Author: boomingbanter

There is a small room in our basement that my Mom has claimed as her own. She has it set up as a place to escape to but never uses it. Don’t ask me why!

It lies between the big room where the bro plays his war games and where we all go when there is a tornado warning and the boiler and AC unit where we hope we never need to go or else we’re in trouble.

In her own little place Ma stores her stash of books that she collects all year round for the pool season.

Any book that is part of her read again or ready reference is also stored her. This way they don’t get mixed up with Dad’s massive store.

This week she completed her fourth book of the summer The Handmaid’s Tale, which is scary given the current climate, and so we went in search of the fifth.

There is some process to the selection that includes the length of chapters, the size of print and the thickness of the tome and of course the draw of the outline.

I helped her choose this time and we homed in on The Bridges of Madison County.

As always there is method in my madness. I’m hoping it will inspire her to take us on a tour of the covered bridges of Ohio. Picnic plans speak so sweetly to me!

Blessing # 752 – Texts and Treats

The bro has his days off today and tomorrow so we got to hang out and then go out.

Usually it’s Dad and me together in the morning but it’s more fun when the bro’s about. He plays rough whereas Dad just plays ball.

Ma was in a bit of a mood this morning as the storm had wrecked her front garden.

She cheered up though when she salvaged a wee bunch and the bro arranged for her car service.

We drove out in convoy to the garage and then all piled into one car for a little road trip.

The bro had spotted a Mini car when the two of us were out cruising at the weekend. He thought we should look at it as it’s Mum’s favorite car in the whole wide world. When we got to the dealership it was sold. They have another though that looks good but the dealer said he had to inspect it as it’s leaking oil. Hardly auspicious!

After that we took the country roads home and I did some back seat driving. The bro was at the wheel and when he drives it’s always more exciting than with you know who. Herself never burns an orange or does anything on two wheels she just plods along. With the bro it feels more like a ride on a roller coaster. Spells vacation to me even if it’s just for an afternoon!

Blessing # 751 – Family Time

Praise be we’re sitting in the screened porch waiting for rain. We can see the clouds and hear the thunder and we pray for a huge downpour. The trees are all rustling like they should. It’s such a sweet sound.

We’re listening to the Duchess of Cornwall on Radio 5 while we’re here. Ma loves her and has become particularly attached during lock down. She’s been making some short videos that Ma watches and that show her great sense of humor and warmth. I like her voice too. Very calming and deep!

Today she’s talking about being an ancient ballerina. Seems she took to dancing just some months ago. Ma can relate as she does this Barre Ballet too.

Thats not the most important thing though that these ladies have in common. They both love rescues. HRH has Beth and Bluebell and Ma of course has me.

Its like HRH can read my Ma’s mind. She’s said perfectly how my Ma feels about me.

We also got what we prayed for. We had to come indoors. We won’t need to water for a few days and got a free hose down of the screens to boot!

Blessing # 750 – A Duchess and A Downpour

 

We just came back from the River bluff trail. This time Ma had the  sense to take water for me. Auntie Lori has also started giving me a bowl when I get to her house each morning and it does make such a difference in this heat.

On the trail we were looking out for critters  and signs of their activities. We saw lots of logs by the side of the river that look like they’ve been used by beavers to sharpen their teeth. We also saw lots of holes that we think could be the entrance into skunks homes. We sure hope we don’t come face to face with one of them.

There are all sorts of paw prints and we play detective trying to work out what they are. Most are easy but some are intriguing and we spin stories about wolves and coyotes and bobcats. Anyone know what this pointy one might be?

Don’t you think every good mystery needs a canine to solve the plot. Sherlock had his bloodhounds but Mum’s favorite Master Shardlake did not.

Maybe I could give him some help. I think I’d fit right in in a Tudor Court! Quite regal really!

Blessing # 749 – Story Makers

Much as we hoped the storm would come our way, when we heard the distant thunder last evening, it passed us by.

We also heard the fireworks from the neighborhood and saw some shooting up to the moon. The bro bought us some sparklers so we lit those and had festive fun too.

Maybe it was all that time spent out in the dark but this morning another tick was stuck to me. I showed Mum and she did the necessary.

After a long walk we were feeling very hot so she went to chill at the pool while I rested by the air vent.

When she returned she said that she had seen her nemesis the dreaded Japanese Beetle swimming too. This strike her with fear and trepidation as it spell disaster for the annuals. Those beetles chew through a geranium before you can say Jack Robinson.

The tick and the beetle got us thinking why do such critters exist? Bugs like bees might sting you but they do good things too like make honey and pollinate our flowers but what good things do beetles and ticks do.

We are truly ignorant to their benefits so if you know please enlighten us. A quick Google explanatory on ticks is that they serve as a food source for birds and as population controllers for deer, mice and other animals. For Japanese Beetles we find no glory.

For all we know they might eat disease causing critters like mosquitoes or attack bacteria or viruses. We might owe them thanks and an apology. In the meantime I’ll nuke or nosh them.

Blessing # 748 – Bug Zappers

I got confused and forgot to post on Friday. Maybe because Ma was rushing out to a street party that I could hear but didn’t attend because of the heat. A really good singer whose a friend of our neighbors came to perform and they had fun. Sounded great.

The very hot weather has done me a favor. Ma has taken pity on my tootsies so in the afternoon instead of walking round our area she has been taking me to the trails at the local forest park.

We get much more shade there so we don’t fry like an onion. There’s lots to see and smell too plus I get a ride in the car on the way there and back. BLISS!

Yesterday we took the trail down to the river. So much water but not a drop to drink. Hiking sure does make you thirsty.

We came across fields of wild flowers including Milk Weeds.
These are weird looking plants but the perfume is fabulous. They deserve a kinder name since they are very useful in attracting Monarch Butterflies. We haven’t seen any on them yet but for sure they will come.

We are so lucky to have these lovely places all around our city. They are called metro parks and are great for families to come for picnics with lots of set ups for BBQs. You can smell that cooking in the air too and to my mind it’s better than any Milk Weed.

I’m working on Ma to convince her we should fry up a few sausages too. She says that’s a hassle but I’m sure she’ll soon cave in!

Since it’s July 4th today the bro and her went to the pool as he’s got the day off. She got him some BBQ so I’m a bit miffed at that but then when they came home he made up for it by taking me for a car ride.

Just us bro’s bonding. Have fun on the fourth y’all!

Blessing # 747 – Independence

My Mom was feeling real blue this morning so we had to find something to lighten her mood.

I tried my usual ploys like playing ball and doing tricks but to no avail. She was all forlorn.

She had to dig though Facebook until she found the trick.

The result was we listened to this geezer called Paul McCarty talking and singing with some other dude for half an hour and touring a place called Liverpool where Ma and the Bro had been last year.

All this before I’d had been out for a trot. I was busting and begging!

So when she said let’s go I took off like a shot.

The music and walk brought a smile back on her face. She said some songs bring back good memories and according to that Sir Paul said « singing makes everything feel better »

Blessing # 746 – Singers of Songs

I couldn’t believe my luck this morning. Dad had to go to the doctors for his check up so Ma said I could ride with them.

When she dropped him off we started cruising. I didn’t know where we were going but it was so cool with my head out the window I really didn’t care!

That’s when I got a shock she stopped the car right in the middle of town and took me out! Of course we’d driven through many times before but now I got to make my first official  visit! 

Well we walked for twenty minutes and did the whole round. The town hall, the village green, the bandstand and of course the stores. Our little town is tiny.

It was so great! I left my calling card and placed my paw in as many places as possible and you know what Mom said? Sometime she’ll fix with Auntie Lori to meet in town and we can all have a little stop at the coffee shop for treats!

Yeoh! I’m officially a grown up!

Blessing # 745 – Going Downtown

Wasn’t a pleasant start to the day for me. As Ma was drinking her coffee and snuggling beside me as she does she struck gold. There was a big tick stuck to me in a very delicate spot so she had to operate.

You will be pleased to hear I was very brave and wise and let her get on with the excision. The critter had got its fangs into me and was swollen like a little balloon but she got it off without bursting it. It was still moving but nearly dead. She took a piece of my skin too which hurt like #$&&

She then decided the spot needed to be cleaned so she got out the vodka and dabbed me with it. That stuff stings and stinks.

I nearly passed out and needed a head down tilt.

We presented the evidence to the bro and Dad when they surfaced and Dad promptly flushed it down the toilet. Done deal. Well NO!

That wasn’t the only entomological issue we faced today. On the way to Auntie Lori’s Ma was recounting my bravery to Auntie Denise when she barfed. We both stopped dead in our tracks as we couldn’t understand what happened her.

Believe it or not as she was talking a bug flew into her mouth and bit her right at the back of her mouth. She said it was really stingy and if she passed out we were to call 911.

She survived! It was a first though for her but seems there is precedent.

Blessing # 744 – Close Crawls

It has been complete crazy here today. People running in and out in all directions since we got up. For the humans there has not been a minute to spare. Thankfully I did get my morning outing to the park.

All around us mushrooms are sprouting up. They are really tiny. Ma says it’s a mystery where they come from but that the leprechauns would love them.

They will be well shriveled now as it is so hot you could fry them. I’m glad my humans are busy so they don’t bother me and I can take comfort in the cool. Air Conditioning is a wonderful thing.

Best to just find the shadiest spot in the house, curl up, chill and if a snooze comes that would be just fine on a day like this.

Last night I was so exhausted I fell asleep with my nose in my Ma’s pocket where she keeps my treats. Great to have a day to catch up and get that energy back. Those humans need to take a tip or two from me!

Blessing # 743 – Recharging