The Last Lazy Hazy Dayz of Summer...

 

(Dad lied. This is a photo from a while ago, but he wanted me to make you think it was taken recently. Some rambling crap about fitting a narrative or something. I usually tune him out after a nanosecond or thereabouts.)

Playful? What?

We try. We really do. Smudge's mom and I are well aware of the importance of interacting with our pets, and especially those of the senior set. Keeping our furry little loved ones active and engaged is important, especially when they're, well, of advanced age, let's say (I can say that since I'm fast approaching it myself). As with Cleopatra and Orbit before her, Smudge takes up a ginormous space in our collective hearts. As much as we often get annoyed with her indifference, how she prefers to ignore us, and the way she looks away whenever we try to talk to her, we love her for who she is and that'll never change. Now that the mushy, serious stuff is out of the way, here, you'll see just how playful she really can be. One of her favorite lounging spots is in the middle of the living room floor, where she loves to sprawl out on her side, occasionally stretching and maybe getting up once in a while to face the other way or roll over. The other day, her mom went to lie down next to her to lavish her with love and attention, and to maybe get her to play a bit. We try. We really do. 

At least one of them seemed to be having fun...

Foggy Schmoggy

One of the things dad says he loves about being back in western NC is the amazing fog. Now, I know I get excited about mundane things like, oh wait, I don't really get excited about anything. Nevermind. Anyway, the fog- dad likes to take pictures of it, and last weekend, while he & mom were hiking Two Sisters and a View Loop Trail in Montreat, snapped these. 

And here's the happy hikers harmoniously hamming it up at Rattlesnake Rock-

These last two are just from nearby. This was taken on the way to dad's work one recent morning,

and he took this one while out getting their morning beverages downtown a few weekends ago.

Pretty exciting, I know (insert yawn here). I'm buzzing with glee at these intoxicating shots (more yawns), but my favorite part is when they return from hiking.

Helping dad rest his weary post-hike legs

You gotta admit, these are much more titillating that that damn fog, no?

Dad says it looks like I'm smiling in this last one.

And why wouldn't I be? I'm in my happy place.