Never look a gift log in the mouth......

~

I had lots of help cleaning out the henhouses this morning so we were quick to get away for our doggy walk.

~

I can almost feel the dogs hearts sinking when I nip into the kitchen to grab my basket......'oh no another one of those slow, slow walks'! ~

After a while though they settle into the routine of walk, stop, Mum vanishes into bushes and then popping out and starting the walk again. Soon they spend my 'bush' time mooching about and having a good sniff at what the wildlife has been doing over night, following tracks that sometimes a delighted Rosy finds leads her to a bird hiding in the long grass that she can flush out in a cacophony of squalks of indignation. Each time I pop out from the bushes my basket is a bit fuller and a little more of natures wonderful bounty is gathered in.

~

Soon the slow walk loses its appeal and Sophie starts placing sticks behind me as I pick. At first these are just normal sticks, but as time progresses they get larger and larger, as if she thinks the slowness of the walk must be linked to a form of diminishing eyesight for her Mum.

~

The last one is usually log sized and that is the hint. If I ignore this one some poor tree will be gnawed down in frustration, I barely dare throw the large logs in case (with my atrocious stick throwing aim) I render one of the dogs completely unconcious. But pleading eyes make me throw carefully, 'fetching' after all is an important pastime and one that requires regular practice!

~

Still once Sophie has carried the log all the way home it would be a crime to leave it outside, I add it to the log pile, or if it's damp, place it on the hearth to dry out in front of tonights fire....never look a gift log in the mouth!

~

Sue xx