Booming Banter

It was a great Granny Barr tribute morning.

We started out early like she always did and went harvesting some of our mint as Dad is going to make the first batch of chutney for this year.

We thoughts we’d help him so while we were watching the morning news we trimmed off all the bottom leaves, checked for Cicadas and plonked the plants in Granny’s big white jug.

She was very poor our wee Granny Barr and didn’t have many things but seems when she got married one of her gifts was this big jug. Almost as big as me!

It followed her from her hometown of Banbridge to Belfast when she moved to live with my Moms parents and eventually made it across the Atlantic to our house.

It held buttermilk at one time but today it served a different but equally noble purpose.

Our Granny did her baking ever Tuesday morning when she got her pension. Seems my Mummy helped her when she was little so we have adopted this tradition and made our scones this morning.

While we baked Dad worked on the harvest. This mint is great this year he said not a single bad leaf!!! We gave him a broken scone and moved on!

Blessing # 1103-Effortless!

See all these fancy afternoon teas my Ma is making and I’m not eating well there are some benefits.

Being very frugal (aka stingy) she hates throwing food away. She brings home the leftover strawberries and cream and the milk and croissants and broken cookies all of which are yummy.

Of course herself being herself she takes it to extremes and even collects the crusts of the bread when she makes those delicate cucumber sandwiches.

Dad has found an outlet for them making super spicy croutons. Now Ma is in on the job. She trying bread pudding. It helps use up the leftover milk too.

Not bad at all and quite well balanced from the nutrition perspective bread, milk, eggs and raisin oh and of course sugar.

Served with some of those leftover strawberries and we are all set for the day.

Blessing #1102-Odds and Ends

My Mom has been trying for weeks to get into this TV series called Bridgerton. It comes highly recommended by her friends but so far she’s not hooked.

Can’t say I am either. So far not a dog in site. In good old Pride and Prejudice there were always a few hounds about.

When we are in doubt as to what to watch we always revert to PBS and the good old programs we’ve seen a million times. Especially if there is a link to the homeland like the one about Carrickfergus Castle.

We love Keeping Up Appearances and have seen the episodes so often we know the words.

I’ve even learned to bark on cue.

Don’t you think there may be some role for me in a remake or maybe a movie?

Blessing #1101 – Familiarity

You would not believe the swing in temperature we have had.

It was 90 on Wednesday and this morning it was 45 with a wind chill making it feel closer to freezing. Second coldest May 29 on record.

Now I know I’m speaking in the Fahrenheit scale but still, have you ever in all you life heard the like of it? 45 degrees of difference in three days!

Ma had to dig out the woolly jumper and put on the winter coat for our trot. She choose the grey so we are matchy matchy! Give me strength!!!!

Was I glad I still had some hair on and hadn’t had that grooming.

For once I could even have handled the winter fur back on myself.

Wouldn’t you know it too that it’s Memorial Day weekend when all the pools are meant to open.

Anyone fool enough to dive in will not need to be faint hearted. Wouldn’t even be enticed myself unless a sausage was thrown in.

Wonder what happens to Cicadas under such circumstances. They’re cold blooded. Maybe this will knock them out like that meteor that did in the dinosaurs.

Blessing #1110-Thermals

Got short changed this morning.

Auntie Denise had a riding lesson at 9:00 so we had to leave early.

It was pouring so that didn’t help matters. I only got the once round the block trot. Not enough for two jobs. I’ll be bursting all day till herself returns.

In the meantime I’ll have to sit and stare out the window.

Or mope around with the mop all curled up. Rain really does bring out the poodle in me.

Reminds me of Uncle Dave’s anniversary card to the parents.

He’s got them captured well except Dad doesn’t have that much hair anymore.

Blessing #1109 – Frizzy Friday

We have more or less mastered the art of the scone. Except when we forget to add shortening and poor Dad and me have to eat them at home.

Ma can make them in her sleep. In fact she does on occasion and they usually are burning or doing something they shouldn’t. It’s a nightmare of sultanas.

Given that more than half the good old Walkers shortbread that she bought for the tearoom have been broken and so she can’t serve it we are looking into the possibility of making our own.

It’s not rocket science but Ma needs something simple so if you have an idiot proof recipe for shortbread send her.

Seems her own Ma made it regular and it was always good.

This mornings efforts were far from stellar. I inspected them and the didn’t pass muster.

So more snack for Dad and me.

There is method in my madness!

Blessing # 1108 – Experiments

The AC was not working at the Tearoom and it was sweltering this morning when Ma had a group of Ladies over.

They are part of a book club and were very kind about the conditions but clearly drinking hot tea is not so wonderful when you are baking like a bun in an oven. Go figure how I feel with the fur coat on.

Just as they were leaving a torrent of rain poured down. It pulled about a river of humidity out of the air and a plethora of pollen to boot. Helped the conditions but that was a tad late for the ladies.

Still it will make for more comfortable conditions for Ma as she does the dishes and does help the roses too that are behaving themselves and blooming just as they should.

Now the engineers are here and have fixed most things.

The green light is on not just flashing.

They are still working on a unit that is leaking but progress is promising.

Very true that old saying. It never rains but it pours.

Blessing # 1107 – Cool Off

Be prepared to be grossed out. The once in every seventeen year emergence of the Cicadas has started.

Dad is petrified I’ll eat some so Ma is under strict instructions to keep me away from them. It’s difficult to avoid them as they are everywhere and it’s only just the start we have several days to go before the peak of their season.

Here’re some pics from our yard taken this morning after our early trot.

The critters are up to all sorts of things.

They’re also shedding their skins all over the place. Some of their skeletons are even stuck to our brick wall. They must make their own superglue!

Gives an interesting perspective on the insect world. One that you rarely see.

They are kinda creepy though. I prefer squirrels and chipmunks and bunnies.

Think while they’re above ground I’ll go undercover and stay cool.

Blessing# 1106– Inside View

Day off for both Ma and the bro spells fun for me. YEOH!

Herself was not in great form this morning as a new leak has appeared at the old house. Seems they had torrential rain there yesterday and a puddle made its way into the back room.

After our morning outing which matched the pace of her mood, frantic, she baked two dozen scones and then ripped out two trash bags full of weeds and daffodil leaves. That brought her back to normal.

She then took the Pa out to their favorite thrift store and left me with the bro.

They bought so many things the haul has had to be homed in our garage. Never say never again Ma. Although I do quite like this monster painting. It’s big enough for me to practice my deer hunting!

I couldn’t give a hoot though what they did as the bro took me out cruising. It’s so much better being out with someone of my own age than the ancients. I cannot reveal details of our sojourn as it involved visits with females!!!!!

Blessing # 1105– Age Appropriate Activities.

We had such a great relaxing day and some nature study too.

We went out with Auntie Denise and checked out our goslings at the pond.

The critters have to swim through the algae that has already bloomed but they don’t seem to mind that or me.

They better be careful about hawks though as there are some big birds about. This particularly proud one was strutting his stuff a few days ago.

The Doe’s also need to watch out because these big guys could get their Fawns.

Ma and I saw one lying in a neighbors yard. It looked dead so we went to check it out.

It was sleeping and when we got up beside it we could see it’s nose move. When it smelled us it let out a bleat and took off. Where was that Mama! Gave us an experience though. If you’ve never heard a fawn talk it’s really special. Sounds like a very high pitched lamb. Quite shocking really.

Blessing # 1104-Alive and Kicking