Sunday, October 6, 2024

Flowers and Treats


We had a very domestic day around here yesterday, as you can see. It was sunny and warm enough for Olga and me to sit out in the garden, where I read (and finished) "Long Island Compromise." I really enjoyed it and now I'm passing it along to several of my co-workers.

As you can see, the dahlias are still going, both in the garden...


...and on the patio.


The canna lily also came out with its first flower of the season -- in October! I really thought it wouldn't bloom at all but it managed.


And our purple anemone is blooming up a storm too, even though a chunk of the plant died earlier this year (and it has that big ol' fern frond growing overtop of it).

I cleaned the house yesterday afternoon, including vacuuming out the fireplace in the bedroom, which I don't think I've ever done. It's not a usable fireplace so there were no ashes in it, but it was full of dust and ten-year-old Olga hair. I'm not sure why I've never cleaned it out before, except that one doesn't usually clean inside a fireplace. You know how you just stop seeing things over time? And then I looked at it critically and saw that the grate was downright shaggy. Now it's clean as a whistle.

Of course I took Olga on a couple of walks, but just to the corner to sniff the trash. She would go no farther.


Oh, here's a little mystery. The last two or three nights Olga has wanted to go out in the middle of the night several times. I've always thought she hears foxes out there, but her hearing isn't so great anymore, so maybe she smells them? Anyway, she's been a pain in the neck, waking me up to let her out the door.

Last night, I went out with her and she began rooting around in a flowerpot at the back of the garden near the bench. I found her gnawing in the dark on this mysterious dog treat (above) that was somehow buried in the flowerpot. We've found weird dog treats (not ours) in the garden before, usually buried, and I've always blamed the foxes -- I think it's too large for a squirrel to bury. Someone must be leaving them out for the foxes and the foxes, for some foolish reason, bring them to us.

Anyway, I took it away from her and left it on the garden wall, where the foxes climb into the garden from next door, so if they want it they can take it. I doubt that it would hurt Olga but I'd rather she stick to her own treats.


Here she is with one of hers. Dave and I both laugh at the sounds she makes when she's eating them. She doesn't do that when she eats normal food. I guess it's because she has to breathe during the chewing, rather than taking breaths between bites?

And now Olga is beseeching me for another walk. She is no doubt eager to sniff more trash. (Insert eye-roll emoji here: 🙄)

41 comments:

  1. Dogs do love sniffing trash. There might be something edible in there!

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    1. Exactly! She's always searching for food even though she's perfectly well fed.

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  2. You've reminded me of dogs burying bones for a later chew. They don't forget where they are.
    The dahlias look lovely. I never grew them.
    It sounds easy to vacuum out an unused fireplace. I too wonder why you have never done it before.

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    1. I just never thought of it. Who vacuums a fireplace?!

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  3. Those sounds. Unreal, like a cartoon dog! I never got into sniffing trash.

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    1. They are bizarre sounds, aren't they? As for the trash, hey, to each his own.

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  4. Could the "foolish reason" for the foxes hiding the treats in your garden be survival? They or he or she may be planning for the near future when it might be harder to source food. Yes, what could be more foolish than trying to survive in the urban jungle?

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    1. What's foolish is burying them in a garden where there's a dog. Surely the foxes can smell Olga's presence here.

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  5. Sounds like the sensible thing to do, not risking anything with treats you don't really know where they come from, what they actually are - and whose jaws and claws were around them before. Foxes often carry diseases, as of course you know, and so it is best for Olga to have her own treats.
    The dahlias are lovely! These flowers are one of my favourite things of late summer / early atumn, along with the mellow golden light we sometimes get during an afternoon or early evening.

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    1. Of course OIga already had the treat in her mouth when I confiscated it, so whatever diseases it may harbor have probably already been passed on -- but at least there's no rabies in the UK!

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  6. I didn't know people would leave out treats for foxes but as something new to smell in her garden I get why Olga wants it so badly.

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    1. Oh, absolutely. And of course she assumes it's hers!

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  7. The dahlias made a late start but they've triumphed. Likewise Olga getting you up at dark o'clock.

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    1. Yes, thank goodness, the dahlias came through. Olga always triumphs!

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  8. Olga looks the picture of contentment. I've never seen a fox except in photos.

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    1. We have them in Florida, too, but maybe not in your neighborhood. I used to see them occasionally in Land O' Lakes.

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  9. That dog is so lucky to have you - and vice versa.

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    1. Definitely vice versa. We lucked out with this dog.

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  10. Lucky to have a secured garden where Olga can go out into in the middle of the night.
    Her Nom Nom sounds are hilarious.
    We do not have a fenced yard - when Dexter was an old man I had to get up at least three times a night to take him for a short walk. Another reason to not have another dog.Especially winter nights!

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    1. "Nom nom sounds" -- that's a great way to describe them! Yes, I'm so glad our garden is securely enclosed. It does make things easier.

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  11. I have never heard a dog make sounds like that as far as I know. Olga- you crazy animal, you!
    I love your dahlias. Better late than never.

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    1. She's hilarious with her noises. And they're LOUD!

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  12. Those treat sounds are hilarious. Puts me in mind of this: https://youtu.be/cILZ_cB3_so

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    1. Ha! I never knew a porcupine could vocalize like that! (Or that they eat pumpkins, for that matter.)

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  13. I take Minnie with me to the tractor supply which is dog friendly. they always offer her a treat at the cash register. she will take it from them, carry it for a few minutes then drop it. will not eat it in the store so I retrieve it and give it to her in the car where she will eat it. same at the feed store (though now that they have moved and expanded they don't offer treats anymore) or the vet or from delivery people. she'll take it, won't eat it until I give it to her later.

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    1. That's funny. Maybe she's not sure she can have it since she's not in her familiar place? Olga will eat a treat anywhere.

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  14. It almost sounds like moans of pleasure over her treat! She's clearly enjoying it.

    The flowers are all beautiful! Hopefully your brother will be distracted by Olga if he sees this post.

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    1. Definitely moans of pleasure! I imagine my brother just skips over anything plant-related. :)

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  15. I'm still surprised that foxes live in your yards. There are jackals here that howl at night but I've never seen a fox in anyone's yard.

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    1. They're all over the place in London. I see them on the street every now and then, even in daylight. (But usually early morning.)

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  16. Your dahlias are spectacular. Your garden continues to have lots of great color.
    Olga should stick to the nice fresh treats from you and Dave. What can possibly be tasty in dirty old treats hidden in the soil?
    Your bedroom fireplace sounds lovely. During the Summer months, I put a few candles in my empty fireplace. They make a nice glow on a cloudy/rainy day. Nice ambience.

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    1. I have a feeling the dirtier it is, the more she likes it! The candles are a nice idea. Maybe we should try that.

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  17. Olga almost sounds like three or four dogs - what a weird sound!

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    1. Ha! She's one dog but she sounds like Cerberus, with three heads!

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    2. I almost asked if she was Cerberus, but I couldn't remember the name (all I could think of was Mr. Fluffy from the Harry Potter books).

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  18. Olga has a very good life. So do those foxes who get fed by the neighbors and leave treats in your yard for Olga!

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    1. Those foxes need to learn where it is and isn't safe to bury their treats. I imagine whoever's buying them would be annoyed to know many of them wind up buried in our garden!

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  19. Your flowers are still thriving whereas mine are withering and looking like it's time for the yard waste. Like my cat and her middle of the night antics, Olga runs the show. :)

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    1. Well, we're coming to the end of the growing/blooming season, for sure. I think because we had such a chilly spring and delayed growth the season is running much later than usual.

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  20. Oh my goodness, that is quite a noise Olga makes. All those flowers look so wonderful. It looks like spring.

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