Booming Banter

Ma shoved me in the car this morning at 8:00 and took off in the wrong direction.

I had a feeling of great apprehension. The car was stuffed with boxed so I couldn’t even ride shotgun.

My instinct proved to be correct.

After a stop to deliver socks to the prison we took off again.

Next stop said Grooming! Heavens. I knew I was a hot mess but prayed it would not mean I’d have to be shorn to the skin.

You will be pleased to hear all went well and in spite of my many knots and tats Miss Kathy was very sweet and did a beautiful job.

I really look very handsome and surprisingly slim.

I wasn’t even worried when I heard Ma setting up an appointment for me to make a return visit in six weeks.

I’ll even look forward to it. A good bit of pampering never hurts anyone.

Blessing # 1043 – Beautified

Ma was working at the Antique Mall today. She is super happy.

She had a few good sales of her own treasures including one of her « ouvré d’arts » an old shelf she painted green.

I gave her a big smacker to say well done when she got home. Gotta pamper the parent now and then! I see treats in my future!!!!

She is learning so much by working at the Mall and is on the look out for roosters. Seems anything with roosters sell like KFC!

Even the Royals seem to appreciate the fowl figurines.

Dad says she’s gotta get the few birds she has up higher in the roost to give them a better chance of flying off the shelf!

Blessing # 1042 – Chicken

I’m all smiles because today Ma took me back for the first time in a long time to my favorite trail at Emily Traphagen Park.

No one was about so I got to run free and got a tad mucky. The old leash suffered but is now getting a wash.

It was so good to sniff those trees and have a reminder of days past and those familiar twists and turns on the trail.

The birds were out in force but they were the only noise we heard apart from Ma reciting her poems and such.

I could almost repeat some of her favorites myself. Frost is frequent in the woods and what can you expect at this time of year with buds about but a bit of Wordsworth.

She says she’s so grateful she had to learn poems at school. They stick with you for ever.

She also resurrected this week a part of the Order of Morning Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer called the General Confession. It was for a discussion at her Lily Circle.

I heard it a few times this morning. She had learned it as a child by weekly use and now has got it off pat again.

Next up on her to do list is Portia speech from the Merchant of Venice. She never learned it before by heart before but wants to in memory of her Mum who loved, and often used, the first stanza. Mercy Mercy Me what enlightenment!

Blessing # 1041 – Repetition

I had to hang around home most of the day even though it’s beautiful outside.

Dad and I had been working all week on the tax papers while herself was painting. All that effort on her behalf and here’s the thanks I got:

Yesterday on her way home she diverted into Goodwill and snagged two high back chairs for the establishment.

« Oh Scooby » she says this morning « I’m so sorry that after all your hard work you can’t come with us today it just wouldn’t be safe for you stuck between those chairs »

My foot!

So off she and Dad go into the big blue yonder. As for me I got to sit and fume at home.

She better get me some fish and chips tonight or I’ll never speak to her again!

Blessing #1040 – Taxing

It’s rained all day. Don’t know which Saint owns today but he must be responsible for umbrellas. Gives me the curls.

Had to be rubbed down several times. Deeply humiliating.

All the pals in Ireland are sending pics of their holiday. They had gorgeous weather. The sun splitting the skies and all the flowers in bloom.

Auntie Carols camellia is going bonkers. It’s really gorgeous. I could fertilize that if I was close.

Just have to concentrate on the daffodils for now. Ours are still tiny, hardly out of the ground really.

In Ireland though it’s full daffy season. In pots and fields they are everywhere. So bright and beautiful. Soon and very soon we are going to see ours too. I’m working hard on them!

Blessing # 1039 – Promises

Man it was miserable this morning when we got up. You couldn’t see further than the length of your arm.

Ma said not to worry «  it’s Patrick’s Day and he always turns the sunny side up »

She said we had to wear our green. I wear mine everyday it’s called a rabies vaccine tag!

Nonetheless I pandered to her whims and posed to show it off.

We got lots of wishes from near and far to celebrate the good Patrick.

Sure enough Pat delivered and it turned out to be a beautiful spring day that got me back to the village green to mark my territory on all those trees for the days ahead.

Just like any good canine with Ireland in his genes would do.

Woof woof wolfhounds and wheatens!

Blessing # 1038 – Greenery

My Mom broke her promise. She didn’t take me to paint.

She had to give a lady a ride and said I might scare her with my bark. Rubbish!

Well she did return in decent time. All smiles because two of the three sinks are in and she got her floor painted.

She also had a quick detour to the thrift store and snagged a big bargain.

So she can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can see happy days ahead.

Blessing # 1037 – Reflection

When Ma and I got up the sun was rising. That meant we were a good hour later than normal. It was real pretty.

Just as well herself had that extra snooze. She had plans.

The trot over she left me to care for Dad and headed off to rip up carpet. I couldn’t help because the gripper rods could hurt my paws.

The plumbers were are the project putting holes in walls and such like for her sinks. They turned out to be real helpful too.

Seeing her ripping the carpet and then cutting it into pieces one of the big guys brought his knife. In a shot the carpet was in manageable pieces. Would have taken her ages.

When she set to taking up the gripping rods the guy went to his truck again and got a crow bar. He then ripped them up before you could say Jack Robinson.

Next up he brought her a tool she’d never heard of before a collar claw. He showed her how to use it to take up the tacks and low and behold the job she thought would take days was done in four hours.

Her wee hands were a big mess. Broken nails, dry and a bit bloody but after I gave her a good once over she said she felt much better.

We’ll be painting tomorrow and since I was so helpful I’m going along for the ride.

Blessing # 1036 – Equipped

Our clock sprang forward this morning. Didn’t make any difference to me but when Ma and I went out for our usual trot there wasn’t a single soul about.

So I got to run free and then all of a sudden we happened on the local deer herd. They were grazing away in a neighbors yard. Must have been their breakfast time and of course they don’t understand clocks like I do.

I took off like greased lightening after them. They split into two groups. I didn’t catch the first lot so I circled back to give it a second shot.

I went totally out of sight of Ma who was a little panicked but in about five minutes we met up again.

She didn’t let me run free again. Said I had to stay close as her heart almost stopped.

Like the deer the bro has not adjusted his clock. He emerged from the basement after midday.

He’d been working late so I can excuse his tardiness but it is so good to see him.

I just kick up my heels when he’s home even if I hardly recognize him any more.

Blessing # 1035 – Wild Ones

Ma had a meeting this morning but so many people dropped out at the last minute it had to be postponed.

There were all sorts of issues: floods, vaccines, account frauds even broken bones. Poor people.

The outcome though is we got to go out for a car ride in the sunshine.

I’ve been spoiled this week with a lot of great trips. It’s something that I never tire of. I just love driving around.

My namesake Scooby Doo loved his vehicle too. His even had a name it was called the Mystery Machine.

No mystery about ours though it just the Junk Jalopy.

Blessing # 1034 – Curtailing