Chased by a monster terrier // Dirty dogs

I. Monday evening

The pups greeted me this evening with such enthusiasm that I knew we would need at least a short walk.

We headed down the street and stopped for a few pictures. Some flowers are already spent, but others are just starting. Some of our neighbors work hard on their flower beds and we appreciate the view.

One neighbor had their mean little terrier running loose. Scruff and Paddy wanted to visit with him, wanted to play, but he was not interested. He was a little bully - wanting to pick a fight.

We walked on after the owner picked him up - and we avoided him on the return trip.

Our neighbor - the lady with the beautiful yard - is all about spring

Fern bed

I had never seen these "lawn clipping" bags before this neighbor started stacking them up on the sidewalk.

Someone has been trimming trees.

Not sure what Paddy was looking at. I was trying to take a picture of the carpet of pecan catkins on the ground.

catkins

II.  Saturday morning - late - too late

I was up at 4:30, but putzed around the house until DH got up. Then we "talked" about walking after dog breakfast. Then we decided we would have coffee and breakfast.

By the time we gathered the puppies for a walk they were past ready. My proof? The muddy paw prints on my once-clean pants and t-shirt.

As we turned from the side yard to the street we realized we really had dawdled too long. The sun was more than up - it was directly in our eyes and no shades or hats could do anything about it.

So we crossed the street to the shady side, sans sidewalk. It was a short walk and undisturbed by loose animals. It seems our inconsiderate neighbors (the ones who let their dogs out loose on the world - to frighten old ladies and old puppies) sleep late on Saturday.

We also were able to snag a picture of the overgrown yucca that had started blooming. * And then we turned for home.

Trash trees growing up around the yucca...still the blooms show through

Notes:

* My Daddy used to travel across 5 counties in south Texas - from courthouse to courthouse. And during the spring he would stop on the side of the road and cut a long yucca bloom (with his razor sharp pocketknife - we always had to be VERY careful if we borrowed that knife**) to bring home to Mom.

Mother would put the yucca in a big cream-colored pitcher on a table in our family room. The scent would fill the area and we would watch the individual flowers drop one by one over the week or so that the yucca decorated the room. I still see every yucca on the roadside and think of Mom and Dad.

** Dad kept that knife unbelievably sharp. I remember one time that he used it the cut the head off of a rattlesnake when we ran across one on a hunt. Later that day we were eating and someone (I think it was my brother) needed a knife to cut his meat. Dad pulled that knife out and offered it. "Oh no!" exclaimed the offeree. "It's got snake guts on it!"

Final note: It has been hot one day, rainy the next, and humid the day after that. This is the time of year that walks are often endured rather than enjoyed.