Summer is here and around this house it really means the Dog Days of Summer are upon us! I love it. I am NOT a winter person - but I love Canada so I endure;-)  Summer = OUTSIDE!  I have 3 dogs and they love to be outside! The pool - appears to be Daisy's own playground right now - she is the first one in it and Scruffy in her boat -long before those too is Tequila. My GROWLING, crusty, bad breath, over weight, almost blind, poops in the house when she KNOWS that it is a firecracker weekend! My LOVE Tequila.  As I was drawing this toon in the gazebo she came and fell asleep beside me - as she is now, so I took the opportunity to draw her still life, thinking about what a great dog she is the entire time. Tequila is 15. She was run over by a car when younger and survived without a scratch! It was a miracle. She surfs in the pool and has used it since the day we opened it - we laugh as she will lose a good 5 lbs every summer, LOVES Halloween as much as Norm and jumps at bats! Is my master squirrel chaser and BALL fetcher - but does not give it to you, she makes you chase her around the house for it. Well she was.. Daisy seems to be faster on the fetch and rubs it in Tequilas face every time. So I've learned to throw 2 balls the first far for Daisy and the second close to Ticky. Her eyesight is failing so her ball days are almost over, she also seems to be feeling the heat a bit more.. I will love her till the day she dies and will keep going until she tells us she can't go anymore. 
Right now she still tries and that is all that matters. The lessons dogs teach us. Priceless. 
xox <><

I am thrilled! The Pool is open and just looking at it makes me smile. LOL It is too cold for me to swim but already I am constantly shouting  "Scruffy - Out of your boat!"  The second Norm starts we all gravitate to the back deck, so many fond memories to be had and make!  The opening of the pool is significant! Who is the first one in the pool?  It's been a challenge over the years! Last year was a guest from TEXAS! LOL Who - LOL - not use to our Canadian summers THOUGHT that that water must be as warm as the air - so he did a cannon ball  without doing the 'toe test" I'm still giggling at the Texas 'YELP!'   Storm has been it, Norm has been it a few times, Don (our oldest entry at 70) JUMPED in as soon as the cover was off one year! KOWABUNGA thank God he never had a stroke!   Tequila  has been it a few times too!
It also goes without saying if you are on the pool deck in our home you are 'fair game'  *EVEN Storm with his hearing aids has to be careful.  I can't tell you the number of times I have gone in fully dressed - not expecting to swim. So after 20 years just the thought of doing this as I sat and watched Norm on Monday brought me a bit of marriage bliss. 
I know that I would get away with it- it is expected of course.. and we would even laugh about it later. I did not do it. Probably because after 20 years he does know me too and he usually ends up dragging me in with him!  I am positive there are more pool toons to come!
xox