Dog Time

Can your dogs tell time? Two of ours can. Charlie sleeps in our bed. At nine AM and not a minute sooner, she's awake, licking my face and ready for me to begin my day. Whatever mood I go to bed in, I begin my day laughing.

Pooh knows her bed time. Each night around 1, regardless of what else is going on, she heads to bed. She's also the first one awake but is quiet until Charlie's up.

My daughter sent the photo above. Every weekday evening, 10 minutes before her husband is expected home from work, her 2 guys move to their spot at the top of the landing and wait for dad. It's uncanny. Dad was late the day the photo was taken and the guys were becoming restless.

Toad

Opening Day

September 1st is the tradional opening day of dove hunting season in Missouri. When I was younger this fact took away much of the sting of the return to school, the end of summer fruit, and earlier sunsets.

I haven't shot in years, but I can still conjure up every image sight and smell of getting ready for the season to open. I enjoy just about all that is involved with upland bird shooting. My favorite though is watching a brace of good bird dogs doing what they were bred to do.

Over the past few years I have spent many a fall afternoon tromping through pastures with good friends and great dogs. If I am lucky, they'll give me some grunt job, and I'll feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

Just before the birth of our firstborn, I gave my small cache of weapons to a friend for safekeeping. I haven't asked about them in many years, but I hope he is putting them to good use.

For better or worse the primal urge to up and kill something is creeping back. Perhaps I better keep out of the malls, and get to a trap range.

Just for grins I looked up the value of my trusty Winchchester 12ga the other day. It's better its gone. Knowledge is a very dangerous thing.

Toad