Even though summer doesn’t officially end for a couple of weeks, I think Labor Day feels like the last weekend for most people. The first day of our long and last weekend of summer started out as a busy one! It dawned quite chilly, in the 40’s, a sure sign that autumn is on its way. One thing my hubby and I knew we wanted to do over the weekend was to finally get out and really explore our 17 acres of property. He had been out there a few times, but I had really only been to a limited part of it.
Dadz went off for his morning run, while I started my day a bit more slowly. I had also started running that week, and my muscles were really feeling it! I decided to put off my next run for one more day in favor of loosening up my muscles by walking in the woods. Once I was showered and moving a bit better, I took the dogs outside for their daily game of fetch while it was still cool out.
The games have been a bit shorter the last few days, because as predicted, Cricket has been acting her age some lately! We have her back on her Rimadyl. She’s not showing any limps, but she has been cutting our games of fetch short (usually unheard of!) since just before her birthday (as a matter of fact, she started that the day after I had written my first draft for her birthday post bragging about how she’d been off her meds. Can anyone say “jinx”?), and moving a bit more slowly at times.
She has a tendency to want to overdo it – when I got home from work the day after her birthday, she went 100 miles per hour for a short time and burned herself right out. So I’m shortening the game times, and no longer throwing the ball into the pool. I’m hoping that will be enough, because I hate to have to rest her completely.
So we had a short play time, I had breakfast and by then Dadz was back from his run and showered. We headed down the road to the corner of our property with howling dogs left behind (we need to get things cleared out more before taking them, or we would have spent our whole time out there untangling leashes from trees).
We had a great walk and it took us about an hour to walk about a mile around (close to) the perimeter of our property (one end is not marked and we’re having trouble finding the exact property line). The dogs were happy to have us back and I tossed the ball for a few minutes before having lunch. After that Dadz loaded up his truck for a dump run. Luke usually goes with him on those, but lately Luke has been afraid of riding. Sigh – we have no idea why, he used to love it! Another thing to add to the list of things to work on with him.
Dadz was at the door asking Luke to come with him, but Luke balked so this time we didn’t make him go. Sheba was at the door wagging away so Dad took her instead. She doesn’t like riding as much so doesn’t usually go on those runs, but Dadz said she enjoyed it – good for her!
I’ve started nose work with Cricket now, and she and I had a short session and I got things together for a search for Luke too. When Dad got back he got to observe Luke search for the first time while taking some video for us. Luke is doing great, and we’ll be sharing that video soon.
After all of that, the headache I’d been fighting for two days broke through and one side of my head was throbbing. I did something I haven’t done for a while, grabbed a lounge chair and set it in the sun. A pre-fall day in the 70’s is perfect weather for sitting in the sun – it’s not too hot.
I used to sit in the sun all the time, either just relaxing or reading. As I’ve gotten older I don’t tolerate the heat as well, and sitting still is not something I can do for long. It’s not possible for me to go outside without the dogs coming along, and if I’m outside Cricket thinks it’s ball time again! I glanced at my watch to be sure she only played for a few minutes, and let her deliver the ball to me in the chair.
I’ve always said that we never did much training with our girls, but one thing Dadz taught Cricket early on was the command “hand” – which means she delivers the ball directly into your hand, or at least into your lap if you’re sitting. She’s a pro at it, so if she dropped the ball on the ground next to me, I made her put it in the chair instead.
She didn’t last long before pooping out again, and by the time she had worn out, my headache had eased up and I was fidgety again (yup, my headaches can go away that quickly, even if not completely). The dogs went in the house to nap with the Dadz and I puttered around the house and on my computer.
We enjoyed this last and long weekend of summer, with two more days of pretty much the same! Cricket seems to be feeling better and played longer on Sunday morning with Dadz while I was out for my run; and Luke got to go out and explore the woods a little bit with Dadz too! The fading hurricane weather that might have been headed our way never made it, so there were more walks, more sitting in the sun, and simply a wonderful weekend at home.
The Summer of Sheba may be unofficially ending but September will probably bring a few more hot days so she’ll be getting more swims at the pond in. We are beyond thrilled that she is still thriving as her special summer winds down.
I look forward to fall and the cooler weather now, and for the first time maybe ever, I’m looking forward to winter too! I am hoping for lots of snow because all those acres of land are beckoning to be explored on snowshoes, and the dogs and I can’t wait. This is what I love most about New England; each season has something different to offer, and there’s no time to get bored with routines before they change.
September is a gorgeous month to be outside. I too like the temperatures just a little cooler. Here in Charleston it will be warm/hot practically through Christmas. But there’s always a great fall/winter breeze, so I’m happy! Can’t wait to see photos of all your acreage with the fresh fallen snow. I have no doubt it will be breath-taking.
It probably will be, though I might want to be careful about what I wish for. We’re up on the top of a little mountain here, and we might get more snow than I’m ready for! LOL. I’m fine with it as long as I don’t have to go anywhere on the roads.
Our summer has been kind of on the hot side. I’m ready for fall and winter. There is NOTHING like the woods just after a good snowfall. I find something so peaceful about it. I’m very envious of you. 🙂
I totally agree about the woods after a snowfall….it is very peaceful. Last year we didn’t get much snow, so I’m hoping better for this year.
What a great weekend and wonderful photos.
What a fun weekend! We don’t like summer ending. Though we like fall, we know what comes after that…and that doesn’t thrill us at all. 🙂
The problem with winter is that it’s TOO LONG. Why is it that every other season is only about two months long, and winter is six? LOL
I am still trying to wrap my head around 17 acres!!!! Wow!!! Do you have to maintain all of that? Is it mostly woods? What are you going to do with 17 acres???? I am like you, I can no longer tolerate sitting in the sun for long….I can’t believe I was a lifeguard for so many years!
I’d say only about an acre or two of it is actually cleared, the rest is woods. We’re going to make some trails in the woods for walking, and hopefully put in a pond! It’s split into three lots actually, so when we hit retirement we may sell one of the lots, or sell two plus the house and build ourselves a “tiny house” on the last lot. Ha ha, just kidding about the “tiny house” – just a smaller house! 🙂
Sounds like the perfect weekend … with perfect company. I love your pictures of Luke, Cricket, and Sheba!
What a fun weekend. We always feel like Labor Day is the end of summer
Lily & Edward
What an enjoyable weekend you all had! We love exploring in the woods so we think it is cool to have your own woods to explore. If only we would get Fall weather…I guess we will have to love vicariously through everyone else when the season changes.
And we’ll be living vicariously through you in the winter when we’re freezing up here! 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Glad you were able to explore your property.
I wonder if the pressure ahead of the hurricane added to your headache? Low pressures can do it to me.
Oh I think you were right about the low pressure from the hurricane. And that darn storm hovered off the coast for several days, so my headache kept coming and going all weekend and beyond! I think it finally moved on now, thank goodness.
This weekend was beautiful here too, nice and cool – I had the windows open all three days, which I loved! We were supposed to get hit with Hermine, but it turned out to sea fortunately and we had sunny skies. Personally, I’m more than happy to see summer come to an end, the heat and humidity were too much for me this year.
Well now you have the September of Sheba to look forward to! 😉 I got a good giggle out of the last pic of Luke standing on your chair – what a riot! 😀
They said we had one of the hottest summers on record here, but it didn’t seem it to me. I think it’s because our new house has so much more shade and it’s set up much better than our old house where the bedroom was unbearable when it was hot (and the type of windows didn’t allow for an air conditioner).
September of Sheba – I love it, thank you! Our late beagle Kobi loved to lie with us on lounge chairs, so I love that Luke also likes to get up there now!
Our weekend was cooler, too, but not quite that much! 🙂 Temps were in the low 60s in the early mornings but back to the mid 80s by 2-3 o’clock. It was still cool enough to spend more time in the yard though. The girls and I enjoyed the fresh air while the dog daddy watched the news. It was wonderful! Now it’s time to get up, get dressed, and take them outside again before getting back to my studies.
Hope Cricket feels better soon! I know what a pain arthritis can be for our older pups! Glad – make that super glad! – Sheba is having a great summer! Hope you figure out Luke’s issue with riding in the truck!
I just don’t understand Luke – he loved riding so much before, and we’ve tried to keep him that way. The girls have never liked riding and it just makes it tougher to take them places; I didn’t want that for him. Maybe it’s just a phase – hopefully.
Cricket was doing a little better, then she got worse again, but she’s a little better again now. We just have to be careful not to let her overdo it, and it’s hard when she loves playing so much. Of course you know what that’s like….and you did great with Shadow!
We are so happy summer is ending, not fans of the heat and all around here. Our weekend was busy, and now we are ready for a break, but it’s back to the grind instead. I got my last level 1 element title yesterday. Mom and I are thrilled!
We are so thrilled for you too, Emma! Now that I’m doing more real nose work with Luke, instead of just games, I am learning just why you enjoy it so much.
I have to say that the cooler weather has felt nice, although we’re getting a little bit of summer back this week. It cools off much better in the evenings though.
it’s a little bittersweet to say bye to summer, but today I enjoyed the first yellow&read leaves on the ground like a kid… or like Easy but I didn’t eat the leaves :o) I’m sure september brings sun and sunny things to your house too :o)
September is a beautiful month here with the changing leaves, and weather that waffles between summer and fall all month long. We just don’t like the days getting shorter!