Simple Pleasures

This weekend I spent it with my family shopping in Castroville (a city wide garage sale), didn't buy much but had a blast. My family is growing and changing so much. My nephew is taller than I am and is beginning to explore himself and the opposite sex.. YIKES! I am glad I am not his mom.. I enjoy being the aunt who he can ask anything, hang out, and I can teach him to drive. Don't really have to deal with the hormones. Then there is my niece who is such a little person all of her own, with her own opinions, ideas, choices, vocabulary, and cute little ways she gets me to buy her things that she really doesn't need.. UGH!!
Sunday I woke up my lazy Hawaiian and we went to work; he is tall and I am not so he needs to earn his keep and reach! I also took my 3 dogs. They roamed my campus, made friends with Sid (my partner teacher), his fiancee, a coach, and several students. I then had a brilliant idea and wanted to take them to either the Medina or Frio river to frolick around. I ended up at Garner state park (where I get in free thanks to disabled plates) whoo-hoo... From the minute they bolted out of the box, down to the river bank I couldn't get my 2 dark ones out of the water. Riley took her own time getting in but she did. The water was perfect; temp. depth, and clarity.. I brought a ball and watched my little one attack the water by running full force into the water and just jumping in without any reservations. They were simply enjoying the water and each other. I was enjoying them and Squishy running away from the "clicking bugs", so he says. I didn't see or hear anything. But, Seamus did meet his first deer family. It was a little intense I wasn't sure what he was going to do. I thought he would chase them or they would run in fear and he would follow.. But they stared at each other, he growled, Riley barked, and then out of the water like a rising bullet Dakota bolted out and ran towards the deer. All I saw was this black blur with the sound of dogs tags ringing in the air. Luckily, she had to go up an embankment and the deer were quicker than she. Dakota retreated back to the water after she and the other two sniffed deer poop. YUCK!
As my kids were roaming the river bank I chatted with squishy to help keep him focused on me and the dogs. We talked about the dogs breeding and how different they are. Riley and Seamus are from "back-yard breeders" (me included). While Dakota comes from a proven, well-known, and winning breed line. Her behavior in and out of the water shows it. She is so intense in the water, retrieving, stalking damn deer, listening to her screaming and panicky momma. Riley and Seamus are pure-bred labs but have more of a laid back character. Seamus played in the water and roamed the river like a child on an adventure while Riley followed along taking her time, ignoring her pack calls and being a loner (in a good way or maybe it is because she is older). Anyhow, I had a blast. It was amazing. I promised myself and my kids that I would take them more often, maybe even overnite camping with my family.

Now, my dogs are passed out but look completely happy and at peace. It seems the small country road I took today brought me home, closer to nature, and in a strange way to my parents. I have been missing them a lot lately, today I felt and smelled them at the river..



I actually heard this song on the way home.. I knew my dad had something to do with that! Dad, I am not in West Virigina but I get it.. Thanks and I love you!



Here we are at the rivers edge. Yes, I did end up in the water thanks to Seamus and Dakota and my mom. Thanks mom for reminding me to cool off and have fun.. I love you too and miss you.