Wandering in the Desert

It is hot outside. Really hot. Know how I know?

I decided at 1pm to stick kiddo in the stroller and walk to the post office. I hadn't gone in a few days and my gas tank was below E, so I thought, hey, it's only a few miles, I didn't get to go to the gym last night, it'll be good for us to get out of the house!

Yeah. We made it as far as the Fannin Battleground (two miles from the house, one mile to the post office).
Kellen was fine, he was shaded and it was breezy enough to keep him cool, but I was wiped out and the three dogs, who were dumb enough to tag along, were melting. Schatzi and Klaus were smart and went from shady spot to shady spot and just sat and waited for the baby and I to catch up. Leni, however, wouldn't leave my side and walked on the hot pavement all the way there. She has a thicker coat than the other two, I surprised she didn't turn into a little puddle of puppy.

Luckily, the caretaker for the battleground was home and let me use his hose to fill up a bucket for the dogs. He was super nice and happy to find out who the dogs belonged to. He'd "seen 'em around a lot and figured they was ranch dogs at first, but then he saw that they had collars on, so then he figured they was somebody's pets. They always looked real nice, but he didn't want to get too close, 'cause you just never know. He doesn't see too many people these days -definitely never a lady pushing a baby walkin' down the road! and that's his only entertainment, watchin' deer and the dogs get stuck in the park." Apparently, Klaus and Schatzi are regulars at the park. Two miles away. With someone else's land in between. Now we know why they're never home in the afternoon and why they're so dang skinny.

There's a chain link fence around the park and I guess if the gate is closed, the dogs can't figure out how to get out. The caretaker said he's seen them jump the fence (!) and "they're real pretty, like grace in motion when they run." I have to agree with him on that one, they are beautiful when they run, and boy, do they run. We've clocked Schatzi at about 28 miles an hour in the pasture. Anyway, the caretaker gave us a ride back to the house, kiddo and I in the front, the stroller and three dogs in the back. As soon as we got in the house, I realized my face was as red as a beet and the poor guy must have thought I was about to pass out. Everyone survived and the dogs didn't look too bummed at having their secret hangout revealed. I guess this means we need to make doubly sure their collars are on at all times!

~b

*first picture is our driveway, second is of Leni