Water Dogs

As I mentioned the other day, one of my favorite things to do in the Summer is head out on the water. When I was growing up our boat was like our cottage in the Summer. We're lucky enough to have a dock down at the end of our yard, so it was just a matter of grabbing some swimsuits and towels and running down to the boat. Mom would pack up food to head out on the water, whether it was freshly baked muffins or sandwiches and homemade cookies. Occasionally we'd go for an evening run and order a pizza from the pizza shop I used to work at near the river. We'd call in our order and it would be waiting for us by the time we reached them on our way out to the lake. I can't think of better takeout than that. I have many happy memories of laying in the back with my siblings, reading my beloved Archie comics in the sunshine.

Thankfully our dogs are just as happy to head out into the water.

Whiskey and Shadow have taken to guarding the river as we motor on down it.

Shadow tends to protect us against other barking dogs...

..while Whiskey snaps at flies, dragonflies, bees, really any type of wayward bug.

Before you know it we're out on the lake. Something about the feeling of the water rushing past us with the wind hiting my face and the sun warming my legs brings me back to being a little kid while we blasted around the lake.

The only difference now is that instead of dragging us around on an inner tube, our new favorite family sport is wakeboarding. My sister has done it for years, but now my brother had taken to the sport.

I, on the other hand, prefer to watch from the boat and spot for them. I'll probably try it soon enough, but I swear I still have water in my nostrils from trying waterskiing a couple of years ago.

Nice air, bud!

Shadow loves to watch them wakeboarding as well.

Whiskey on the other hand is happy to be cuddled in with my dad in the front seat.

You know those trick dogs that you see go waterskiing or surfing? Well, Whiskey will never be one of them. He's happier in the boat, bundled up in his little lifejacket.

...and hunting bugs. Yum. Eww....