Gone to the Dogs?

Y'all know about Dog Days, right?  Those sticky, steamy summer days where there is no such thing as a good-hair day, and just breathing leaves you sapped and soggy?  Well, I'd say they've come to these parts early this year.  Suddenly it's hot with the rat-drenching humidity typical of "Dog Days", and outdoor interests are quickly cast aside for the comfort of air conditioning.

As the humidity rose, I began to wonder where Dog Days originated, and why we use our canine friends to describe such beastly conditions.  Dog Days, as we know them here in the South, normally begin about the time we are cranking up for the Fourth of July, and are the hottest, most humid days of the summer.  The phrase Dog Days comes from Sirius, or the Dog star.  Ancient beliefs hold that this star, second only in brightness to the sun, was the cause of this miserably hot weather.  Also, at that time Dog Days were thought to be evil, causing the seas to boil, wine to turn sour, and bring on burning fevers and hysterics in man.  In those days, Romans would sacrifice a dog to appease Sirius in hopes of getting relief from the heat.

The OId Farmers Almanac shows Dog Days to be the period of 40 days from July 3 through August 11.  It's not even officially summer in our part of the world.  Have the miseries of Dog Days struck your area yet?  

Quote of the Week

photo from wikimedia

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.  

- Henry David Thoreau

Several people can look at the the same scene, object, picture or person and, asked to describe what or whom they've seen, each relate a different description.  It's what we see in our surroundings and our friends that really counts.

Stepping into the Picture

A while back some of you may have seen this photograph on Sara Healy's blog, a sharing connection. This was from one of her Story Photo posts. She suggested that this picture had a story to tell. This is its story.

Photo courtesy of Sara Healy

Beyond the Obvious.  This picture talks to us.  Let’s see what it has to say.  We see things around us.  We see our houses, the passing cars, the flowers and the dog in the neighbor's yard.  All these are real.  We don't think about it, they just are.  They're things we can see, touch, smell and hear.  What about all the things we can't see?  Are they less real?  Do they not exist simply because we can't see them?  Ah, I've got you now.  We're taking a journey beyond the obvious into another world, the world of magical, mystical wonder.  The portal is guarded by two creatures, immortal, half man, half animal, not really belonging to either world.

What lies beyond?  As we pass through the portal, the sky appears to brighten and the lines of definition become fuzzy, taking on an ethereal quality, and nature sings with a voice beyond human ears.  It's not a frightening place, but at the same time we are aware that we're not alone.  This is a world where things are more sensed than seen or heard, a world inhabited by spirits. They are not the ghosts of humans passed, but rather they exist beyond time and space, eternal with no beginning or end.  They are keepers of the realm and the protectors of magic. They can take on physical shape much like the guardians or simply flow in harmony with nature and pass silently between worlds.

As we pass through this strange new place, we pause, reflective, and thoughtful.  This is a magical place.  There is wonder everywhere.  The sky is brighter, the grass greener, the air is alive.  We sense a movement ahead, and there among the trees is the most magnificent creature.  It is a horse-like animal with a single horn centered upon its head, bearing a striking resemblance to the mythological unicorn.  It is the purest white, wearing a blanket of red and gold tapestry.  Impossible!  We all know unicorns don't exist, but then again we're not in our world now.  This is the land beyond the obvious, and anything is possible.

The Battle Begins

Another Magpie Tale

 

My weapons are honed

Awaiting the light of day

Let us now begin






Please click beneath the picture for more magpie tales.

Got Mice?

No?  We did, well "mouse singular", we hope.  We'd just gotten back from a walk after dinner, and I was sitting at my desk doing bloggy stuff when out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed movement.  Rosie was in fast forward behind something small, round and brown, that was, fortunately moving faster than he was.  Out of my mouth spewed “oh my Lord”, and instantly I was up, scrambling for a flashlight to squint behind the refrigerator.  Ah, there he is.  One beady little eye looking back at me.  He's so cute!  Yeah, I know this is a disease-ridden rodent just waiting for the chance to nibble his way through my cereal.  Yikes, that stuff’s expensive.  Gotta get rid of the mouse!

By the time hubby emerged from the reading room (you guys know what that is, right?), our furry guest had come out, and having caught the attention of yet another cat, was now cowering under the stove.  Do you see something wrong with this story, or more specifically, with this mouse?  We live with three cats, one of whom lived outside for years, supplementing his daily helping of cat chow with critter parts.  This poor lil' mouse wouldn't stand a chance.

After exhausting our available options, including trying to entice him into a bucket with some cat food, we gave up and went to bed, leaving the mouse ensconced in his hidey place under the stove.  He was apparently settling in for a life of leisure and all the kibble he could eat, assuming he could survive the 3-foot journey to the cats' food.

So who won this little cat and mouse game?  We did!  We went out and got a Tomcat Live Catch Mouse Trap.  For less than $5 and a dab of peanut butter, we were able to trap and release our furry friend back to the wilds of our back yard.  So if you have uninvited mouse guests, I recommend this product for their safe eviction.

This recommendation is made solely from our own purchase and use of this product.