We had a relatively mild winter. Everything came back early this year. After a long drought it began raining one day a week pretty much every week. It wasnt much rain. It wasnt anything near the amount we needed to fill the dry riverbeds. However, it was enough to convince all the plants to wake up and come back. Suddenly somehow there was grass where there only used to be weeds before and there were purple flowers, bluebonnets, and indian paintbrushes growing everywhere in shocking abundance. The landscape looked so green and so colorful you almost forgot it was texas. people stopped on the side of the road and made their kids get out of the car and step around fire ant hills in the tall grass to get a good picture in amongst the wild flowers.
At home the dog run grew faster than the rest of the property. I will assume its all that magic dog pee that gave the grass and bull thistles the running start they needed to grow faster than the rest of the yard. I looked around, realized it was time, and grabbed the seven batteries it would take to rotate on and off the charger as i was using a different one in order to mow the dog run. I got it done in the dusk hours after work. However, it would continue to rain once a week and the grass, clover, and thistles would continue to thrive. A few weeks later it would require mowing again.
When i was finished mowing the grass in the dog run for the second time this year i thought the picture i was trying to take would be more interesting with a dog in the foreground. So i called Cashew over. It resulted in the most epic picture i’ve gotten of her so far. She immediately heard me call her and responded with what seemed to be the equivalent of, “what? You need me?! Im needed?! You have a job for me?!!! Mom, i’m coming!!!!!!!! I’m coming mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The photograph depicts Cashew flying through the air full speed in the direction of the camera, all four paws off the ground, literally airborne, ears flapping in the wind, absolutely determined to report for duty as quick as dog-gone possible! She can certainly make a yard look more interesting. I asked and she delivered. Of course when she got there i had to make up a crisis for her to help me manage…she was expecting a job, and had so enthusiastically reported for duty. I pretended we were having a critical stick shortage and we needed to collect tons of them and pile them over there pronto. She helped me gather up all their sticks and put them in a pile with great and fervent enthusiasm. She’s an aussie, she loves a job.
