I Spy a Little Bit of Beach- dog walk

 The flooding took the beach away for a couple weeks but finally some beach is coming back as the water recedes. Lots of folks were out and about on the lake walk and wanted to chat. I think everyone is happy the flooding problems are over.

The Lake is Back- but First a Scary Adenture! Dog Walks

 The lake is back, the flooding is over, the sun has been out, the bacteria from the flooding is gone. Of course we didn't know this until noontime so for an early morning walk I took Dartha and Willow just to the beach and back then took Comet on a long walk. 

Willow and Dartha short walks, beautiful sunny morning.

Comet likes a long walk, I decided to take him up to the far northern end of the lake, maybe a mile and a half walk. I thought he wanted a drink at a wet spot off the side of the road, this was past where we usually walk. It looked like this picture below, very innocent.

It WASN'T innocent it was unexpected. (The pictures above were taken later in the moment it was kinda awful).

Comet went for it, he didn't go to take a drink he dove in....and disappeared! It all happened so fast, his head came up but then went down. What on earth was this? I grabbed his harness and yanked as hard as I could and pulled him out of this  black hole or whatever it was. It was so scary. You couldn't tell it was so deep just right there not far from the road. Comet is at least 90 pounds, I'm not huge, in the moment I panicked but pulled and got him out. Anyway looking at the spot on the way back it was a culvert where water goes under the road. It was so full of lake weeds the depth was not obvious and it was just a sharp drop. There was nothing for Comet to grab on to when he went in, trying to garb pulled him into the culvert, tunnel thing. I don't know I'm still in shock and this was over 12 hours ago. He is fine, we walked to the original destination, I let him jump in near the bridge because he was already soaked anyway and I would bath him when we got home. 

Comet swimming in a safer spot.

We went home I washed him off, he was fine, I was still a bit shocked. We ot the good news that the beach near us was cleared for swimming and through the afternoon we took full advantage of it. I went for a quick swim to celebrate and calm down. At the end of the day we took the dogs for a good old fashioned lake walk and swim. It really threw us off having the lake be a no swim zone for a week and a bit. 

 

Test That Water Walk The Dogs 7/19

 We've tested our own well water as well as the brook since all the flooding, so far the water is clear so we can safely drink from our well and let dogs swim in the  brook. Hope the lake finally gets an all clear tomorrow. 

Comet helped with the latest water test at the brook. Of course since it all has to be very sanitary he helped by digging up things away from me testing! 

Still No Lake Dog Walks

 The lake isn't cleared for swimming yet. Comet is really missing his deep swims, we have the brook but it's not over his head! I took him on a different walk to another part of the same lake, maybe a mile or mile and a half away as a distraction. He had a swim in the brook once home. Dartha got a very early morning walk and Dartha and Willow got a dip in the brook before bedtime.

 

Hurt finger dog walking

 I may have broken a tendon on my right hand with a brush cutter accident but I can still walk the dogs left handed. Maybe the lake will get the all clear for swimming tomorrow. I talked to someone who said she saw the fire department take a new test sample today.

Early Morning

 Late Morning

End of the day.

On The Farm

 I've been trying to clear more area with my brush cutter. It's so heavy but gets the job done. I did cut my finger and somewhat dislocate another....putting it away. Haha. I didn't get hurt using the thing but got hurt putting it away. 

Not the greatest of pictures but the baby chicks, 2 months old, are roosting well already. The big babies, rescue bantams,  months old, still don't get it and have to be carried in every night.

 This little girl, rescue bantams R2D2 AKA Pigeon, just does what she wants. She is sweet but also wild and o tiny she can fit places none of the other birds can. She flies very well too up into the trees and on the rood of the coop. 

Lots of good growing in the garden EXCEPT the tomatoes, they do not like this wetter than normal summer. 

Sunny Saturday and Stormy Sunday Dog Walks

 And still no swimming in the lake. Hopefully the lake will get the all clear on Monday. 

The dogs did get to enjoy our brook on Sunny Saturday and just walks between the downpours on Sunday. 

Saturday

Sunday

 

Watches, Warnings and Walking the Dogs

 We're still in the pattern of hot and humid sun alternating with heavy rain and thunderstorms, often all in the same day. Sometimes the thunderstorms are heavy and come with warnings. Like last night, so much lightning and thunder, it went on fairly late but I still fell asleep with it, I like thunderstorms. Unfortunately all the flooding has led to an advisory warning at the lake. There is a higher than normal bacteria load at the moment so no swimming for us or the dogs. Of course it would have helped if we'd seen the sign before letting the dogs go in on Thursday! The signs were just being put up and some people were in the water. The realization hadn't hit yet. The person posting the signs said sorry today I am the killer of fun. It can't be helped, safety is important. Hopefully the homes that were most affected by the flooding, those on the lake front, are safe and  not too much damage or easily repaired. Well after that accidental swim the dogs had a good hosing off when we got home.  They do still have our raging brook for swimming if this goes on long term. The brook is not typically affected by these bacterial issues since the water is moving and coming down the mountain and into the lake not from the lake or the river.

Wednesday- early morning:

Thursday- uh oh this isn't good!

Friday, early walks, no swims:

Ok that's dog walks caught up, this weekend I will try to catch up farm things.