It's dog sitting time again for my fur grandson Rooney, a golden labradoodle whilst his family are on holiday. His cousin Ralphy the black one is booked in for later in the year, never together, they'd run me ragged.
Rooney and I have had a few encounters with the local wildlife this last couple of days while we've sat outside in the sunshine. Rooney has a slender physique, eats everything and anything, human food plus his own food and treats and never gains weight, perhaps more of a poodle build; Ralphy by contrast seems to be more labrador and prone to gaining weight, just like people, two minutes on the lips, forever on the hips as the saying goes, so his diet is watched carefully by Mum and Dad, only dog food and monitored dog treats, no human food but he does like to lick fallen crumbs.
Well Roon and I sat outside, he with a Bonio biscuit, me with a chocolate muffin. He made short work of the Bonio and sat with his eyes fixed on the chocolate muffin but he was on a hiding to nothing. From under my garden chair a tiny creature crawled and jumped. I thought it was an insect at first but then I noticed the fur and tail - a tiny mouse! Was it a baby? Worse, was it a baby rat?!? I'd seen a huge rat lurking in the snow in the winter when I'd put food out for the birds but no sightings since I'd stopped.
The tiny visitor went right past Rooney, whose eyes never moved from the muffin, then it hopped down the lawn and under the magnolia tree. Both dogs are fascinated by the smells under this tree. What lives there?
I relayed all of this news to my sister via email and she has this mindset of transferring words to the animals mouths, some may remember reading about her visiting cat in The Black Knight Diaries - the result of our laughing at too many daft cat memes and their language.
"Send me a picture of the tiny visitor," said she.
Well Tiny Visitor arrived the next day, just missed getting trodden on by Roon and stood frozen whilst I took pictures, which I sent to my sister. Here's her conversation between Roon and Tiny Visitor.
Rooney: I az been sniffing around the tree to issue a warning. 'Hear this ye rodents of the local area. This dog allowed all manner of hooman treats so don't be looking for no crumbs when I'm here. However when the other fella comes do him a favour and remove all temptation from the hopeful bloke!'
That aside it had been a bit of a nothing day for Rooney. I don't do much so he sleeps a lot. He'd had a lovely walk on Monday with Ralphy and his mum and dad but now back to life with me, Nana Shuffs. Bedtime came, time for the last wee of the day at dusk.
I stood on the patio while he was further down the garden sniffing around as dogs do when out from the shrubs pops Ratty, right by my feet! No sightings since the snow! I don't know who was more shocked it or me. I was just glad I'd closed the back door. It beat a hasty retreat back into the shrubbery then ran out the other side - right in front of Rooney, who immediately shot after it. They raced down the garden, Ratty for his life, Rooney in pursuit of his prey - or the live toy! All thoughts of the last wee had left his mind but I'll let him have the last word.
Rooney: Well who'd have thought it! I az ad a boring day sleeping, all she az done is sit writing but she saves the best until bedtime. She puts on LIVE ENTERTAINMENT! How good iz dis? Better than that useless blue ball she's got me. I can't even rip that up! I be on the look out for that running creature tomorrow. I catch it before I leave then I feel I iz proper champ! Mum and Dad, I've had very little in the way of hooman food since I've been here apart form a piece of toast but no morsel of chocolate muffin, Nana Shuffs likes to keep such delicacies to herself. I ain't had a curry in ages and I can't wait for one!