Vale Caution

 03-16-04

I regret to announce that on Monday of this week, I had to take Caution to the Vet. and have her put down.  I could not, in all conscience, let her suffer any more.  She is now buried next to Jack the Giant New Zealand rabbit, so that perhaps she can catch one, where she could not in life.  I have cried so much.  My beautiful little girl is gone, and she was a great dog and an inspiration.  Goodbye, little Princess.

 

Mowgli is taking it well, I think, and is spoiled a little more than usual.  He doesn't seem to mind the additional attention.

 

The peahen laid an egg the other day, and so I gave it to Marlene, a good friend of ours, to put under a broody duck, along with a few duck eggs.  Who knows what surprise may be in store?

 

Our new calf, Mo, has definitely settled in well, and Heather looks like she was born here.

 

Brian has been able to buy an old(e) harrow, around the same vintage as the tractor (a little post-War), for $2 + GST (10% tax), and has harrowed the large paddock, breaking up the cow manure and aerating the soil.  We are now waiting on rain, which will help dissolve it further and make it useful to all manner of beasties and greenery.

 

I heard the other day that the best way to plant out roses is to put a garlic clove at the base of the roots, so that the rose absorbs the garlic and aphis do not like sucking on the leaves and buds.  How clever!  I have, for many years, planted chives and garlic with my roses, but have not heard that it is better to start off the rose plant this way.

 

Oh, and for those of you who grow begonias, particularly outside, on the rare occasions that your begonias get a fungal disease, dilute one part of whole milk with 19 parts of water and spray on the plants.  This formula was found by accident (the mind boggles!) but apparently it works better than commercial fungicides.

 

Car Trip

 

(for Arlene with thanks and love)

 

In hypnotic rhythm the lines fly by

Each white stripe stark against the black of bitumen

 

The windows wide open, my hair jet streaming

and summer winds caress and awaken my nostrils

 

Sharp the scent of new-mown grass

and heady a wet playground of green

 

Colours flash by and sunset looms

opal and grey and gorgeous. 

 

I understand the laughter in a dogs eyes

as it breathes in the night.