The dog days of summer?

You’d never know that today was the 7th day of October. Normally the high temperatures would be around 70 but when we left for the river around 11:30 it was already 80 degrees and rising. We knew this would be our last fling on the river for 2007. The leaves are starting to turn the fall colors of red, orange and brown and are dropping.


When you look up the definition of “Dog days of summer” it goes like this: The phrase Dog Days' or the dog days of summer", refers to the hottest, most sultry days of summer. They are a phenomenon of the
northern hemisphere that usually falls between July and early September but the actual dates vary greatly from region to region, depending on latitude and climate. Dog Days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant. According to Wikipedia.

And so it is that this blog really gets its name from what we took with us on the river, since we are past September by one week, Bentley. Yes he got to go on the river, standing majestic on the bow of the boat, his ears flapping in the wind. It took him a bit to get his so called "sea legs", and few clumsy near falls but he made it. We pulled in at Luebbering’s Island and the water temperatures were wonderful with a gentle breeze blowing. Bentley made a rather ungraceful exit from the boat and loved the water. He inspected the island, log jams in the shoals, every stick he could fetch and did lots of swimming.

After a run up and down the river to mix the gasoline with the chemical to protect the motor for winter, it was time to head back to shore. Bentley would walk from end to end of the boat while we were boating, he didn’t want to miss a thing. At one point I thought he was going to jump out to catch the water splashes.


Back home by 1:00, BT washed and waxed the motor and the boat and stored it until next spring. It is always sad to have to put it away. He then washed his Jeep and I cleaned the inside of the windows for him.


After I cut the grass and used the weed eater, I headed inside for a pedicure and BT went to the shop to forge. He made a new handle and latch for the interior barn door.

The neighbors were out playing with a new type of scooter. They brought it up in the field adjoining our property. That was all it took for Bentley to join them. BT had to get the 4 wheeler to retrieve him.


Almost our entire dinner was grilled, Deer steaks, zucchini and pineapple. We then retreated inside and waited for the rain. BT wants to burn brush piles tomorrow and it must rain before that can be done.


9:32 75.2 degrees