As Summer Rolls On . . . .

The heat is on.  The air is dry.  Dust clouds abound. Flames need dousing. 

Fire control planes flew overhead all afternoon and into the evening yesterday. 

It's predicted that temperatures will soar to three digits throughout the region today and tomorrow and maybe even Wednesday.

That's good news for hay crops yet to be stored for the winter.  No worries of rain. 

When late afternoon and early evening set in with no hint of cooling, peeps and critters are finding ways to cool off. 

I wonder if muskrats ever worry about such things.  

While the little guy was swimming across the river on one side of the Colburn-Culver bridge, the Douglas family, transplants from Oregon, were enjoying one of the Pack River swimming holes. 

Nice folks!


I learned later that in some cases, when a Border Collie has a pen full of horses to watch, things can get dicey and downright beautiful, even on a blistering, sultry evening. 

That's what happened soon after I drove into the driveway last night in my air-conditioned car and started baking the instant I stepped to the ground.

Nobody told Liam it was hot. When you're a Border Collie, your job trumps everything.  Maybe Liam needs to be President!

For some reason, Liam figured those horses needed a little extra surveillance last night.  Could be it was cuz they're still a bit peeved about not being able to step in and out of their barn stalls.  

That situation, which came up over the weekend when we discovered that we needed to remove rotted boards from a stall floor, has them a bit restless.  

So, a combination of the dog at the fence and the need to run out some equine frustration ignited an opportunity for young CB to put on a show. 

I'm not so sure the other two wanted to play their role, but when he would race or buck dangerously close to their space, off they'd run. 

With the dust and the evening sunshine, the Lovestead's Greatest Barnyard Showman kept his agile action going for about ten minutes before deciding the cool stuff in the water tank looked mighty good.

Every time I wonder "why" I bought CB, he puts on a show like last night's, and I know the answer.  Quite the performer!

Happy Monday.  Stay COOL! Don't race around your barnyard!