Hazel, dreaming about the hot season when she can go out and play in the heat and dust (only she doesn't - she stays inside where it is cool!).
"Rain, rain, go away, and don't come back until another day!"
The following two pictures are of the dogs, at dusk, catching white ants that come up from out of the ground. The white ants come out of termite holes (I think?) and the termites have very nasty pinchers. They like to latch on to the dogs feet and noses, which can make from some pretty cool dance moves from any of the unlucky dogs! The white ants fly up into the air and some of the dogs jump to catch them, which also pretty entertaining (for people like me anyways!)! It is not unusual to pick termite heads, pinchers still attached, from a dogs lips when they are done :)
In the last three years the kids have seen a lot of building, which is evident in their sandpit play. While "normal" children play with proper sand toys, making castles, etc, mine can be found with picks, hoes, water and shoves, building small structures.
Frankie, diligently mixing his "cement" (mud!)
I gave L an old spatula from the kitchen, thinking she would use it to "cook" in the sandpit (also a common theme). I thought wrong. She instead used it to build her wall :)
Now that we have a bit more foliage around the place, we have a lot more birds! A Red-chested Sunbird is building another nest in the flowers over our back porch. It is so fun to sit on the back porch and watch her work! She hatched out some babies a while ago, and it was fun to see her go back and forth and feed them. Then one fell to the ground and Hazel ate it, but oh well...
Front of the nest
Side of the nest
As you can tell, I've made a bosom friend!
I must say, every stable needs to have a donkey or two around it. They are like huge puppy dogs and are the best!
Did you know that horses in Uganda like, in addition to traditional carrots, treats of bananas and pineapple? I wonder if Montana horses would too, if given the chance!
They also like chickens I guess. This was right before Flaminca knocked the poor hen right off the door ;)
Choco, hanging with the cool kids - the donkeys!
Then we have the Jersey club. Yes, I admit to sometimes going to smell them. Nothing like the smell of Jersey to bring back fond memories of my blissful teenage years (that sounds strange but yes, my teenage years were great! Partly due to my Jersey cow I'm sure ;)!
Our newest dog, Freya, is doing better. She was super anxious when we got her and really annoying. Like, extremely. And I like dogs! Her favorite game was to run through the house time and time again, crashing through the front screen door that doesn't latch, then around the house, through the back door, tearing through the dining and livingrooms, through the front door again. Over and over again. Any time we were in and she was out she was jumping, clawing at the windows trying to get in.
The other dogs have started playing with her now, mainly Rudy and Hazel, and that has really helped! I also taught her to sit. She is a smart dog, but was just too full of anxiety. But she is slowly evening out and is a very happy, enthusiastic dogs with a beautiful face!
