Wednesday 9 March 2016

A house is not a home......

Tess has gone to the vets this morning to have the tartar cleaned off her teeth.   It involves an anaesthetic so she had to be there at half past eight.  I have to collect her at tea time.

The house without her is just not home.   It is too quiet.   Not that she ever makes a noise, as she is usually asleep in her basket - but somehow there is a different atmosphere and an hour later I am missing her already.   Roll on tea time.

On the way home from the vets I saw the lapwings.   We always have these beautiful birds flying over - and what a perfect name for them as they really do 'lap' their wings. They are a very common bird round here - we usually call them 'peewits', and in some parts of Lincolnshire (where I come from) they are still called Tyrrwhitts (there is even a pub called The Tyrrwhitt Arms).   Their 'real' name of course is the Plover.

Any time now they will be pairing up and making a nest on the ground.   Reading Derwent May in today's Times, he says that the female will lay four speckled eggs and lay them in a circle with their pointed ends to the centre of the nest.  I just hope they find dry enough places this year - it is pouring with rain again today so that any drying up which has taken place over the last few days has all but vanished in yet another downpour.

27 comments:

Heather said...

We don't have a dog but 'borrow' our daughter's sometimes - when she goes home I still find myself looking for her so I know how you must feel. Hope Tess's day is not too traumatic for her.
I love lapwings - they are one of my favourite birds. We don't see many down here any more.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

"The Tyrwhitt Arms". What a great name for a pub. I see it is east of Lincoln near Bardney. I have been to the Sebastapol Inn in nearby Minting. Nice food but pricey.

Jayview said...

And on the other side of the world in Melbourne Australia we just had our hottest overnight low on record - 29C- after a day when reached 40C - and it's Autumn. We are appreciating some slightly cooler breezes today. Jean

the veg artist said...

I once read a piece in which a comic described his (very bad-tempered) cat as being 'another beating heart' in the house. This is just how I feel about my little cat, Polly. Even when they are asleep, they are there, responsive to us with their little grunts and groans. Has she been out? Does she need to go out? Has she been eating OK? Is she upset about something? When they lie on our laps, safe and knowing they are loved, all is well with their world. We have looked after them for another day. It all helps the world to go round.

Dawn said...

Hope all goes well with Tess and your emptiness soon is filled again, lovely birds great colours :-)

Derek Faulkner said...

Lapwings also used to be called Green Plovers. Down here in Kent we would normally have a few nest scrapes by now but it's been so cold that the birds haven't even been doing any courtship displays. Just as well because it bucketed down here early on and the grazing marsh has gone from drying up to an inch of water laying on the surface. I've sometimes counted as many as forty nests where the eggs have been ruined by sitting in cold rainwater that has part flooded the marsh.

Cro Magnon said...

Plovers were one of the very first birds that I remember stalking as a small boy. The game was to watch them land, then try to follow their route to their nests. I was invariably fooled!

Acornmoon said...

Lovely photo! I still miss my little dog.

donna baker said...

I have my dogs teeth cleaned too. I even brush them daily as I read that it can add years to a dog's life. Emmy, the sweetest weenie on earth, is the hardest to brush. She has learned to bite down on the brush. It is the only thing in the world that she is bad about. I can't stand to leave them at the vet all day. We have a plover around here called a Killdeer or Killdee that nest on the ground, even on a rock drive, and carry on and drag their wings as if hurt to keep things away from their nest. Their babies must be able to get up and walk immediately after birth. Very funny birds.

Doc said...

We could never do without a dog as they have always been an important part of our lives. We have to brush our Sophie's teeth because our vet said that at her age to put her under would be dangerous.

Frances said...

I am sorry that you all have got still more rain, and which we could share some of our currently beautiful early spring sunshine.

I didn't realize until now that all those names refer to the same birds. I do learn so much right here!

Best wishes to you and yours (that includes Tess.)
xo

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Mum misses the cat so much she wants me to get one and sneak it into the house without stefather knowing!

Anonymous said...

Am with you on how horrid the house feels without a dog in it. Can't bare it here when T and P are elsewhere. Hope you've got her home by now and normality is restored. I love your Lapwing. We get a few here but their numbers are falling and I don't see as many as I once did. However, they do like the pig farm down the lane!

angryparsnip said...

I understand what you mean. Even when Son walked The Square Ones the house was too quiet
something was missing. I think @the veg artist is right another beating heart.
Very sadly quiet till The Boys come back and all is well with the world.
What beautiful birds with their pretty topknot.

cheers, parsnip

Gwil W said...

I cannot imagine your house being quiet for very long. If it is really quiet stick the 1812 overture on!

Elizabeth said...

Hope Tess had an OK day?
I must say years ago the dogs never had their teeth cleaned!
I am meant to brush Buster's but don't - his 'poultry flavored' tooth paste lurks in the cupboard...

Yes indeed to another beating heart!

Bovey Belle said...

Tess will be home by now and all is well with your world again.

Peewits are one of my abiding childhood memories. We would see so many of them on the farmland behind Portsmouth Road, and when we walked along the winding country lane (Shop Lane) which led down to it. They are quite scarce in these parts, so it is always a special "find" to see one.

Bev said...

Your quiz has kept us occupied all day, all my girls are scratching their heads as they walk home from work now.
Oh the joys of the internet, only got a few more to work out now.
thanks.
My little dog needs his teeth sorting too, but at 15 years old, it is such a worry.

Penny said...

Lovely photo of a lapwing.

John Going Gently said...

Uour cottage feels dead without the dogs

Joanne Noragon said...

I'm so glad you fessed up and said they were plovers. I saw their beautiful picture and thought, "Oh, look, a plover." We've had them nest in the gravel of the drive.

Terry and Linda said...

NOt having a cat or dog in the house IS lonely! I hope she made it through okay and is home now ready for tea!

Linda

Terry and Linda said...

OH! By the way...thank you for the photo of the bird...As far as I know we don't have Plover here so it was fun to see them!

Linda

Librarian said...

When my old cat died 3 years ago, it took me a while to get used to coming home from work to an empty place, nobody at the door to greet me... But living on my own and being out all day, and often over night, it would be very unfair to the animal if I were to take another pet into my home.
I am sure that I'll have a dog and a cat when I retire (which will be in about another 20 years).

Derek Faulkner said...

I was surprised that your dog had such bad tartar. To my vet's surprise my 13 yr old terrier still has perfectly clean teeth, as does the 4yr old one. They do get plenty of rawhide chew bones though and only Iams dry dog food, as the tinned stuff, amongst other bad things, sticks to their teeth and can cause tartar.

thelma said...

Well Tess is home safe now with sparkling clean teeth, our four legged creature, who is getting to the point where she rules the house we would not be without. Loving and funny she is adored by Paul, his first experience of owning a dog!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for your comments everyone. See Thursday's blog for an update on Tess.