One sign of spring is that I sit at the computer writing progress reports for hours at time. Chev, Finley and Xupe hang nearby, napping in their favorite places, waiting for me to take the next break and go out in the yard with them.  (They have access to the yard through the doggy flap but they seem to prefer that one of us is with them outside.)  When they read the cues that I’m going out, they go racing down and out, pausing to make sure that I’m really heading that way with them.  We meander around for a while, simply for the pleasure of moving outside.   If the time between my work breaks is too long, Finley starts “talking” to me as a reminder.

Today I spotted wildflowers (along with blooming buckthorn, dandelions and creeping charlie) while the three of them chased each other, chewed on sticks and sniffed around. They follow me back inside when I come in, although I never call them in.  And back to napping it goes.