... but I know there is plenty of time left today to rally and make something of ourselves. What that might be is hard to imagine as I have my 2nd cup of coffee 3+ hours later than normal.

The first trip out every morning this is what they do ... not all they do .. but you understand that somethings they do are really not for public viewing. So these are the before and after shots. I have to wonder though, what is it that makes them so interested with their noses to the ground?

Is there really that much animal traffic at night in the field while we sleep that gives them new scents to smell? Or is it just that one cat that I saw months ago sprinting in front of me while I stood outside at 1:30am.

I think as you can see, they are not really energized this morning nor have I been. I've been back to that Apple site looking at comparisons between the new iPhone 5se and the older 6s. Yes ... I am considering going back to an iPhone for the camera, the GPS, a library of "notes" that substitute for my memory and a few other features. Notice I said nothing about phone calls ... rarely get them since the world is texting now.

We will get in a walk or two today but it's nearing their lunch time ... I haven't seen nor heard any begging for lunch so that confirms this day is definitely off the earth's axis.

Everyday cannot be exciting here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Late But Still Time For A Walk

Saturday did not turn out as productive as I had planned ... doesn't matter since there is tomorrow. Some say that is not guaranteed but I've been a procrastinator long enough to know that my chances are good.

As usual Heidi made it outside for a short time after their lunch. Her tail was up and wagging as she searched the area but every time I look at those rear hocks I can't help but think those have to be sore. Last month at the vet's I asked that question and was assured they were fine ... after some squeezing, rubbing, inspecting by the vet.

I have to remind myself at time that Heidi's blood work on March 5th was perfect, all systems were operating normal ... 

What you see in those last three photos were the extent of the afternoon. I did some research on online selling. The urge to go back into that type of work hits me at times. All of my suppliers are there waiting for my return. It might happen.

Then I watched a little baseball on tv, had some lunch and then I decided instead of hound maintenance ... a siesta was a much better option. I just didn't plan on that to last all afternoon on a beautiful day. By the time I woke the hounds, it was already past 6pm. The pace of retirement is really rough sometimes.

Sadie not only gave me the look and hopping up and down to go outside but the weather was so nice, but cool, for an early evening hound walk. The lighting for the camera was much better this time of day ... almost 7:30pm.

By the intensity of Sadie and Stella's nose activity I was sure that deer was up ahead and mentally prepared myself for them running off. As they turned the corner on the run I was sure of it.

After they were so far ahead of me I yelled to "come here" and surprise surprise ... they both came sprinting.

After that I kept talking to them to stay close. I didn't feel like having to wait for them on this walk. They did most of the time but even toward the end there is always something they find too interesting to pass up.

Heidi is given the offer to go outside each time Sadie and Stella go out. She is also asked to go on the walk but would rather stay wrapped up in her stack of blankets. I think the warmer temps this time next week will lead her outside more often.

Not much on the agenda tonight ... maybe a movie from my collection or on Directv, I will definitely be starting a new book but haven't decided which one yet and it looks like as I post this, it is going to be a very nice sunset tonight for photos. I'll post them tomorrow or put them over on my Wordpress blog tonight.

A slow but good Saturday here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.