Sitting Up Late

Daniel sat by the computer until late in the evening. We had to wait to go out for the night until he was done. He paid some bills, but more importantly, he spent a lot of time on plans and preparations for the Askersund dog show later this summer. We are proud that Daniel is trusted enough to do such important stuff as parts of the work for a dog show. Not many things in the world are more important than dog shows. 

Early Morning

Daniel got up much earlier than he usually does today. This was in order to participate in a morning campaign for the election in September. 

I did not mind goingon an earlier morning walk. It is so close to the summer solstice that it was daylight anyway, and all of us dogs could go back to sleep afterwards. I feel sorry for Daniel, though. He had a busy work day and got up early for this campaign. Life can be hard, but he chose it himself.

Marcus Ericsson Won

We got news from the USA that Marcus Ericsson won the Indy 500 of 2022 today. Marcus Ericsson is from Kumla just south of Örebro and lives in Örebro when he is in Sweden. Indy 500 is the most prestigious race in the American formula car series Indycar. Congratulations are in order. 

Finland Won

Finland won the IIHF World Championship in ice hockey. This was the first gold won on home turf for Finland, after beating Canada 4-3 in over time. 

I had hoped Canada would win, despite Finland being a neighbour of Sweden. This was because Canada was the team that knocked out Sweden of the tournament in the quarter final. It is less hurtfull to lose to the final winner of the tournament. However, I am happy for the Finns. We do have dogs from Aangenaam in Finland, but not in Canada, so it is more likely dogs from us really rooted for Finland than for Canada. 

Our congratulations go to Finland. 

No Dog Show for Us

Daniel went to a dog show alone today. He was contracted to be a ring steward for a Bull Mastiff specialty dog show. 

I do not complain that I had to stay at home. My late mother, founder of this blog, loved dog shows and being shown on them. I have never shared this love. This one reason I made sure to become a show champion on three tries, so I did not have to go to more shows.

Daniel was pleased with the day, when he got home. He was tired and a little annoyed that there had been quite some rain. Over all, however, it had been good. This made mehappy for his sake. Good days are good, even though they make you tired. 

Seventeen Millimetres

This morning, we could see that we had had 17 mm of rain yesterday and last night. This is great for the vegetation and for the water in the ground that fills up our well. 

The damper weather with more clouds makes it colder. We still hope for more rain, because it has been a relatively dry winter and spring. Perhaps it will be a rainy summer and the water wells will fill up well.

Water is important. I want a lot of water, as long as I do not have to take unnecessary baths. 

Out

Sweden did not make it past the quarter finals in this year's IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Canada won in overtime, 4-3. 

It is no shame to lose to Canada, one of the ice hockey great powers. Nevertheless, we are sad about the result, which means there is no chance that Sweden will win medals. 

Czechia won against Germany, which was expected. 

Differences

Paula gave us food today. Most of the time, Daniel does, but he was not at home. It is not uncommon that Paula give us food, but it is still a little off, compared to what we are used to. Life should not be the same every day,it is better when it varies a little, so this is good. Paula could give us food more often, as far as I am concerned. 

Feels Like Summer

We have warmer weather. It feels like summer is almost here. Paula even pit the fan on in the bed room today, because she thought it was too hot in there otherwise. I wouuld not agree, but I guess Paula is a little more sensitive to temperatures than I am. A dogs coat protects against heat as well as cold. 

In the evening, we had rain. This is also typical summer weather.

Birthday

It is Daniel's fiftieth birthday today. We congratulated him early in the morning. 

Early Celebration

Daniel turns fifty years old tomorrow. This is a birthday commonly celebrated a lot among humans. However, Daniel will not be home, he has a conference to attend to. Paula, Daniel, and a few close relatives celebrated him today instead, in a park nearby. Apparently, it was a huge success. I felt more comfortable at home. Daniel will be celebrated by us dogs and by the cats tomorrow morning, when he is still at home. 

New British Cities

Peanut made me aware of some news from his home country. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has elevated some towns to cities. The title city is mostly honorary, but nice, nevertheless. 

One of the places bestowed with this honour is Stanley, capital of the Falklands Islands. This is, apparently, the first place in a British overseas territory that has been named a city. It happens forty years after the Falklands War, when Argentina tried to conquer these islands. 

I think it is nice that you can call different places different things. In Sweden, every local legal entity is called a "kommun". This is a little boring. 

Rain This Morning

It rained tonight and in the morning. Could it not have ended when it was time for our morning walk? It could have resumed afterwards.

Waiting for the Rain

This evening, it feels like it will start to rain. The air pressure and the clouds make us believe it may come.

We hope it will rain throughout the night. Nature would need it and we would not have to be outside in it. It is rather cozy to lie indoors and listen to the rainfall. 

Time will tell if the rain will start to fall. 

Ice Hockey World Championship

The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is played now. We do not subscribe to any channel where we can watch the games on TV. We follow some games on the radio, but it is not the same thing. Regardless of our posibilities to see the games, we root for Sweden. 

Tonight, Sweden plays Finland. It is a close game, as is often the case between these countries in ice hockey. The championship is played in Finland, which gives the Finnish players an edge. I still hope Sweden will win. 

The Late Light

This time of the year, it is always daylight for quite some time in the evenings. This is nice, when we go out for the night and it is still daylight. I have never had troubles sleeping when it is this light, I just close my eyes. All of this daylight make up for the long dark nights in the middle of the winter. I like this. 

Important Preparations

Paula and Daniel visited the club house for the Örebro County Kennel Club today. They made some preparations for the unofficial dog show this Saturday. Dog shows are always important, even when they are not official. Thus, these preparations were important. When our humans are gone to make important things like this, it feels better than usual that they are not at home. Paula and Daniel are devoted to dogs and every aspect of having dogs. This is great. 

Mowed the Lawn

This was the first time this season that Daniel mowed all of the lawn. He use to say that he is happy for our big lawn, except for when he has to mow it. Nevertheless, he is always satisfied when the lawn is newly mowed. When Daniel is satisfied with this, he is in a good mood, which makes everyone in a better mood too. Summer starts well. 

Eurovision Song Contest

It is the Eurovision Song Contest tonight. I guess I will fall asleep before it is done. I usually do.

Paula falls asleep too, sometimes, while Daniel usually follows the whole contest. We have to hear what he says about it tomorrow morning. 

The Smell of Bacon

When Daniel came home from work, he asked Paula if she wanted to have anything to eat. She did not, having recently eaten. Daniel cooked some bacon for homself.

Later in the evening, Paula did the most weird thing. She complained that it smelled of bacon. How can you complain of such a wonderful smell?

My complaint was that I did not get any bacon. Daniel did not cook very mich and ate it all himself. I loved the smell of bacon, nevertheless. 

If I were to manufacture perfumes, one would be a bacon perfume. I believe it would be a hit. 

Walk Without Me

Paula went outon a walk with her mother today. She did not bring me. This made me quite disappointed. I am always up for a nice walk. Apparently, this did not help this time.

It would have been nice with a walk with Paula's mother as well. She is a nice human, but I do ot see her very often. 

Perhaps I can come next time around?

Thunder

In the evening, we heard thunder in the distance. We had rain, which is common in May, but thunder is more common later in the year, in summer. When thunder is in the distance, it is quite nice.

A Little Rain

It has been a while, a very long time, in fact, without rain. We finally got some today. It was not much, I do not think anything trickled down in the dust, but the trees, bushes, and grass surely needed it. 

There will, hopefully, be more rain soon. The growing things in the garden need it and our well needs it. Sunny weather is nice in its own way, but we cannot live without rain from time to time. 

Europe Day

The 9 of May is Europe Day. This is when we celebrate European unity, through the European Union and other organisations and cooperations. Unity is good, it makes for peaceful relations, to the benefit of everyone. 

Ode to Joy by Ludwig Van Beethoven is the anthem of the European Union. 

Early Sunday Morning

Daniel got up early this Sunday morning as well. He left home early, because he would go down to Skara in Västergötland to preside over a biannual meeting with a specialty club for spitz breeds. This was important, of course, so we let him do this. When he came home, he was in a good mood. The meeting went well, he told us. I am glad it did. Now there will be another two year period with a good board of the club. 

Early Saturday Morning

It is Saturday today, but Daniel got up as early as on work days and let us have an equally early morning walk. 

Daniel did not do this for fun. He said he likes to sleep longer on Saturday mornings. However, he had rented a trailer to load junk from the garden and drive away to dispose of it. This is a good reason to get up early, we want a nice looking garden. I am glad I could get back indoors after the morning walk and get some more sleep, though. 

Sausages

Daniel came home a little late. He was hungry and cooked some sausages for dinner. He also gave sausages to us dogs. This was a fine way of him to appologise for being late.

Sausages makes for forgiveness. It is almost like I wish for Daniel to come home late more often, if this would mean he would give us sausages. There are no sausages every night he is late, however, so I guess life will continue to be like it has been. 

House Watchers

These days, Paula is at home a lot and Daniel works from home rather often. Today, however, they were both away for several hours. They do not need to worry, though. Allof us dogs watch the house.

It is nice to watch the house. It gives us a purpose. Life gets more interesting this way. I believe we could be entrusted with watching the house more often. 

May the Fourth

On 4 of May, some humans praise the movie series Star Wars. This is because "May the Fourth" sounds almost like the tag line "may the force (be with you)".

Star Wars is not a favourite of mine. There are humans in the movies and a lot of fictional alien species. However, there are no dogs anywhere (as far as I know). How can you have an advanced civilisation with no dogs? This is strange and I do not like it. As far as I am concerned, people may like Star Wars anyway, it is up to them.

Constitution Day

The 3 May is Constitution Day in Japan. The current constitution of Japan came into force on 3 May 1947. This is cause for celebration among us Shibas. Japan is the home country of our breed. The Shiba breed is considered a national treasure of Japan. We celebrate this heritage, even if neither I nor Peanut have ever been to Japan. Gunnar says it is a beautiful country with a lot of Shibas. We make the best of it among us here in Sweden, where we do have a great life. It is nice to have two countries to love, Sweden and Japan. 

Late Night Supper

For a lot of different, small reasons, supper was very late tonight. Paula and Daniel just made some warm sandwiches. This is quick and tasty.

Our humans were not very hungry this late in the evening. All of us dogs got to taste some. This was a situation that made everyone happy. 

Working Lawn Mower

Last spring, when Daniel tried to start the lawn mower for the first time, it did not work. He had to send it to service.

This afternoon, Daniel retrieved the lawn mower from winter rest once again. This time, it started and ran perfectly fine. The lawn has yet to start to grow properly, but Daniel used the mower to take care of the leaves of yesteryear. The garden looks cleaner and better now. This is good.