Yesterday afternoon was a jewel, a gift, one of those afternoons that one thinks about and hopes for in an English Autumn.
I took the sick dog over the fields for a long ramble
since the Veterinary Hospital has now come up with a diagnosis which recommends as much exercise as possible: turns out he has canine motor neurone disease. No operation recommended. No cure: but at least he does not feel ill or miserable and is in no pain except when his back legs do the splits. Apparently the worst part for the owners is when you end up with a dog whose back legs do not work at all, but is otherwise fit, energetic and enthusiastic for life: making the final decision in such circumstances is, according to the vet, particularly hard.
Well, the sun was high, the sky was blue, and almost no breeze at all. It was HOT!! We met lots of other people and dogs enjoying the afternoon as much as we were, lots of doggy sniffing and playing. In one field the cows were due to come in for milking but instead of going down their usual path they all came over to us to see who we were and what we represented: threat or not? The farmer, doubtless cursing us, had to walk much further than usual to try to regain control of his recalcitrant herd. We were hemmed in by a semi-circle of inquiring black and white faces as the elder ladies of the herd looked us over and stood between us and the younger girls in the herd.
Birds were wheeling in great masses over the cut stalks of a corn (wheat) field which was harvested only two weeks ago. The great rolls of straw were still sitting in the field but it has
rained so much on them that they are beginning to sprout where odd seeds of wheat were left in. Rooks and pigeons made up the clouds of birds which kept settling, eating and then rising in drifts as some noisy argument broke out. Starling were gathering in groups on any wires or cables that stretched over the fields, noisily discussing their next move.
The rose hips are ripe and were shining brilliantly in the sun: while the dog nosed around exploring I gathered a handful to sow in the hedge in the paddock. As the hours drew on and the sun rode lower, the shadows lengthened to a ridiculous degree!
Although the autumnal colours here are more muted than overseas, especially the famed colours in the US, they were beautiful none the less, intermingled with the varying shades of green which still linger. Add to that the long shadows, and I spent ages just looking.
Finally, I had to persuade the dog that no, he was not going home with a young collie dog, and neither were we walking any further. As it was he had to keep sitting down and his back legs kept plaiting one round the other until he fell over. But he did not seem to mind. So we just stopped every now and then, he to rest and sniff the air, and me to look round and marvel at the glory of the day.
absolutely beautiful! looks just like the set from Nanny McFee. Hmmmmmmmm……
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Just watch it with those references: I know the middle aged woman is prone to warts, moles, hairy chins, and middle aged spread, but just because I was casting a loooong shadow and my top was billowing out as my hands were raised to hold up the camera does not a Nanny McPhee make. At least, in her first incarnation.
Did you ever watch the film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe’? If so, do you remember the episode in the car park where the young women take the space that an older woman was aiming for? When she remonstrated they said something like “Face it lady, we are younger and faster than you”. your hmmmmmmmm has undertones dangerously like that comment:) Well, the middle aged lady replied, as she reversed her large car and rammed their small one, over and over and over again until she could begin to squeeze into the parking space, “Yes, but I am richer and better insured!”
You beautiful, young mothers and professionals who blog: don’t ‘mix it’ with us who are older, more experienced and less inhibited !!!!
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I feel like I just got thoroughly thrashed!
You forget…I now qualify as a middle aged woman myself – fully complete with my own set of hairy moles and middle aged spread.
But I won’t take you on – I’m sure you could slap me silly any day! 🙂
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Now I feel like a bully! No thrashing except verbal repartee intended:)
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Is that an invitation to thrash you back?! 🙂
Awesome!
Yes…no doubt your are older and more experienced, but I’m willing to bet I could win any day on being less inhibited. Anytime you want to take me on, you just say the word! Just a friendly little wager from across the pond. 🙂
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I’m always a sucker for a wager! But I quite believe that you would win hands down: I’m very good at being confident at a distance, and with words, but just a wimp close up! Food fights are about my level 🙂
NB Yael (‘If I become you who will be me’ on my blogroll) has posted a video of that glorious scene from Fried Green Tomatoes over on her site if you want to remind yourself. I reckon she is following our tussle!! What can we do to give her some fun?
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I’ll go check it out!
As for our tussle….hmm…let me think on that…I’m sure we can come up with some way to entertain the folks! 🙂
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I feel like I was just out walking with you! Thanks for letting me come along!
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You are more than welcome, that was my hope! I just wish your company was more real than virtual, but never mind.
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Gorgeous day. We have a few of those in the immediate forecast, and I’m thrilled.
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It makes all the difference doesn’t it? I cannot bear to be indoors on a day like that: I just want to drink and drink and drink it all in. So glad to hear that you have some coming your way too!
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A lovely walk. I enjoyed the views. Our colors in this area are particularly brilliant this year. It has been several years since it has been such a beautiful autumn. We have been enjoying it immensely. Wish I had such a beautiful walk as yours.
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I’d love to see photos of some of your colours. I have only heard of the spectacular US Fall, but never actually seen any of it. I’m so pleased you are having a good autumn and hope the presence of the grandchildren has been making such a season very special.
We are very lucky where we live, and really appreciate it to the full! But small beer compared to parts of the States.
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Oh, this is just beautiful. Thank you.
J x
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So glad you enjoyed it with me 🙂
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It is so great to read your wonderful writing and see those brilliant pics of yours again! I have missed them! Thanks Sweffling! Have a great day! 🙂
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You say the nicest things! (Blush, winsome, modest look from under eyelashes).
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So beautiful!
And sorry about your poor dog, but like you said, he seems happy, so that’s good. 🙂
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