Thursday, January 30, 2014

The magic of dogs.





A day spent in the garden. The soil here is pure clay. Sodden and spongy in the winter, baked hard as a brick in the summer. Roses, mahonia and ceanothus thrive, everything else is overwhelmed. 

We plant a mahonia on the top of the ridge. Then we plant two ceanothus by the terrace where there's  a gap in the fence. The label says they like full sunshine. We'll see.

By the end of the day nine standard roses have been staked up along the drive and five tree peonies have been put in acid soil in large pots. ' The font ' is in London so Bob and Sophie spend their day outside 'helping'. Sophie gets in the holes to see if there's anything to eat at the bottom. Bob gets in the holes because he feels the need to be intimately involved in everything I do. Sometimes they enlarge the holes , sometimes they fill them in. Potting compost is considered a delicacy.

Late at night Bob wanders into the office for his evening chat. He's exhausted. 'Had a good day ? ' I ask in that way dog owners do and which non-dog owners think is mad. He puts his chin on my knee and sighs contentedly as if to say - '' We were together. I forget the rest ". Then he falls asleep. And that, in a nutshell, is the magic of dogs.


19 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Pure magic indeed. Maybe I'll run into 'the font' today.
Cheers, Gail (from the departure gate at Aberdeen airport).

rottrover said...

Agreed!

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Being together is what counts.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Wonder how long those roses will stay in the ground.

booahboo said...

Very heartwarming thoughts. Only a dog owner will understand.

Fat Dormouse said...

"we were together. I forget the rest" - wonderful! The perfect summary of a day with one's beloved - whatever species s/he is!

Anonymous said...

Perfect x

VirginiaC said...

What a cute commentary today....the last paragraph has left a lasting impression on me....thanks.
For the record, non-dog owners WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

kks said...

indeed!
xoxo

fleurlilian said...

Wonderful - I cannot live without them - they fill our lives with love, laughter, sometimes drama - I am dog-addicted!!! I am glad you are, too! Bob and Sophie have a great life!!! Kiri loves to "help" in the garden - there is telepathy involved, he digs, where I intended to plant something.... Magic!!
Love from Southern Italy Susanne, Daisy, Kiri and Dandy

Anonymous said...

The sweetest post ever, and my very favorite two sentences you have written (so far)!

Mo said...

Beautidul!

MLou said...

Wonderful post. Love the photo of sophie by the cabinets with one muddy paw reaching out like a seal flipper.

Jake of Florida said...

I guess that's why it's so hard when we're no longer together. What you wrote says it all.

J

houndstooth said...

It certainly is! I love this!

Anonymous said...

Thank You.

Yogi's Mom

tammy j said...

brought to tears by this. but tears of joy. only a dog lover knows.
thank you ongoose. ♥

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Magic perfectly explained.
xo

Emm said...

Yes. Thank you.

Katherine said...

Yes, it is the magic of dogs, indeed. Love to two of our muddy favorites.