Dog Days of Summer

Have you ever heard anyone refer to the dog days of summer?  I can…for as long as I can remember.   August is the month that comes to mind when I hear this phrase.  With a little research I found a little info on the dog days of summer and thought I would share.  Dog days or dog days of summer refers to the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere they usually fall between early July and early September whilst in the Southern hemisphere they are usually between January and early March. The actual dates vary greatly from region to region.  Dog Days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress.  The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.  These are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.  No wonder this past week has seemed like the dog days of summer.   Temperatures in the triple digits and no rainfall.  The only problem is that the first day of summer was June 21 so the dog days are still yet to come.  Hopefully we will not have to endure a full 40 days of hot and dry weather.  My concern for my 12 year old dog….Pumpkin….was on the top of my priority list with the rising temperatures.  She has always been an outside dog but with age creeping up on her the heat would definetly be a hazard.  That is when I told my husband that we had to do something…whether it was bring her inside or get her an air-conditioner.  We tried bringing her in but she was not happy being confined so…you guessed it….an air-conditioner was the solution to the problem.  My husband found a small one about one foot by one foot and we installed it in her house.  It took her a couple of days to decide that she might like it but once she did everything else was history.  No more eating outside…sleeping outside….or just sitting around.  The only time I would see her emerge is for bathroom breaks and to take a quick walk to stretch her legs and then back in she would go.   Even her water is located inside so that she doesn’t have to venture out for a cool drink.  Thank goodness today’s temperatures have only been in the eighties… but with a fur coat on….the air-conditioner still won out over the cooler breeze.   Place cursor on picture and click to enlarge. 

Pumpkin is ready for the dog day’s of summer!!

Only cool days ahead now!!

Pumpkin

Laughter Can Be The Best Medicine

I know the “swine” flu is nothing to be made light of and it can be very serious.  But in a time when everything is so chaotic and life seems really hard…I think a little laughter always helps to lighten the load.   Remember…sometimes laughter can be the best medicine.   I received this in an email and thought it was really cute.  I would love to give whoever took the picture credit but I don’t know who it is.   Needless to say…it was perfect timing for a great picture.

How to avoid contacting the Swine Flu! 

A Pet’s Ten Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2.. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8.. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them.

Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God’s critters.

~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Goober’s Life

This is Goober.  He is one of 6 cats that own me.  As you can tell he leads a hard life.  This was him yesterday struggling to relax and enjoy a warm and beautiful Spring day.  He has almost got this technique down to perfection.  He really enjoys life!  Well…his life anyway!  Maybe…we should take a few lessons from him.

If You Want

This was sent to me by email…if your an animal lover you gotta love it!!

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never say it’s not quite as good as his mothers…then adopt a dog.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want…then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn’t care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies…then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores….then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who never criticises what you do, doesn’t care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually…then adopt a dog.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness… then adopt a cat!

Now be honest, you thought I was gonna say…marry a man, didn’t you?

 

 

Welcome

Welcome to Whiskers and Tales!

This is my first post and I am still working out the small details.  Bare with me.  I will have the fur groomed, nails clipped and the hairballs under control before you know it!!