Saturday stuff....

Gorgeous day today... sunny and warm, not blasting hot, not a drop of humidity. Every day should be like this one.

We brought Savannah to the dog park yesterday.... the big-dog park has been re-opened, the pool is filled with water, and benches are in the shade beneath the trees. Savannah loves it there, and I truly think she feels safe. The park is fenced in, she can run and play without having a leash on, and watching her jump in and out of the pool is as much fun for me as for her. I even think Savannah has come out of her shell a bit because she is letting strangers at the park pet her, and she gets up close to them to sniff their clothes and lick their hands. We have boarded Savannah at a nearby facility when we've gone out of town, and having those 'strangers' take care of her has probably boosted her confidence. Savannah has learned that not all people will hurt her, and I am hoping by now that she believes that we wouldn't let anyone with bad intentions even get close to her.

First Thursday Tea has started up, and the friends and neighbors who remember to make note of each first Thursday have been here on those Thursday afternoons. Out here in the middle of the hills, one day is just like the other, so I can't blame anyone for forgetting. Savannah walked around the dining room table during the tea parties, sitting next to each woman in turn, and then moving on to the next when she gets a treat. Smart dog. I am so happy that she is getting to be more social.

We drove up to Georgetown a few weeks ago (me and two friends up the road) to visit another friend who had moved from our road last year. The community up in Georgetown is a Sun City development meant for people over 55.  The houses are adorable and manageable, as is the property itself. Say what you want about having your home sit on numerous acreage, but all those acres mean extra maintenance. There were sidewalks and walking trails and ponds and community centers and classrooms where you can join a group for countless hobbies and crafts. Georgetown was like a DisneyLand for adults. Beautiful and civilized, friendly and welcoming. I now understand why so many people have relocated to Georgetown when their city jobs are over and they are looking for something more peaceful and serene. And our sort of country living in the hills here.... I used to think it was peaceful. Then came the snakes and coyotes, the raccoons and the bobcats, the after-midnight trains and the pre-dawn gunshots.... not to mention new neighbors who believe that shooting off mega-fireworks every week is a lot of fun. Oh well.... for now, we are here in the hills. Maybe Georgetown will be in our future.

The young girl renting our cottage has settled in and seems to be quite happy. She has had over-night guests -- friends and her mom, and the little cottage no longer sits empty all the time. She works all week long, takes care of her ailing grandmother on occasion, pays her rent promptly, and is just the perfect tenant. We are hoping that she will be there for a good long while.

Our handyman continues to work well, and the Spring projects are now going into Summer ones. We're hoping that most of the heavy work can get done before the temperatures get above the one-hundred mark.