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We had company over yesterday - our good friends Mike and Dana and their little boy Liam, with a friend of his. Having company is no small feat with five dogs in the house, including one very troubled, fearful little hound girl. But they are the best possible friends to have over - dog people who have their own multi-rescued dog household and have dealt with their share of dogs with issues, too. Even 10-year old Liam knows exactly how to behave around all kinds of dogs.

Patches reacted to them in her typical fashion, but it didn't take long before she was jumping into Mike's and Liam's laps, and showing them her sweet side. Once she gets over her fears, there's no sweeter dog on earth.

Cocoa was more reactive than usual, for her... and she didn't relax as quickly as Patches. Silly goose.

When Patches true nature comes out, it's sad to think how her fears have isolated her from so much of the world. She's a gentle, vulnerable girl who thinks she has to be fierce to protect herself.

Visiting with his good friend and former aikido student, Mike.

Cocoa had a big surprise this week! She and Audrey have always loved to charge out onto the patio and stick their little noses deep into the drainage holes near the bottom of the retaining wall that borders the patio. As I followed them out onto the patio, I saw Cocoa jump back in alarm and then watched six inches of black and white snake head retreated into the hole! Turns out it was a harmless Eastern ratsnake, probably hunting the chipmunks that tunnel behind the retaining wall. Come to think of it, the frogs have disappeared lately, too...

I watched the hole for the next several hours. He would start to come out, then somehow sense me watching and slowly retreat. After one longer interval, I sneaked outside again, and found him twined around and through the clematis vine trellis on the wall next to the hole. He was thin for his length, which was at least four to five feet long.

When we came out with cameras, his first reaction was to freeze in place and hope we didn't see him. When we didn't go away, he started flowing back to his hiding place, and I took this series of photos. I read that they flatten their heads like this to look more dangerous when they feel threatened.

And the dried sweet potato diving events have begun! Audrey excels at this extremely rewarding, cooling summer sport.