Silvie Ruth came and put her chin on my knee this morning and said softly, "You know, Grandma, it's the dog days of August--when are we going to have the big dinner and presents?" Silvie always wags her tail when she talks to me and is so friendly and cute. Silvie's the Chow who makes friends with everyone. I said, "Sylvie, honey, what do you mean? You want a big dinner? You want presents? Sylvie, your birthday was in March."

She said, "Grandma, Dog Days, like Mother's Day and Father's Day--only Dog Days. We get presents and a big dinner, right?" Red Dorothy ran by and yelled, "Sylvie! You Stupe! According to Green Libertarian (Dorothy reads a radical North Idaho redneck blog) Dog Days are the hottest and most unhealthy days of the year! Also known as Canicular Days, the name is derived from the Dog Star, Sirius! You do not need a big dinner!" Although she's the smallest Chow, Silvie Ruth whipped around, took Dorothy down and bit her until she howled. That Silvie is tough and takes no guff from anyone. She then trotted back to Club Chow and said sweetly over her shoulder, "Maybe you can just feed us some chicken bits out the back door." Cleo looked up and said I better hurry because the traditional timing of Dog Days is the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of Sirius.

Now it's hard to imagine just exactly what does go on at Club Chow when I go to work each day, but safe to say, there's much talk that goes on before and after the Ball games. Sirius or just kidding, hot or not, it's always a good time for a family dinner where the conversation runs wild and free, the dessert is sweet and cold, and the food tasty and comforting. Long live the Dog Days of August and Sylvie Ruth, the Chow who loves to talk and laugh with her friends and family.

~for Rexanne~

JBelle
Bellemaison
The 'Kan EWA