Limestone

I've always liked my city because there really is such habitat diversity. It can be endless sunflower fields one minute and a bustling downtown the next. From quiet rich neighborhoods, bog like lakes, prairie filled with cows, The Kansas River and thick forests to caves, cliffs and limestone glades. We have it all within an hour's drive of home.

  

 

 

It can't be!

Is that really rain?

Its been so long since we've seen it... 

we can't be too sure!

There once was a lake..

There once was a quiet pristine algae covered lake. 

Only it wasn't a lake. 

It was a mud pit.

It took two hose rinses.

20 min of scrubbing in the bathtub

and dish soap....

to clean this poor puppy.

Things n Stuff

Once upon a time we had a good camera and had a lot of fun taking good photos. 

Like the following of Taricha n' her old buddy Rufio. 

Lately all we've been using and seeing are cell phone photos. Awful ones, cause I have an awful phone. Taricha has informed me that she's tired of looking blurry and ugly in these low rez pics that usually need to go thru instagram to be salvagable. I informed her, that I dont have a good camera anymore! I loaned it out to a sister and I dont think we'll see it again. 

A phone is truthfully easy as hell to slip in and out to grab quick shots. Like when we're running around 'duck island' which is a little mound of growth in the middle of a algae covered pond along the Sante Fe Trail, we're bouncing over wood planked bridges, climbing trees and poking under rocks looking for lizards. Carrying a real camera isnt always easy when you like getting dirty.

 Then there are home moments... like when Set decides to cuddle and its so effing cute you cant stand it..... even the phone cant handle the cute, it cant pick up the cute. I need some real lenses, some real options and sometime soon we're going to have to break down and get another camera.

Unrelated note. Taricha has decided she only wants to drink from water bottles themselves while we're out and about. I usually pour into her bowl, but no, she insists on nearly 'sucking' water out of the bottle by wrapping her huge jowels around it and well.. sucking. I do wonder if this is 'safe' considering she is such a large barrel chested dog, sounds like she gets tons of air. I couldnt find much about it online. Guess its kind of handy cause now I dont have to carry a bowl around?

Still Totally Miserable

Summer is dragging on and on and on!

We're using the cooling vest all the time, even at 8am... !

The Cranes, Reverie

Opening my eyes

Clouds go floating by

For a while

I see your smile

For a while I go high...

For a while I see your smile

Just for a while

I go high....

Now we fall in sleep

Ever lost you know

I could cry, in your eyes

I could cry, when we try

I could die in your smile

I could cry in your eyes

Makes me happy

I go high...

I go high

I go high

Fields!

Today turned out to be a great break from the heat.

You know its been bad when even the fields of sunflowers are drooping!

Toasty!

Mid walk break.