Love the Chase

You love the chase, but hate me for the run around ~ Sara Bareilles

The summer is proving to be one of minimal blogging. I'm snapping photos. I'm even uploading and sorting through them, from time to time. But when it comes time to actually creating a blog post, I am lagging behind. Similarly, I have been slacking off of the blog visits lately. As I type this, I have 386 unread posts in my Feedly list. And I'm not going to get to most of them anytime soon. Summer has a way of keeping me from spending a lot of time in front of the computer.

Here's some of what's keeping my focus, these days.

My older son, Jeffrey has been living in Cold Lake, Alberta (a four day drive) for the last couple of years. For the next few months though, he'll be closer to home as he is on course in Borden, Ontario (a three hour drive. He's figuring that he'll probably end up back in Cold Lake once he is done but from now until November, I'll get to see my boy every couple of weeks or so. He traveled across country with his cat, Hunter, who has joined our menagerie for those few months. That's creating a bit of a challenge for all of us. Hunter got along well with Benny, right off the bat. Zephyr (luke) warmed to him after a few days. Skittles is not impressed with this young (Hunter is 3 and my guys are 15), playful and at times, domineering cat, and he has turned this competition for top cat into a pissing contest - literally. Hunter is a very sweet, loving and gentle cat and I think that for the most part, he's just trying to engage him in play but he's bigger, stronger and far more rambunctious than my guys and it comes across as aggressive. It's a challenge but I think/hope that Skitty will accept him as part of the group before too much longer. Until then, buy stock in cleaning supplies and odour neutralizers.

Caroline and Lloyd are the best neighbours I've ever had. They lived next door to me at my previous home for over twenty years and losing them as next door neighbours was one of the hardest parts about leaving my street. They are up here visiting for a few days and have hit the lake fishing shortly after sunrise. They are out there in search of our lunch as I type. Frank is less of a morning person but we'll probably join them out there a little later on. I figured I could take advantage of some quiet time and get this blog post out.

This one is for all you Benny fans.

I have been keeping a list of the various animals I have seen since moving here. The mammals are many and the birds, even more so - several of which I'd never seen before.


But on this day, it was a pair of simple Mallards which waddled around on the grass near the water's edge. You can easily see the drake but the female is kind of hidden in the grass closer to the water.






Of course, Benny spotted them too and if there's something that a Jack Russell Terrorist must do, it's chase. Here he is, not so subtly sneaking up on them.






Quick as he is, ducks are even faster - particularly when their necks are at risk.






Plus they can fly.






Panicked birds can leave quite the wake. Bored with their easy departure, Benny turns back for home. His job is done.






Benny receives a good scolding from the safety of the water.

More photos coming up... eventually.