So a few days ago we took the dogs out for a fun day. Mele still has her stitches and is wearing my old t-shirt but it's a heck-of-a-lot better than an E-collar.
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| Mele and the cone of shame |
Mele did get a couple of double takes from passersby. Personally, I think she's going to look naked without her blue t-shirt.
So, anyway, there we were driving down our driveway and we quickly realized that Mattie was not accustomed to riding in the back of a truck. Even with a shortened leash she was all over the bed of the truck and hanging precariously over the side. After several unsuccessful leash adjustments we turned around and headed home. We hadn't even made it out onto the main road. After considering different alternatives The Man set up the Goaty Boy's crate in the back of his truck and off we went.
On the drive to Morro Bay we passed groves of avocado trees that had been stumped and painted white. The cutting back preserves the trees and the paint protects it from rot. When the rains come it will take three to four years before the trees start to fruit again. The local farmers are running out of water and conserving their resources.
And the surrounding hills are brown, brown, brown.
We stopped at Morro Bay beach for a look-see but opted for Cayucos' dog park so the dogs could be off leash in a fenced area. We weren't sure about Mattie's social skills around other dogs but, phew, we breathed a sigh of relief when she allowed another dog to "steal" her thrown tennis ball. She then went to the watering area and drank with Mele and the two other dogs present. No fuss, no muss. What a good girl.
On the way home we stopped at Atascadero Lake. It's dry, dry, dry. Not a drop of water left. There's shrubbery where there should be water. And gravel where there should be birds.
We need rain, rain, rain.
