Color Coordinated

Dinner with the neighbors last night--pulled together at the last minute by Cindy. She was ready to see how well Banjo, the Newfoundland, had learned his lessons in "boot camp" where he was sent to learn some manners. A young, stubborn, friendly, 150 pound dog is not always a desirable companion, and when determined to greet somebody, he could knock them and Cindy off their feet! He seemed to have learned his lessons well, even when Hank, the Basset hound--rather smug because he had been sorely tested by a big tall dog invading his space and-now had a chance to get back at him while he was being required to STAY....

There are all kinds of stories about how various friends and acquaintances have dealt with barking, sniffing, digging, chewing dogs. My favorite story came from a friend who said that when they arrived for dinner at the home of a friend with a new puppy, they were asked to tuck ammonia soaked rags into their belts to prevent the pup from overly intimate sniffing! All we had to do was ignore Banjo when he sauntered over to say hello after he was "released"....

This afternoon we are driving to the East Bay for a retirement party for another Oilman, so I'm doing a half day "Blipfast" (as Local Food Lover so aptly put it). I think my undivided attention will be required for a gathering of oilmen--and perhaps an Oil woman or two.

The small boy riding his bike around Spring Lake this morning caught my eye because of his serious manner and well coordinated accessories. I chose him over the man in a nondescript t-shirt and shorts on a stand up paddle board, a man attempting to disentangle his son's fishing line from the bushes, and the double hulled blow up boat pulled up on the boat ramp fishing poles set with lines in the water and no one about to tend them.