This morning Sophie checks the village pond for signs of intruders. All is well. Down by the waterfall she sniffs the mud that's been churned up by overnight visitors. Boar, deer, civet, badger and fox scents all dutifully noted. Look carefully on the other side of the stream and you might see a purple patch of wild crocuses coming into bloom. Tomorrow I might wade across and take a photo.
Back at The Rickety Old Farmhouse Sophie chases black and white C-A-T through the hyacinth beds. To be more precise Sophie ploughs through the hyacinth beds. C-A-T, sensibly, has headed off at right angles through the laurel hedge and out of the garden. The absence of C-A-T does nothing to calm Sophie's enthusiastic and decidedly non-stealthy hunting technique.
There's a large magpie nest in the higher branches of the plane tree near the swimming pool. One of the garden robins has been found by them and is lying on the ground beneath the tree. Poor thing. Maybe next year I'll think about 'diverting' the magpies to another location.
After a morning of hyper activity like that Sophie settles down by the front door to 'rediscover' her inner karma. Soon we'll head off for curly croissant ends. Angus has agreed to speak in London to two groups of serious people next week. One group from LA , the others from Manhattan. Having agreed to do this he now regrets it.
Last night we dined, virtually, in Utah. We once changed planes there but apart from that our knowledge of the state is minimal. Angus was rather worried that alcohol might not be available. 'The Font' informs me that Utah is the Beehive State although where this unusual and singular piece of information came from is long forgotten. This is the menu we found under 'Utah fine dining' on Google. Not every day you see elk and bison featured. The menu helpfully has photographs and calls deserts 'sweets' . Is this a regional thing ? : http://www.log-haven.com/our-food-wine/dinner-menu
We have been to the village but never to the play :https://www.passionsspiele-oberammergau.de/en/home
12 comments:
Bertie's successor Nobby, who took up residence in Aberdeen yesterday, will be reading this blog and taking tips from Sophie. He has the early morning thing worked out already...
Cheers! Gail.
https://nicenobbynaughtynobby.blogspot.com/
Welcome Nobby ! You have big paws to fill after Hamish and Bertie but there's no doubting you will excel them in mischief and generating laughter. You have a world of love ahead of you.
I went over to the blog so I could see the pictures, and oh, my, he's cute. He also looks very smart and, with that birthday, I'm sure he'll be a brave boy. Congratulations to both of you!
I approached that menu with skepticism, as my only experience dining in Salt Lake City involved a Holiday Inn where Delta Airlines put us up when our transfer from LA had mechanical problems. My Japanese father-in-law was with us and he insisted on ordering filet mignon for dinner, even after we warned him that wasn't really what Holiday Inn was known for. The expected happened, and he complained about that steak throughout the rest of the trip. And I am also skeptical as a general matter of menus that use the word "reverent". But it is actually a pretty interesting menu, with lots of vegetarian things. I think I will imagine the Korean Fried Cauliflower as my afternoon snack today.
It seems Nobby has already learned to steal someone else's blog. I too have taken a look at the wee chappie. For once I'm sure Sophie won't mind!
Sophie, this is Inca, I'm yet again green with envy. You have a nice sunny morning to explore all those enticing smells.
Meanwhile we have had continuous rain and high winds for the best part of two weeks, and more is forecast for the next week. Yesterday, apart from my human rushing out to feed the pesky garden C-A-T-S, and my comfort breaks, we didn't go out for a walk - it just didn't stop raining at all. I'll just dream of sunshine and think about your curly croissant ends. What did they score today?
Love,
Inca xx
A speaking tour, how exciting. Sophie will hold down the fort for you. "Sweets" well the Brits might call that selection "puddings" so yes there are regionalisms.
Hari OM
Next week will come and go and Angus won't have to worry about it any more... YAM xx
I think since COVID we're all reluctant to attend anything with a lot of people.
I have many friends from Utah - Bison and Elk are a regional on the menus and common on western menus. And I'll add that the reason Utah is called the Beehive State is because after the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young, president of the LDS church at the time, wanted to name it that because bees symbolize hard work, industry, and community.
Thank you for the insight into the Beehive States name. As for going to London the thought of queueing up to get on a plane and then through the passport and Covid controls just seems so tedious - and this from someone who spent the better part of 40 years on planes 3 or 4 times a week. Guess if they can get across the Atlantic the least I can do is cross the Channel.
I love the photo of Sophie checking out the village pond. And I am thrilled Gail and Nobby have found each other!
Late comment. We all have to find our own level of what we are comfortable doing now when we venture out. During the Gulf War my Lodon travel agent tried to convince me a last minute flight London to Auckland was forty pounds cheaper if I flew an American airline instead of AirNZ as she said there were less than ten passengers booked due to people worrying about flying with US companies during the war so I'd have so much space. I paid extra to fly AirNZ and feel more relaxed during the flight, however nothing happened so it seems I paid too much. Risk vs. return. Small steps back to the joy of travelling. If you are uncomfortable with airports now, say you "feel like you are getting a cold or sore throat and do a virtual catch up for a while longer.
Post a Comment