Salad Days

 It has been a little warm these last few days!  

G, Holly's regular staff, went to London on Monday to fetch her daughter's dog so Holly Dog summoned the relief staff - me!  On Sunday Holly and G  visited me and poor Holly was panting so badly that I gave her frozen gel packs, (often needed by my knees), for her to lie on.  G and I just collapsed like sweaty puddles.  

Anyway, I went to Holly's house and we spent the day avoiding the sun. Unfortunately she likes to sit as close as possible which doesn’t make keeping cool very easy.   Fortunately the house is largely stone-built with not-too-large windows so the heat isn't as uncomfortable as it would be at home.  

While I was there I photographed the tree.  It really is in a magnificent place and is now in full leaf.  I took this photo whilst standing in the porch.

My Hare Days have ended.  It should have been "Hare Today, Done tomorrow" but I did disappointingly little.  I gave away a lot of fabric and some other things but there is still a long way to go to get a tidy house.  I've had to accept that I cannot spend a long time decluttering.  Physically it is too demanding and also I am too easily distracted into looking at books, pictures, unfinished craft projects etc.  My best bet seems to be twenty minute sessions several times a week.  

My Salad Days have now started.   I was inspired by by Ang from Tracing Rainbows who wrote a brilliant post about salads.  I can't claim still to be in the "salad days" of my youth, but I can eat salad!  Over these next few weeks I want to try as many different salad ingredients as I can and to eat them in a variety of places.

And I've celebrated this new "season" by changing the decorations on my indoor tree.  I haven't got vegetables to display but I like my bees and have added daisies.

A Tree

 

I think it could be beech!

I've enjoyed watching various bloggers post about trees, (or rather an individual tree) through the seasons and I've decided to do the same this year.   I will photograph the tree opposite Holly Dog's front door.  I'm not doing monthly pictures but rather I'll get the camera out each time Holly Dog invites me to her home.  There aren't many months when she doesn't favour me with an invitation.  

This month she's got in very early, as G (her regular human) has gone on her travels just for three nights.  So, I reported for duty yesterday, armed with the required "dietary supplements" (chicken etc).  I also brought the heated throw so maybe I will get the odd Brownie point.  I can but live in hope.  Holly has her standards.

I've taken my first photo of the tree.  I think it is beech but I'm not sure - at the moment I can't get close enough to se the bark.  I'll do better next time.

Millie writes

I haven't written for you before but we have met - I come with a human called Jack (see sidebar) and you know quite a bit about him.  I'm his manager: I make sure he gets up in good time, gets regular walks and generally behaves himself.  It's not easy, let me tell you!

Yesterday we went to see Mary.  I have a good relationship with Mary.  She has quite a good treat tin and she's very good at tickling my ears.  She also helps with making sure that Jack behaves but I am better at that than she is.

Our visit had been planned for quite a while but we can only go sort Mary when the weather is good so this trip had been postponed a few times.  Yesterday the weather was OK (well, it wasn't actually raining) so we went.  We were needed to empty the shed.  Unfortunately Mary wasn't well so Jack cleared the shed while she sat and said yes or no for what she wanted.  I supervised.  I wasn't sure whether it was better to go outside to supervise him more closely or whether to stay in and supervise her.  She had the treat tin so inside won.  

Anyway, we got the job done and Jack arranged the disposal of everything she didn't want.  She went off to bed and we went home taking a lot of things from the shed.  It's good to know she's on my side when it comes to managing Jack.

And, in case you are worried, she phoned to say thank you for my efforts, and she's feeling a lot better

The kindness of Holly Dog

 

As you know Holly Dog takes great care of me.  That may be because she views me as a good source of roast chicken but the fact remains, she takes great care of me.

Anyway, she has been discussing me with G, her regular human, and together they bought me a lovely present, an evening playing with clay.  I haven't done that since I left primary school over sixty years ago.  G came along as did another friend and we had a lovely evening making "Christmas trees".

It started with a very uninspiring lump of clay but we pummelled, rolled, cut and moulded the clay to form a cone.  Then we cut holly leaves and stars which we attached to the cone.  We made holes in the cone so that, when it is fired, painted, glazed and fired a second time, we can put a candle inside it and let the light shine though.  

So far it is just a grey cone with grey decorations but I'll be going back in a fortnight to paint it.  If it looks respectable, I may show it to you.  If not, there will be silence.  

Holly Dog here

 

I hope you are all well.  I am and I'm making sure it stays that way.

Mary has come again.  I've heard rumours that she thinks that her stays in my house are holidays.  Well, she can forget that.  She's here to make sure I'm more than OK.

I don't mind her coming and I suggested to the regular staff that Mary should have her own room as she comes quite often.  It was decided that the study could be converted into a bedroom for her.  I'm quite proud of that idea: the study has French windows out into the garden so I can nip out during the night when once I can wake her.  I even organised a sign for the door!  The other advantage is that we now have a decent sized bed downstairs so I don't have to go upstairs for a human sized bed to snooze on.  

I've got Mary worried that I will miss the regular staff and be unhappy whilst she is caring for me so she always beings some rather nice roast chicken to mix with my kibble.  I get chicken sometimes when Mary isn't here but always when she is here.  I've got her very well trained.  

I look up and I see God

 

   I look up and I see God

I look down and see my dog

Simple spelling G.O.D

Same word backwards D.O.G

They would stay with me all day

I’m the one who walks away

But both of them just wait for me

and dance at my return with glee

Both love me no matter what

Divine God and canine mutt

I take it hard each time I fail

But God forgives, Dog wags his tail

God thought up and made the dog

Dog reflects a part of God

I've seen love from both sides now

It’s everywhere, Amen, bow-wow

I look up and I see God

I look down and see my dog

And in my human frailty

I can’t match their love for me.

This is a simple song by Wendy Francisco.  You can find it sung here.  

The Late Fido

A Favourite Poem

If you can start the day without caffeine

~~If you can get going without pep pills...

~~If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains...

~~If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles...

~~If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it...

~~If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time...

~~If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong...

~~If you can take criticism and blame without resentment...

~~If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct them...

~~If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend...

~~If you can face the world without lies and deceit...

~~If you can conquer tension without medical help...

~~If you can relax without liquor...

~~If you can sleep without the aid of drugs...

~~If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, colour, religion or politics...

then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog

Dog sitting again

 Holly and I are sending quite a lot of time together this month.  This time her usual human has gone to Turkey to spend a few days with her brother so Holly has allowed me to come.

Don't tell Holly but this time there is an extra incentive - the figs are ripe.  I love fresh figs!  Figs with cream cheese.  Just quartered and eaten with cream cheese.  Nothing as fancy as this picture but I was so keen to eat them that I didn't take a photo.  

Holly is happy too.  Her human asked me to get some cooked chicken to liven up Holly's meals but I roasted a chicken thigh from the freezer.  Holly says I can come again.

Holly Dog writes . . .

My regular staff has gone away for a few days so I have graciously allowed Mary to stay in my house.  She can make herself useful.  I shall make sure of that.

My standards are high.  I expect breakfast at 8am and dinner at 5pm.  I have a super blue bowl with my name on it so she can't pinch it.  I always inspect the meal but often decline breakfast.  I sometimes decline dinner too so my personal chef (Mary) adds extra tempting morsels to persuade me to eat.  Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.  I like to keep her on her toes.

I am very kind to her at night.  I always get on to her bed to warm it for her.  If she really was appreciative she would let me stay there but she is very selfish so I go on a ledge next to her.  That way I can remind to get up and open the door so I can have a midnight stroll.  

If she comes during the winter she brings a heated throw which I rather like.  She lounges on the sofa with it so I lounge on her.  She hasn't brought it this time so I will just sit on her. 

If she's having a snack I make sure she shares it.  Can't have her putting on weight.  Occasionally I fetch a toy to amuse her and give her some exercise.  I am, as you can see, a very considerate dog and make staff welfare a high priority.  

The Terrorist and the BBN

 

Holly.  Hungry and Hopeful.  

I've written about my canine friend Holly before.  She's a border terrorist who lets me into her life when Gilly, her regular staff is going something away from home.  She used to have an older sister called Hiccup, but Hiccup, alas is no more.  

She has a "cousin" though, a Havanese Cross, who runs the life of Gilly's daughter.  S is away at the moment.   I refer to this dog as The Bouncy Black Number because that's what Scout is.  Completely black and incredibly bouncy.  And just as loveable as Holly.  

Hasn't Scout got a wonderful tail!

May is out!

I remember my parents and grandparents saying, "Cast not a clout till May is out" and being totally confused as "clout" usually meant a thump or slap!  Here it means an article of clothing, often a vest and the saying was a reminder that even after May begins, cold weather can still return.  "May" can also be the hawthorn tree, which flowers in late April or early May. When the hawthorn blossoms are "out," it signals the end of spring's cold spells, making it safe to leave winter clothes behind.  Either way, May is definitely out!

On the whole, it's been quite a good month.  I had a few days dog sitting, but not as much as I had hoped as my legs suddenly became very painful.  (Things are improving again.)

I've been out for meals with quite a few friends.  I'm going to have to try and do this a little less often as I like to consider meals out to be a treat.  I need to think of a way of doing this less often and maybe inviting friends to eat at my house.  

Jack has been three times and my garden is definitely showing the fruits of his labours.  I'll show you some photos soon.  

And I ended the month having a few days visiting my nephew.  When I have visited previously I have stayed with him, but I decided this time to stay in a nearby hotel which has facilities for disabled people but spend the days with him.  That solution worked well.  

Rural retreat

 I was supposed to be dog sitting for six days starting last Sunday but Holly Dog had to go to another friend until Wednesday.  Anyway, Thursday I went to my rural retreat.  

Here's Holly Dog welcoming you to my blog.  She likes me to go as I take treats, especially carrots.  We still have to renegotiate each night as to which one of us has most of the bed but we rub along OK.

This glorious sight is the view from the front porch.  It was warm enough a couple of times to sit out there and knit.  

And here's the village post box. 

The notice reads, "Birds are nesting in this postbox. PLEASE DO NOT USE!" followed by details of a nearby box.   

Who wouldn't want to stay in a village with something like this!

February and March

The number of posts I managed in February wasn't exactly stellar.  Just the one.

For me January and February are usually difficult months and 2025 ran true to form.  Early in the month I woke one morning with incredible pain in my leg, worse than when I was waiting for the knee replacement.  Jim and Sheena, one of my cousins, managed to borrow a wheelchair so I could get to the car, and between them they took me to the doctor.  Strong pain killer and physiotherapy.  I felt more than a little light headed while taking pain relief but eventually everything settled down.

That had eased when I had a "digestive episode".  You don't want/need to know any more.  Except that things were a little miserable for several days until that settled.  

So, my post on being OK (which I wrote between these two incidents) was very necessary and hearing that lots of other people are also surviving by being OK was very comforting.  Thank you to everyone who commented.

I have high hopes for March!  I'm starting the month with eight days dog sitting which is going well.  When I get home I am looking forward to pottering around my garden and making a few plans.  Jack and one of his friends are coming for tea one day so I have to be on my very best behaviour and I have high hopes that his friend will make sure Jack is on his best behaviour too.  

The weather here is gloriously sunny at the moment so I may take advantage of that with a couple of days out.

And with good luck and a following wind I may get a few more blog posts written.

Hollie

Hollie, a Border Terrorist, is one of life's little pleasures and she brings other pleasures with her. She's a bit sad at the moment as Hiccup, her older sister, died just before Christmas

Hollie invites me into her home when her regular staff goes away and she finds herself at a loose end.  That happened last week so I went for a couple of nights.  As you see, Hollie likes to get up close and personal.

She's very fond of my heated throw and she snuggles up very close when I'm using it on the sofa.  She's used to sleeping on her usual staff's bed so, unless I want a very disturbed night, she sleeps on mine too.  It's a king size bed and she generously allows me the outer six inches on each side while she luxuriates in the middle.  (I'm under the duvet, she's on top of it.)  I have no idea how she manages to control so much bed-space!

It's no longer practical for me to have my own dog and these little dog sitting breaks are definitely one of life's little pleasures.  

From Jack and Millie

 Hello Everyone,

I thought it was about time I did a post again.    I hope you are all keeping in the best of health and free from all ailments. 

 As you know, the vicar and I don’t agree about everything!  For example, she rang me one morning: we talk every day except Sundays of course as she has other important things to do instead of spending half an hour chatting to yours truly.  This particular morning she interrupted me drying the dishes.  It turns out that the vicar lets hers dry naturally.  I don’t know if she is astute or lazy – you’ll have to make your own mind up on that one.  When I stand at my kitchen sink, I am looking at the main road and I can watch the traffic and the people walking past and some days that’s all I will see.  

When you’ve lived with someone 53 years (my wife died three years ago) and you lose that someone, life becomes very lonely at times.  Thanks to the vicar, I kept my little Shi Tzu, Millie for company.  Millie used to go to my daughter when I went to help people.  Mary, thank goodness, told me Millie would be a big help to me, so I kept her and she’s always by my side. 

 

One thing Mary disapproves of is my cooking.  The first time I tried to make custard to have with my banana, it turned out like scrambled egg.  I was brought up not to waste food so that night I had bananas and custard on toast.

Another night I did myself four of those long German sausages.  I forget what they are called but I told the vicar I’d eaten four Wurlitzers with mustard and onions.  She nearly burst her sides laughing as she explained that a Wurlitzer is one of those huge organs which used to rise up through the cinema floor. 

 

My life wouldn’t be the same if I hadn’t met the vicar all those years ago – there I go being nice again.  She’ll say I’m just buttering her up to make sure the bacon butties and leek soup are always served.  Last time I went she sent me home with three home-made Christmas puddings.

 

I haven’t been so much this year as all the building work was happening in the early part of the year so the garden was a bit out of hand (like the householder!) but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the garden is coming along nicely.  Mary’s having guests this week so I’ll make sure the back garden is in tip-top order.  She calls that her garden.  I was given the front garden.  That one is very wet and takes a lot of managing but I don’t mind.  She keeps me fed and watered all the time.  One good thing is that there is no longer a list waiting for me.  I think that this being nice to her may have got me into a hole I can’t dig myself out of. 

I hope the Brits among you enjoy the summer (if we get one) and everyone everywhere can make the best of every day.  No-one knows what’s around the corner.  Take care of your neighbours and yourselves.

 

Jack and Millie-the-dog

Millie's mark 
(with love)

Hiccup

 This isn't about the break I have had from my blog - although I apologise.

It's about a short break I had just a few miles from home.

An acquaintance was worrying about her dogs as she couldn't get a sitter while she had a short break, so I volunteered.  She's now a friend!

It was sheer delight to stay in her lovely home.  Didn't I have a wonderful view every time I opened the front door?  All that stood between me and these trees was a ha-ha.  

And Hiccup?  She's the border terror shown here with her younger sister, Holly.  

A glorious break for me.  And my new friend was able to enjoy her holiday in Florence. 

Clarissa the Crowned Corgi

 Remember Normanby church which I mentioned yesterday?  It has a new guard dog at the gate.  Meet Clarissa.

I wonder if corgis will continue to be seen as the royal dog.  The present King and Queen favour Jack Russels.  Battersea specials.

This and that

Millie

When I mentioned Christmas preparations in my last post it seemed to send shivers down a few spines!   It really is a case of old habits dying hard.  When I was working I always had presents bought and wrapped and cards written by the end of October so I could use November to do my "professional" preparations and leave December for panicking.  Christmas is lovely but it is hard work for vicars and, quite apart from the services and parish visiting before Christmas, it also fell to me to cook Christmas lunch for quite a few family and friends.  Anyway, so far I have been thinking about the design for my card and have done a few experiments.  Next Monday I hope I will get much of the card making done as I've booked a crafting session with a friend.  

Now to Jack's dog, Millie.  Here she is 

And Jack has a new hat.

And thank you, Rambler, for threatening to tell me if Jack uproots my poppies.  He's never met you but you've got him scared and even though he was weeding in their vicinity yesterday, he's left my beautiful papaver.  He's just a pussycat really.   

Smiles

 

 I woke up this morning to a sound which I have never heard in the eleven years I have lived in this house.  It was a cuckoo!  Their numbers are in decline so that was very special.  Are they the only birds which are better known for their song than their appearance?  It was good to wake with a smile on my face!

It is a beautiful morning so I decided to go to Brigg to do my shopping.  In Lidl a schoolgirl, aged maybe 13, was ahead of me in the queue at the till.  She gave me a shy smile and "Good morning" and she helped me put my stuff on the conveyor belt.  I don't really need help but I wanted to encourage this bright young lady who wanted to make her bit of the world a better place by offering help when she could.  She renewed my smile.

Then I went along the tow path to get to the market place and I met a gorgeous golden cockerpoo.  I love spaniels of any description but this one really won my heart when, to his owners intense embarrassment, he tried to climb on the platform of my trundle truck.  A lot of dogs do this if they have other human friends who use mobility scooters but I love it!  This dog not only made me smile, he made me laugh!  

A happy morning - and I was home by 10am!

Four cards, two dinosaurs, one dog

Yesterday I went to my monthly card making group and as always it was great!  We made four cards and in some Mandy was encouraging us to use our scraps - but if I hadn't told you that I don't think you would have guessed!  So, here's what I made.  

 

   

   So that's the four cards.  Here are the two dinosaurs and the dog.  My cousin has brought her Shih Tzu, Buster, to have a sleepover here whilst his regular staff have an evening out.  His two favourite toys are dinosaurs.  He wouldn't even put this one down to have his photograph taken.