Weigh-in

I have been gone a week so was anxious to see how much weight Koyuk had put on. So anxious in fact that I forgot to check the camera setting when I took her picture on the dog scale. Today is day 40 post breeding. In human terms, she is just starting her third trimester. Koyuk weighed 66.6 lbs up from 64.2 lbs when she was bred. Her girth is 1.25" larger. Twenty-three more days before whelping.

 Hot dogs. It is in the 80's already today.

 Sun bathing beauties.

Sail School

No posts this week. I have been away teaching sailing at the EYC Sail School. This year I had 14 wonderful students; four days of soaking, cold rain; two days of record heat; five days of barely any wind: and one day of gale force wind with carnage separating boats, boats parts and sailors across the lake.

My view of my class.

 The beginners in their colorful boats.

 Final landing.

I came home to three anxious-to-see-me Chinooks. Koyuk is not looking a whole lot more pregnant, though I do believe she actually is. Tomorrow I'll do a weigh-in at the vet. Tonight I will rest.

Perfect Gift

When Dave and I were married 35 years ago, our friends and families had universal opinions that it would not last. We are too different. I lived for adventure. Dave had great pride that he was born in Eugene and never vacationing outside Lane County. But we embraced our differences as we embrace each other. He supports my adventures (and relented to travel outside the county 4 times). I have become more of a homebody attempting to make our place a paradise for us to enjoy. So what did I get as an anniversary present? Another dog sled and a pick-up load of dirt and steer manure. He knows me so well. Not every bride would love Bull Shit as a memento of 35 years of marriage.

After morning sickness, Koyuk was on the search for any source of food - luckily she turned her nose up at the bags of steer manure.

 McKenzie, Koyuk and Cedar posed by the stash.

Morning Visitors and Sickness

As I poured my morning coffee I spotted our resident herd of 7 does brazenly resting outside the back door after a breakfast buffet in the herb garden.

The dogs barking did not even phase them. To preserve the window frames and give the deer a running start, I let the dogs out the front door.

Cedar checking out where the one doe had chewed her cud of parsley, oregano and thyme.

 Even old McKenzie gave chase.

 The other morning visitor was morning sickness.

 Poor Koyuk.

Canine CPR Training

Last evening Dave taught a CPR class. During a break, Cedar and Koyuk demonstrated that they too were paying attention.

"Nope, not breathing."

"Where exactly do the defib pads go?"  "Someone call 911."

 "Dad, you'd better check the diaper on this one."

The Wait Continues...

Koyuk has gained 0.6 lbs since her breeding. The whelps should be about the size of walnuts. The embryonic sacs are just filling. She had morning sickness yesterday. All points to being pregnant but it is still to early to know for sure. The wait continues...

 Cedar with Koyuk.

Pond Harvest

My brother-in-law decided to take advantage of another 80 degree day to get some waterlilies from our pond. Koyuk was all too willing to help...

 while Cedar, my nephew and great niece supervised.

 "Mission accomplished mom. Can we go swim now?"

I love Cedar's smile.

Hot Days - Nice Evenings

Second 86 degree day in a row. Pollen count is off the charts - extreme for everyone else in the world is 200 - we are seeing 700. My fire table is so coated that it is no longer black  While the dogs lounged in the shade, I pulled all of the plants out of the greenhouse and transplanted most into the garden. Aphids were the only things thriving in the 120+ greenhouse heat.

 

But the evenings have been wonderful. A green stage; sky of deep azure blue; songbird chorus; Chinook entertainers;  tall cool one and a comfy chair. Heaven

It's A Jungle Out There

During the three weeks of 80 degree weather in April, I weeded like mad. Then it turned cold and rained and rained. Don't get me wrong, we needed the rain but not after the vegetable plants are in the ground and weeds are under control. It is once again unseasonably hot and the weeds, unlike my cucumbers and tomatoes have thrived.

These days, Koyuk is always by my side. She and I went on a tour of the jungles that not that long ago were show gardens.

 

The pet graveyard.

Where is the creek this bench sits by?

On the to-do list: fix the pond path railing.

Rhody path jungle.

Time to rest before tackling the weeds. What do you think - is Koyuk pregnant?