We have booms, too. The gun range is up the hill, and I think they're firing off stuff there. Not just "up the hill". It's up the mountain from where we are, and beautifully oriented and bermed and in deep, thick woods. We're safe. Still, there are booms tonight.

I think it may have been a vicuna, in amongst some llamas maybe. There're several farms with llamas, and also at least one I know of with a pasture full of goats with a guard llama, and two of sheep with a guard llama. Then there's the goat farm with the Great Pyrenese--SUCH a gorgeous dog, all happy because he has goat buddies and a job!

I'm glad you went dancing, meara, and had a good time. I love it when spontaneous decisions work out.

Sadly, I have no cupcakes. There are cherries in the fridge, though, and vanilla ice cream. The *good* vanilla, with the speckles.

The *good* vanilla, with the speckles.

I had some of that tonight too! nom, indeed.

How wonderful that you know a Great Pyrenese with a job. There are a couple in the 'hood who are bored to tears pretty much all the time.

There are a couple of goat/sheep pens in WVA where you can take a dog to run for 45 minutes, for a fee. A client takes her dogs and then watches them sleep for a week. It's awesome and money well-spent.

meara, what's your plan for tomorrow?

I have a friend who raises and trains border collies to herd. And agility trials, for fun. She says the best toy you can buy a border collie is a farm. With sheep.

Huh. Just read a short article [link] on the Great Pyrenese Dog, and it said that they get along well with other animals, usually loving cats. I wonder if that's because cats are such a challenge to herd.

And for the Queen's birthday.

We don't get the Queen's birthday off work.

I'm going to write a strongly-worded letter. To the Queen.

which day? The one that you celebrate? Or her *actual* birthday. Jeez, must be nice. Celebrate it twice. The crazy lifestyles of royalty.

which day? The one that you celebrate? Or her *actual* birthday. Jeez, must be nice. Celebrate it twice. The crazy lifestyles of royalty.

We of the colonies (save WA) celebrate the Queen's Birthday on the second Monday of June. She was born on 21 April, so it's less celebrating her birthday than that she has a birthday. We could celebrate it on the actual date, but a far more important principle is at stake: ensuring we have a long weekend to open the ski season.

Scrappy, I just saw your episode of Hammerheads. Your place turned out so beautifully! I especially like how sustainable your yard looks. And the pergola and solar light details are great!

And let's hear it for neighborliness. I thought I'd completely missed the episode. But I'm helping look after Amyth's poodle while she's traveling, and when I checked out her TiVo this morning, I saw that she'd recorded it.

Woo! Day off work! Kinda. I did go in and fix some system stuff.

Pictures for this lazy day. Some from yesterday on the lake including my newest great nephew Cooper in his oversized life jacket. [link]

And some from Providence. [link]

Enjoy.