Author: boomingbanter

Not much happens before my Ma has her first cup of coffee but this  morning she was on the ball early.

Even before she had her OJ and I had my peak out to pee she was on the phone.

Turned out it’s her bestie Carols birthday. Ma and Carol are like sisters and have been besties for sixty years. Their friendship is so monumental that it’s on permanent exhibit at Belfast City Hall!

We haven’t met in person yet but I can tell you I thank my lucky stars my Ma knows her.

Carol is a animal lover and does a lot of volunteer work to raise money for animal shelters with a dedicated group of pals. It’s thanks to her that I got my new family as she encouraged my Ma to rescue.

She has adopted so many critters over the years most of them elderly little Yorkshire Terriers. The last time she got a dog though she got Maisie who like me has bits of this and bits of that.

This morning Carol and Ma talked about what Carol was going to do today. The weather in Belfast is beautiful so she was planning a walk after work with Maisie.

Many places for walks like trails and beaches are off limits right now and so is Carols other favorite thing in the whole wide world shopping for shoes.

She needs them though she’s a walker another thing I’m very grateful Ma learned from her!

Blessing # 672 – Friend for Life

Since Ma is back on the sweeties the All Bran was forsaken for a big cinnamon bun. She shared with me of course and it was so yummy especially that white stuff on top. It sorta sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter and gives you a value for money experience.

It gave me the energy boost needed too to do the morning trot. I was really still worn out from yesterday’s adventures.

We came home on time to watch online Church. It stopped just when we were getting to the good bit though. Ma thought it must be our internet so she went to the basement to turn it off and on.

While she was down there these big blue bones hit her in the eye. She brought them up and since Church didn’t start again she took to tempting me with them. She stuck on her favorite songs and started holding these bones over her head. Well better them than me. I just lay low until she collapsed with them beside me.

After that the bro emerged and we decided we’d watch a movie together. They are trying to educate him on Hitchcock so we watched The Birds. Very far fetched. Those birds don’t look real at all. Stupid ending too! Much better to watch the real ones out our window!

Don’t think Ma was too impressed either. Could explain why were having fried chicken for dinner!

Blessing # 671 – Tenders is Tonight

It is not often that I admit to this but my little feet are sore and I can hardly keep my eyes open. My Mom must have slept well because she has gone crazy today.

She took me to the park first thing and then since the sun was out decided we should go to the beach. Dad had cabin fever so we had to get him out for a while and the bro came along too.

We did a few more thousand steps in the sand before heading home but we weren’t through the door and she surprises me with another outing to meet my girlfriend.

We met and kissed and then walked out together doing loop after loop of our neighborhood. Thank goodness that Great British Bake Show is on at six or we might still be going. She needs to be sedated that Mom of mine!

Blessing # 670 – Busy Boy

Our whole routine was turned upside down today. It’s good weather for ducks. Even though they are a bit daft they too seem to have got the six foot rule.

We had to go to the park this morning before the downpours started. Auntie Lori is getting so attached to me that she bought me big bacon bits. As President Bush would have said I love her more than tongue can tell.

It’s so annoying when you have to reschedule things because all those squirrels that expect me to chase them will be so disappointed. There was some compensation though as Ma and I met four deer on the way to the park. One stood very still in the middle of the road and stared at us for a long time we thought it was going to charge us but in the end it turned around and took off.

When we came home I was sorely tempted again by the yeast. This time her highness is making pizza dough. After that there was not much to do except lazing around.

I’m in such good company when it comes to vegging. Talk about a role model! My bro’s the best!

Thank goodness he’s back to life again. We did some boxing, then he used me for weight training before we got to the rope work.

Things could always be worse!

Blessing #669 – Sun Tomorrow

Mother was in a bad mood today. She had to call the health insurance people because they hadn’t sent her the monthly bill. In this day and age you never know what is round the corner so she is petrified that anything might come between her and full coverage.

She did all that button pushing and answering yes about one hundred times before the endless music started. Eventually she talk to a human who put her on hold. By this time she couldn’t wait any longer as our first walk date of the day had arrived so she hung up. Dad started to shuffle the papers she’d been using and she nearly took the nose of him. Told him if he wanted to clean up he could deal with the big pile of paper junk at the end of the table.

So as always I intervened to diffuse the situation and get her out as quickly as possible.

When we returned she hit the phone again, got the business sorted and then like a demon took to cleaning.

My bro was evicted from the basement and given the vacuum cleaner. She got that kills all known germs stuff out and started the scrubbing. Focus was on the underground which had taken on a well lived in sort of aroma. Must say I’m partial to that smell but she was having none of it. Blankets and sleep suits and all sorts of unmentionables were flying into the washing machine and she was up and down the stairs about a million times.

I got so puffed following her and so dizzy running around in circles after the vacuumer that I puked on the steps. It didn’t help that I’d chewed on grass either.

Thank goodness she hadn’t cleaned there yet or she’d have had my head off.

After that it seemed like a good idea to lie low and avoid her. So I stuck like glue to the brother.

He let me help him with his homework. It was funny though because it looked just like a war was happening. Maybe history!! He’s likes to study that a lot!!!!!

Seems this day was destined for a battle or two. Boring stuff put me right to sleep!

Blessing # 668 – Peace Maker

Everywhere you look there are stories of people cutting their own hair. The Sunday papers were full of it and the TV shows too.

One shepherd even took the sheep shears to his head and posted a video of the result in Facebook.

Wouldn’t you know my Mom was so inspired that she got out the clipper kit she’d bought for my predecessor. Man was I glad I’d no hair left to cut!

Who was she after though? The brother was still snoring in the basement so maybe she was going to attack him while asleep.

Surely she was not going to take to styling herself! That would be a tad too radical.

Seems she has negotiated a deal with Dad while I was otherwise occupied barking at passing puppies.

As soon as we got back from our walk she struck. Took him to the bathroom and started buzzing. I closed my eyes and hid under the bed just incase she decided to attack my tail which is the only vestige of my former self.

As it happens, while it may be a bit short mirroring my own style, Dad doesn’t look bad at all. He told me she’d said he wasn’t going anywhere anyway and if he had to step out he could wear a baseball cap. She’s all heart my Ma!

It didn’t end there either she was on a roll and took to the nails next. Man it’s powerful stuff that polish completely knocked me for six. It was time for a snooze anyway had to squeeze that in before walking round two!

Blessing #667 – Good Grooming

My nose is like a gazillion times more sensitive than yours. It’s just the way I’m made and has its advantages and disadvantages.

On the plus side I can sniff out a squirrel at half a mile. Ma can’t understand why this drives me into top gear but she also doesn’t know how musty and magical squirrels smell. It’s like they are crackers, cheese and pickle on steroids. It’s all in their tail too!

One slight disadvantage of my amazing nasal capacity is that it makes me get super excited by certain smells at home. You all don’t realize that apples are profoundly moving especially these Pink Ladies my ma eats.

She noshes into them at least once a day and as I gaze into her eyes I know she’ll crack and give me some. That’s where the problem comes. When she does I drool and then she goes stir crazy.

Today I hit her pretty hard because we’d just come back from the park and I was super hungry.

The worst thing though in recent days is her baking. She has taken to making these things with yeast. I can manage the cookies and cakes she usually does but this yeasty stuff when it’s fermenting is unmanageable. Yesterday it was baguette. Très Française tu dites! That little bit of gas elevates the transmission of those molecules. They hit me with such force on the organ that I could faint. It is bliss!

All this makes me dream like crazy. If noses were muscles I’d be like an elephant!

Just as well I have my stress relief readily at hand! My chewing gum!

Blessing # 666 – Scented Slumber

 

A happening today made me think looking at life from Scooby’s perspective could be fun. So here goes. Let us know if you like it.

Ma and me had a good walk this morning I wanted to go further but she dragged me home as she smelt a thunderstorm. She was right. We dodged a big bullet. Storms don’t frighten me but she gets all edgy so I figured why tug!

We played ball for a while and then she had nice leftovers from yesterday. Even though I snuggled up real close she only gave me the tiniest piece of potato and she dropped nothing. Bummer!

When deciding whether to huff or not her phone started to ping! Good sign! It makes all sorts of noise but this particular one often means shes planning to meet one of her gal pals and these days that means a walk!

Sure enough she got the coat on and off we went again. By now the thunder had past but it was blowing such a gale. It felt so good. That head wind gives you such a workout.

When we turned right it was clear we were going to meet Lori which means we’ll go to the park. It’s so good when these two get together because they never let up talking so it gives me plenty of time to do my own thing sniffing in the woods and spotting squirrels.

All was going well and we were heading home just at the point of parting with Lori when I did a big naughty. I chewed through my retractable leash. Ma gasped and I knew I was in trouble. The freedom was fantastic though!

Off I went with the handle in my mouth and left her with the little bit. She was panicking it was clear so after about one hundred feet I stopped let her catch up a bit and then took off again.

Of course this being one of our favorite routes it was easy to smell my way home. She plodded as fast  as her two little legs would carry her behind me.

When Mrs Postie came past in her van I pulled off into the grass to show I was a smart hound with a clean driving license and totally in control of making wise decisions.

On reaching my own kingdom I lay down and waited for her highness to arrive. Since I wasn’t at all tired I had a great little run around for a while until she gave up on me and left me alone. That was no fun so I slunk in the back door.

After posing for a mugshot it was time to suck up to her again.

After all she is by far the snuggliest    of the lot when you need a snooze.

Blessing #665 – Home and Dry

Instead of getting up and dressed in our Easter best we lazed around in casual clothes and drank loads of coffee.

We went to the park, cut daffodils from the yard and then watched Church in the kitchen while we baked our buns in the oven.

There were lots of texts and messages coming and going from family and friends. Many more than on any other Easter Day.

One was especially lovely little Luna greeting her baby brother Ben born yesterday. 

Aaron had surprised us with two big chocolate eggs and we gave him a few surprises too with a little treasure hunt for eggs and bunnies that we hadn’t done since he was little

Everything is at a slower pace but we are more connected and focused on LOVE and the meaning of the day than ever before.

With our tummies full we are listening along with some two million others to Andrès Bocelli direct from Milan

That’s one very special treat speaking of which it’s just about time to bust a bunny!

Blessing # 664 – Making Fun

46 Days without a sweetie or savory snack and what a 46 days it’s been. Unlike any other and destined for the history books!

We’ve had a lot more to worry about than loosing seven pounds. Just for the record though not an ounce was lost. Given the circumstances though with no zumba or gym maybe not such a bad result! None gained either!

Heaven knows where the needle might be if cookies, crisps and chocolates were not off limits.

The urge to eat sweets has not left me at all so tomorrow there will be a fiesta of decadence.

A hankering for hot cross buns overtook me during the past week. Of course they can’t be found for love nor money so baking from scratch is the only option. Never made anything with yeast before so today is a first.

Made a few mistakes along the way but the dirty dozen are now in the fridge for their second proofing overnight. We’ll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Let is hope we can say that they as well as “He” is Risen!

Blessing # 663 – Sweeties Slumber