Sunday, July 21, 2013

When two elephants tussle, it's the grass that suffers.







It's hot. A pleasant twenty degrees at seven o'clock but debilitating heat by lunchtime. Bob and Sophie are up and about early. Bob walks with me along the ridge to look at the sunflower fields while Sophie heads off with ' the font ' to the morning market. Tomorrow they'll swap places. Bob will go to the market and Sophie will charge through the sunflowers. Teaching them together is impossible so now they spend an hour apart every day being socialized.After lunch they sleep .

The local authority has declared a heat emergency. The Salle des Fetes opened and the air conditioning turned up full pelt. The district nurse in her little white Peugeot checks on the old folks twice a day. Lunch provided for those who want it. '' Call this lunch ? Where's the pudding ? I like a nice glass of wine with my lunch . I was in the army you know ! '' says the very old farmer who's had a table set up for him in the shade of the plane trees .

Ten at night. The sun sets. The four street lights are switched on. A final walk across the village green. Bob chases after blackbirds, Sophie digs for moles. The end to another day in deepest, deepest France profonde.


16 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Sounds peaceful.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

A delightful and enjoyable day for dogs and owners!


PS: I've been told that the State of Maryland has planted sunflower fields not too far from us. I think we're going to take a drive over to see them--I've my doubts they are as brilliant as yours, but we will see.

Unknown said...

Sounds great. Have a serene Sunday.
Best wishes Molly

VirginiaC said...

Sounds like a perfect day.
Loved the setting sun photo.

Robin Larkspur said...

Summer sounds delightful in your little village surrounded by sunflowers.

WFT Nobby said...

Has Sophie located any live moles yet?

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

We finally had a break in our nonstop heat wave. Wishing you the same!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Very similar to our day.
Minus the sunflowers and with the addition of the bone-shattering thunderstorm that arrives promptly at four every afternoon.

Emm said...

The district nurse who checks on the old folks twice daily -- aaaah, a functioning social safety net in a place with gloriously beautiful sunflowers. And you mention the Very Old Farmer: Is he back from his travels to, was it Lithuania?

Jo's World said...

We, too, had a break in the heat. Its been 70ish for the last two days and next weeks forecast is calling for 70s during the day and 50-60 at night, all week long. Perfect and my only hope is that we can depend on the forecasters!

Jo in MN

Angus said...

Sorry to confuse you Emm but you're thinking of the Old Farmer with the black socks and open toed sandals. This is the Very Old Farmer who wanders over to his churchyard every morning for a long chat with his wife.

KB said...

Separating them for a little bit of time each day seems like a great idea. We had two littermates a long time ago, and we stumbled on that solution to the "teaching" problem. We also found it helped them to bond to us rather than being totally focused on each other.

I love the sunflowers. Are they new this year? I don't remember photos of them in past years although I always see the sunflowers in the TV coverage of the Tour de France.

Emm said...

Oh dear, two Old Farmers to keep track of. I may need a scorecard.

Unknown said...

Lovely, early day for you. We slept in. I have two Coonhound mix sisters, raised together with former owner since 5 weeks old, now 16 months; plan to follow your lead in separate activities while training - they know little, but are house trained :). Sunflowers are gorgeous.

Terra said...

Keep cool mes amis. It reached 70 here in California today, gorgeous. The sunflowers in the fields are fabulous.

Louise said...

A district nurse who checks on elderly people. And at no charge I am sure. That just doesn't happen here in the USA, that I know if anyway.