Stormy Weather

Rain for the next day or so. We're not feeling the effects of the drought yet. The streams are running fast and this rain is falling as snow in the mountains to the east.

I managed to mow the highest grass yesterday, and weeded half of the new onions. In the back yard I had to use the mower on the highest setting to get through the grass, but managed to cut it down to a better height. One reason to keep your lawn cut around here is snake control. Snakes love tall grass, and I've never seen a rattlesnake within two blocks, but still I'm careful.

When in the Philippines, they told me the same thing. They keep the grass short around houses, but they have nasty cobras there, which are much more deadly than a rattlesnake.

Once I stayed in a crude thatched hut, which was torn down later. When it was demolished I heard that a huge cobra was discovered living in it. One night, I went to a swamp to watch some guys collect mangrove honey, and the constant clicking sound we were hearing in the dark was said to be the cobras.

The Broken Road by Patrick Leigh Fermor

Just finished a very interesting account of walking through the Balkans in the mid-1930's. The author's final part is about Mt Athos, and traveling between the various Orthodox monasteries.

More On Dogs

During a break between storms we went out to where both dogs can run off leash. There was a largish dark-coated coyote boldly scouring an open field right across the creek. I might not have noticed, but my dogs were watching it, and I followed their gaze.

Later while we were walking along the canal, I saw what might have been a muskrat gliding along, right below the surface.

When the run was over Pogi was pretty good about coming back and going back on the leash. Halo was impeccable, as he usually is. He doesn't have the prey drive, the compulsions or odd fears that Pogi has. Halo listens and understands what I tell him. Such a good dog, and to think no one wanted him a few years ago.