Pastures new.

I admit, I'm a bit of an hermit, and tend not to venture too far from home. However, my chum Terry recently told me of a newly discovered dog-walking path, so we decided to give it a go.

The path was staggeringly beautiful, but as usual not another person in sight. We are so privileged, more often than not it's as if we have the world to ourselves.

There was something for everyone. Monty jumped in and out of every available stream or puddle. Lady M was deep in thought, trying to remember her recipe for Moussaka that she's preparing for tonight (I've got the day off). And me, well I kicked leaves, hummed a few Vera Lynn favourites, and took snaps.

This was a 'valley' walk, with high rocky escarpments on both sides. There were gorgeous shade-loving wild plants everywhere.

I'm just amazed that we found no caves (inhabited or not).

The Sunday Cat.

With guests around in recent months, we've been trying to keep Freddie out of the house at nights. He has a penchant for jumping up and down on people's beds during the night, and they find it off-putting.

He has a cat-flap into my studio (where he is fed), and I keep the interconnecting door with the house tightly closed.

So, how has he been getting in at night, and dancing the hokey-cokey on my head at 2 am every morning?

We now have the answer. Somehow he manages to climb up, and along, a grape vine, and squeeze in through an opening he's made in a small window's mosquito netting. We caught him in the act!

I suppose it shows feline guile and initiative, if nothing else..... Little monkey; nice, isn't he!

Autumn's Bounty.

It's rained a bit recently, and this means mushrooms.

Taking the dogs for their early morning walk each day means that I'm first to see what's popped up over night. These beautiful young Parasols were just begging to be picked. They are one of our real favourites, especially like this before they're fully opened. The Italians call them 'Mazza di Tamburo', meaning 'drumsticks'; which, before having their long stems removed, is exactly what they resemble.

Reports concerning crops of both 'Trumpets of Death' and 'Rat's Teeth' should follow soon.

Does Anyone Recognise....

Reorganising the house a bit, has made certain long lost (or hidden) items reappear. I just rediscovered these yesterday.

I bought this rather strange pair of bowls many years ago, and asked the seller if he knew what they were; he had no idea. But I have a feeling that they had a specific purpose in life!

They are quite chunky, with a simple brown glaze on the inside, and a yellowish five pointed star looking up from the bottom. They measure 6½ inches (17 cms) across the top, and have 163A stamped into the base; there's no makers mark.

I'm not certain, but they look as if they may well have been used in an oven.

Any ideas, invented or otherwise, gratefully received.

Lady M jnr.

This charming little girl; bow in hair, and reading something she obviously finds fascinating, is she who now answers to the name of Lady Magnon.

I was looking at the picture and wondering what one can read into such an ordinary every-day shot.

Firstly I suspect it was taken on a Sunday, I can't see her being dressed up like that from Monday to Saturday. It's also Summer, hence the light simple dress. It must have been taken in the morning, as by the afternoon she would have had lunch stains all down her front, and scuffs on her knees (she hasn't changed). And I suspect she was probably off to church (they still did that in Washington DC in those far off days), or maybe some sort of party, in which case she would probably have been clutching a present (unless that book was the present). I also estimate the year as 1955 ish.

Other than that, I'm stumped. Any further (printable) observations kindly accepted.

 

Monty; canine tumbler. .

I'm showing this video (do people still use that word?) to demonstrate how Monty retrieves a ball or stick.  He tries to grab it in his mouth, then tumbles head over heels in a grand demonstration of canine gymnastics.

Do other dogs do this? I should add that Monty only does this on GRASS; but when on grass he does it EVERY SINGLE TIME.. Lady M worries that he'll break his neck!

Christmas Wish List

It's already November, and knowing that the man in the red suit gets very busy near to his big day, I'm getting in early with my Christmas wish list.

Lady Magnon asked me yesterday what I wanted for Crimbo. 'A new wheelbarrow' I replied. 'Too expensive' she said dismissively. 'What was the point in asking then' I said, closing the door sharply behind me.

So, no wheelbarrow. However, what I really do want is a huge load of self-digging and non-weed-supporting soil for Haddock's, a new lower back and right knee, and a Summer one-man-show at the Tate in London.

Come on Santa.... not too much to ask, surely. Oh, and you can throw in the Wheelbarrow as well, just to annoy Lady M.