It is Labor Day as I write this, a holiday that deserves a lot of attention. There is controversy about exactly who got it started, but forces gathered in 1882 to pay tribute to laborers and workers who rarely get attention and acknowledgement. It feels especially important now, given the Writer’s Guild of America strike and the current cosmic forces changing work as we’ve known it in the past.
Here’s the thing about that: I have an outline written about what to say next–the importance of laborers and unions, then, transitioning to the work that dogs do, from sheepdogs to the companion dogs that enrich our lives. But, apparently my brain is going on it’s own kind of strike, because I’ve written what should be the next paragraph about ten times and keep deleting it because it’s not good enough. I finally figured out the problem: I want the day off. Which is ridiculous, because, as you’ll see below, I’ve spent the last few days as if on vacation. But, still, who I am to break a picket line, even if it’s in my own brain? I concede. (Jim approves, as a former union organizer.) I expect my brain to be back to work soon. Stay tuned.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: It’s been a very different weekend than expected. We had planned to spend much of it at my favorite trial, the Midwest Championship Sheepdog Trial in Hudson, WI. Here’s a photo of part of the field from year’s past:
You can see why I love being there, it’s so beautiful. If you squint, you can see the tiny dots of a dog and a group of sheep below the gates. What you don’t see is that the course extends a long way to the left, and also to the right. It’s a huge, sprawling course, one more similiar to that used in the World Trials in the UK than to ones run in the states.
But, sigh, the weather forecast was for high 90’s for much of the weekend, and Jim and I made the difficult decision to not go. Temps that hot could kill Skip (literally, with his heart condition), and make life exceptionally hard for me with all my medical adventures. So we stayed home, which meant not putting in our volunteer shifts as planned, and making life even harder for the hosts to fill in the gaps. I still feel badly about that.
Last week it was 100 here, and insanely humid, and I could barely stand letting the dogs out to pee, so I just couldn’t imagine living through being outside all day, much less working the dogs. The good news is that it hasn’t been nearly as humid as last week, much, much easier on all the mammals involved.
The bad news is I am still suffering from a major case of FOMO, although not so much a “Fear of . . . ” as a “Regret for . . .”. I love the trial, many of the people involved, the area around Hudson itself, and am bummed to miss it. And, it turned out to be much less humid than last week. But, there you are: You make the best decision you can at the time, and go with it.
Once we made the decision I decided to make lemonade out of lemons, and told Jim I wanted to act like we were on vacation in a new city. We did just that: On Thursday we went to the Meat People Butcher in Monona, picked up one of their now famous sandwiches, and munched away at Olbrich Park, followed by walking around Madison’s premier garden, Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We live far west from the other side of town, so don’t get there much. I didn’t last too long; I just can’t walk all that far right now, but savored every minute of it. The water lily display was especially beautiful in the warm summer sun:
Friday we spent at home (more time to work on the novel revisions!), then went out to our “Cheers” equivalent, Bistro 101 for dinner. Bartender Gina is a big dog lover and makes a mean Mock Cosmo for me. Saturday we went to the little town of Paoli for a breakfast snack at the Seven Acre Dairy Cafe and strolled around the Paoli Art Fair. So much talent! We couldn’t resist bringing home this “yard art” crane, who is now hunting mice and snakes in one of our front gardens.
The afternoon was spent mostly on the couch, watching soccer and the US Open tennis (Alcaraz! Keys!), reading a great new book, What An Owl Knows, and dealing with the endless parade of emails that sprout up in our inboxes like weeds.
Sunday we ate your basic American breakfast at down-home Grandma’s Cafe, and went to dinner at upscale Sardine in downtown Madison. You can’t get a much bigger range of restaurant experiences than that, and we loved them both. In honor of Labor Day, we gave all of our servers 50% tips. Well earned, and so appreciated. Today, as soon as I post this, we’re going to see a movie, Oppenheimer. Seen it yet? We saw Barbie awhile ago but didn’t want to do a Barbenheimer. (Favorite Barbie scene is when the Kens play guitars to “seranade” the frozen-faced Barbies. I laughed so hard I probably embarrassed Jim. I can barely count the number of times, a gazillion years ago, when that happened to me. The ultimate in awkward, probably for the men too. ((Note to guys: Don’t do it.)))
The dogs have gotten lots of grooming (brushing out Skip is like sweeping the beach; you get the same amount of undercoat every time you do it), and work on sheep when it wasn’t too hot. Here’s Skip after cooling off in a friend’s water tank recently. Photo title: Dog with tongue.
Last good news: After gashing my hand with a piece of broken glass hiding in soapy dishwater, I can actually type easily now for short periods when I take off vet wrap and free my fingers. It’s been a week, but it’ll be another one before I think I’m out of the woods. It all probably would’ve healed faster if I’d not been stubborn and gotten stitches, but, you know, who wants to go to the ER at 9 at night? I considered taking a picture of the kitchen sink area, aka, Horror Movie Scene One, but figured I’d better spend my time staunching the bleeding.
I hope your weekend was just what you wanted it to be, that you avoided extreme heat, floods, mud, fires, and heaven knows what else. Sloppy kisses to your dogs, and my eternal appreciation for being part of our village.
Frances says
I love the Monet water lilies and gasped at you kitchen-horror-scene – eek indeed! Hoping you heal quickly and thoroughly, with no repercussions.
My weekend was rather stressful as my elderly cat, Tilly, became rapidly ill and stopped eating and drinking – the latter extremely worrying in a 20 year old cat with chronic kidney failure. My wonderful vets were reassuring when I phoned them on Sunday and by Monday morning she was sufficiently improved for me to cancel the 9am vet appointment we’d made. I was by then pretty sure that it was calicivirus, and it did not seem fair to risk spreading the infection when she was getting better with careful nursing. It is only a few weeks since I had to say goodbye to my toy poodle, Poppy, so it is extra special to have Tilly for a while longer.
Here in the UK summer has returned after weeks and weeks of cold and wet, just as the children all go back to school. It seems odd to be planning early morning walks in the cool of the day as the days are shortening and Autumn is just around the corner!
Trisha says
Oh no Frances! So sorry about the scare witth your cat after losing Poppy. Rough go, glad Tilly has improved. Oh, these animals and how they wrap around our hearts.
Chris from Boise says
You were wise to put Skip’s health (not to mention your own) first, but darn it all! Still, you made some very fun – and delicious – lemonade from those lemons. May autumn and autumn temperatures come soon to you.
Frances – I’m so sorry to hear that Poppy has passed. You told such wonderful stories of her and Sophy. Fingers crossed that Tilly is feeling much better now. I trust that Master Freddie is leaving her in peace.
Kathy says
After a brutal summer in Texas I completely understand and agree with your tough decision. Pushing through might have been ok in years past but not now. The consequences can be too long lasting. But fall is coming soon!!!!!
Susan Molloy says
Here in the US last few days of heat and humidity have been a real challenge. Watch that hand injury. Was wondering if you could address protecting our dogs from flea/tick. It’s brutal here on Long Island. We’re so infested. My lab had a seizure recently, so vet pulled her off an oral preventative just in case. Truthfully, after much research, all these insecticides are scary. The all natural route is not that effective. Damed if you do, and if you don’t! I’ll take any suggestions. Many thanks.
Margo Harris says
Having my morning coffee while reading your post…perfect pairing!
I hope your hand heals soon.
😁🤗❤️
Wendy Katz says
Sweeping the beach – a perfect description! I’ve lived that for many years since I seem to have an affinity for ridiculously wooly dogs.
I’m sorry you missed the trial but the vacation-at-home did sound fun and yummy. I’m glad your hand is healing and I totally understand the ER aversion.
It’s been only moderately hot in the Bluegrass (high 80’s-low 90’s), and quite dry after an extraordinarily stormy spell. Which is good because I have an Aussie puppy with a bandage on one foot, and putting on the plastic bag to keep it dry for potty outings is a major headache! So far we’ve only needed it first thing in the morning when the grass is dewy. I’m stressed to the max worrying about what the stress of the cone, bandage and all the non-consensual handling during her critical period is doing to her already weird little herding dog brain. But she has a good genetic foundation so I’m doing what I can to help her decompress and hoping for the best.
Cathy Baier says
That sounds like such a perfect holiday weekend. Thanks for sharing your recipe for making lemonade out of lemons!
Trisha says
Good luck Wendy, keeping paws dry is a huge challenge. Had to do that for a St. Bernard, while camping in a down pour. Not fun!
Barb Stanek says
I have had my girl spayed (as I also have her year and a half in-tact son), and we are on leash-walking duty. There are fewer ways that better make ten days seem like ten weeks.
Things could be worse! It hasn’t rained or snowed or blown cold winds at us as we walk along! Glad to have this adventure done and past us!
Deborah Mason says
We spent our weekend at a NADAC Agility trial in Montana. We got lucky with the weather, neither too hot nor too cold and the rainy days had lots of breaks for taking the dogs out to potty. For our skill levels, we did well. Both my husband & I run dogs in Agility and Rally, so we can compete and be together. At this point our dogs are in different levels, so we’re not competing against each other yet. And we made it home before “deer thirty” – near dusk driving can be treacherous here in far NW Montana.
Barbara Martin says
Trisha, thank you for supporting – no celebrating! – Labor. My husband retired eight years ago as a Master Electrician with an Admininstrator’s license. Many, many years ago he started in non-union jobs that promised benefits after 90 days. Amazingly, the jobs always ended at day 89! Then he joined IBEW Local 191 and we made it into the middle class. We retired with enough to support our expensive hobbies – horses and dogs.
Good on you for pacing yourself and making wise, if difficult, decisions. You are a great example for all of us. I so love your photos. Have you considered collecting your photos into a book? We would all buy it and give copies to our friends.
Trisha says
Argh, Barb, I feel your pain. Willie was on leash for months. And months, and months…. Or, twenty years. One or the other. Hope things improve soon!
Trisha says
Barbara and unions: I still can’t understand why more people don’t go into the trades, and why those who do don’t get more respect. Good jobs, good pay, essential skills, and never, ever enough of them. Good for your husband for making such a smart choice.
Tails Around the Ranch says
Sometimes you just need a break and there’s no shame in that. And those obscene temps are as good a reason as any. Happy belated Labor Day to you. Hope the heat dome breaks and we can all break out the beloved sweaters to walk in golden fields soon. 🐬🍁
Jann Becker says
That picture of Skip makes me want to run my hands through his thick, fluffy hair! Last Friday night I was trying to get out of the car, on the passenger side, to herd the dogs away so husband could pull into garage. But we were still on the hill; I fell, landing on my back with my head pointing downhill. The only way to get back into the car involved scooting, sitting down, down to the neighbor’s flat driveway. From there I used my PT-approved way of getting up off the ground to get back in for the trip to the ER.
The worst part of any ER trip is the waiting. I didn’t enjoy getting stitches in my head, or lying right on the sore spot in the CT scanner, but waiting TWO HOURS to get the all-clear from radiology sucked. I couldn’t get so much as a Tylenol and I really needed at least one more blanket. We got home after 11, finding that one of the doggos had not quite been able to hold it for 4 unexpected hours.
So the first night my head hurt, next day my back, yesterday a sciatica-like pain down my leg and today it’s my back again. I’m grateful to the Powers that Be not to have injured my brain, but the body that totes it around is still cattywampus (a great word from my mom) from the impact.
So Dooley stretches out along my leg, very reassuringly, while Jojo comes over to stick his cold nose in my ear and hijack any available petting.
Gayla says
Barbara Martin, that’s a wonderful idea/suggestion!
Trisha says
Oh oh oh, Jann, what a horrible night! Sounds terrifying to me. And exhausting. Sending so much healing energy and sympathy!
lak says
As usual your photos are beautiful! I love the dogs leaning into each other. Your idea for vacationing in your home town is brilliant. Yep we were wickedly hot and humid in MI as well. Made the best of it, walking dog early and running air conditioner occasionally! I prefer the cooler temps so look forward to spending warm days and cool nights this fall, the dog prefers it as well! My day yesterday started with a neurology appointment for my mom and ended with emergency vet trip for dog! That’s life right? So appreciative of the kind vet that saw and took good care of us! Having company this weekend and then looking forward to perhaps getting back to normal routine…who knows. Have a great week!
Trisha says
lak: Emergency vet? All okay now? ER trips never fun for anyone!