Dog + Beach = Stress Therapy

[merimask]

I've finished preparing for the psychic fair that's happening tomorrow.   Of course, I couldn't stop myself from busying my hands with more little projects (leaf keychains...because I did a quick inventory this morning and I have NO green leaves!  Huh!  It's good to have that little stuff lying around at shows), but at this point if I decide to go to bed instead of finishing them, no big deal.  I think I'm pretty well prepared for whatever Spiritfest throws at me.

So what am I doing awake, messing around on LJ?  *shrug*  I dunno.  :-)

I took a walk with Kiba on the beach late this afternoon.  Some storms were rolling in, it was oppressively hot, and I thought we both needed a break.  Because I've been so busy for the last few weeks, the poor neglected dog has been missing his beach walks!  So, we made up for that.

Hot puppy...he wants to get off the boardwalk and into the water, please!

See how lovely?  The parks department has cleaned and raked the sand in preparation for the Memorial Day crowds.  I gotta tell you though, that water is still COLD.

I'm backtracking here, as these trees are at the head of the path that leads to the beach...but does ANYONE know what kind of tree this is?  I love these trees and they're everywhere.

They're covered with big improbable-looking flowers and I'm just crazy about them, but I have no idea what they are.  golden_meliades, any ideas?

There are pink versions too...though they're very rare.   This poor tree was pretty chewed up by last October's storm, but it seems to be flowering very nicely anyway.

Anyway, back to the beach!

We were walking towards Kiba's favorite romping spot; a sandbar on a remote tip of the beach where I can let the Keebinator off the leash safely because there's little he can get into...OR SO I THOUGHT.  Suddenly, the dog is leaping into the air and freaking out like a trout on a line (fortunately his lead was still on).  I look ahead and not ten feet in front of us is a pretty big snapping turtle.   He was all dusty and dry, and heading towards the water.  He paused and gave us the StinkEye, and I have to say that he was formidable...I mean, his shell was the size of a dinnerplate!  In spite of the crazy leaping yelping dog (he REALLY wanted to play with the funny-looking kitty) I managed to snap a pic before Mr. Turtle resumed his march into the waves.

And then he was gone...and I am NEVER going into the water at that beach again without shoes on.  I've seen guys that size snap an inch-thick stick in two with their jaws!  *shudder*  If he'd been offlead, Kiba could have easily lost a toe.

My favorite spot.  My secret place.  :-)

Here, I let Kiba off leash and wade out onto the sandbar (with sneakers ON).   Kiba romps in the water...

Joining me on the bar...

...cooling off in the shallows...

...snurfling underwater.   He NEVER learns that water up the nose = sneezing fit.  He seems to enjoy it.  Silly critter.

Over my shoulder I keep hearing rumbling...but I can't really SEE a storm cloud.  It's there...

...the sun is just turning it all silvery.  We head back home in the heat and haze.  The storm never really breaks, but the heat does and halfway back to the car it gets windy and the temperature drops about ten degrees.

Kiba sleeps all the way home.

  

I really need to get him a new wading pool...nothing pleases that silly dog more than splashing around on a hot summery day.  I swear, he likes it better than snow.

In other news...I want to do a big expo!  A craft expo, in Roanoke VA, this October.  Heads up, rumdiculous, I fully intend to be sharing a space there with you.  I can really see your wonderful hand-painted furniture at a show like this...and like I said it's HUGE.   It'll be a great learning experience, you'll get your feet wet, and you're bound to make some good money.  We'll be talking...  ;-)

After midnight...hmm.  I'm going to look at those leaves (carved, shaped & dyed but still not painted.  Or sealed.  Or turned into keychains with the addition of a big split ring...), and decide whether it's worth it to stay up and finish the durn things.  Decisions, decisions...

Comments

[zipis1.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, is that a beach beach, or a lake beach? Either way it's pretty, I just can't help but be curious XD

I always have a big goofy smile on my face when you post pictures of Kiba romping around in this-or-that. He just looks so happy all the time :D

I haven't been able to get Spud to the beach yet this year, despite all his, "Aw, but mom! I can smell the water, we're so close!" looks. The beaches here are still too darn cold to even think about going to. *shudders*

Good luck at Spiritfest! May there be no nekkid!people ;P

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Well...it's a river beach actually. It's on the Niagara river...yes, the same one that goes over the Falls about 8 miles further! There's a very slight but noticeable current, & you are NOT allowed to use any floatation thingies ('cause you could definitely float right downriver & over the Falls).

All the beaches here are freshwater, BUT they're also natural sand. They can be quite lovely if they're groomed a little & kept clean.

Kiba basically has fun everywhere he goes...even when he goes to visit the vet for his shots. He's a talking, tail-wagging goof right up until he gets that shot. Then, he falls over whimpering & crying like a huge baby. 2 minutes later, he's back to being a goof again.

Take poor Spud to the beach! He wants to get sand in his fur and roll in something dead & fishy! :-)

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Heh, my Jake was such an attention slut that he didn't even mind the shots; the vet was yet another place for treats and constant petting. He'd breeze right on in and stand up on his hind legs at the reception desk to say hi, and so long as you kept scratching him he barely even seemed to NOTICE the needles.

Zeus, on the other hand, gets all droopy-ears-and-tail and is a cloud of nervous shedding, and the Scary Vicious Killer Pit of course is just *QUIVERING* with terror; last time she even piddled herself on the exam table! And it's not like the vets are at all harsh with her -- she is just a total wimp. ;)

[moko-moko.livejournal.com]

To bed with you! Damn this vile internet for distracting (says the girl online as she shoudl be doing other things)

As usual, LOVE your Keeber pics, he's impossibly happy and can make anyone smile :D

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Oh man...I have GOT to start sleeping more regular hours. My days & nights are almost completely switched around.

Keebs loves you too! You have to meet him, he's the Ambassador of Doggie Goodwill.

[indigos-angel.livejournal.com]

OHHHHHHH YEAH!!!!!!

So get Rumi out there making money!!! That would be so awesome for her!

*no more raw chicken giblets on her shirt, eh???* :)

*Rumi, if you see this, I seriously seriously seriously hope you go do those shows. You are so talented, and this would be a great way to make cash!!!!!!!!!* *pleads with and loves her so she goes* XDDDDDD That would be such a good opportunity!

~*~*~*~

Gotta love Kiba!!!! *awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I agree...I think this kind of thing would be perfect for her beautiful furniture painting, too. The commissions alone would be worth it.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

OH, KIBA.

Love the pics, especially that first one where he's in mid-run with lolling tongue...such the picture of canine glee.

And that snapper is very impressive. He could be related to my grandpa's old pet snapper! Churchy was about that same size if memory serves, although I was a very small child so he may be looming larger in my memory. Churchy was a total fat spoiled bastard, that's for sure.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

lol...when Kiba gets hot he hangs his tongue out about a MILE. I'm always careful with him in warm weather though...he heats up really quickly any time it's warmer than 70.

Snapping turtles scare the crap out of me. They're frightening & prehistoric-looking.

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

Aw. Kiba is so cute! *laughs* My house in MA backed up to a swamp that was full of snapping turtles. Most of the time we didn't see them, but they'd emerge every year in June to lay their eggs. My dog, Tequila, would go completely nutty! I am so surprised that she didn't get her nose snapped off.

*giggling* Now I want to try to find that picture of the big snapping turtle trying to crawl into our basement window (which was right above my ex-hubby's computer...that was a bit of a surprise! lol).

I can't tell what kind of tree that is, but it's gorgeous!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I have NO idea why Keebs thought the turtle might be fun to play with. He REALLY wanted to play, though. If it had been a box turtle I'd have let him...you can't hurt those things and it would have been fun to watch him try to figure it out ("Where'd the head go???").

I really love those trees. Whatever it is, I want one. We're re-doing the front yard and I'd love a tree like that one, with ivy underneath it.

[rumdiculous.livejournal.com]

Those trees come in pink? There is a rather large tree growing in an old cemetary near him. It's gorgeous. And I still have no idea what they are.

What's with the snapping turtles lately? My friend was driving down the road and passed one waddling through a field. She said it was huge. They're freaky when they get big. All that armor and spikes with the funky attitude.

Hey, I go to that craft faire at Roanoke. It's literally a hop, skip, and a jump away. (Thirty minutes from where I live.) Sounds like it would be fun. :D We must discuss...

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Yep, pink! And they smell nice too. I wish I knew what they are. I tried to look it up, but all my tree guides go by the leaf shape & I never remember to pay attention! Sorta almost looks like chestnut...

Snapping turtles look like something out of a sci-fi film. Freaky, scary things. They can mess you up...I saw one nearly break my cousin's finger in half, when I was a kid.

I think your furniture is SO perfect for a show like that. I downloaded the entry form. Look through your pictures of your painted furniture & pick out four or five really good ones, and we'll see what happens. I'm not sure if we can share a space (only one exhibitor per space it seems)...but there are many other options. We'll talk!

[rumdiculous.livejournal.com]

They do smell nice! And they hold up pretty well when you press them.

I've seen some freakishly huge snapping turtles around here. Makes me not want to go swimming in ponds ever.

[firegazer.livejournal.com]

Just making sure - did the check reach you all right? It should have gotten there by now. (And yes, I have been trying on the mask at odd hours of the night, just because...)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Ack! Sorry, hon, I should have e-mailed you or something.

Yes, thank you! It came yesterday and I think you guys overpaid. :-) I'm glad you like it. Let me know if there's anything else I can make for you, ok? It was a fun project.

[firegazer.livejournal.com]

Psh. Of course I overpaid. You needed more for something that cool. :)

And I'll let you know if I get another mask hankering, of course! (This is incredibly likely...)