Is she gone forever?

It was the dog’s ten week hair cut today so we had the long walk up to Kate and her electric shears and super fur dryer. Poor Emma wasn’t too keen. The minute Kate opened the gate, her tail went down and she tried to drag me back home. That’s Emma; not Kate. Freya, on the other hand, was more than happy to go.

Two hours later and a few pounds lighter, they were happily jumping through the long grass on the way back.

My pretty girls

And they are so soft to touch and cuddle, with the added benefit that Emma can now see properly.

I had to send Mirinda the photo above because she’s presently in Somerset with Bob for a few days. I miss her more when she’s away on weekends, probably because we always do things together. Even when we don’t do anything.

After lunch, if the walk up to Kate’s wasn’t enough, Emma insisted on going for another one with the ball and the flicka-stik. And that’s where we met Molly, Annabel and their papa. That’s what he called himself. And he wasn’t French. A bit odd. Molly and Annabel, on the other hand, were perfectly normal little girls who just wanted to cuddle Freya and throw the ball for Emma.

It started when Molly (about 6) was hiding from the others. She burst through the long grass and proceeded to lie down just ahead of us. Naturally this prompted Freya to go and say hello. Suddenly and before Freya could do anything, Molly leapt up and went and hid behind a tree. Confused, Freya came back to me.

Then Annabel (about 4) appeared looking for Molly. She was yelling and looking but not finding her anywhere. Her papa then came striding up the hill. Annabel was heard to say “Is she gone forever?” when Molly suddenly burst out and ran to them both. There were lots of laughs when, suddenly, Molly spotted Freya watching from a distance.

For the next half an hour, we all sat on a bench while the two little girls either threw the ball for Emma or cuddled Freya. Or they cuddled a very reluctant Emma and ran around in the long grass being chased by Freya. It was all very funny, particularly the look on Freya’s face. She wasn’t sure whether to wag her tail or jump away.

In the course of the half hour, I learned that the girls are getting two kittens. Molly said their mum had told them they’d get them after Christmas but had neglected to say which Christmas. Molly had a sneaking suspicion it might be the next one. I whispered that she should tell her mum she’d rather have a puppy. Molly smiled conspiratorially.

It was a fun half hour.

The rest of the day…well, what was left of it…was spent in the garden. And here’s something weird. It is a closeup photo of the centre of our mahonia.

I planted it in one of the raised beds on the terrace following the advice of Bob Flowerdew on Gardener’s Question Time. He said the yellow flowers were very attractive and fragrant and it was perfect on a terrace.

Every since I planted it, yellow flowers there has been none. Nowt but saw toothed leaves perfect for catching anything that falls into them.

They are supposed to turn up in Autumn. Maybe later this year then.