Saturday and a full kennel

Saturday mimicked a lot of other Saturdays - busy with lots of dogs.  Our Ken was focused on gardening - often in the pouring rain.  There was the requisite thunder shower late afternoon, just to jazz things up  a bit so excitement prevailed.  The morning was relatively pleasant (balmy if you compare it to the afternoon monsoon) and Ken dug and planted.  Herbs made their way into pots in readiness for the summer round of recipes.  Then there was an all hands on deck inspection of the gardens - as far as Lee could tell, she was inspecting dirt - with a lot of sage nodding of heads and Ken waxing eloquent (well, ok, he said a couple of words without prompting) on the subject of new versus old strawberry plants and the future of crops in general.  The tractor made a good many passes through the front yard and there was some activity at the gate where the flower garden has expanded to fill the space available to it. 

The kennel is ticking along.  Kaizer and Melanie are settled in - and Ken has learned that Melanie (who was initially Kaizer until it was discovered that he is a she) is not amused when Kaizer of the wagging tail and smiling face is put out in the exercise area rather than being next to her.  Darryl feels that Lola has potential as a playmate but we are working on Lola.  This is her first boarding experience, she is a bit confused by the whole business and has made it to the point of exercising along the perimeter of the outside runs.  She is as big as a house and still growing and at an age where change is tough for her to assimilate.  Ken has made her a project so the two worked in tandem in that perimeter area.  Lola has now determined that Ken may be her friend, and that Lee must be her not-friend and should darned well stay away from both her and Ken.  Lee is taking that thought under advisement.  She and Darryl are pretty sure this turn of affairs should be short lived.  Naomi and Moses are star boarders and shake their heads at the shenanigans with the new boarders.  Tippy, on the other hand, has decided that there had been good potential for a dust up but that the best has passed so has turned from facing out to keep an eye on all that happens to turning his back on the world.  Now, you can't turn your back completely because you just can't tell 100% that things have deteriorated to the point that it is once again routine so he lays, giving you his back for effect, but with that black head turned, one ear cocked and an eye open 'just in case'.  Out Tippy is nothing if not an opportunist.  He is eating well - doubtless storing his energy for any untoward outbursts that may require his attention.  Darryl is next to him and finds Tippy endlessly fascinating - how long can a dog maintain that attitude instead of playing is Darryl's conundrum. 

The house dogs are well, wet and weather intolerant.  The stove had to be put on to dry them out by dinnertime.  Patti has her suitcase packed and is ready to leave for any clime that offers a guarantee of a thunder storm-less environment.  She does not feel that this continued banging and crashing in the sky is necessary nor is it healthy.  Convinced of her plan to depart are Dolly, Nick and maybe Piper.  Clem missed it - there are advantages to losing those senses.  Wee Willy is eating quite well now - still prefers goat's milk to dog food but it is gaining in cachet.  He still spends the night with his Mom and Marguerite still feels that is the right place for him to be.  Jack would like the world to know that he has a new bed, a new blanket and that life is improved - improved to the point that it is very hard to leave that luxury to go outside, especially when Jessie is the companion.  Laurel is doing well and Our Ken is for the first time somewhat hopeful that there could be puppies in that tummy. 

Dinner was a counterpoint to the Belmont Stakes.  A rare meal in front of the television, it included chicken margarita, spinach and fusilli with a brown butter sauce, sundried tomatoes, black olives, basil and feta.  Fruit was all that could be managed for dessert.  Earlier in the day, there were strawberry muffins to accompany coffee break.