Oh Prue - thank you for your meanderings about your beautiful "pup". I continue to waffle about having a pet in my life again - it's been a very long time without one and I DO recall all those lovely moments of pure unconditional love on their part and how it always filled my own heart. Always more to be revealed for this Crone....always "Perfectly on Time"... :-)
You MUST invite another dog into your life. Even more important (and more giving, I imagine) when one is forced to live alone through circumstance. Thank you for commenting and have a great weekend!
Agree 100%! And I have a friend who always adopts "older" dogs if you aren't up to the hard scrabble of puppy-life again. This can work out wonderfully for everyone involved!
Prue, this is just too good - my eyes became hot and moist reading it since so much here resonates with me. And you capture The Terrier-ist Personality so well - I often say at the end of the day when Stanley's head is heavy in my lap that he has become a "boneless" dog. And their trust and devotion is so humbling - it is an honour to share one's life this way. Your bread looks celestial, I can smell it across the miles AND I too used to love Rosamunde Pilcher, I even sent her a fan letter once - and she wrote back! Thank you for this tight little series of reminders of all that is good in the world. Your timing is strong.
Thank you, so much, Sue. I just think that kindred spirits resonate across the miles. Anne of Green Gables says so. XXXX
Re Pilcher, whenever I need comfort, I pick from my complete collection of her books. Winter Solstice is my favourite and never dates.
My mother found Alexandra Raife at the library when Pilcher's works had ceased and we both read and enjoyed what she wrote - set in Scotland as they mostly were and with the strong characterisation for which Pilcher is remembered. Valpy (a Scotswoman) is a writer who has an essence of both Pilcher and Raife. Thus far, I've only read stories set in France but I look forward to her backlist.
The bread was delicious but as heavy as lead and needed toasting to enjoy. Still, husband finished it for breakfast and lunch. I'll have another go but maybe knead it more and cook it longer. It's an honest, homely thing to do and is great role-modelling for my characters! Have a lovely weekend!
Gosh, what a special boy he is, Prue. What a delightful post.
And the 'bread language' is absolutely fascinating! It hadn't occurred to me to wonder how communication happens in silent orders - you've reinforced to me that there is so much more to communication than just speech: and indeed, is speech even necessary at all? 🤔 Really interesting!
Sign Language is a skill that both husband and self want to learn. We were prompted by my nearly 40 year old son's partial deafness (ear op gone wrong) last year. He has to have another op this year (different surgeon) on the other ear and the idea of Sign Language suddenly takes on great meaning - even with the excellence of hearing aids.
There are so many children and then adults who need us to 'speak' with them and I think they go largely un-noticed and ignored by we who can hear.
Your comment about speech possibly being unnecessary is interesting - particularly as I'm apt to walk and talk to myself A LOT. But I wonder what my dog would do if I couldn't speak to him because I chat away constantly (probably thank the stars for some silence!!!!).
The world of human silence is interesting. Just watch any of the Alone episodes to see how vested the participants are in speech.
Ah, I foresee a Mike Sowden post on speech and silence in the future.
Gosh, that's really interesting, Prue. Sign language is so valuable - wouldn't it be great if we all grew up with competence in a language of gesture as well as sound? I'm sorry to hear about your son's hearing challenges, and I think it's great that you're wanting to learn sign language.
My friend's adult grandson is non-verbal, and as a family they use Makaton. It's brilliant! The fact that language can exist without sound or speech fascinates me. I guess communicative competence is achievable across a broad spectrum as long as both parties in the conversation can grasp the medium. Fascinating stuff!
I hadn't heard of 'Alone' - over here it's available on a channel we don't subscribe to - BUT Google tells me that a UK-based version of the series might be in the pipeline. I'll keep my eyes peeled for it!
Lovely post...I do believe our appreciation of everything deepens as we age. Food, music, nature, and pets (to name just a few.) I don't think it's that 'we're running out of time' as much as we've lived long enough to understand what is truly valuable in this life. Thanks for always reminding us!
As the body ages, there is a sense that whilst one can one should. At least for me anyway, and the advantage might be that if the body and mind can do it, it gets fitter and can do more. There actually might be a post there. Perhaps...
My heart melted while reading this, Prue. I have two dogs, so I feel everything you write...and that contented purring with the ears! My older dog is now 17 and her favourite thing is to cuddle and when I rub her ears she leans into me as if she is in pure bliss. Goodness, do I love my dogs. Thank you for these beautiful words. 💚🙏🏻🌱
Oh Prue - thank you for your meanderings about your beautiful "pup". I continue to waffle about having a pet in my life again - it's been a very long time without one and I DO recall all those lovely moments of pure unconditional love on their part and how it always filled my own heart. Always more to be revealed for this Crone....always "Perfectly on Time"... :-)
You MUST invite another dog into your life. Even more important (and more giving, I imagine) when one is forced to live alone through circumstance. Thank you for commenting and have a great weekend!
Agree 100%! And I have a friend who always adopts "older" dogs if you aren't up to the hard scrabble of puppy-life again. This can work out wonderfully for everyone involved!
Prue, this is just too good - my eyes became hot and moist reading it since so much here resonates with me. And you capture The Terrier-ist Personality so well - I often say at the end of the day when Stanley's head is heavy in my lap that he has become a "boneless" dog. And their trust and devotion is so humbling - it is an honour to share one's life this way. Your bread looks celestial, I can smell it across the miles AND I too used to love Rosamunde Pilcher, I even sent her a fan letter once - and she wrote back! Thank you for this tight little series of reminders of all that is good in the world. Your timing is strong.
Thank you, so much, Sue. I just think that kindred spirits resonate across the miles. Anne of Green Gables says so. XXXX
Re Pilcher, whenever I need comfort, I pick from my complete collection of her books. Winter Solstice is my favourite and never dates.
My mother found Alexandra Raife at the library when Pilcher's works had ceased and we both read and enjoyed what she wrote - set in Scotland as they mostly were and with the strong characterisation for which Pilcher is remembered. Valpy (a Scotswoman) is a writer who has an essence of both Pilcher and Raife. Thus far, I've only read stories set in France but I look forward to her backlist.
The bread was delicious but as heavy as lead and needed toasting to enjoy. Still, husband finished it for breakfast and lunch. I'll have another go but maybe knead it more and cook it longer. It's an honest, homely thing to do and is great role-modelling for my characters! Have a lovely weekend!
Gosh, what a special boy he is, Prue. What a delightful post.
And the 'bread language' is absolutely fascinating! It hadn't occurred to me to wonder how communication happens in silent orders - you've reinforced to me that there is so much more to communication than just speech: and indeed, is speech even necessary at all? 🤔 Really interesting!
Sign Language is a skill that both husband and self want to learn. We were prompted by my nearly 40 year old son's partial deafness (ear op gone wrong) last year. He has to have another op this year (different surgeon) on the other ear and the idea of Sign Language suddenly takes on great meaning - even with the excellence of hearing aids.
There are so many children and then adults who need us to 'speak' with them and I think they go largely un-noticed and ignored by we who can hear.
Your comment about speech possibly being unnecessary is interesting - particularly as I'm apt to walk and talk to myself A LOT. But I wonder what my dog would do if I couldn't speak to him because I chat away constantly (probably thank the stars for some silence!!!!).
The world of human silence is interesting. Just watch any of the Alone episodes to see how vested the participants are in speech.
Ah, I foresee a Mike Sowden post on speech and silence in the future.
Gosh, that's really interesting, Prue. Sign language is so valuable - wouldn't it be great if we all grew up with competence in a language of gesture as well as sound? I'm sorry to hear about your son's hearing challenges, and I think it's great that you're wanting to learn sign language.
My friend's adult grandson is non-verbal, and as a family they use Makaton. It's brilliant! The fact that language can exist without sound or speech fascinates me. I guess communicative competence is achievable across a broad spectrum as long as both parties in the conversation can grasp the medium. Fascinating stuff!
I hadn't heard of 'Alone' - over here it's available on a channel we don't subscribe to - BUT Google tells me that a UK-based version of the series might be in the pipeline. I'll keep my eyes peeled for it!
I was so interested to learn last week about the Spanish athlete who's just spent 500 days living alone underground. Did you see the story? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/14/spanish-woman-emerges-after-spending-500-days-living-alone-in-cave
Lovely post...I do believe our appreciation of everything deepens as we age. Food, music, nature, and pets (to name just a few.) I don't think it's that 'we're running out of time' as much as we've lived long enough to understand what is truly valuable in this life. Thanks for always reminding us!
Possibly a combination of the two.
As the body ages, there is a sense that whilst one can one should. At least for me anyway, and the advantage might be that if the body and mind can do it, it gets fitter and can do more. There actually might be a post there. Perhaps...
Oh that bread! Amazing!
Absolutely yummo - 'specially when warm and the butter and jam melt and slide. Sticky fingers with pleasure!
My heart melted while reading this, Prue. I have two dogs, so I feel everything you write...and that contented purring with the ears! My older dog is now 17 and her favourite thing is to cuddle and when I rub her ears she leans into me as if she is in pure bliss. Goodness, do I love my dogs. Thank you for these beautiful words. 💚🙏🏻🌱
What a mighty age for a dog.
And yes, I think dog and love are implicit... XXXX
❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕🐾🐾🐾🐾