Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7* F, 64% RH, 0722
No orange streaks the sky or curtains, the only orange this morning is my coffee cup, my calcium capsule. Sky gray, dark like an ominous summer day in Georgia before thunder before lightning before rain. Unlike Georgia, after this storm, the sun will not shine, the temp will not return to 90+ blistering degrees drying everything as if it never rained. Snow falls invisibly collects on the railing, the car. The three stand in line to be dried, sit for a biscuit. Zsolt puts his head under my hand, moves when I move closer than shadow. Living with giants means awareness, where is Zayne’s ball he only plays with twice a day as I measure food into dog dishes? I must turn on lights at night because Ruger (black German Shepherd) can’t be seen sleeping in the hallway guarding.
Living with these three is like living with people, different personalities, habits. Zayne talks in the morning as does Ruger. Zsolt, like my mom prefers quiet mornings. Like me, none want breakfast before 9. I tried to teach them to sing on command, like Bruce taught Heidi, Sophie, Meister, Tubby. Some would hear a cacophony of howling not the harmony, the bass of Tubby, the soprano of Meister. It was beautiful! These three are not a choir, not one soloist among them. Bark is a command they understand. Quiet, not so much.
They fill the space around me.
Photos: LJ Austin (Zayne b/w face; Zsolt merle & solid gray face, Ruger black face)
