Hounds Excited About Election Day

A cold wet hound nose woke me up as it was bed level high nudging my hand while Stella stood next to the bed. That is the normal routine most of the time.

As my eyes opened I could see it was very very dark outside ... and Sadie was whining just a little, telling me she needed to go outside.

So the day started early and we stayed up after the initial trip outside. Remember that I am a sports junkie and actually have never been into politics that much. That was until this year. I headed down to my local fire station to vote and was in for a shock where a line went out to the street before 7am.

I returned home, the hounds were reading to start their walk and even that was going to be an hour or more earlier ... it is Election Day, so why not. Coffee had already been consumed, it was light enough and time to go.

By the time we got to the first turn, Stella had found something and she never left. I didn't even bother trying to call her to leave ... Sadie and I continued our walk.

As Sadie and I walked along the back edge of the field, Stella was still in that same position up by the first turn.

Sadie looking back for her friend.

About the time we turned to head home, Stella came running toward us and then both were ready to head home. It was nice walking this time of day.

While Sadie trotted home, anxious to get back inside for her nap ... Stella moved back to her original spot and wouldn't move. I had to tell here we were going home, before she would take off in our direction.

As Stella and I headed home, Sadie had reversed her path and came sprinting at Stella ... for the first time in a long time, they started playing in the field and not waiting to get to the backyard.

It's funny how they go from intense playing to stopping immediately. They have never been mean with each other, have never growled ... just good clean wrestling.

I think both were anxious to get back inside and start their morning siestas until their lunch is served. I am trying to get back to a 12 noon feeding time and then keep that the same year round. So the hounds would not be changing their lunch times just because they tell us we have to change time.

I am going to go ahead and post this early today. Rain is predicted around 4pm but I hope to go out about noon or 1pm and finish raking my leaves. There are not many leaves left so it shouldn't take long.

Looking at colder weather later this week in 'the tropics' of southern Indiana.

Hounds Refuse Leaf Duty

With plans to replenish the food supply while the leaves dried from the morning dew, then raking and burning them in the afternoon ... I knew it was going to be a busy day and one where I would probably need supervision.

Before either of those two tasks were started I decided to get the first walk in around 9:30am (new time). Is anyone else looking at the clocks now and automatically adding an hour to tell yourself what the real time should be? Except those people in Hawaii and Arizona. Well I am .... I got up too early so I knew the day had not lined up correctly with the moon and stars for today's leaf project.

As usual the hounds took off and as usual when I lose an hour sleep my pictures are not the sharpest or the clearest ... so a few of the pictures I took and would have included in this post, didn't make it out of the editing room.

It's beginning to bother me that Stella has decided she would rather eat everything in the field instead of getting her running in. She was even scratching at a fresh pile of mud in hopes of finding some dry powered dirt to eat ... Remember when I told you the day had not lined up correctly, this is a sign.

While Sadie moved along the back edge of the field alone, I had to go back and talk Stella into moving away from the 'feast of the day' and join us. She has almost won "The Most Stubborn Hound I've Every Owned Award".

She sprinted up to Sadie, more or less running away from my lecture.

She then turned right around and headed for her 'no fly zone' and ignored me while Sadie and I continued home.

I decided I'd take a seat and let the hounds come home at their own speed. It was slow and slower ... I reminded myself once again that the day was not lined up to be a smooth one ... so be aware.

Not only in this field but on my way to the store I saw another farmer doing the same technique to his field. I can't remember ever seeing them do this to prepare their field for the winters. They might disc some but this has large rakes moving through the dirt instead of plowing.

I'm a little late posting tonight but the leaves I raked in the front yard, the north side yard and along the fence line kicked my ass today. I ended up taking a short siesta for a couple of hours after raking and still did not feel any better. It's amazing what the movement of raking leaves can do as far as a good exercise.

Rain is forecasted for tomorrow, so the few leaves I have left in the back will take a couple of days to dry out and I should be able to finish on Thursday, unless the weatherman is wrong with this prediction. I need a day off so I am hoping for a little rain.

I almost forgot to tell you the store of the hounds revolting against the Leaf Project 2016. Last year I had the team to supervise if you remember. Click here to see the supervision team. Heidi of coarse refused for the 2nd year in a row but did spend time outside today roaming both the front and back yards.

They didn't stay nearby while I raked. Instead of enjoying the 7 acres behind them in the field, that wasn't good enough for them either. The hounds can't see that well but they did notice the neighbor had hung her clothes out on the line to dry. There they went, slowly sneaking off while I raked the leaves. She was not outside but they had to approve her work instead of supervising mine.

That left me no choice but to put them inside while I raked the front yard. Otherwise they bark and howl if I tether them in the back while I am in the front. I can only assume with the lack of leadership from Winston this year, The Leaf Project Team 2016 was not a true team effort and a total failure.

Otherwise ... another great day in 'the tropics' of southern Indiana.

Time Change Bothers The Hounds

Being retired the change to Daylight Savings Time doesn't really bother me too much. I do enjoy the extra sunlight in the summer but with that brings darkness earlier in the winters.

It does the bother the hounds though. I had not even finished half of my first cup of coffee when I glance over at Sadie sitting in her 'pose' and the stare down telling me it's time for a walk. The time change will have Heidi barking and Stella howling today an hour early for lunch ... Indiana for many years never changed time.

During one of the times I got up during a commercial while watching football Saturday I noticed the farmer had moved his combine, tractor to the field across the highway. Since both fields had been harvested I assumed they were there just to be parked.

Last spring they spent days working on a broken tractor ... I am not sure what kind it is and I am too lazy to look it up, but looks like they bought a nice replacement.

I forgot to mention that Sadie also gave me that look she has when she wants to walk ... only this picture was one of the first pictures taken, even before I had my first cup of coffee.

While reading the internet this morning I heard them start up the equipment. Since it was colder than I liked this morning I took these pictures standing in my kitchen, looking out through the carport. It looks like they had just a small amount of soy beans left for the year. One last drop I guess.

By 9:45 am (new time) we were off on our first walk of the day. Only today I wimped out and changed the cargo shorts for a pair of jeans. I can already tell that I am not ready for what's ahead in weather this winter. Hopefully these 60's can hang around as long as possible.

With the grass and leaves being really wet, I once again told myself, pulling those unused hiking shoes out of my closet a few weeks ago was one of my better decisions. No wet feet, especially when it's in the 40's, is a good thing.

Maybe it was the new scents of the day or the cooler temps, but Sadie and Stella had an extra bounce to their step ... or was their increased energy due to the time change?

I couldn't keep up with them during most of the walk. Nor did they wait for me. They had places to go and things to check out.

It is when Stella gets into this position that she is oblivious to everything around her, every word spoke to her ... everything. I don't but I would almost have to grab her collar to get her to move ... instead I just keep walking because I know she will eventually head our way.

Her and Sadie bolted around me and took off along the back edge of the field.

I knew by this point and by this picture, they were headed for the 'no fly zone' ... meaning "Out of Bounds".

They seem to respond to the word "hey" if I yell that. They stopped, looked up at me and headed somewhat in my direction, at least the opposite way than what they were doing.

With them to busy exploring their latest scent, I was able to catch up to them and told them it was time to go home ... they both headed that direction.

By the time we returned to the house, their noses were cold and wet, their ears were wet and they declared it another successful walk.

It was just like clockwork around 11am. At first I thought Stella was just letting me know we were pretty good friends, as she slid her nose under my arm while I was trying to type on the computer. After a couple of minutes, she decided to start howling to let me know it was lunch time. We waited until the 'new noon'.

For some reason I wasn't in the mood for NFL football this afternoon so most of the day was spent reading books, a short siesta and some time outside without the camera, enjoying the weather.

Maybe it's the cooler temps in the mornings we are now having or the feel of winter is coming ... but I have added a lot of the blogs to the list on the left side that I had deleted over the past month while trying to downsize that list. I assume that some of you use that list as a way to read other blogs without having to bookmark them yourself.

It's a good ten day forecast for 'the tropics' of southern Indiana ... I can live with it.