Another 6.

I am happy to report that Layla went out on trial (rescue speak) on Saturday.  From getting no interest at all, she was totally mobbed by Saturday morning.  Of course, the adoption venue was an hour southwest of me and still, not a flat road to be had.  Once Layla takes her Dramamine, she is fine for those long rides.  I had gotten permission from the board to allow Layla to be taken on trial from the venue - no sense adding another hour's drive or five to the process - and we had to sneak out the back, there were so many people lining up for her.  Sheesh.  But the woman who has 'hopefully' adopted her is perfect.

I will miss this pixie.

Then it was a two hour drive up to Vermont, where I had to divide what little time was left between my parents and younger sister (up for a day and a half) and my middle sister and her son and grandson.  Then back to the ranch.  When I walked in the door, Layla-less, Lovey and Butters went wild.  All the gates are gone, my house seems twice as large, we are back to our routine and everyone is happy.  I will not forget her, though.  Besides the fact that she was the most adorable and loving dog, I will be sweeping up piles of long, white dog hair for years.

Bathed, happy and clingy.

Having left the house at 9 and pulling back into the driveway at 5, it was another workday.  I decided I was too knackered to tackle anything but laundry and invited a neighbor over for a glass of wine under the pergola.


I took Sunday 'off', as in refused to leave the house - except to deliver baked goods to the barn and feed the farm cats - and, wouldn't you know, we got a spike in the heat, with temps soaring into the low 90s.  So much for tackling the rest of the garden.  Luckily, I had plenty to do inside.  First and foremost, was to track down the source of the sweet smell (gak) of decomposition emanating from Slimmie's room.  I figured he had missed a mouse and I had to practically take the room apart to find it.  It, of course, had crawled under the five-shelf canning unit that was NOT on rollers.  Sigh.  Breathing through my mouth (double gak), I had to take everything off the shelves and maneuver the unit out, scoop up the offending corpse and double-time it out the back door and down to the woods.  Then it was back in, de-scent the carpeting and area the best I could, move the unit back, wipe it down and restack all the cans, boxes, etc.  It took an unscheduled hour.  Well, the hour had been scheduled for staining my plant stand for the deck.  Just another Plan B.


A few things were ticked off the list, but it wasn't a very fruitful weekend.  We have not had a measurable rain for weeks and the ground is parched.  Today is another heat alert, with high temps and humidity, so I was up and out early, watering what most needs it and filling Apria's wading pool.  There is a chance of rain this afternoon and I hope it happens.  If I can get both rain barrels filled, I will have less of a chance of emptying my well.


Progress is being made on the sweater from h-e-double-hockey-sticks.  I finally reached the bottom of the plain knit and am now doing....god help me...inches of 1x1 ribbing.  With the equivalent of fuzzy thread and long toothpicks.  What was I thinking???  Still, I do love the yarn, skinny little thing, and I love the color.  I should be able to wear it by next spring.

Lace weight Merino yarn in "Lettuce".

Slimmie is again snugged next to me in the morning, although he now hooks a claw or two into my clothing so that I can't get away.