This Month Has Been Challenging.

Oy.

Miserable heat, unexpected expenses, too many encounters with the weirdness of humanity. But it's almost over, and I do think a plan is taking shape.

Murphy is doing much, much better. He's even gumming his teeny special treats in the mornings. He can only manage to gum two while Sophie crunches about six, but it's the tradition that matters. If Mommy is drinking coffee there should be dog treats. That is just how the world works.

I am surrounded by epic dog snores right now. My daughter brought Miss D for the afternoon and the dogs wore themselves out loving on her. They rained kisses on her at every possible moment and brought her their toys. We spent a lot of time taking nasty filthy stuffed animals and putting them out of her reach - but it's the thought that counts. They wanted to share with her.

At one point she reached out and got a death grip on one of Murphy's spindly little arthritic hind legs. Murphy didn't flinch, he just rolled over on his back and gave me a look of pure bliss while I disengaged her fingers from his bony little leg. I was watching this encounter and intervened before she had time to test his leg for bendy-ness, because he clearly didn't give a damn about his own safety. Supervising the interaction between Delaney and the dogs is more about protecting the dogs than the baby.

I'm hoping that Tropical Storm Beryl will dump desperately needed rain without any wind damage and hoping we'll get a good soaking. Right now the path is aimed at Jacksonville-ish, and that means we could get nice soaking rain, or dark clouds and a brief spit of water. Fingers are crossed for nice soaking rain.