Friday. I have to chuckle this morning as I sit down to post. Looking at yesterday's post, there is an adsense ad for Dog House Air Conditioner!! "Efficient A/C. Keeps dogs cozy." I supposed my amusement is peculiar to me, as a person whose spoiled dogs just laze around indoors all day, never lacking for a nice wall to wall carpet, indoor heating, or cozy closet (Tiger) to hide away in! For some pooch who spends his/her days outdoors in extremes like south Arizona in summer, or north Minnesota in winter, or even Seattle in the rain, this could be not just a laughing matter . . .

Earlier, on our walk, we had passed a house with a magnificent tall spreading tree with tiny tri-pronged dark green serrated leaves. Under the tree was a small pale green house with three scruffy dogs behind the chain-link fence. All three commenced to yap loudly at us (the smaller cream-colored one occasionally biting at her mate to show who was boss,) and of course Tiger responded with her characteristic jerking, pulling and dancing till I gave her a brief talk-to. She has really improved over the years. Now approaching the hoary canine age of eight years, she minds very well, and I've become semi-relaxed about bringing her to an off-leash area. Hmmm, perhaps "minds very well" is a bit of an exaggeration, but I'll leave it there anyway.

On 45th close to Holman, a neighbor there is having a garage sale. A man and his son (customers) approach to chat & stroke the dogs (mostly Tiger, as Zeno is so shy.) He asks if my dogs have fleas. "Not too bad." I respond. He proceeds to tell me of his technique of just giving his cats a few drops from the little Frontline tube, then giving a few more drops as needed. He says he does this about every 4 to 6 weeks or so. (Of course, the Frontlne instructions say to give an entire dose at a time.) He says it works real well. I thank him for his insight.

I am again thankfull, when we reach Fernhill's off leash area. It is such a pleasant place, with so many beautifull large trees, a great huge place for dogs to run around in, and owners to relax, just a little. I take a few moments, and sprawl on my back in the sun on the dried hard yellow grass. As I rest, I can hear the wind ruffling leaves in a huge maple behind me. There is also a sprinkler working "chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk."