Big Dog has always preceded me on the walks. He is the alpha male. The oldest resident. The Boss Guy. But lately I have realised that he has been walking at my heel, trudging along, not because he wants to but because he is not able to pick up speed and pass me. Big Dog is getting Old. I stop and let him get ahead. 
Then he will rest a bit and wait for me as he catches his breath, pretending to be interested in interesting things, TonTon will roar back to move us along and after a break we carry on.
I have been working in the barn. Getting everything ready for the winter. Because I have decided to write a book in November with NaNoWriMo and then You and I are going to New Zealand for most of December, everything needs to be settled into a humming winter pattern by the end of October. The feed bins have all been moved back inside. I believe in transparency, everyone needs to know what everyone else does, then they can do it too in case of emergency so I label everything very clearly. I especially label the lids so they go back ON.
I did not like the number 13 on the pigs gate. It was one of the gates out of an old hog shed. We bought them from the junk man the other day, do you remember? 
So I changed it.
Much more appropriate don’t you think? It will dirty up and deconstruct as time goes on. 
See those hoses on the right? Now that it is starting to freeze, when I have finished filling all the water barrels, I dismantle the hoses and hang them on the fences so the water drains out. Otherwise they are useless. They freeze solid. And the alternative is carrying buckets of water. Not a good alternative. 
As you can see there is still piles of plants growing in the flower gardens. Even some flowers. Bedraggled and weedy at this time if year but resisting the efforts of the frost to kill it. The bees love that borage. Though I still need to give them some sugar water today, don’t let me forget.
The Daily View. 
Though chilly in the morning, the afternoon was delightful.
The wind died down yesterday and the freshness of the air with its tiny crisp edge was a joy. I worked outside all afternoon. It was a beautiful day.
Have a lovely day. A lovely weekend day for all of you.
Today we will get to some of the heavy work, so there may even be some changes in your Daily View tomorrow. You can play spot the difference.
celi
On this day last year – Coleslaw. I try to always have a huge bowl of coleslaw in the fridge for when I need a snack. It is one of my favourite foods.
The Kitchen's Garden 
45 responses to “Big/Old Dog took the Lead”
I love the daily view and the first photo of Big Dog! I’m also so glad to hear that you are going to New Zealand in December. How wonderful. I’m sending you any extra energy I can spare to add to your long list of things to do before you go. I hope the writing is going well, too! 🙂
Morning Debra, it is a long list too, but we are getting as far ahead of ourselves as we can! Thank you for the extra energy!! c
That’s beautiful light on the dogs – poor Big Dog 😉
It is a bugger getting old and the cold is coming too.. c
Hug a pig – lovely… when I walked our three dogs, the littlle cavalier KIng Charles always had to be ahead of the two big afghans – my brother said we had bred the first of a strain of facing cavaliers!
That must have look hilarious, the tiny dog leading the long gangly ones along! c
hi celia. love the blog. keep it flowin. http://horiwoodblog.com/2012/10/14/dirt-cheap-wine-bean-sprouts-kiwi-cecilias-mid-west-sustainable-farmers-diaries-blog/
I will sweetie, see you again soon!! and thank you for the lovely words.. c
I love my dog for fourteen years – my best friend! I dont think I could ever get another one but whenever I see a dog I always think of him 🙂
Dogs are special.. 14 years is a long time.. c
The thing about traveling.. is it gives us a definite end to our chores, albeit temporary.. and it always compels me to rush about getting everything in order! My pup is quite old (15) and now makes excuses to stop and look around and sniff.. to hide that it’s getting harder to walk.. makes me sad.. Love and hugs to your Big Dog and everyone else! xo
Oh Big Dog! I just wanted to hug him and tear up a bit when I read that you had to stop and let him ahead. There should be a new rule that our pets can only age as fast as we do.
Love the “Hug a pig”!! 🙂
Poor old Big Dog, I really feel for him. 🙂
Ah, Old Big Dog – my grandmother used to do that stopping to look at the veiw thing as she slowed down 😦 He´s having a wonderful ife though. Am off to find a pig to hug but I may have to steal your boots first!