Friday, February 2, 2018

An involuntary shudder.


Our first morning ( in what seems like an eternity ) without rain. We walk to the end of the lane, where the trees thin out, and take in the view. Sophie squealches through the sodden drainage ditch in search of 'things' to eat. The days stretching out now. Brighter at night and in the morning. Scottish farmers will be turning their thoughts to lambing season. Natures optimism is in the air. Angus and Bob sit on the concrete storm drain and discuss how Devin Nunes has become a name that everyone suddenly knows.

Back home we put out sunflower seeds for the birds. The Bullfinches overcome their fear and are pecking away while I'm still filling the third and final tray. This morning we also have Zebra finches, Chaffinches, Twites and Gold finches. Something about the word 'Twite' that speaks pleasingly to an ancient England of Hereward the Wake.


Some lamb from the butchers. Bob and Sophie get given slivers of sausage by the senior butcher. Both shiver with delight. Bob accepts this largesse with a silent wag of his tail. His sister is more vocal.


The farmers are still revolting. Day 3 with the two nearest motorway toll booths blocked off . The government thought cutting farm subsidies would be an easy thing to do. Why any French government would think they could get away with it is a mystery. Paris centrism ?


An afternoon trip to the supermarket. Sophie is in fine form despite her recent and enormous vegetable diet.

On the shelves prune flavoured rose wine. The height of sophistication in deepest, deepest France profonde. Angus can't help but shudder as he passes it.


An action photo of Bob leaping into the back of the car. The new i-Phone takes better pictures but the lens or the computer or whatever it is that controls the camera seems to take longer to focus.


Flipping Poles : https://undark.org/article/books-alanna-mitchell-spinning-magnet/







15 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Bertie wants to visit the senior butcher.

Wishfully Thinking said...

Springwatch on Twitter the other day "We're tweeting about twite"

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
I had to look up Devin Nunes so that I, too, would suddenly know his name... YAM xx

Taste of France said...

Every time I read the name Devin I see Devil. Why is that?

Emm said...

"Twite". Vocabulary expansion. After one twites, has one twote?
I note the juxtaposition of your headline and the topic of your first paragraph, whose subject is also in the category with prune wine.

Coppa's girl said...

Lovely action shot of Bob !
Prune wine? No, I don't think so - not surprised the mere thought of it made you shudder, Angus.
Does Sophie's vocalisation mean she's saying "Thank you" when receiving a sliver of sausage?


Susan said...

Do you really have Zebra Finches at your bird feeder? If so they must be aviary escapees. I can't think of any European species you could mistake for them. Captive bred ones are widely kept in both private aviaries and science labs, so it is not impossible that you have a few escapees or their descendents.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Prune anything makes me shudder - As does the name Devin Nunes and a few others. Thank-goodness for the distraction that our dogs can bring!

Sheila said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julie said...

I can't say I noticed any prune wine in Berry Bros & Rudd yesterday, I wonder why?

Sheila said...

The prospect of flipping poles make the kerfuffle surrounding Devin Nunes seem quite unimportant.

liparifam said...

It all makes me want to tell my daughter "don't have children"; the world's outlook sure seems bleak these days :( Though, of course, I know that's an overreaction... At least Bob and Sophie don't seem concerned about it, LOL.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Prune flavoured?! Something for the constipated geriatric?
?

Poppy Q said...

The meat looks tasty and well presented. Nothing like a bit of fresh spring lamb.

I would take a miss on the prune flavoured wine - who thought of such a thing? Still maybe it is good for cooking?

I do enjoy the birds being happy over spring time, and it is nice that people like yourselves are happy to feed them.

Virginia said...

No more jumping into the boot for our Goldie - she's just needed a second 'bionic' back knee :-(_ just as the family produced their second baby! Bad timing !! I asked if they'd like me to get one of those great "Helemup" harnesses you have, but they decided they could manage with wrapped towels... It's doubly annoying as they've kept her on the lean side of her weight guide and are religious about exercising her... sigh.

Prune wine - might work well with strong pork, or venison, as a marinade perhaps?