Don't you hate knowing things are lurking just beneath the surface that will spring out at the most inopportune time?
We finally - Hallelujah - got a storm front moving through the area. On Thursday it was drizzly, but on Friday it positively poured. We all opened the blinds at work and just watched the miracle of the plants soaking it in.
Underneath the layers of leaves that haven't gone anywhere at the farm because there wasn't a good old fashioned storm to blow them away, there is mud. The dogs know this, of course, and Sam especially longs for it. Her nostrils flare as she sniffs out an available gooey patch, her snout roots around first, and then she rolls her cheek and neck in it, and if you aren't quick on the retract button on the leash, she is on her side and wiggling onto her back. The only hope from that point is being spared the joyful jump that wipes out your clothes.
Lily came to us at the end of June and the hot and dry summer turned into a very dry fall and winter, until yesterday. We walk the girls out and back to the bathroom since there are no fences, and there's some local wildlife we'd prefer to avoid.
Anyway.
It was raining sideways on Friday night when the dogs gave us The Look and waited patiently by the door as the Hubs piled on the gear and fished out a halogen flashlight to take them one by one across the way to the Depository. They distract one another looking for the Chuck-It Ball or chasing the same stick if they go out together and it takes twice as long.
The Hubs clipped the retractable leash to Lily's collar who always goes first because she just HAS TO, and led her out onto the stoop. Typical. Routine.
He kind of dragged her along over to the Depository and Lily kind of freaked out. It was raining forcefully and there was a lot of wind. He coaxed her along and in seconds instead of minutes she had Power Pottied and was unexpectedly bolting for the house.
I didn't get to see all of this. What I saw was the crazy beams of light hitting the house as I imagined the Hubs taking long strides to keep up.
Ok, I'll admit that I chuckled a bit at the light show and couldn't really hear the shouting over the drone of the rain. I was just happy he offered to take her and not me. I was warm and dry on the sofa.
I glanced up as the door opened and saw a streak of white with black spots shoot down the hall, back out and into the kitchen and around through the dining room to the office, and in a half dive/half skid landed very unladylike in my lap. Whuaaamp!
The Hubs was dripping all over the hall, exclaiming he had never seen an expression like that on a dog. He took Sammy the Autopilot dog - trotted out, she did her thing and they were back in a flash. Sammy is amazing.
So I softened my voice, dried her off, cuddled her up and ... and e v e n t u a l l y things calmed down.
Whoops: Landmine! No warning (again). Lily knows her history - but we can only guess what life must have been like before she found her way here.
We were anxious as the one last trip of the night came along. God Bless the Hubs for suiting up and Sam did her thing and he dragged the Unwilling One over over to accomplish the goal. I watched Lily a little less scared coming back the 2nd time, and how she concentrated on his face for the praise and treat for a job well done. She obviously loves and trusts him.
Rain is expected for many days to come, thankfully. But tonight I am feeling pretty proud of this little dog who in one short day was able to work through her fear. She really wasn't going to be left out in the rain and forgotten. We had the rare privilege of watching Lily build a bridge.
Recipes * Critters * Garden * Stories *
