The Dog Beach

We took Woody to the dog beach for a treat before he goes to the dog kennels (aka Stalag 13). He absolutely adores water so the dog beach is his heaven.

He is civil with all the other users of the dog beach and sniffs all the important things dogs have to sniff when meeting.

Trying to keep him at heel from the car and down the pathway that leads to the beach is impossible. I do my best for a while but eventually give in and say, "Off you go!" and he's off like a rocket, straight into the water.

He fetches the ball incessantly.

Usually he is a good judge of waves, waiting until he can get out there to fetch the floating tennis ball and back without getting 'dumped on' by a wave. This time he wasn't quite quick enough and you can just see him amongst the surf! But once out of the water, a quick flick of the ears and he's keen to fetch the ball again.

I have never see a dog fight on the dog beach. It's wonderful to see happy dogs, running free, playing, sniffing here, sniffing there, saying 'hello' to each other and generally having a good time. As do the owners. You can smile at anyone here and they will smile back.

Let's play!

Time to go home. Depression sets in.

It always takes some time to get back to the car. He walks his slowest pace and it takes lots of encouragement to get him to jump into the car.

Merry Christmas

Yes, the fairy lights ARE ON!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!

(animal lovers be reassured - he LOVES dress-ups!)

Pond Life

We inherited a pond when we came to this property, complete with pond life (and I use that term with its original meaning).

It's only a small pond and doesn't even have a pump to refresh the water, nevertheless, it's full of life.

There's Tom and Jerry, the goldfish; Yorrick, the yabbie; and numerous "mosquito fish" that eat mosquito larvae (very handy when you live in a place like this!!) No, haven't named them all for obvious reasons!

There is also a lily which has just produced a flower. It is exquisite.

In the hollow of a nearby Wandoo is a bee hive. The temperature these past few days has reached thirty degrees Celcius plus. To keep the hive cool, bees create an amazing air cooling system and for this they need water. They come to the pond in droves, sucking up water and flying back to the hive. Busy, busy, busy, all day, until the sun goes down.

If you look closely you can see a line of bees at the water's edge.


Sometimes, when passing I see a bee who has accidentally fallen in! Aaaahhhgggg! bzzzzglug.. bzzzzzzzzzzglug

I throw him a line and pull him to the nearest lily pad. He takes a breath, waves a feeler and off he goes back to the hive!