Sunday, January 29, 2017

A world of wonder


The cold has gone. We wake to a mild and windy morning. All the leaves that Loic the gardener blew off the lawn have blown back. Bob stands by the door waiting for his harness to be put on. He squeals with delight ( a thing he does every morning ) when the door is opened. You'd think that his enthusiasm might have eased off after doing the same thing for four years. Not a bit of it. Dogs live their lives lost in a world of wonder and pending adventure.



The family fellow gets into the car on his third attempt. Attempt #1 was interrupted by the arrival of a blackbird on the lawn. Attempt #2 by a leaf fluttering down from the gutters. There are no distractions the third time round.


The chairs have been put out on the square. The cafe owners hopeful that the temperatures will rise and the crowds flock into town. We take a table outside. Bob gets brought a bowl of water and a biscuit.


The butcher is selling chicken and truffles en croute. We buy two. Bob gets a sliver of roast lamb. The family fellow emits one of his 'I has died and gone to heaven' sighs.


Six little cakes from the trendy bakers complete our shopping. Bob gets given croissant crumbs. His tail thwack-thwack- thwacks against the side of the display counter. The blonde young lady comes round and kisses him on top of his head.

In the village the mayor and the man in the day-glo yellow jacket are setting up trestle tables in the Salle des Fetes. This afternoon is the award of prizes to the winners of the beautiful gardens competition. A selection of the mayors wife's dried root vegetable arrangements have already been unloaded from the back of his car and sit, unguarded, in the middle of the petanque court.

So starts a Sunday morning in a France as far away from the bright lights of Paris as it's possible to get.

Here's something on dog flu : https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/research/blog/january-2017/scientists-develop-new-flu-vaccines-for-man%E2%80%99s-best.aspx





9 comments:

Coppa's girl said...

It's no good, I think we'll have to up sticks and move to your part of France.
It's not just the way they treat dogs, or the mouth watering chicken and truffle en croute with rosemary potatoes, or even those wonderful cakes, but we might just bump into you and Bob on one of your shopping sprees. Oh, and we mustn't forget those wonderful walks you and the PONs take each day !

WFT Nobby said...

A biscuit, a sliver of lamb AND some croissant crumb!
Bob that trip to town was well worthwhile. I wouldn't be wasting time before jumping in the car boot next time, pal.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

It's a good way to start the day - I wonder what it will bring here in the US? Dare I ask.

How Sam Sees It said...

It sounds like a wonderful day!

Monty, Harlow, and Ramble

Stephanie said...

I can’t decide where to focus: on beautiful Bob, the colorful square, or the marvelous cakes. I fear it might be the cakes.
I hope the beautiful garden awards ceremony was a pleasure for all.

Coppa's girl said...

Too late in the day now, I suppose, but did you take any photos of the vegetable arrangements prizes?

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

wonder, pending adventure and OPPORTUNITY!

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Oh how I wait to see a dried vegetable arrangement!

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

I understand Bob squealing at the front door every morning. On the other side of the door there is an adventure! Maybe one he has done before, or just maybe something new and different!