Browse ›
An older man in overalls sips lemonade on a shady wooden porch while a blue merle Border Collie sits beside his chair. 30 / 39

Too Hot for Chores, So Grandpa Earl Poured a Lemonade. Skye Took Up Her Post.

AI imageborder collieporchsummer

The afternoon heat has driven everybody onto the porch. Grandpa Earl leans back in a wooden chair under the roof's shade, glasses on, tipping up a tall glass of lemonade with a lemon wedge floating in it. His shirt sleeves are rolled up and his boots are planted on the worn floorboards. Down beside his knee, Skye sits with her chest out and her head turned toward the yard, watching for anything that might need her attention. Potted plants line the porch railing, rubber boots stand by the steps, and a wheelbarrow waits in the grass for cooler hours.

Hot days call for extra care with dogs, especially thick-coated breeds. Make sure your dog always has shade and plenty of cool, fresh water, and plan walks for early morning or evening. Signs of overheating can include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, or stumbling, and heatstroke is an emergency that needs a vet right away. As for that lemonade, it is a human-only treat. Citrus can upset a dog's stomach, and sugary drinks are not good for them, while some sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Plain water is the best choice.

Skye seems perfectly happy with the arrangement. She has a cool spot on the porch, a good view of the yard, and her favorite person within reach. Earl has his lemonade and his loyal lookout.

Neither of them is planning to move until the sun dips behind the trees, and honestly, who could blame them?

More from this collection

All 39 →
An older man in a cap sprays an old car with a hose while a wet, grinning blue merle Border Collie stands in the driveway.Grandpa Earl Only Meant to Wash the Car. Skye Turned It Into Something Else.An older man has tea and a biscuit at a lace-covered table while a blue merle Border Collie rests a paw on the table.Grandpa Earl Brought Out the Good Lace Tablecloth. His Tea Guest Had Four Legs.
An older man stitches patchwork quilt squares while a blue merle Border Collie sleeps on a pile of fabric scraps beside him.Grandpa Earl Cut All the Quilt Squares and Stacked Them Up. Then Skye Found the Pile.A laughing older man rakes autumn leaves in a yard while a blue merle Border Collie leaps through the leaf pile.Grandpa Earl Finally Raked All the Leaves Into One Neat Pile. Then Skye Saw It.An older man in overalls sits on a covered porch watching heavy rain at dusk, with a blue merle Border Collie at his side.The Storm Rolled In and Grandpa Earl Went Quiet on the Porch. Skye Didn't Leave His Side.An older man in a lawn chair smiles at the sunset while a blue merle Border Collie lies on the grass beside an empty chair.Grandpa Earl Set Out Two Lawn Chairs for the Sunset. Skye Had Her Own Seating Plan.