According to Google, the term 'dog days' originated with the ancient Romans. The appearance of Sirius in the sky before the sun near the end of July marked the beginning of the very hottest days of the year. The Romans called this period "dies caniculares" or "days of the dog star," which was eventually pared down to just "dog days."
I prefer to think this time of year got its name because it is just so darn hot that even the dogs don't want to move. They just lie still, trying to keep cool.
Anyway, the dog days of summer is where we are currently at in Campbell River. My husband is up at 4:30 every morning so he can get some fishing in before the day gets too hot. We run our little air conditioner all day and the ceiling fan in the bedroom at night.
And in keeping with the time of the year, yesterday I added a practice painting of a dog to my watercolour sketchbook -- a puppy with a ball. It isn't the first dog artwork I've done, and it made me wonder exactly how many dog pictures I've turned out in the last few years. As it happens, the number is twelve, and I've captured the canines in pencil, watercolour, ink, chalk, and pastel.
I've done 'a boy and his dog' several times.
I've done dogs on the move.
I've done dogs just lookin' good.
I've done a nosy dog.
And I've done a 'melting' dog. (This is a true representative of the dog days.)
But my favourite dog image so far isn't even a dog -- well, not the domesticated kind anyway. It's a fox.
I guess I just like dogs. I often include them in my novels too. But we'll leave that for another blog.
Love your dogs. You're inspiring me to pick up a brush again. It's been so looooong!