Booming Banter

There are all sorts of reminders of my predecessors around our home. Photos, old dog tags, even our Dibley’s favorite ball is preserved.

Ma says the rainbow warriors are looking down at us from heaven.

Sometimes you get a great blast from the past.

Auntie Patricia in Switzerland must have been going through her old photo albums because she sent us pics of Darcy and Bingley when they were young men like me in Connecticut.

Dad looks a bit younger then too.

Some things never change though. He’s still the main man for the old treats.

Not sure what they’re having but I’ll take it!

Blessing #1070– Forkfeeding

I was furious yesterday. A gecko called Ed was allowed to have lunch at OUR Tearoom.

Ma won’t let me come anywhere near the place any more as “it’s against the rules”.

Why the heck was a gecko there then? She’s even patting it for heavens sake!

OK I confess he has a metallic look that doesn’t pose a risk to life and limb.

He is sort of out this world and makes people happy.

So do dogs!

Just look at this puppy and her baby. Like other well known four paws she bears a close resemblance to her human.

Almost has as good a smile as myself. I only look like me!

This canine is a bit creepy though. That’s way to close to homo sapiens for my liking.

What is it about this dog? The eyes or the mouth or is it an app on the internet that gave that “I should wear clothes look”

Blessing #1069-Lipgloss

My Ma tells me every night when I snuggle up beside her that I’m the best somnifere in the whole world. Much better than any weighted blanket.

No matter what she wakes up worrying about one hug from me and a paw in the hand and she’s back in the land of nod.

Yesterday was her day off so we decided to have a late afternoon siesta. I was ready for it.

I slept good she just googled as it was past the witching hour if 2:00 pm.

I love a wee snooze anytime as you know. You have to get ready for the next adventure and charge the batteries but the best time is that cat (how dare they) nap in the afternoon when really you should be up working.

There really should be a canine adjective for this business.

Blessing #1068-Comforter

Ma has lost her battle with the deer herd.

In theory her prime line of defense for her flower beds is coffee grounds.

She went out just now armed with two boxes that Dad has been collecting over the past week.

Who did she meet face to face when she opened the garage door with their noses deep in the honeysuckle but the two fawns. Midday madness.

They took one look at her and took off before I could be called to put my nose in.

The rascals are growing like weeds all thanks to our fine nourishment.

Secretly though I know she was happy to see them. She’d seen a dead one down on the main road a few days ago and was worried it was one of ours.

We’ll keep going with the grounds though as it’s decent fertilizer if an absolutely useless deer deterrent. The Gnome is more effective!

Blessing # 1067– Noon Nosh

My secretary is a tad busy today so I’m dictating my epistle while she has her coffee.

We had a big storm in the middle of the night so the sleep was not ideal. Snuggles were super though but she’ll need a few extra milligrams of caffeine to see her through!

As we’ve only be up for half an hour we are relying on social media to speak for us today.

Auntie Liz inspired us by tagging us with this post which I fully endorse. The sooner I can get out the better.

Auntie Joyce also shared some words of wisdom which we believe are the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Finally we tuned in to Holy Trinity Ballylesson and hit on one of Ma’s favorite hymns.

He really knows what he’s about that wise one. Gave us all we needed for the day!

Blessing #1066-Immortals

You know that saying « be careful what you wish for ».

Well, remember Ma was moaning last week about how slow things were at the Tearoom?

This week I worked hard on my dreams for her and guess what they were answered. She doesn’t want to look another scone in the face for at least 48hours.

She is also sandwiched out!

Her poor paw cut off enough crusts to make a small mountain. That’s only from the cucumber sandwiches too!

Dad will be croutoning for days!

The week ahead looks like another bonanza and she’s starting on Tuesday to boot!

She took comfort though in the verse of the day that popped up this morning.

Shame about the coffee! Don’t they know heavenly beings drink TEA!

Blessing #1065-Cherubs

The temperature in Northern Ireland reached a record high yesterday.

All our family and friends are melting.

It’s unusual there so people are not equipped with air conditions and fans like we have here.

I sympathize. It always takes me a while to get used to the heat each summer. You have to build up panting prowess.

You do adjust eventually though. After a few weeks!!!!

What else can you do but strip to the bare essentials and play in the summertime.

Most important is to get your trot in as soon as possible each morning.

They have the beautiful beaches all around that should be great for the weekend. A good old splash in the sea I hear is hard to beat.

Much deeper and wider than my little lake but as they say « any port in a storm or as this case may be in a swelter »

Week ahead looks a tad more normal. Courage cooking critters.

Blessing #1064-Taking a Dip.

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