Keeping Cool at Great Pond

Well, as you can see by the thermometer, we are in the midst of a July heat wave. it goes across most of the country, as apparently we are under a heat 'dome'. About 150 million people are affected in the US, according to the news. So, what do you do if you want to keep cool? You can go swimming! Well, not us, exactly, but two hot border collies who don't much like the heat can go. So here's a few more images from our daily trips to Great Pond, a very shallow pond which is really a wildlife area about 5 minutes drive from our house here in West Simsbury. There is only one tiny area that isn't completely covered in water lily pads and that is where we take Will and Emma for a nice swim. They can hardly wait to chase the stick into the water. They have both gotten quite good at jumping in from the edge, and as you can see, Will can get pretty high in the air. Jim has started to get them to take a running start, and while that doesn't add much height, it does add a little distance before he splashes into the water.

Heat wave hits New England

Walk the boardwalk to get to the swim area

Keeping cool

Will the retriever

Emma swims while Will watches

A bit of Tug-of-war

Wet dog Emma

Swimming at Great Pond

Emma gets the stick

Emma and Will with their sticks

View of Great POnd

Emma and Will again

Will wonders what is taking me so long

Well, here it is summer already, and it's been a long time since the last posting. We've been pretty busy this spring, going back and forth between West Simsbury and our second home in Burlington, Ontario, and keeping up with the usual exploring in each area. We've discovered a couple of state parks pretty close to home this year, and they have become our new favorite places to take Will and Emma for their walks. Both of the parks have a pond or two, and that is extra fun, since they adore the water. You can hardly keep them out of it if it's nearby. Will, especially likes to run off and take a dip if he senses water. I think he can smell it! And they both get so excited when you throw a stick in for them. Emma can hardly keep her excitement inside - she starts to whimper and whine when you even pick up a stick to get ready to throw it. It's quite funny to see them.

Thanksgiving on the Bruce Trail in Canada

Lori, Jazz, me, Emma and Will on the Bruce Trail

Lori and her Springer, Jazz

Jim, Emma and Will at the ruins on the trail

Jazz and Feather have a swim

Puff balls 'exploding'

Last Monday was Thanksgiving Day in Canada and a wonderful day for a nice walk on the Bruce Trail in Burlington. The sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue, making a great backdrop for the bright oranges, reds and yellows of fall. It seems like the colors are much more brilliant in southern Ontario than those in Connecticut this fall. The very dry weather we had through August and September in New England have taken a toll on the usually colorful fall foliage. We've had color, mind you, but just a lot less brilliant than normal. The oranges and reds have seemed much more muted. The yellows are just as bright, though, but it almost seemed like everything was yellow this year. And now, mid-way through October, we're already into the golden bronze and copper tones, which is the customary second part of fall color. Well, I guess this is the time for that since we're halfway through October already.

Anyway, my sister Lori and her dog Jazz joined us for a Thanksgiving weekend walk on the Bruce Trail just north of Burlington, Ontario. This part of the trail has multiple side trails and runs in part alongside a creek that winds through the woods. We saw more people than we usually do when we've gone there before with my son, Aaron, probably since it was a holiday weekend, and it was such a nice day. We were joined by a dog that lives on the property that flanks the trail by the road access. We learned her name was Feather, but we called her Tramp because she looks just like the dog from Lady and the Tramp, grey and raggedy but cute and friendly. She walked (or ran) the entire way with us and our dogs, until we were near the end of our walk and thought we were lost. We thought she might lead us back to the beginning of the trail so we asked her to 'Go home', and she took one look at us and ran off through the woods. We decided not to follow her, bushwacking like she did through the woods, since we didn't know where she was going. We ended up meeting a woman who knew the trails well and she told us the way back to the beginning. It was a maze of trails and we weren't sure enough that we were on the right track, but as it turns out, we were heading in the right direction after all. We made it back to the cars with no problem once we got the directions straight. I guess we need to pay better attention when we walk there. Usually Aaron is the one who leads us through, and he's much better with directions!

Emma loves to watch TV

Emma wants in on the action

She watched every dog in the competition from this point of view

Then came the running, and she watched that too

Will is just happy relaxing on the couch

A family of couch potatoes!

Another favorite winter activity: Watching sports on TV

What can you do on a cold winter day? Well, you can watch TV with your sports loving dogs! Not only do Will and Emma love to run and play and swim, but they enjoy some downtime in front of the TV watching their favorite things to do. Emma really does like to get involved with whatever is going on. If there is a dog on the screen, she's up there too, trying to get in on the action. Here's a few photos of Emma trying to get in the swim of things. Will, on the other hand, is content to watch from a distance. He loves to snuggle into the cushiest chair in the room, and just relax.