Summer passes to Fall...

The weather has finally cooled down. Enough to introduce Raven to Ester Dome!

And our morning runs have been more pleasant, too.

And so, too, have our walks been on the neighborhood trails.

Because Raven was a village stray and had not lived a super clean life, I decided to avail ourselves of our free grooming, as donated by Pretty Pawz Grooming, a sponsor of Sirius who donates a first free grooming and bath to all Sirius rescue dogs. I wanted to do it because we had Raven scheduled to be spayed, and I wanted her to be clean before then. But also wanted it to be at least a week before her spay, so her skin microbiome could recover before being sliced open.

During her spay, we also had her rear dew claws removed. Rear dew claws are not common among dogs who are not livestock guardians (although they are a breed standard for Great Pyrenees), but that isn't the reason I wanted them removed. They were not fully attached, and they were flopping around, so I wanted them removed so they didn't get torn while hiking, or while running through punchy spring snow. Raven also has front dew claws, which is totally normal, but sled dog breeders often remove front dew claws just so they are more amenable to wearing booties. They do it when they are a few days old, when the procedure is trival. Removing them as adults is quite a bit more invasive. Raven's front dew claws are well-attached, and in fact she can control them like vestigial thumbs! So I did not want them removed. It would have been very painful, and pointless besides! Anyway, here is the bath photo they sent. Poor Raven did not know what was happening.

They put bows on them! How humiliating! But Raven knows and trusts Sam, the groomer (and another Sirius volunteer).

Who's that pretty girl? Raven! Raven is that pretty girl!

Just wanted to share this photo of four new Sirius resident working dogs. Sibes from working lines. Daddy is a Sirius dog, mama lives in British Columbia. Lookie these hooligans!

Raven is very comfy with us, don't you think? I sure hope she is comfy with us.

Mmmmm BELLPEPPER! Queen Thistle lovesloveloves BELLPEPPERZ!

And Princess Cricket also loves BELLPEPPERZ!

And Duchess Raven also loves BELLPEPPERZ!

Another summer-winding-down activity: Harvesting all of the rhubarb:

I put most of it into the freezer for pies and crisps, but made a double batch of this tasty cake (obviously also great with blueberries, but you can sub any fruit or rrhubarb).

The recipe calls for a 10-inch skillet, so for my second one I divide it among a 6-inch and an 8-inch. A 3-4-5 ratio of the squares!

See, high school trig is not just for engineers. It's also for bakers!

Look how nicely my girls all get along! They eatz together!

And ridez in a car together!

And walk with their frenz together (the black and white Sibe is Lucky! Another Sirius rescue.)

The pretty skies that come in between rain storms!

"Excuzee, may wee have some cantylopze, pleez?"

Miss Thistle gets cantylope!

And Miss Cricket gets cantylope!

And Miss Raven gets cantylope!

And last night was Miss Raven's last night in her doughnut! Her incisions have all healed well. Yaaaay!