Rain

I try hard to go with the flow when it comes to the weather. I am outside a lot, and have invested in the proper clothing to generally keep me comfortable no matter what Mother Nature brings.

But, I'm literally ready to flow down a small river - one that is running right down the middle of my kennel!

We have had so much rain, I feel like I live in Seattle instead of NE Ohio. At the time of this writing, it has rained, non-stop, for days. I appreciate a good storm or rainy day, don't get me wrong. But this is ridiculous. It just keeps raining...



and raining ...



and raining...



The dogs don't seem to mind.


Jack lounges in a small muddy hole he dug

In fact, I think they welcome the cooler temperatures. But I would seriously rather do kennel chores in six feet of unshoveled snow than in this incessant rain.

For the few hours it wasn't raining on Sunday, the family and I scooped up some dogs and headed for Kendall Cliffs for a rocky three mile hike in beautiful Virginia Kendall park in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.


I call this photo "Sophie and Elise: the album cover" because it looks like an album cover from the 70's to me! They're both so earthy and hip.

We hiked to ice box cave and enjoyed the temperature drop in the cave.



And I had a chance to marvel at what beautiful girls I have.



I am quite lucky to live this life. I count my blessings. And right now, I am counting my girls, who are turning 11 (Sophie) and 6 (Elise) tomorrow and Thursday respectively.

For their birthdays, soon we will get what we have waited a long time for. A sort of dream come true. This:



A little farmhouse on seven acres about 25 miles east of town. Stay tuned :)

Rainy Days and Mondays...

Like Karen Carpenter said, rainy days and mondays always seem to get me down. Weekends are never quite long enough. Monday finds me back in my suit, heading downtown, leaving my dogs.

But when five o'clock comes, nothing makes me happier than trading in that suit for Carharts and heading outside with my dogs - even on rainy mondays. No matter what the weather, dogs are always happy, and they always make me happy.

They love these cool, rainy days! They splash in puddles and are covered in mud. They make me laugh.

Others may look at my life and criticize me as a "simpleton" for living close to the earth. They may look down their noses at me because I choose to share my life with eight dogs. They may think it strange.

But my dogs are always happy to see me. Even on rainy days and mondays. And I am always happy to see them.