MORE ANIMAL TALES

Here we are at Gilbert again – and gladly so. It didn’t cool off in town last night – was 80 outside at 6:00 a.m. and also 80 in the house.

In town, Mike and I devoted Saturday morning to weeding and setting up the drip system in the drought-tolerant beds. Since we haven’t been watering, it’s plain to see which plants thrive without it – sage brush, lavender, and “Indian Blanket” amongst them. The coneflowers looked a little stressed.

Unbeknownst to us, Mr. and Mrs. Quail had set up housekeeping in the midst of the lavender. As Mike was poking around to set up the drip system, he startled Mr. Quail, who came out and scolded him soundly.  Mrs. Quail soon joined Mr. Quail and together they clucked and scolded for the next hour. I don’t think any damage was done to their home or family. Last night we saw them parading their many little chicks in our driveway.

In order to exercise Bess and Nell in town, we took balls and went to the river each evening. Little Bess is not the swimmer that Nellie is, but this year, with Nellie’s example, she gained the confidence to swim out and fetch the ball. She has proven to herself that she can do it and loves to cool off in the water.

Yesterday (Sunday), Mike donned his best cycling duds, loaded his bicycle in the Magnum, kissed me good-bye, and left (7:30 a.m.) for a bicycle club ride between Deary and Elk River. When I left to shop, I expected to put the dogs in their kennel, but Nellie refused to budge. She just laid there limply on the rug as if playing dead. A bit irked, I went ahead and left both dogs in the house. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that it dawned on me that Nellie was expressing her displeasure over Mike’s leaving. She has learned that when he leaves, he might not immediately return. Her heart was glad when he showed up mid-afternoon.

This morning, Mike loaded the Dakota with provisions and the dogs, and then he left on his dirt bike. (He rode his older model Yamaha to town on Friday and rode the newer back to Gilbert today.) I was first to the farm, so when I opened the tailgate to let the dogs out, Nellie immediately gleaned that Mike was not here. She was clearly disturbed, but before long I heard the dirt bike and called her attention to the arriving Mike. I wish you could have seen the look of relief on her face. She was so glad that Mike would be here, too. KW