Get Smart

Leeloo is a pretty smart cracker. Sometimes though, she is foiled by sheer physics. The ocean water here is clear, almost crystal clear. So when she is in the water she can see things that are under water very clearly and, being Leeloo, she wants them. Not to eat (usually), just to investigate. But how, pray tell, does a Leeloo investigate something that is under a foot of water? Well, she doesn't. Mostly because that would involve putting her nose into the water and thus the issue comes to light.

Normally, if you paw at whatever is covering the thing you want you can move the obstacle and retrieve said item. However, water is not Leeloo's friend. It stubbornly refuses to get out of her way no matter how hard she tries. At this point I think it's just the principle of the thing but as of 4pm last Sunday water is still the undefeated champion. So, for now and forever more that shell/rock/seaweed will remain untouched by Leeloo lips. That is unless she gets up the courage to stick her nose under water. So ... never.

The Trench

What is it about sand that makes it so diggable? Archer has definitely got the sand bug because whenever we are at the beach he insists on making holes. I'd love for him to unearth a pirate's booty or at the very least a map to a treasure chest but all he ever comes up with is sand on his nose.

He doesn't dig in the garden, or on walks in the woods and he doesn't dig around when he is trying to get comfortable in bed, so what about sand says to him "Excavate me"? Perhaps if Nova Scotia's coastline is threatened he might be drafted into service and put to work digging the trenches ...

Feet First

I let the dogs out into the backyard for a few minutes the other day and when The Boy came in he was dead lame. All sad eyes and "Owie Mommy." Since he is such a sissy I am surprised he didn't make any noise when he actually hurt himself but there wasn't a single sound to indicate when or how he hurt himself in the backyard. It was very tender and he spent the rest of the morning feeling sorry for himself. Here is his left foot being all normal and whatnot (yes, I know he has huge feet):

And here's his right foot with a swelling starting on the outside knuckle(on the left there). It looks like he sprained that knuckle although I'm not sure how he managed it. There is a joint right at that bump and it's tender and obviously swollen.

A side by side comparison might make it a little more clear. He's just resting his foot on the floor and not actually putting any weight on it. The swelling is there just above his outside toe - that is a large joint where the foot flexes into the pastern.

He spent the balance of the morning before I went to work sulking in the bedroom. I gave him lots of kisses and hugs and promised he'd feel better in a little while. I'm a bit leery about administering things like aspirin because I second guess myself with dosages etc and giving a dog a medication he's never had just prior to my leaving the house for several hours doesn't sit well with me.

When I got home that night the swelling was worse but he was actually walking on it and seemed in less pain. We didn't go for a walk the next morning since I couldn't bear the idea of leaving Boy behind; much to Leeloo, Esme and Archer's horror (although it was pouring too so it was an easy decision).  You can see the swelling is not as localized and the foot is definitely not as tender as it was 24 hours prior. Boy will just have to stay on bed rest and I'm pretty sure Mommy hugs and kisses help a lot too.  

Ripple Effect

It looks to me like Archer could walk across this bay if he wanted to. In fact, if this was a photo of Leeloo I'd say she'd feel it was a certainty. She'd be walking on the water though, not in it; that's just how she rolls.  This is a quiet moment of contemplation for Archer as he creates ripples in the water. Soon he will start a new life and make new ripples but for now his ripples are all mine. He spent his time at the oceanside splashing about, being silly, digging furiously and making it a joyful experience for everyone (except those Leeloos he splashed).  He has been a perpetual sun on gloomy days and the echoes of his presence may fade but he will always leave wet paw prints on my heart. Hugs to special Archer in these waning moments we share.

Sink or Swim

Try to run through water and you get nowhere fast. Unless you're a dog. 

Scratch that. Unless you're a big hairless dog.

It doesn't make you elegant that's for sure. In fact, sometimes it makes you kind of look like a knob.

But just in case you don't care if you're hairy, don't care what you look like and are just in the water to have fun and cool down, it can make for some pretty fun times.

Just make sure to watch out for large red sharks. Less stealth and more splash is their modus operandi so chances are you won't miss them and will have plenty of time to get out of the water.

Trade Off

Walk along the sandy shores of a serene beach, squish your toes into the sand, feel the water gently grasp your ankles, listen to the waves caress the beach, splash some salty droplets on your legs, and let the day carry you forward. Hear the sandpipers cry in anger above your head as you walk just a little too close to their nests, smile at the seagulls as they nonchalantly bob on the waves, and marvel at the cormorants as they dive out of sight only to pop up again metres away. See tiny grey fish darting in and out of the shadows on their quest for food and life, frown at the lone crab shell left to dissolve into sandy particles, and gasp at the heat of the sand as it meets your bare toes. Absorb the delicate warmth of the sky into your body, close your eyes to the brilliant sun and breathe deeply of the wonder of the moment.

What would you trade to experience this? I traded almost everything and everyone I had ever known and it was absolutely worth it.

 

Beyond the Sea

Hot day today which meant we needed to find somewhere cool to walk. How about the beach? Usually I'd say no because the beach is generally hotter than anywhere else but today I thought we'd chance it. Our usual haunts were populated so I carried down the gravel road onto Caribou Island. It's not a pleasant drive to say the least; twisty, turny, bumpy, dusty, and washboard corners rattle the teeth right out of your mouth. But if you can tolerate this nonsense for about 10 minutes it's worth it.

We found a gently curving spit of sand that begs for your footprints like the beckoning finger of a seductive Siren.  Then again, sometimes the Siren bites off more than she can chew.

No fear though, these dogs are immune to the Sirens sultry call - unless of course she happens to have a big juicy steak on offer.