Dogs In Fall

Okay, I know the calendar says "Spring" but over here in NorCal, Mother Nature has been a bit bipolar (get it?) and we've had a little bit of everything EXCEPT Spring.  Some days are a bright, balmy 80+ degrees and within a day or two it is back to torrential rain and wind.  Then we bounce back into the high 70's and just when I think it's safe to pack away the sweaters and umbrellas and turn the sprinklers back on, the clouds roll in and the temperature drops dramatically.  With all the rain and cold come perennial mud flats in the back yard  which then get tracked into the house by eight thundering feet that go in and out about fifty times a day.  It's an endless battle and I find myself longing for the time when Spring comes in earnest and I can officially stop living in a swamp.

About the only season that seemed to play its part was Autumn.  It didn't rain much, but was cold and brisk in a refreshing sort of way.  The leaves turned orange and yellow and looked so dramatic on the trees until they fell.  The Summers out here are stifling hot and the Winter is wet and cold, but Autumn seems to like to be a referee between the two.

I could walk the dogs with ease during this time, without having to wipe wet muddy paws before they came in or worry about them overheating in the scorching sun.  They seemed to like walking in Autumn as well, although Leila would jump at the occasional falling leaf.  I wanted to share my favorite photo from one of our walks, when my eight-year old son took the reigns (literally!) and enjoyed a nice stroll along the creekside.

I showed this photo to my son, when we were sitting inside, drinking cocoa, and enjoying the quiet stillness of a brisk Autumn day.  My son looks at it carefully and says "The dogs look like they have leaves stuck to their butts!"

Okay, bonding moment over.

Stay tuned......