A New Dog on The Block

Just over two years ago Elodie was born in Maumulon, France.  Two months later she found a new home further south near Duras with Viv.  The freedom of 40 acres of plum trees and vines and acres of paddock and gardens.   The freedom to roam and exercise of which most non-working dogs can only dream.  

And what a lovely lady she has turned into.  Now she is a well-travelled lady with her own pet-passport and a more miles under her belt than many humans achieve in two years.  

Yesterday on Bosta beach on Lewis she had a great time:

Thankful Thursday

Well life is full of surprises.  I expected today to be a very ordinary day.  I wanted a new camera bag.  Easy.  Anna had booked lunch at The Rogano (which is reputed to be one of Glasgow's premier restaurants).  This evening Anna had booked seats at The Citizens Theatre (with no apostrophe!) to see A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.

However when I looked at my cellphone this morning I saw a text asking what I was doing today.  I duly supplied the information requested pondering as to why a friend from France would make such an enquiry.  The response was a 'querie as to whether I would like to meet for coffee this afternoon.  Gosh.

So I spent this afternoon in the company of Viv who was in Scotland for a few days - a decision taken on a spur of the moment whim as she was in the UK for a few weeks visiting family.

The acting in the play this evening was serious and light and funny all at the same time.  Quite an accomplishment when dealing with such a subject and dialogue.

So today I am thankful for wonderful surprises and enjoyable nights out.

Memories of Warmth

One of Viv's neighbours has a large number of horses some of whom we met on one of our walks:

Fauna in France

When I was at Viv's in France we went for walks around her extensive property which is home to a feast of wildlife.  Given France's obsession with the rights of the common man to hunt and shoot anything that moves Viv's land is a safe haven.  The land around however........

These Chevreuil or Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) were not quite as near as they seem but had we been hunters they would have been in range of a rifle (but possibly not a shotgun).

A squirrel had been at work:

These tracks through the grass were either badgers or deer

coming up through the woods

I could have shown you all sorts of other things that trackers use to tell what's been where but you might be having breakfast as you read this so I'll spare you.  It's fascinating, though, being able to tell what the various animals have been eating.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for the luxury of being able to wake up with a view and being free to sit in a garden and look at the trees in the orchards.  For that is, to so many people in this world, a luxury beyond comprehension.

View from my bedroom in Maumulon, France

View over the orchards at Viv's in France