DOG DAYS

Dog Days, is a phrase that has been used since ancient times to refer to the hottest days of summer. The Greeks and Romans associated the Dog Star Sirius, the brightest in the sky  and believed that with it being so close to the Sun during "summer" months, it was responsible for the hot weather. Apparently dogs grew mad during these times, they certainly don't like the heat. Well over these last days it's been hard to keep my collie cool.

One way, was to take him down to the Canyon, where the deep lake has been topped up again after the weeks of rain. A sun trap on days like we have recently had, but it's offset by the chance of a swim, for the dog that is, not me! I was actually  slightly envious of the mad mutt diving into the water, creating a splash and ripples across it's surface.

It's a good way to cleanse his coat of all the accumulated dust too. Then he get's sun and breeze dried, no need for towels. The other consideration required is to walk him where he has access to water for drinking and what better place than an old bath in one of the newly mown and baled hayfields.

This is a watering hole he has known since he was a pup, there is a steady drizzle of water coming down the pipe off the mountain and rarely dries up. It's more overgrown than it used to be but he still simply cannot resist sticking his nose in to see where this refreshing source of water comes from.

Then along a footpath at the edge of a hay field that has yet to be mown and baled ...

Notice the  clear blue sky  >>>
with just a few clouds beginning to gather after days of no cloud cover.
This photo was taken yesterday evening and by morning the sky was full of them but we were still under swelteringly hot sun. Today we went up to see how the hay making was going on a farm that still does the old style small bales.

Ffin was in hay making heaven, met by three female dogs, he had a fan club all to himself. The two collies are working dogs and went to the farmers when whistled, but the German Shepherd adores him and wanted to stay and play after watching the other two leave ...

And play they certainly did, until both gave up puffing and panting. The Shepherd definitely had the edge, energy wise and working collies never seem to want to stop. They seemed to want to herd the mini bales (due to a lack of sheep in this field at least).

Talking to the farmers it seems that this years hay crop has been exceptional. Usually they reckon on 100 mini bales per acre, this year that has almost doubled to200 per acre. Extra work is now involved to get all the bales in home and dry. Rain is forecast for the weekend

sadly this also means that all our local farmers are so busy making the most of that old saying "Make hay while the sun shines" that they are unable to go to The Royal Welsh Show which has seen record figures of attendance this year. It must be hard for those that are showing their animals in the ring who have also wanted to harvest their hay. Tough decisions must have been made but at least for our local folk, who are not showing livestock, their winter feed will be safely in before the weather breaks. I know at least one dog who will appreciate the break in this unprecedented heat wave, it has been far too hot. Me ... I find the heat hard to cope with as I get older. It's quite a thought that we have something in common with our ancient ancestors, but at least our dogs are not mad.

Though mine is crazy enough to love swimming in icy cold water!