The Hounds Have A Full Day Of Activity

We started our day under overcast skies. It felt like rain was on the way but after checking the radar and Wunderground any storms that we might have were iffy. Stella didn't hesitate in getting a little jogging in this morning a little faster than she has been trotting. Both bloodhounds had total freedom this morning. As long as the grass is short in the field, it's easy to keep track of them.

By the time I finished the walk I knew I was going to get started cutting up and moving those Sycamore tree limbs the utility crew cut down yesterday. I wasn't told that they cut the limbs for free but I have to move what falls to the ground. One guy was stacking them in a pile as they were cut ... it wasn't a bad deal at all since they cut more than I thought they would so I saved a little money by getting the tree trimmed more than I had expected.

This morning I added some anti-inflammatory tablets to Stella's kibble and will give her two more tablets in a few hours when it's 12 hours since the dose this morning. I am out of the detail writing naming meds or supplements after Heidi's experience. I'll just leave it that Stella is going something to help her rear hips and legs.

Again this morning Stella ran past me and tried to catch Sadie. No deer was seen on the horizon today but it was in the 60's early this morning and the hounds just felt like running. Heidi did her exercise on the couch wondering when the AC would kick on automatically. She rolled over on her back looking at me when I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. She knows how to pace herself.

I did write a post with pictures from the tree cutting crew yesterday. I have that schedule to post sometime tomorrow. I have also noted the date we started Stella on the anti-flams so I can tell how long it takes if she shows any improvements. Through all of her weight loss this past winter one thing that has never decreased is her appetite.

Contrary to what my pictures show, there is more colors than the color green around our area ... but not much.

I mentioned the word 'breakfast' on the way back. Stella thought she was getting fed again but I meant I was going to fix my breakfast when we got back, not hers.

Sadie tracked one scent most of the walk and spent most of her time in the far right hand corner. With her that far away I was able to capture some of the morning butterflies with my camera.

Stella met us once again on the return path. She had spent most of her time out in the middle of the lower portion of the field but came trotting when she saw Sadie and I walk past.

Blue skies were showing up from the Southwest ... that was a good sign.

The only white flower I saw the whole walk. It's about 12" away from the edge of the yard.

I had a large pile of tree limbs to cut into shorter pieces and move to my burn pile. I used a pair of loppers and only had to saw a couple of limbs down to size.

It was not as hard as it may look. I was done with everything in less than an hour. Sadie and Stella stayed in the area to supervise. Since we had just walked they had no urge to leave so they stayed in the backyard eating all the fresh dirt pushed up by the yard moles. They must think it's easier for me to mow the yard if those hills of dirt are gone.

The burn pile that I started in the spring is behind and under the new tree limbs. It's straight ahead and mashed down. That is all tree limbs from today and the ones I cut in April on the bank of the driveway. The large green leaves of the Sycamore tree cover the whole pile.

Since these limbs were pretty green I might have to wait for my 'pyro hobby' until next spring, so they will dry out. I have my largest pile of tree limbs that I can remember. If I add the ones I will collect next winter after high winds and storms ... I could be looking at my biggest fire ever. That's exciting. I'll really have to pay close attention to what is going one, otherwise I will have a fire big enough the catch the woods on fire. You can see how high my flames have been by the bare tree limbs of the tree in the center.

Tom made a comment on my post last night about the FJ transaction, that the blue spare tire cover might grow on me. So after the tree moving exercise I put the tire cover back on. I am still not sure I like it. It's too much blue with that in back. Maybe I'll get use to it.

Tell me which one you like ... just out of curiosity ... the one above with the cover or the one below without the cover? I like without the cover.

I brought the hounds out to check my work as usual and the new car cover. I expected at least Stella would initiate the polished blue cover with some fresh bloodhound drool, but she had other plans.

Plus they had been fed between the jobs of moving the tree limbs and putting the cover on. They couldn't wait. I had gone inside for some water and to get the tire cover ... but Heidi started barking for lunch and wouldn't let up. So I stopped what I was doing and fed the hounds.

Sadie didn't care about the tire cover ... she wanted back inside where it was cool.

 Stella didn't care about the tire cover ... she flopped down or fell down again to take a short nap.

Heidi didn't care about the tire cover ... she walked a lap around the house and headed straight to the door when she was finished.

I've replenished my food supply, including extra coffee and the ice tea bags. I'll never run out of coffee again nor coffee filters. A fresh 3qt pitcher of ice tea was made this afternoon. It's refreshing to drink as I watch my Reds team take an early lead every game and then end up losing 2 out of 3 games. Losses have been at a higher rate since the MLB All-Star game ... they have won only 3.

I forgot to tell you about the little test I did yesterday for those that are interested in data usage depending which browser you use. I used Safari for 20 minutes. That is all it took for me to read through my sports pages, the weather, read all updated blogs and my Feedly feed. I used 48Mb, which was bout the same average per minute that I got last week with Safari used for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I then used Google Chrome with its data saver app but missed the 20 minute mark and didn't look up until 22 minutes had past, 2 minutes longer than Safari. I also went back to the exact same websites I did with Safari ... Google Chrome only used 12Mb in that 22 minute period.

Google Chrome wins ... 12Mb compared to Safari's 48Mb in 20 minutes.

The highlight of the day was a yell from the neighbors backyard as I had walked over in that general area to put Stella on the leash. Sadie and I did the whole walk but Stella spent her afternoon walk in the same place as this morning, in the middle of the field.

By the time the hounds explored Gary's freshly mowed backyard while we talked, I ended up taking a bag each of small red potatoes, green beans, huge zucchini squash, and tomatoes ... all from their garden. Gary was also upset about all the mole traffic in his yard, which is manicured compared to mine. He did confirm my thinking was right ... there is nothing we can do to stop them living this close to a field.

I'm sure there was a little more rambling I was going to do but can't remember what it was. It will be another night of baseball with the tv sound turned off while I read a book as the game plays on. If there is some sort of action, I turn up the sound and watch until the 3rd out of the inning.

It might rain in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana tomorrow or the next day, maybe both.

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.

Hounds Take A Ride

As much as I like to have a spotless car most of the time, if not all the time, I thought while the temps were cool on Saturday afternoon that it was time for the hounds to have their first ride in the FJ. They were very familiar with the vehicle so all three of them assumed their normal seating. I lifted Heidi up to the drivers seat and she climbed over the console to take her co-pilot position. Sadie and Stella have no problem sharing the back with the back seats folded down.

I don't take them everywhere I go, especially now during the hottest time of year. These rides are non-stop flights from the house and back to the house. The windows are down most of the time and in the FJ only the front windows roll down. All windows in the back do not, the tailgate window does open up but I cannot give Stella a 1/2" of space where she thinks she can get out.

Even with the early summer floods a lot of the fields have recovered, some were replanted. Combined with all the sunny days, the soybeans and corn all looked very good. You will notice a standing 'house' in this picture. That is a water pump for the local water company. In 2008 the flooded field had water up to the bottom of that house looking structure ... but no damage.

I am getting a little better at taking photos while driving, just by holding the camera up pointed out the passenger window. I keep my eyes on the road and when I hear the beep that it is focused I press the shutter. So I never know if I have captured the picture like I intended.

I have mentioned I live in an area of hilly terrain. Only 5 miles west of me, the land is flat as far as you can see. It's quite a contrast being so close.

I saw in the online paper last night that a larger grain silo of this type exploded as they were loading trucks. Something in the metal, heat and all of that corn was the cause. I don't know that much about it. No one was hurt. It said that the farmer's son posted the picture on Facebook and had over a million views. I am surprised this picture turned out as good as it did since I was 'shooting blind'. Still too blurry.

No, Sadie is not in distress. She always likes to sit in the very back so she can look out those small corner windows. She does not wear a collar so a leash is not attached. That red bungee cord is stored that way and is used to hold the 32gl container when I take the recycling material to the local center. Yes ... there will be hound nose smudges on all windows except the driver's window ... that is just the way it is with hounds that like to ride.

I took this picture while holding my camera facing the rear, lining up the camera's picture in my rear view mirror.

I have a reader that may recognize these. He was in the area a few years ago and was taking pictures along this train track in a nearby town.

Heidi doesn't say much when she rides. She never whines, never barks but just sits with her nose resting on the edge of the window so the air fills her nose with scents. I always wonder what she really does smell when I am going 55mph or how it feels to her.

This is a typical country highway in this area. Some parts of this highway flood over depending on how much rain there is as far north as Indianapolis.

More great looking soybeans.

I take this road sometimes in the Z4 but I never take my camera. When I am in that car I just enjoy the drive and am not really interested in taking pictures. There are times in that car I need both hands on the steering wheel.

If  you have a weak stomach you would not be able to drive on this road. In this short stretch there are three steep hills going up and down within a short distance. One of those short steep hills are hidden in this photo. You almost feel like the wheels of your car are off the ground as you crest a couple of these hilltops.

We returned home with no problems. Before we were close to home all three hounds were laying down and sound to sleep. Winston use to fall asleep within minutes after starting the drives. He did that when I brought him home as a 8 week old basset hound puppy and slept most of the 5 hour drive.

I wasn't able to get a clear picture of Stella riding. To give you some idea, she will move around the back pressing her nose against each window to see if one will open. She does the same thing with her nose when trying to open the door to get inside. Due to her excitement riding, she will drool a lot. All I will say about that is, I have a rag I take and try to wipe the bottom of her mouth off before she leaves it inside the FJ.

That's hard to do when she is out of reach. The drool is comparable to Gorilla Glue, one of the benefits of owning a bloodhound. Not all hounds drool but those that do keep me on my toes and aware at all times ... especially when they shake their head from side to side.

As you can tell from some of the photos I still need practice keeping my hand steady as I hold the Nikon D3200 with one hand and steer the FJ with the other.

It's beautiful country here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.