LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, June 5, 2009

Fridays are Golden

We had another four inches of rain this week, taking us out of any drought category (not even abnormally dry) for the first time in more than two years. It is wonderful!

Our dogs are very active and will run on the trails until we make them stop to rest. However, they hate rain and become a couple of slugs in rainy weather. It amazes me that they are content to simply lie around on rainy days. One would think they would become restless. Instead they do not seem at all bothered by the lack of activity. Too bad they don't know how to read...I'm sure they would love a good book on a rainy day. They do occasionally play actively with tug toys or wrestling.

Ellie picks up a toy and it appears they are finally going to see some action.




But Ellie declines, leaving Lucy to play with the toy by herself.


She carries it across the room while Ellie simply watches. "Go ahead, Lucy. Enjoy yourself. I'll just sit here and watch."
We are fortunate enough to have a large screened porch. They love sitting there watching the birds and animals or just listening to the rain while we read. So I thought a visit on the porch might ease their boredom.
Lucy takes a look into the woods. Usually, she goes to each side of the porch looking for action.
They are not at all interested in being on the porch. Both of them go and stand at the door, clearly wanting to go back inside.




I try to explain that they have this entire porch to themselves. As you can see, they are still begging at the door.


I glance at my watch and I immediately understand what is going on. It is within an hour of dinner time! While the girls cannot tell time, they instinctively know when the dinner hour is approaching. And since it is my husband who provides the feast (if you call dry dog food a feast), they do not leave his side when dinner is an hour away. No matter where he might go, there are two Goldens who appear tethered to him.
----------So I let the girls back inside. They immediately lie directly in front of the chef to make certain he doesn't forget to feed them. We learned the hard way the Goldens have no satiety center. When Ellie was small, we simply left food in her dish like we had done with our Springer Spaniels. Very quickly she porked up and we learned that timed and measured feedings are the way to go. The girls consume their meals in less than two minutes and it's all over.
We are expecting even more rain this weekend so I will spend it reading, knitting, or visiting neighbors. The Golden Girls? They will lie around and reluctantly go for a couple of walks in between showers.
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the time you have to spend with family, including the canine and feline members. Our time with each other is finite...so enjoy every single minute you can.

26 comments:

Sam said...

We can relate to Ellie and Lucy, as it's been raining here too. Marge has gotten a bit better about going out in the rain - she used to refuse it altogether, even for bathroom breaks.

I like the picture of Lucy with her toy. The way she's got it in her mouth, it's over her nose.. too cute.

D.K. Wall said...

Yep, we are sufficiently soggy up here on Fie Mountain in Maggie as well. But hoping the last weather forecast I heard of clearing this evening holds. We like to go to Waynesville for the art festival the first friday evening of every month (well, we humans).

Love the porch too. The Herd LOVES their porch and are hanging out there right now, though they are very ready for the rain to end. They have been practicing that special Siberian (I am bored now) singing all morning. Good thing I don't have neighbors.

Ellie and Lucy are beautiful. I look forward to Golden Fridays!

Rae said...

Carolyn,
It must be a retriever thing because Piper would eat until he became blimp size. And he starts whining everyday at the same time to remind us to feed him - as if we could forget. They love their food about as much as love life.
RAE

George said...

I look forward to your Golden Friday posts. I'm glad you've gotten rain (as we have) and that the girls are content to stay in during wet weather. But are you sure they can't tell time?

Appalachian Lady said...

We also have had a ton of rain (10 inches in May) and it's raining again today. My dog seems down and the cat is playing with her toys. It's supposed to clear up tomorrow though. My dog and cats will be happy. I love your porch.

Cheryl said...

We have had rain today....it is much needed as the ground is bone dry. It wasn't enough to give everything a good soaking though.

I used to leave dry food down for my spaniels and they just took the food when it was needed.
Nella(our terrier) is just the same. Do you think it depends on the breed? It would appear so.

Nella also likes to be with me. If I am in, she likes to be in. If I am out, then she will stay out.

I love Lucy with the toy.....so cute.....

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

What a gorgeous screen porch!
I'd like to hang out there with you and the girls!

KGMom said...

Amen on your benedictory words.
Our dog also has no cut-off point. Our cats, however, do seem to handle "grazing" fairly well.
I love your porch. Good for bird watching, I assume.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Carolyn, I love your Fridays are Golden. I think you have the best-behaved dogs of anyone I know. They are just gorgeous!!!!

I love your screened-in porch.. I would want to live out there all day/night...

We haven't had the rain you have had. We had about 1/2 inch yesterday --but that's about it for us. I'll take anything I can get though!!!!

Did you read Shelley's blog about dogs. She "IS" a Golden Retriever.. I'm a Collie!!!!!

Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

I would take that porch any day!!! Miss Piggy is just like your girls though--wants to be inside near the trough.

Are your dogs afraid of thunder?

grammy said...

Love you porch. Would like to sit out there and visit for awhile. My neighbors Golden Guy got in our back yard and my 3 year old granddaughter was chasing him all over. Then she yelled... "Grandma, he peed in your yard!" Oh my goodness.

Kathryn Magendie said...

Your long porch reminds me of ours! :-)

And your pups are gorgeous - *smiling*

Shelley said...

I love watching their cute faces at the door! But you do have a great porch to hang out on!!

1000 Goldens said...

Beautiful porch, beautiful dogs :) It's so nice they have each other on rainy days too.

Yolanda said...

If I could live anywhere else besides here it would be in the mountains of NC. If we ever move home to the south it will be here.

Kim said...

So cute!! I love the first photo. Rain can be such a bummer for both humans and dogs!

kks said...

my goldens are the same, they won't let me forget their mealtime! funny how goldens are.."go with the flow"....up for whatever..... what a beautiful porch! a perfect place to sit, read and listen.....what lucky dogs! :)

KB said...

My labs shadow whomever takes them for their regular walks, for at least an hour ahead of time. They eat right after their walks, so perhaps it's actually the food that they can't wait for!

Labs don't know when to stop eating either. And, for such a highly anticipated event, you'd think that they'd slow down and enjoy it! But, no, 'down the hatch' in a couple of minutes.

I hope that you get some sun soon!

robin andrea said...

The dogs are beautiful, as always, but it's your porch that has me knocked out. Wow, does that look comfy and cozy. What a great place to sit, look into the woods, and listen.

Cicero Sings said...

We sure could use some rain here!

Love the porch ... That's what we need!

Mingus has lazy, growing days ... or maybe I should say mornings. Evenings are his active time. There is no going outside if there is ANY cooking being done. Our little guy already knows his meal times. He is still on 3 little meals a day and he lets me know it!

Unknown said...

I love your golden girls. In the first shot I thought it was a dog standing by a mirror :)

We are getting a lot of rain as well but I don't think I could ever get tired of the rain.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thank you all for commenting.

Thundering - I can just hear the Herd chorus. Our girls do not sing at all.

Rae - I really hate the time changes for that very reason.

Cheryl - I'm sure self-feeding has more to do with the breed than with the individual dog.

Lynne - Oh, I would love to have you join us on our porch.

Donna - Yes, it is a great place to watch the birds. The feeders overhang the deck above the porch so there is plenty of action and the birds don't seem to know you are there.

KKS - We spend countless hours on the porch, especially when the bugs are out later in the summer.

KB - I couldn't bring myself to mention the real time it takes for them to eat a meal. About 45 seconds and its all gone.

Robin - It IS a quiet place, except when we have dinner parties with dessert on the porch. I don't think we have ever taken even music out to the porch.

Faye - Thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

I miss your blog roll! I loved roaming the mountains via some of your listings.

troutbirder said...

Catching up... They are truly golden. And the Pileated Towhee thing was amazing!

Cedar ... said...

With a porch like that i'd spend many hours there,... and with the girls for companions who could ask for anything more?

Allison Walton said...

Waldo always gets really excited to go outside--except on rainy days. As soon as he realizes it's raining, he skids to a stop and then comes back inside with his head and tail down. Sorry, buddy!