Heidi Ran This Morning

The hounds slept in late today and Heidi finally woke everyone up a little past 8:30am. No, I don't feel sorry for all that traffic flying by my house on the way to their jobs.

For a change it was slightly overcast, cooler temps and heavy dew on the yard.

The grass looked like it had grown a foot just overnight. I'll be mowing at least the backyard later today. As I looked at Heidi, for some reason her skin had exploded with redness and irritation. Then I found a couple of hot spots where she had been chewing over night.

While the hounds walked around I glanced over at my neighbors house that has been sitting empty for almost two years. One of the major commercial property owners in this small rural town bought it in July 2014 and put it up for sale a week later. It's listing prices is about 30% too high.

I've mowed my yard I think 5 times this year, that yard has not been mowed yet. It's becoming a dandelion forest. He does have someone that mows all of his commercial property yards .. not sure what they are doing here, maybe it's a tax write off? I would think if I was serious about selling a house I would keep the yard looking immaculate and wash off the mold on the north side of the house ... but that's just me.

After we came back outside for our 2nd trip of the day ... Sadie and Stella went on strike ... they were not going to walk or move until I took them for their morning walk in the field. It's amazing how their energy and expressions changed as I came back outside with Heidi.

At first I thought she was not going on the walk. When I asked, she ran from the kitchen to the living room and hopped up on the couch. I did the same thing I've done since Saturday afternoon ... attach the retractable leash to her collar even while she is sitting or laying down.

By the time we hit the edge of the yard and field, I took off the leash and she was off leading the pack for the walk.

When I thought about leaving her behind like yesterday so she could walk her own pace, she came running and moved back up to the front.

They were all interested in seeing the deer they saw yesterday. A lot of exploring but couldn't come up with anything positive. They kept looking back in that direction as we walked on.

I am not sure why Heidi has these hot spots ... one on her right paw and a bad one on the back of her right front leg where she has been scratching with her rear right leg. We are on Day 4 of the dog food change to grain free Earthborn Great Plains Feast.

Could it be a reaction to the grass she has been walking and rolling in the past 3 days? I should have my new ointment tomorrow in the mail. It's anti-fungus and anti-bacterial. All the other creams, salves I've used this past year were more of a moisturizer with zinc oxide.

She had her extremely long nails trimmed yesterday and they are still long. Still she must be feeling better because she ran more today on this walk than she has ran in over a year. If we can get the skin cleared up with the Wounded Warrior Ointment and get some anti-fungus shampoo that does not have oatmeal in it ... plus add a little weight ... she will be back to where she was. I am just happy to see her outside getting some exercise and enjoying the field.

Stella checked out her normal spots ... she goes to them every walk, twice per day. I don't even call her anymore. I let her do whatever she does and know she will eventually start sprinting toward us to get caught up.

The return home was going pretty well until Heidi heard a woodpecker. That stopped all of them for a short time ... and then Sadie and Stella decided they would go back to the scene of the crime yesterday and see if that deer showed up.

With the temps down to 71° and a forecast of cloudy we will get a break from the hot sunny weather that I like so much. I need to find a maid ... I'm losing interest again in those housekeeping activities that come with being single.

I have tried something different on my photos. I do all my editing in the program that Apple changed in may 2015 from iPhoto to Photos. Sharpness has always been my complaint since that that change. Yet they look great on my Wordpress blog and on my Flickr account.

I found it last year but haven't really used it until the photos yesterday and today. Let me know if you notice any difference in the quality of the photos on this blog. I had to add a 'sharpness' to the 'adjustments' edit icon. I quit using the 'enhance' adjustment unless the photo is too dark. I never liked that bright green grass ... it looks normal now.

It's another rough day in retirement here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana ... the pace is a killer.

An Normal Walk To End The Day

I guess after this morning's excitement it was inevitable the rest of the say would be anti-climatic. After all normal days are slow and laidback where we live. Plus, the hounds need time to recover before their next all out springs.

The rest of the day was sitting outside in the sun soaking up some rays. With all three hounds laying in the grass, Stella sleeping, I thought it possible I might be able to cut Sadie's toenails. She must smell the clipper because as soon as I touched her foot, she got up and sprinted to the field.

Heidi laid on her back and let me cut four paws worth plus a couple of dew clothes. Stella also laid and raised her paws up for easy access for cutting.

With games of Mahjong that were over 3:30 times I tried to complete them below the 3:30 mark. I made some in the 3:15 range. By late afternoon I was thinking it would have to be Chinese food for dinner ... downtown for the buffet.

Not until I opened the door did I realize it was a Monday and they don't have the buffet on Mondays. Instead I filled my stomach with szechaun pork and white rice, three egg rolls.

I was planning waiting for the temps to drop a little before we took off on the afternoon walk but Sadie seemed anxious so off we went in 86° temps.

Again Heidi was not enthused about walking until she almost got to the field and then started trotting through the field while I tried getting her leash unhooked on the run.

Off in the distance I saw a "hawk" take off from ground level and of course the bloodhounds thought they could catch it ... that running this morning took it out of them and they didn't last long ... Heidi didn't attempt to run, just kept walking.

Either they smelled deer or it was "wishful thinking" as all three turned and looked toward the wooded area on the left side by the neighbors house just to double check the deer from this morning had not returned.

Major disappointment for them, nothing was there ... the rest of the walk was slow .. slow ... and slower.

Heidi led the way home but spent most of her walk with her nose to the ground and her ears dragging the ground to keep the scent in front of her nose.

I am thinking that daily exercise by walking might help Heidi rebuild her muscle mass and help in the process of putting on weight. She was happy to get home and celebrated by a sprint inside the house, nose diving into the carpet to scratch the sides of her nose.

Sadie and Stella both headed for a fresh supply of filtered water.

I caught this sunset sequence last night ... it's looking the same tonight. Anyway I like how the sun can reach from in back of the field across the highway and reflect off of my wooded area by the yard.

It was another great day here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.