Where did the summer go?

September 5, 2023

A grassy field with distant mountains, seen on a summer motorcycle ride

It's hard to believe how fast time has flown by...

Here's a brief recap:

Teddy

Teddy got attacked by a neighbor's dog. We were walking by on the road when the owner let her dog out the front door, it ran straight for Teddy, right through their buried electric fence (because the collar battery was dead), into the road and latched on to Teddy's back leg. I had to grab the dog by the her collar and SIT on her to stop the attack. The woman was pretty useless but at least paid for the vet bill. The owners have never inquired about his health OR expressed remorse of any kind. Luckily he's all healed and his hair has mostly grown back. Needless to say, we don't walk by that house anymore.

Teddy's shaved and bandaged hip at the vet after being bitten

Teddy's woes continued as just a few short months after the dog attack he was re-diagnosed with Valley Fever. I've since learned that Valley Fever can reoccur in dogs but he may have picked it up again when we visited Tucson a few years ago - it just took a while before his immune system simply couldn't fight off the fungus anymore. He'd lost weight, x-rays showed inflammation everywhere including his lungs, and he was just miserable... my poor baby.

Since he's been back on fluconazole AND being spoiled rotten by his momma, he's back to being his normal, energetic self!

The Garden

I did get plenty of fruits and vegetables from my garden this year. Somethings did very well and other things did poorly but all in all, I was pleased.

I've had a whole bunch of fresh raspberries and the ever-bearing strawberries I planted just keep flowering!

A bowl of fresh red and golden raspberries from the garden

I also grew some artichokes which I let flower at the end. The bumblebees thank me!

Two bumblebees pollinating a purple artichoke flower in the garden

Lake Keokee Loop

This is an lovely 3.7 mile lake trail near Big Stone Gap, VA. There was only one other person at the lake during my visit this spring. The biting insects were just starting to emerge.

Lake Keokee with a small floating dock reflecting the clouds View across Lake Keokee from the grassy shoreline

Another place with spectacular views:

Kingdom Come State Park

"Kingdom Come State Park, with an elevation of 2,700 feet, is the crowning jewel in the crest of Pine Mountain near Cumberland, Kentucky."

Green mountain ridges and a valley road seen from Kingdom Come State Park Layered mountain ridges from an overlook at Kingdom Come State Park

And last but not least, just a few pictures from a motorcycle ride I did past Gulston Lake, KY.

A pasture and mountain view along the roadside during the ride Gulston Lake's sandy beach, seen past the motorcycle's mirrors

TED: Totally Excellent Dog

Teddy has some weird genetic hair issues going on. He's gone from short hair to long hair to a full mane to no mane, with plenty of iterations in between—and it doesn't depend on the season!

He's always happy to answer any questions too! You can email us at hillary@mybuzzabout.com but I'll respond for him as he hasn't gotten the knack of typing yet. WOOF!

Teddy the dog looking out a car window Close up of Teddy the dog