Howling Dogs and Screaming Frogs

6 days a week our neighbor has a friend that drops off their dog.  When this first began we weren't sure what breed it was, not that it mattered, but it looked like a large Jack Russel Terrier.  Now that it has been a few months we now realize that it is a mix with a greyhound.  As if I needed one more reason to feel better about my cats never going outside again. That dog can jump the fence like it was laughing at it.  It runs all over the place, and across the road (and its a very well traveled road). 

We both used to be very impressed with that dog.  It wouldn't get too close. It has zero aggression.  It never barks.  I was impressed.

This dog now howls; all the time.  From almost the minute it is left for the day, till someone arrives back at that house in the afternoon, that dog will howl.  At first I was unsettled, thinking maybe one of its friends died; after all its not the only dog next door, and those chihuahua's I once mentioned I have not seen in a very long time. 

I was afraid of what I might see if I went to check on that dog.  It did run in the road a lot; maybe it was hurt.  I have a horror story of a cat I came upon that had been hit by a car.  Stephen and I were living here in Thatcher, when we were first married.  The cat was alive, and I was so horrified that I ran off to pull Stephen out of class. I couldn't just do nothing, but I also didn't want to pick it up.

Anyway, back to my story. 

That dog was just howling out of loneliness.  Nothing was dead, no one injured.  So I scolded it, and every few minutes went back out there to tell it to shut up.  I have kids sleeping and I'll be danged if some stupid dog will wake them up.  This still continues, but a few days ago I heard it whining as if it really was hurt.  "What now!!?"  I had to laugh.  My neighbors either got sick of nearly running over it, or someone heard me, but they now keep that dog tied to a rope in the back yard.  I've watched it longing at the fence, dying to jump over.  Sucker!

The monsoons have been awesome.  We've had some amazing lightening storms, and so much rain.  I'm so glad that my parents have given us the leftover rock from one of their projects; such a life-saver; no more trekking through inches deep mud to get to/from our vehicles.  For any of you that know where we are located, or have been to our home (thanks for visiting, we love having visitors!) we have water treatment ponds nearby.  True, a northern wind doesn't smell pretty, but we do have lots of wildlife, also thanks to the river less than 1/2 a mile away. 

We were watching a movie the other night, and I about had a heart attack.  I heard screaming!  I instinctively wanted to dial 911 but thought I'd make sure I wasn't the only one hearing it.  We paused the movie, and then I realized I was hearing a lot of screaming, not just one voice.  Stephen laughs and tells me its the bull frogs outside.  Stupid frogs!  Ugh!!  They aren't all that loud, but I thought it might have been a murder going on, or maybe one of my kids cries was being muffled by a pillow.  Stupid amphibians!  Just like those stupid peacocks that sound like they are crying "Help!". 

hmmmm...

I've got an idea for a cruel joke.  Get a peacock, and at least 3 bull frogs and put them in someones back yard in the middle of the night.  I can just picture it now...