Little puppy

The big news around our little corner of Castro is a new puppy! Monica & Luis, our neighbors, got a little German Shepard mix named Reina (Queen). Around our house Reina is simply referred to by her American name, Little Puppy.

Roberto and Little Puppy like to play tug of war. At first Roberto was concerned that Little Puppy was chasing around and biting one of his boats. Then Berto decided the boat was really just a soda bottle on a string so it was a good toy for Little Puppy. Gabi's enthusiasm for Little Puppy seems to be dependent on who is wanting to play with whom. When Gabi is intiating the play, she is all giggles and smiles running towards Little Puppy Reina. However when Reina is bounding up to Gabi, Gabi would prefer to use her wheel barrow as a shield. For those of you who are horticulturally minded, the blue flowers are no me olvides (forget me nots) and the other background plants are roses, primroses and rhubarb. Our yard from the street to the ocean is lined by lombardy poplars and the occasional weeping willow. Apple trees are almost past bloom in the garden while the rasberries and blackberries get warmed up.

Negro, aka nasty dog, seems to barely tolerate Reina Puppy. I cheer every time Reina Puppy nips at Negro. I see it as revenge by proxy for the early days when Negro attacked my heels. Since Negro still threatens to bite us every Sunday when we go next door to Tia Victoria's for evening coffee & supper, I do not mind anyway Negro is made unhappy.
The other big news is that it was so hot today that we needed to wear hats to protect ourselves from the sun. I think I am becoming Chilote. The sun came out in force and I complained it was too hot. Seriously, when the sun shines this place is paradise. The hills are green, the ocean sparkles and if you hike up ten minutes into the hills you can see the Andes glistening white in the distance.