We park by a field of sunflowers then walk along the old roman road to the stream. Bob leaps enthusiastically on imaginary threats in the long grass. Sophie has a noisy drink from the waterfall. There are inept attempts at fishing. Then we're off to the cafe under the arcades for a morning coffee. Bob gives the waitress his best '' I love you '' look. In return he gets the first piece of croissant. He does his '' I is a happy boy " soft shoe shuffle.
In the young bakers window a handwritten sign saying he's closed for good but thanking his customers for their support. Seems that his fancy cakes didn't sell. Sad to see someones dreams shattered. The rival bakers relief may be short lived. Five doors down the new ''open all hours'' Carrefour supermarket is doing a roaring trade in baguettes.
Home by eight. Sophie digs a hole in the courtyard. She then stands contentedly looking at it. Later she finds a length of buried irrigation pipe. This she digs up, then chews. A jet of water shoots up into the air. Drenched, she squeals with delight. Despite turning off the irrigation system the garden now sports a small, deep, puddle. Through a combination of Sophie's continued digging and an unstoppable ( and untraceable ) flow of water this may yet turn into a lake. Such are the vagaries of The Rickety Old Farmhouse's plumbing.
Strong winds forecast. I close the pool and put down the garden umbrellas. The PON's settle in the courtyard to recharge their batteries. Bob gives me his '' Don't worry about a thing. I'm on the case '' smile. Then he falls asleep. Deeply, snoringly, asleep.
A Sunday morning in deepest France profonde with two lively young PON's. Those routines in a dog owners life too small to be put in a diary but too important to go completely unrecorded.
14 comments:
Big winds forecast here too. No sign of them yet. The cat sleeps soundly on the Ikea chair. Wish we had a field of sunflowers within walking distance.
Luv dat sunflower field!
How right about the life of a dog owner. The pleasure Mortimer takes in the small things (a dropped walnut while baking yesterday) lifts the spirits.
Hoping the missing suitcase(s) was returned, as promised. And that the gifts and goodies for the PON DUO were happily distributed.
What a lovely Sunday for all of you....Sophie and Bob especially....what a blissful day.
Long walks, chasing "stuff", croissants, digging for treasure, water geysers to play in....who could ask for more?
Today's quote is so true....loved it.
We have friends who have been traveling around the world for a year with their two (13 year old) children. They have safely traveled through 67 countries and were exploring Italy and the final country was to be 3 weeks spent in France. On their itinerary to see were the sunflower fields. But unfortunately and sadly they were robbed while in Orvieto last week--Among what was taken were three computers that held all their photos from their years travel -- They are of course devastated by what has happened (they are physically okay, thankfully!), but they don't know if they will travel to your part of the world or not. With a home already rented, I think they should finish their travels -- they shouldn't miss the chance to see your magnificent sunflower fields, and get a glimpse into what makes life in deepest France Profonde so unique.
What a dreadful shame. We send our sympathy. Orvieto was only about 30 kilometres from where we lived.
Poor Italy. Everyone talks about the recession impacting Greece and Spain but the Italians have lost a quarter of
their manufacturing output, every day 167 shops close and home sales are down to 1985 levels. It's not surprising that
crime has become so commonplace. They should take your advice and finish of their trip with 3 weeks in a place where you can leave the keys in the car overnight and still find it there the next day. Small consolation but it could have been so much worse.
It's so sad to see the dreams of the young and hopeful shattered so early. It's bad enough when the curtain falls after finding success but at the very start just awful.
Looking again at the photos of Bob and Sophie that were taken after your return, is it just my imagination or do they look exceptionally happy?
So very similar to our morning here in the South. Minus, thankfully, the injured plumbing and the wind.
xo
Love the first picture of Bob and Sophie marching along side by side. What lucky pups they are.
Cheers,
Gail.
PS Bertie is most impressed by Sophie's efforts at adding a water feature to your garden.
So agree with your title today.
Photos like that, of the Roman road always make me think of another Pon who walked that way, nose down, zig zagging from grassy curb to grassy curb. The occasional paws up nap, right there, on the road. Sigh.
And now, these two lovely, overgrown pups. I'm smiling
I still manage to call Bob, Wilf. And Sophie, Digby. There again I manage to mix up the Cost Centres names too.
Fabulous sunflowers!
Thank-you for the kind thoughts for our friends. What a small world that you would have lived close to Orvieto. In their experience, I couldn't help but think of what had happened to you and 'the font' when you lived in Italy. I had no idea that Italy had been hit so hard by the recession, and I agree with you that incidences like this are a sad result of that. But they have decided to cut their trip short and come back to the US -- It is very fortunate that they weren't injured in the robbery, but unfortunate that they won't get to experience the beauty of the south of France.
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