Friday before the Fall

I’m gonna have to type fast this morning.  We had company and we have GRANDPUPS for the weekend.  Willie and Laura just came by and dropped off the dogs.

They’re on their way to school.  Laura has to pay fees for her ASB card and for her art supplies. Willie has to do teacher stuff.  Then, they’ll get together with Debbie and head to Seattle where they’ll attend the Mariners game tonight.

Willie’s instructions AND Annie’s are to position themselves somewhere near a television camera so they can be seen.  Of course, they need to know beforehand that we’re positioned near a television set so we can see them.

Knowing Annie, she’ll figure out how to make all this happen.

They’ll spend a couple of days in Seattle attending both baseball and soccer events and shopping for the upcoming school year.  They'll also spend some time in DuPont, visiting with Mike and Mary. 

So, Todd and Brooke have once again joined the Lovestead Border Collie Nation, plus One.

Todd and Brooke love their farm over in Colburn and will probably miss their new horse friends, but I’m sure Lefty and Lily will provide them plenty of action for the next couple of days. 

In fact, Lefty spends the early mornings running the fence line, wishing he were on the other side with Lily.  I haven’t told him that this makes me happy because all that running keeps him slim.

Once again, the sun put on a show this morning as I walked to the north. Breath-taking seems hardly adequate to describe the awe-inspiring scenes created by this week's sunrises.  

Along my way, I spotted the fawn, quietly grazing in Gary Finney's field just a few feet from Mama and Baby Percheron. 

That's the way it is out here; everyone minds their space and everyone gets along, be they two-legged or four. 

Besides the beautiful pre-autumn days, this week, for me, has involved a lot of time spent with a paintbrush.  I have the spotted Crocs and jeans to prove it.

Fences, however, are looking magnificent EXCEPT for this morning's discovery of the aftermath of busy equine teeth.  I noticed the new chew on the west barnyard fence and then looked to the east to find a few more blemishes to my new paint job.

Electric fence tonight!  That's the only reason I use those electric wires, and usually one shocking jolt keeps those teeth away from the boards for a week or two. 

And, speaking of teeth, one pumpkin in my patch has gone completely to the deer.  It's taken a couple of weeks, but all that's left of the victimized pumpkin is the shell, and this pumpkin has been partially hidden by the vines.

So, I'm wondering about deer logic where a perfectly big and inviting pumpkin, plucked from the vine for the fair and then rejected because of scratches, sits unharmed.  

Maybe it's next. 

As for the shot of Schweitzer.  They're having a big weekend up there over this Labor Day holiday.  Bill and I might have to take a trip up there and enjoy some of the sights and sounds and tastes of bands, beverages and good food. 

So, we're heading into the fall with this Friday before Labor Day, and with the exception of blemished fence boards, things are looking pretty good.

Happy Friday.