Dogs and Kids!

Here's one sure fired way to meet the neighbors -- through dogs and kids.

Yesterday afternoon after we'd come inside to cool down a little, Phil announced, "There's a big beautiful dog in our yard!"  We went out and sure enough -- a big golden retriever girl was bouncing around the yard.   She was gentle, playful and obviously someones pet.  It was getting late in the evening, so we fed her, gave her water (after playing for a hour) and closed her safely in the laundry room....until we figured out what to do.

So, the most obvious first step was to simply walk her up and down the street to see if she belonged to one of our neighbors, many of whom we have met casually.  Our neighbor across the street was out mowing yesterday, and so we figured maybe the dog was out with him.  Sure enough!  Walking up their driveway, Donna and Kenneth both came out exclaiming "Mya!!!"  Where have you been?"

Well, the people who lived here before us also had a dog -- a red retriever named "Rusty" and it seems that Mya and Rusty used to be best friends and that Mya frequently came over to play!  Well, it all has a happy ending, and we have been invited to birthdays and graduations in the Walker family -- with grandchildren and children numbering 18!!!  Now that's Hawaiian style!