Booming Banter

I’ve had another great day. It started with rain but as my granny apparently often said “Many’s a rainy morning turns out a sunshine day”. Smart woman! We better get used to it this week!

Just as we started our walk with Auntie Lori the rain stopped so we got lucky and only a tad wet.

Ma picked a few flowers from our yard when we got home. She is so thrilled she got them before the deer did.

I got no thanks for all my efforts of keeping them at bay.

Still not being easily offended thought it wise to give them a sniff to show my appreciation. Gotta pamper to her every whim so she thinks I’m her best pal!

She tells me orange lilies have a special significance in her home land. They do make quite a statement. Let’s say they’re bright.

My tactic paid off richly. She went to work for a while but when she came back we immediately went to Auntie Carolyn’s.

Car ride and another long walk and this time she even had the sense to take along some water for me so I’m in tip top form.

Anyone for Tennis?

Blessing # 736 – Gilding the Lily

As Fathers Day’s go I’d say ours went smoothly until just now.

Dad got his cards when he woke up. The bro had already gone to work so he had to content himself with my attentions. I was adorable

Poor soul it seems gets the same gifts every year whiskey and chocolate cake. Aaron got him an onion chopper too that he gave him three days ago as the bro can’t keep surprises.

Dad and I hung out when herself went pooling. No wonder she feels she needs to give him lovy dovy cards!

She is making him chicken curry for his dinner and when she started that we had a hiccup. She’d run out of turmeric in her small storage jar so had to break into her main reserve. It’s an industrial quantity that is stored in a bin.

When she got the bag out to fill the small jar she burst the bag and the orange stuff was everywhere. There were a few expletives but I said nothing so the men folk didn’t notice and she got it all cleaned up.

It was everywhere though including all over her clothes. Fortunately I didn’t get hit with it as I was still sucking up to Dad or I’d look like I’d had a hair dye.

She had to fill a stack of jars with the stuff and the dish should be reclassified as turmeric chicken. We’ll see if anyone notices.

They certainly should tomorrow but they do say turmeric is good for health.

Blessing # 735 – Golden Promises

I had the house to myself for several hours today. The bro was at work and the parents were out at Barn Sales.

It was so cool. AC on full blast and no one to disturb my slumbers. Wish they’d stayed away a while longer. We all need time to chill!

They were on a mission to find a fire pit so the bro can fine tune his caveman skills. They didn’t find one. That works for me as it’s toasty enough without burning wood for fun!

They found a few baby’s dresses that someone had made a long time ago and that are now destined for the antique store. The work is very fine indeed I must say so hope they find a loving home.

They also were given a trunk full of old books. Some dealer friend of Mums was having one of the sales today and he saw Dad looking at the literature and said he could have them all.

Now you know Dad he could never refuse a book it would be anathema to Anantharaman (aren’t I smart!) and Ma had to agree since after all tomorrow is Father’s Day!

 

There is something for all tastes among them except mine! Problem is there’s now a bit of a musty odor in our house as those books, all 32 of them, date from the 1950s and have been somewhere a bit damp!

Herself will need to get out the Febreeze as it’s about to overpower me. In the meantime I’ll just stay serene and sniff a scented candle!

Blessing # 734 – Happy Daddy 

I’m so pleased with myself and feeling so grown up that I’m holding my head a little higher than usual.

Mom and I went walking with Auntie Lori this morning and as they hadn’t seen each other for a few days the chatting went on a bit. I took this in my stride and just listened. After all Lori is my major provider of treats. Gotta be sweet!

It got a bit hot on the way home so Ma asked if I wanted to go the long way or short way. I choose short. That’s when she struck! Gave me my leash right into my mouth and let me go.

The freedom was wonderful. I took off like greased lightening and she didn’t even scream at me. What fun it was. I hid behind people’s mailboxes and let her catch up and then took off again.

I was expecting her to get me back after a bit but for some reason she must have decided I’m mature enough now to take care of myself.

Poor Dad nearly had a heart attack though. He saw me come racing down the street alone and thought she’d had a mishap so came out to look for her. I just lay down to wait under the big tree.

No need to worry though. In a matter of minutes she arrived and still I got no scolding just a great big bowl of cold water!

Free at last!

Blessing # 733 – Liberation

Ma is delighted we’ve had showers on and off today. This means she gets her rays but also doesn’t have to water her plants. Win win!

She says that this is gentle rain and reminds her of her own Mom who would recite Shakespeare on such occasions.

Herself was reading aloud a few times today. She’s half way through  A Passage to India and the guy who wrote used some uncommon words. We hit pages today that were loaded with them and she has to sound them out!

Ma says this is the sort of thing that during school days there would be a whole discussion around the meaning. Today she has to rely on google to expand her vocabulary.

She repeated one particular word CALUMNIATED about ten times.

It made me wonder was it a new command for me and should I do something like turn the page for her to earn a treat.

Instead I jibbed. That’s another new word! Much easier to pronounce thankfully!

Was altogether a very pleasant experience we shared that little literary lesson. Now The Tempest is approaching so no walk till that passes but the silver lining is another day lies ahead without the need to water and it’s Friday!

Blessing # 732 – Bookworms

Mother and I have come to understand that there are times of day when you see different critters out and about. Yesterday we were a little later than usual for our morning outing and saw a lot of bunnies. At dawn and dusk we see our deer. Today we were early and hit the chipmunk lunch break. They were out in force.

That’s nothing to get really excited about though is it?

What shocked us was what we saw in a cool shady wooded area with a tree stump in the middle. It was like coming across King Arthur and the knights of the round table only they were all squirrels.

No kidding there were at least eight of them and they were sitting in a big circle as though they were at a meeting.

Now you may think she had been on the margaritas but trust me it was only nine in the morning and nothing stronger than coffee had crossed her lips and I was there to witness this event.

Of course we had to then look up the collective term for a gathering of squirrels and we found it is a SCURRY! Isn’t that so appropriate. Especially since they spend most of their time running away from me.

What were they up to? Having a party perhaps or was it strategic planning? Whatever we predict that in the near future the bushy tail is up to something significant.

Blessing # 731 – Tufty Times

Another day of Mama Mania. After Zumba she trailed me out to the adjacent neighborhood and was walking with great purpose. That’s a sure sign of trouble ahead.

She was so focused on her mission she didn’t see a bicycle creep up behind us but I did. I nearly took him out and I gave herself a big blister tugging the leash so hard. The cyclist survived. Just! I’m so mean I need my own mugshot!

I was expecting her to yell at me but she just said I was a BAD BOY and walked on.Soon I understood why. On the way back from gym she’d seen someone had thrown out garden furniture and she’d a plan for it. Shes been promising the bro a fire pit for ages and since she hacked the tree down she has wood but no pit. This furniture would be perfect for sitting around the campfire making s’mores.

She raced me home got the car and then started loading the stuff into it. It took her three runs to get it home including a trip on foot with a kind neighbor who helped with a trolley to push the bench. She has absolutely no shame.

Poor Dad was mortified. All the neighbors saw the event but she was pleased as punch. Said the cushions even matched her pots.

Now it is taking up almost the entire patio. I’ll give her credit though those cushions are comfy!

Blessing # 730 – Recycled Goods

Aaron and Mom abandoned Dad and me today. We have been lonely watching and waiting for them. Just as well I have a strong bladder or there’d be trouble!

Aaron is at work seems Auntie Lori was one of his customers today. He was very attentive and fast by all accounts.

Ma is running around like a headless chicken working on her projects.

She bought a new shelf for her booth this weekend and was up half the night dreaming how she’d rejig the entire space. So of course that means she wakes me up too!

She’s been listening to the people who’ve been in the business for years all about merchandising and pricing. You need to group goods together and understand what people are willing to pay for a particular item. Working in the store has really been insightful.

These points may seem obvious to some of you with a business brain but Ma doesn’t have that.

Still you must admit she doesn’t give up easily and when you look back over the year she’s been at it she’s sold enough to break even.

Blesssing # 729 – Lifelong Learning

Today Ma introduced me to two of the finer things in life.

The first is cruising around with your head out the window. Dad doesn’t approve of this as you might imagine so don’t let on to him.

We drove to Auntie Carolyns for a walk around the lake and on the way over and back I got to sit up front listening to The Eagles

Its so cool getting that wind directly on your face and seeing the world go by. I barked at every jogger and bicyclist which was really funny.

All the little flowers have been planted in our town so we admired those while waiting for the train to pass. Very pink don’t you think!

When we got home we got things ready for dinner which we’ll have late as the bro’s at work till 7:30 and then we sunbathed.

This is also new to me but I really loved lying in the lounger with Ma. It’s super snuggly and I can watch all that’s happening in the yard and on our street. 

I have decided that we’re going to make a habit of this when it’s not too toasty. Might need a pool too!

Blessing # 728 – Facing The Wind and Sun for Fun

What a difference a day makes. We   dropped about 15C but it felt so refreshing. It spurred us to do lots!

After Ma had shaken her booty for a bit at Zumba we hit the park. It had just stopped raining and there was a smell in the air that she said reminded her of the Palm House at the Botanic Gardens in Belfast. Of course I can’t validate this but it was what I’d describe as earthy.

We came home and immediately went treasure hunting. We found a little dolls rocking chair and a shelf that had to go into the back seat of the car as it wouldn’t fit in the trunk. Gave me a bit of a tight squeeze but it was a good excuse to claim my position up front.

When we got back she decided to go to the groomers as she hadn’t been since Christmas and returned shortly thereafter looking quite different. It’s her though. I gave her a good sniff and she stills smells the same.

She got a bit mad with Dad as he didn’t say anything and she had to ask him did he like her new do. I got off side as I could sense the tension and then she took off.

About ten minutes later she was back asking for a saw! I was petrified was she really going to kill him this time?

Fortunately she had taken to hacking up a half dead tree at the garage door. Brute force wasn’t sufficient. He found a saw that wouldn’t cut a pencil and off she went again. Determination diva!

Our neighbor took pity on her and brought her a bigger one with which she hack up half the tree. I said nothing just sat patiently watching and waiting for a walk!

After she’d removed the bottom third of the poor things she came back and took me out.

Can you imagine she had the audacity to put up one of her « I’m so sweet butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth » signs on that poor specimen. What a spoofer.

Even I couldn’t kiss her after that.

Let’s hope, like her hair, it will recover and grow back quickly!

Blessing # 727 – Going for the Chop