Author: boomingbanter

Ma is feeling low as this has been a slow week at the Tearoom and her clients who’d made reservations for today had to cancel as one of the party got sick.

She says we’re lucky we’re not counting on this to make a living or we’d be on bread and water. I’m basically on that regime anyway with all the crust I’m eating.

It surly puts things in perspective though. You definitely can empathize with people who do count on their small business for their major source of income.

She has of course the Treasure side of things to keep her upbeat.

Yesterday she hit a sale on the way home and found some good things.

One was for Dad. It’s a beautiful study Bible that has lots of maps and historical detail so he’s deep into that and most grateful.

She didn’t get me anything. I thought for a moment that she’d brought be a new squeaky but seems the Pillsbury Doughboy is a retro collectible and not for puppies. When I heard that I went back to sleep.

Today at the store since she has nothing else to do she’s cleaning and pricing her finds.

Some of them look cute.

Some are funny

Others romantic

Some are just downright scary.

If nothing else she she can claim an eclectic range on offer.

Blessing #1058-Diversified

The ups and downs of the morning were as follows.

We dodged the rain to get out for the first relief at 6:00 and just as we returned a Mama Deer with two Fawns were spotted.

My Ma locked me up in the screened porch lest I disturb them too much as the Doe was nursing her babies in our neighbors yard.

It’s hard to see but trust us Fawns wag their tails a lot when their having their brekkie.

We’d never seen that in our lives before.

So since I couldn’t keep my trap shut the Doe decided it was time to head back through our yard to their homes in the woods and we said adios to them.

What happened next might freak a few of you out for a Friday.

We, make that I, smelt a funny smell to the left of our porch and I pointed for Ma.

It was a dead snake that was well past its sell by date. Snakes are slimy at the best of times but when they have been dead a few days and partially eviscerated they are quite revolting.

I returned to my safe place while Ma dealt with it and tossed it in the woods.

Now how many of you can say that they have handled such biblical scenes in the space of fifteen minutes of a morning.

We think we might look for apples later since the serpents snuffed it!

Blessing# 1057-Eden

We were watching a program a few nights ago by Lucy Worsley about Royal Photography.

Cecil Beaton and Lord Snowden features prominently.

We’re not photographers but we got the message that it’s all down to lighting and angles.

Any excuse for Ma to take more pics of me.

Do you prefer me to the left or the right or full face on?

Personally I think I look best in natural light with the sun reflecting of my highlights.

Just like anything else if you’re on the dark side of the road nothing looks quite as attractive.

Unless that is you were designed for shade rather than sun which I wasn’t.

Blessing # 1056-Beaming

I’m as happy as can be today as the sun is shining once more.

It makes our shadows long and everything look so much better.

The wild flowers in our meadow by the pond are well watered.

Seems they are producing plenty of nectar too as the bees are busy about their business.

By the time we got to the pond I was all set for some antics. The big birds were having their breakfast on some fresh worms.

I decided while Ma took my picture I’d give her an action shot and give them a run for their money.

Talk about noise they went crazy but I had the best laugh I’ve had in a long time.

Blessing # 1055-Goose Chase

It’s still raining. Our choice this morning was get wet or get wetter. I insisted we get wetter!

It wasn’t cold and the thunder and lightning had passed so we did a long walk.

Small ponds are springing up in some of our neighbors yards but ours is draining well.

The humidity has given rise to a plethora of fungi.

They are mostly small but there are some wicket looking spreading ones that would give you the creeps. Ma says she doesn’t mind the word fungi but fungus makes her think of stinky stuff.

If we knew what was what we could eat some. Since we don’t we just dream that they may be fairy umbrellas.

Or maybe, wishful thinking aside, palm trees.

Maybe that bunny I pointed out to herself knows his chanterelles from his champignons and was having a few for his brekkie.

Allows me also to point out to you how perfectly I blend in with the trees. I’ve a perfect camouflage for creeping up on critter.

Blessing # 1054-Mushroom

We get quite some visitors in our yard.

Last night a Doe brought her baby round to say hello. When you see the cute little ones you forget they have dessert on our sedum and hostas most days.

Ma and I suspect due to remnants of small long tailed critters and poop on our front pathway that we also have been adopted by a cat.

We haven’t seen it yet but for several days now it’s left us gifts at the same place.

Ive got my eyes peeled but am confident cats won’t get inside our house. Mice might make it but it is reassuring to know Dad doesn’t like felines and the Bro is allergic to them.

They would be a threat to my snacks.

Last night was a fiesta for me.

With the stress of the match herself ate a full family size bag of popcorn. She shared some with me.

Having run out of that as we were entering extra time in the game she hit the celery and peanut butter.

Devoured a mountain of the munch material and gave me the jar to clean out during the penalty kick off.

Shame about the result but that sure was a challenge getting to the bottom of that butter.

Blessing #1053-Digging Deep

See these feet? Well they are wet. I got short changed this morning on my outing as it started to rain when we were only half a mile from home.

We thought we’d dodge the showers but the heavens were having none of it.

It was only drizzling but Ma foresaw a downpour so we returned at a pace that most would class as a jog.

It seems sprinting now and then is good for the cardiovascular system but I prefer endurance exercise.

It’s not likely today though and the week ahead looks like fast pace will be called for too.

Just as well we Irish have a hundred words for precipitation. It’s teeming now so we definitely made the right decision when it was no more than mizzling to head for home.

To those of you out there from wetter climes share your favorite rain word especially funny ones that others might not know. I definitely need something to smile about!

Blessing # 1052-Speed Walk

This is a breakfast banter inspired by my Ma’s latest creation.

It is a brioche bun stuffed with strawberry cream cheese and topped with a little strawberry itself.

She brings the tail ends home as they aren’t so pretty and she doesn’t dust them with icing sugar like she does for her customers but they taste sweet.

We were reflecting as we ate them on the much maligned Marie Antoinette.

Poor girl. Shipped from Austria to marry the king of France she probably got a bit confused at times.

She is oft quoted as having said « let them eat cake » when challenged with the dilemma of the starving peasants who could find no bread. That’s not exactly what she said you know.

A more accurate translation is « let them eat brioche » She’d have had no problems with Ma and me.

Shame about Robespierre. He was a real baguette if you get my meaning.

Blessing #1051-Le Pain

It was one of those mornings when you weren’t sure if it was raining or if the humidity was so high it was condensation hitting your fur. Just horrible. Hard to breathe.

Anyway it gave rise to a shorter walk only one mile. So I begged for play.

Ma felt guilty and got out the ball games for me and tossed them for half an hour instead.

We are getting all set for the epics on Sunday.

Wimbledon of course is my favorite and then the footie.

We will be rooting for England. Long time since they made it to such a big final.

I could play for them myself if they needed an extra goalie. I can snag anything in my choppers.

Blessing #1050-Win Win

As you know I’m terribly close to my Ma. We really think alike.

All I need to do is look into her eyes and I know what she’s thinking.

Take this morning as an example. I knew she wanted to walk around Cardinal Hill so I led her that way.

We tell each other everything. This post from Krishna reminded us that sometimes it’s best to keep things close to your chest and keep your trap shut.

It’s not always easy that’s why good humans get canines as their closest companions as they can share all things including unspoken words.

There is no need for a fancy crystal when you’ve got a furball.

Blessing #1049-Mind Reader