Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Repurposing garden items

 

This local cat likes to visit Baskerville Manor parklands during the night, investigate the outbuildings, and give anything that resembles wood a good scratch. This has led to much consternation among the canine population and a fatwah has been declared.

Generally speaking, when out walking in the neighbourhood, the beasties are  always delighted to charge any cat that crosses their path, but when this particular puss appears, the excitement quickly escalates into an all-out riot where bins are knocked over, gates crashed and humans scattered.

The humans in the cat’s house are wise to his proclivity and have recently added mesh guards around their newly-planted trees and shrubs. Unfortunately for said newly-planted trees and shrubs, Puss is undeterred, and likes to enjoy a snooze in what seems to be the cosy space between the mesh and the not so protected tree.  He has also taken to standing in the street until the three stooges notice him, then quickly scarper into his little sanctuary, where he can smugly observe the canine confusion as they struggle to drag themselves (and me, desperately hanging on to the lamp post, the gate post or anything solid) over the wall.  It has not yet occurred to Puss that one of these days I’m going to have to let go, and the combined digging and demolition talent shared by the Baskerville Beasties will wreak havoc on his refuge.

Repurposing garden items

 

This local cat likes to visit Baskerville Manor parklands during the night, investigate the outbuildings, and give anything that resembles wood a good scratch. This has led to much consternation among the canine population and a fatwah has been declared.

Generally speaking, when out walking in the neighbourhood, the beasties are  always delighted to charge any cat that crosses their path, but when this particular puss appears, the excitement quickly escalates into an all-out riot where bins are knocked over, gates crashed and humans scattered.

The humans in the cat’s house are wise to his proclivity and have recently added mesh guards around their newly-planted trees and shrubs. Unfortunately for said newly-planted trees and shrubs, Puss is undeterred, and likes to enjoy a snooze in what seems to be the cosy space between the mesh and the not so protected tree.  He has also taken to standing in the street until the three stooges notice him, then quickly scarper into his little sanctuary, where he can smugly observe the canine confusion as they struggle to drag themselves (and me, desperately hanging on to the lamp post, the gate post or anything solid) over the wall.  It has not yet occurred to Puss that one of these days I’m going to have to let go, and the combined digging and demolition talent shared by the Baskerville Beasties will wreak havoc on his refuge.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Duby and Izzy

Duby is visiting this weekend. I'm hoping he doesn't pick up any tricks from Izzy before he goes home.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

You get what you pay for…

 

The Diva does not like getting her hair brushed. Period.  This is somewhat unfortunate as she is the hairiest resident of Baskerville Manor and possesses the kind of coat that develops mats and tangles almost instantly.

While I really do understand that The Diva’s time would be far better spent attaching various items from the garden on her head, back, and rump, and sweeping up unsuspecting beetles and other crawly things in her paws as she trundles about, it’s not really healthy for her to have matted hair, her skin needs to get some air from time to time, or she will develop itchy and sore patches.

IMG00205-20120311-1318

The Diva often registers her objection to this procedure by attempting to remove the offending brush from my hand while I’m busy trying simultaneously hold her in a half-nelson and brush out the snags and debris.  Most of the time, I am able to rescue the brush, but if I am not careful about where I leave the brushes between wrestling bouts, she confiscates and destroys them. 

Dog brushes don’t usually come cheap, so I was happy to find packs of the things for about 2 Euro in one of those bargain shops in town. I was even happier to find the brushes could get through the carpet that The Diva wears in place of a normal dog coat. 

IMG00204-20120311-1317However, during one hairdressing smack down with her, I started to find what looked like tiny nails embedded in her coat.  I thought she had decided to roll in the Resident Male’s toolbox.  I pondered about where we had been walking, was there some kind of fence she had decided to scratch herself against?  I was worried that she might swallow some of them while engaged in what she laughably seems to be believe is grooming herself (licking the tangled bits so they get nice and wet and matted).  Then I looked at the hairbrush  and found it had become somewhat toothless.  So.. after spending almost a whole morning picking the things out of her coat, I’m off to buy yet another expensive dog brush.  Here’s hoping it survives…