I’m still thinking about water this week, for a few reasons. We got a little rain here, oddly very little here in the foothills, but a real gully-washer in a few places in the valley. We pray the hay fields got a lot! But there was also thunder and lightening, starting more fires. 
It is still too hot. Even the chickens are hot! 
We are getting a lot of work done though; Jess brought back the skidsteer after repairs, and will finish cleaning up the horse wintering grounds, move some garden dirt, clean up brush and more.
I heard we may go to the lake this weekend with the boat.
The water will be a welcome respite, even for a cowdog who doesn’t like boating very much!
You may be wondering how boating fits in with cowdog wisdom. For most of us cowdogs, the biggest puddle of water we see is a creek or horse trough.
Well, my dad is an old cowboy, but he loves airplanes and boats too, maybe almost as much as sitting a good horse and working with me on the ranch.
He tells stories of a Navy destroyer he once was on called the USS Henderson, DD785.
I can’t say I’m crazy about boats and big water. I like my creek, but don’t care for waves lapping up under my belly. Boats are windy and noisy, but I go because I stick to my people, no matter what weird fun they find. 
By the way, the term “Steady as she goes” is an ancient mariners phrase. The captain of a sailing vessel would give the instruction to his helmsman; he is kind of like a cowdog on a ship!
Steady as she goes meant stay the course you are on. Regardless of wind gusts or cross currents, stick with the compass heading. I believe this old nautical phrase still has meaning today, even though sailors depend on technology to guide a ship now. Think if we just persevered with steady progress, and resisted being blown off course by storms and trouble.
Choose the right course. Keep the course true. Keep calm at the helm. Of course this means starting with knowing what is right, holding to the true heading. 
Some of the Apostles knew boats and water. They didn’t always get it right, but knew to hold steady. One said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed”.
There are a lot of storms in the world right now, some involve water but most don’t. We need to hold steady. Maybe an old cowdog could become a sailor after all! I’ll think about that when we go to the lake. 
And maybe I’ll be thinking on this when I’m laying an the couch, staying cool under my fan.
