Monday, July 18, 2016

Watching in silence.


There's a hint of a breeze which makes our six am walk enjoyable . Down on the valley floor the sunflowers are out in full bloom. The yellow patchwork stretches as far as the eye can see.


The PONs paddle in the stream. At the height of the summer it's not so much a stream as a slow flowing trickle.  Bob takes a long drink from a spot where the water has been backed up into a small lake by fallen branches. Sophie watches him to make sure it's safe, then she noisily joins him. Bob drinks quietly. Sophie makes a sound not unlike a Mississippi paddle steamer. I say aloud, as I do frequently, '' You make me laugh ". Swifts and Swallows and House Martins wheel and dive in the air around us. The male PON tries his hand at catching the small silver minnows that dart in the water. He fails. Bob is oblivious to the birds but Sophie sits, head high and watches them in silence. For a while she's lost to me in her own world of wonder. With the sound of the seven am bell we climb back up the hill towards the chateau and The Rickety Old Farmhouse.


On the ridge the PONs are put on their harnesses and hurried home. Sophie doesn't need to be hurried. The magic word 'breakfast' has her rolling down the road with the enthusiasm of a four year old on a trip to the candy store.


After breakfast Big brother plays with 'Lamb' ....


.... but when his back is turned 'Lamb' reverts to its original owner.


So begins a new week in deepest, deepest France profonde. It promises to be a scorcher.

A record of those things you do with dogs that are too unimportant to go in a diary but too important to go completely unrecorded.

And for those of you wanting to get far, far away from it all - here's a little Hebridean hotel for sale. http://ckdgalbraith.reapitcloud.com/ckdrps/pdf.php?p=INV160079





14 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

It was a pleasure to join you (virtually) on the morning walk today!
It must have been around this time of year that, when on a Hebridean 'island hopping' bicycle tour, we sheltered from violent storm force winds at the Rodel hotel. In 2002 I think. It had a run down feel.
Cheers! Gail.

Coppa's girl said...

What an amazing photo of the sunflowers stretching into infinity.
Surely Bob has learned by now that you never take your eye off the ball - especially when there's a diva sister about !

Sheila said...

Gail's mention of 'violent storm force winds' does bring to mind the thought that those brochure photos
must have been taken on a very special occasion.
Did you celebrate the Swedish win at Royal Troon yesterday?

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

What a fun tournament to watch!

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Bob's Country is ablaze in bright yellow. Beautiful !!!

How Sam Sees It said...

Wow! Those sunflower fields are amazing. I'm not sure I've ever seen that before!

Monty, Harlow and Ramble

Unknown said...

Lovely pictures plus images of the PONs in the stream. Lamb seems to be holding up well though not looking exactly immaculate.

Kari said...

Oh Angus, what a wonderful little hotel in such a magnificent setting! It would be like a dream come true! All it needs is a little TLC.
Two frolicing PON guest would ALWAYS be made welcome even with the muddiest of undercarriages. ( Dou-dou's are in the basket by the fire.)

causer659 said...

I love the morning walks with Bob and Sophie!

Angus said...

Not sure there's much mud on the Isle of Harris. The full weight of the near constant Atlantic gales wash it away pretty quickly. How did they get blue skies for those photos ? Having said that Angus only remembers sunshine from his childhood on the islands.

Angus said...

Lamb is looking less immaculate today.

Emm said...

The idea of a getaway hotel on Lewis is interesting, but unless I missed the fine print (quite possible) the ad doesn't tell us the sale price.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Can almost hear the cicadas....

Galestorm said...

The sunflower field is beautiful! I can only imagine what it looks like in person.