Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Summer.


The mayor takes down the flags from the war memorial. The period of national mourning is over. On the other side of the lane the Old Farmer is readying the Ford Transit motor home for its annual pilgrimage to his fathers grave in Lithuania. This morning he's adjusting the brakes. He whistles while he hammers. Here at The Rickety Old Farmhouse  the water supply stops at seven thirty in the morning. This happens frequently at this time of year. The combine harvesters squash the conduits as they turn off the road into the fields.

Electronic signs on the motorway usually tell us to maintain a safe distance from the car in front or 'Beware. Errant animal at junction 6'. After the Bastille Day carnage they're preaching those sacred republican virtues :  Liberte - Egalite - Fraternite. Each of the words spelt out in large pixelated letters. Fraternity is in distinctly short supply.



On our way home we slow for a police road block. Four young gendarmes with machine pistols are standing at the crossroads checking the non-existent traffic. They look bored as indeed you might if you were sent out to patrol traffic in the middle of nowhere. We wave. They wave back. Seems Volvo drivers are considered to be unlikely Jihadists. The gendarmes have the air of young men who know that if they were on duty in town they could at least chat up the girls.



Lamb has now had the squeaker definitively removed. This is a blessing. A hole with stuffing poking out of it indicates where Sophie has been at work.


Although it's hot the angelic duo get taken for a second walk . I tell then it's too hot. They stare at me. Either I was going to give in, or they were. They win.



After that it's  a day for doing nothing - in Sophie's case inelegantly. Carrots from the chiller tray are a great treat on a hot day like today. Taking the PONS entirely off wheat based snacks has cured their itchy ears.



14 comments:

Katherine said...

Having not checked in for a very long time, I am relieved to see it appears that all is well with the adorable PON pair and their loving human parents. Happy summer to all at the ROF.

WFT Nobby said...

Does Lamb's lack of squeaker lessen her appeal?

Taste of France said...

Where did the squeaker go? Not in someone's stomach, I hope.

Coppa's girl said...

Sophie has that defiant look of a dog who has done what she shouldn't, and wants to know if you "wanna make something of it?" ! If the squeaker's where we think it is, then it will probably make a reappearance .....

Angus said...

What 'Lamb' loses in the squeak department it makes up for in ever growing pungency.

Angus said...

No need to fear. The squeaker was chewed then carefully placed in the middle of the floor for us all to wonder at.

Angus said...

Her patented ' don't mess with me ' look.

Angus said...

And summer it certainly is - 39 degrees today.

Emm said...

Oh, good. Because I, too, was wondering if it had become a new Sophie delicacy.

Coppa's girl said...

Glad to know the squeaker hasn't gone to uncharted places...except those found in an X-ray at the vets.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Your summer and ours are comparable. We are under humidity alerts - 45 tomorrow with the humidity. How can anyone resist those looks? Walks, carrots and lambs. Perfect day!

Anonymous said...

Miss Sophie is looking very svelte this summer, despite the havoc-wreaking nature of the heat and humidity. It appears that the new dietary rules are beneficial to the PONS in several ways. Passez une bonne journee.

How Sam Sees It said...

We are having a mild summer in our new place - it's a pleasant treat coming from Arizona.

Stay cool!

Monty, Harlow and Ramble

Kari said...

These simple days are so comforting.