dog days

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the dog days of summer end August 11. I was beginning to doubt we would ever see an end to the oppressive heat after a thermometer reading of 103F yesterday. I spent the entire day watering our scorched yard, which of course brought on a good nights rainfall. It never fails.
I know what you're thinking, why don't I pay better attention to the forecast? The problem is this coastal weather. Lately, we have the same forecast every day: heat advisory with a chance of showers. And every day that chance passes us by...unless, of course, I water the yard.
I shouldn't complain though. The flowerbeds are lush and green and last night’s storm brought with it a cool front lowering our temperature from that horrid, sweating and panting 103F to a bearable, almost nice, 85F! Now if only an end to these dog days also meant an end to my dog's shedding and digging. I have a feeling his cool spot under the stairs (and the resulting sandy dirt thrown out onto the plants and mulch) is here to stay...

I do love Maverick, really. At times I just wish that he, like the summer heat, wasn't so dog-like.