Browse ›
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. 36 / 39

Grandpa Earl Set Out Two Lawn Chairs for the Sunset. Skye Had Her Own Seating Plan.

AI imageborder colliesunsetbackyard

The sun is slipping down behind the fence line, washing the whole backyard in peach and gold light. Grandpa Earl sits in a folding lawn chair, hands clasped, glasses glinting, smiling out at the sky with the relaxed look of a man who has finished his day's work. A second lawn chair sits right next to him, clearly set out for company. But Skye has chosen the grass instead, lying with her front paws tucked in at Earl's feet, her tricolor merle face turned toward the fading light. The empty chair waits politely, and nobody seems bothered.

Dogs often pick their own favorite resting spots, and the reasons are usually practical. Grass and cool ground can feel better than fabric on a warm evening, especially for a double-coated dog. Many dogs also prefer to lie at their person's feet, where they can stay close and keep watch at the same time, a habit that fits naturally with a herding breed's attentive nature. Evenings outdoors are lovely, but this is also when mosquitoes come out, and some carry heartworm, so year-round prevention recommended by your vet is important in many parts of the country.

The colors keep changing as the sun sinks: gold to orange, orange to pink, pink to violet. Earl watches every bit of it, and Skye watches the yard, both completely content.

Maybe tomorrow Skye will take the second chair. Then again, the grass by Earl's boots seems to suit her just fine.

More from this collection

All 39 →
An older man places a jigsaw puzzle piece on a kitchen table while a blue merle Border Collie sits on a chair watching.Grandpa Earl Spread a Big Jigsaw Puzzle Across the Table. Someone Pulled Up a Chair.An older man spreads old black-and-white family photos across a table as a blue merle Border Collie rests its nose nearby.Grandpa Earl Spread Out Decades of Old Photos. Skye Wanted to Know Who Everyone Was.
A smiling older man tosses a tennis ball in a backyard as a blue merle Border Collie crouches, mouth open, ready to chase.Grandpa Earl Has One Good Throw Left in Him. Skye Is Ready for All of Them.An older man in denim overalls sleeps in a rope hammock under oak trees while a blue merle Border Collie sits beside him.Grandpa Earl Dozed Off in the Hammock. Skye Decided Someone Had to Stay on Duty.An older man in overalls and a plaid shirt tucks a cream knit blanket around a blue merle Border Collie in a round dog bed.Every Night Grandpa Earl Has One Last Job Before Bed. Skye Waits for It.An older man in overalls smiles in a wooden rocking chair while a blue merle Border Collie sleeps on the floor at his feet.Grandpa Earl Started Rocking in His Old Chair. Skye Knew Exactly What That Meant.