Booming Banter

Ma and Dad are having an ongoing argument about my food.

Dad says I don’t like the new stuff Ma got me last time and that I need to go back to my gluten free.

Ma says that with the amount of bread crusts I can eat with no adverse effect I don’t need gluten free and it’s more expensive.

What a penny pincher she is.

See the thing is Dad feeds me in the evening and she’s meant to feed me in the morning. Except Dad feeds me way too much and adds in all sorts of tasties like chicken and beef. He makes it so nice and easy to yummy up the good bits that I leave the kibble to the side. Result? It looks to Ma that I’m over fed as I have still have lots of food in my bowl in the morning.

It’s easier to sort out the meat with the new kibble because it’s a bigger size so it looks like I don’t eat it at all.

Ma has now laid down the law and says it’s kibble only in my bowl!

That doesn’t mean I don’t get the goodies. Dad gives them to me when she’s out of the house! Man am I glad she has that Tearoom not only a source of crumbs but it gets her out of our way.

We men folks stick together.

Blessing #1063-Absence

Our house is usually quite fly free. These past two weeks though we have been overrun and Ma is on the war path.

She can’t stand them. Says they are dirty rascals and spread disease.

It has become a daily battle and she is armed with a special device.

I have to keep my eye on her as she sometimes gets close to me. It’s a good game.

I sit alert.

Dose off

Eventually I fall asleep.

Until she lets out a mighty roar when she gets one. In the morning though more arrive and the game goes on

Blessing # 1062 -Swat

I’m dedicating this banter to my cousin Maisie. Her Mum sent my Mum this beautiful photo of her taken yesterday in a real Irish meadow full of wildflowers. She looks so pretty. So do the flowers!

I’ve not met Maisie yet as she lives in Belfast with my Auntie Carol but we do FaceTime. According to Mum she’s « the best girl in the world »

As I’m the « best boy » I’m now jealous.

Maisie was rescued by Auntie Carol many moons ago and so is no longer a spring chicken like me. She inspired my Mum to rescue me as she is so smart and so good.

Her only dislike is strange men. She loves up to my Dad and Bro just fine because she knows them but anyone else look out.

Her affection for men is on par with mine for bicycles. It may relate to our early life experiences.

Like myself Maisie is composed of a mix of breeds that resulted in unusual features. Her most adorable are her large ears that are as big as her tiny legs.

She loves to go car like me and in her hay day could walk ten miles no problem.

These days she gets a little tired after a mile or so so her Mum bought her a pram so she can still go on long rambles with her friends and join in the fun.

I think she has a great Mummy. No wonder she is my Mums Bestie since forever. They even kinda look alike don’t you think.

Blessing #1061-Relatives

This morning the sun looked perfectly round like a big red beach ball.

Usually when it rises here the star itself is less distinctive and is mixed in with cloud and various hues of orange.

Ma said today’s appearance reminded her of India where some of our family live.

I can’t be sure of that but it was cool for our walk and we went far so now I’m resting under our Chinese side table.

Ma has gone to get the car serviced as it’s well overdue. There’re as many lights coming on as would illuminate a small planet.

She’s taken her book that she’s reading for a second time as she can’t remember the ending.

It’s about East moving West and some ladies getting big disappointments. Not Ma though. Where else would you find an auto repair shop with a pond and deck chairs to keep their customers sweet.

Blessing #1060– Orientations

We had a wee lie in this morning and didn’t get up until ten past seven. That’s like half the days over don’t you think?

It meant my first trot was one mile only as herself had to get ready for Church.

« Don’t worry Scooby » she said as Dad and her left « I’ll take you out again when we get back »

Usually there’s an excuse or a distraction when she says that and it never happens but you know what she was good to her word. I didn’t have to wait till six we were on the road again at eleven.

Perfection is how you could describe today. Blue sky, gentle breeze and a comfortable 80F.

We did the whole loop. See every road on this map? We’ve walked it.

My tongue was hanging to one side by the time we got home but after a good guzzle I’m great.

These boots are made for walking and I’m hoping herself continues to feel the need to clock up the steps after a little snack and nap.

Blessing #1059-Pawpal

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