With the end of summer approaching, the atmosphere is also changing, subtly in some ways, more obviously in others.  We're distressed to witness the inevitability of shorter days so soon upon us.  Where once dusk fell after nine in the evening, it now sets almost two hours earlier and we feel cheated.

On the plus side, there is cooler nights even when the days are hot.  That suffocating night-time temperature that gives little relief from the heat and humidity of the day that preceded it has now gone with the height of summer.  And Riley, who so much loves the sun warming his little hide, agitates endlessly to be allowed out into the morning sun to sit there, basking in its warmth.

We hesitate to leave him too long exposed to the raw sun rays because of course, dogs are just as susceptible to sunburn as are humans, despite their haircoat.  His is comprised of hair, not fur, making him even more likely to become sunburned, particularly in those areas where his haircoat is not as thick as other areas.  So we leave him out in the garden for awhile, checking on him from time to time. 

We know he is ready to come back into the house out of the sun and the warming temperature that always bakes our backyard, with its very warm mini-climate when he wags his little tail at us on our enquiries of him.