Having finished my first pass at all four questions for the take home final I celebrated by taking Katie (new puppy) to visit Sandy who was Bonnie’s (old dog) groomer. Sandy was very sad when Bonnie died, and as I carried the little puppy into her shop this morning we both burst into tears. Katie got to be held by all the groomers and a few customers. She shook with fear on occassion, as it was loud in there with all the other dogs barking, but she did really well over all.

When we got back home I noticed a squirrel in the top of one of my trees, laying out along a branch. I took the dog inside and got the binoculars. Sure enough, this squirrel is sleeping up there, rocking gently in the breeze, soaking up the sun. A couple of weeks ago I noticed a squirrel lying on a branch of a tree on campus, all four legs hanging down, chin lying on the branch, eyes shut, enjoying the sunshine. I’ve never seen squirrels sleep before. Today I am somewhat envious of the squirrel high in my tree, rocking in the sun, dozing away.

Now puppy Katie is alseep as well, exhausted from her adventure, curled up in front of the screen door on her favorite ratty towel, warmed by the sun. As I watch her sleep I’m listening to an insistent robin singing somewhere close by, the cackles of the blackbirds at my feeder and a distant lawn mower. It must be summer!

Time to go back to review that exam. I’d rather be dozing in the sun and dreaming of adventure.