It was cold today. I mean not too cold. My words are too short. I feel I should be writing something poetic about the approaching winter and I know that Smidge would say this with a whole lot more elegance and poetry but there was a wintry feel to the air that blew around our heads today. So we put Big Dog’s new coat on.
He had begun to actually shiver. He is old, and though he eats very well, he does not carry a lot of warming blubber. His blue coat may attract some giggles from his co-workers on the farm though I am sure that the mirth will be firmly hidden behind paws and wings because he seems to be quite happy with his coat. He has not tried to roll it off, or drag it along tree trunks. He trotted off to his bed in the barn, curled up in his blankets and went straight to sleep. 
After he told TonTon the Wellington Dog that if he so much as imagined a snigger, his head would be chook food. 
Daisy, as usual, watched the proceedings with sublime detachment. 
And Li’l Puss the Scrapper chose the wisest course of turning a blind eye. 
I forgot the Daily View. How did I do that? I remembered to take the shot of the thermometers and walked straight past the Daily View. Ah well. No animal was harmed in the making of this forgetfulness.
Many years ago I began to write a play about an old man who spent the summer living in a cherry picker raised up into the trees above his big old house by the sea, he would lower a flax basket down to his daughter-in-law, she would load it with food and books and he would haul it back up with a reluctant grunt of thanks. He very seldom spoke, and was full of crushing wit when he did, as he slowly worked his way through the grief of becoming old and the other various and sundry disappointments that follow us through a life.
This old man popped straight back into my head at 4 .30 this morning and asked ever so politely if I could write him into my NaNoWriMo Novel. Because he lives up on another level, and there are not very many characters in my story, he and his cherry picker are most welcome. He does not have a name yet though. He needs a name.
Have a lovely, lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “Big Dog’s Coat of Not Many Colours”
That’s a wise old dog…he knows that comfort tops fashion!
Funny that you forgot The Daily – I have no 4 o’clock from yesterday, because I was on the road coming home…
I love the photo of L’il Puss looking ready to spring away at a moment’s notice. That character of yours will need a lofty sort of name. He reminds me of that Italo Calvino story about the boy who climbs up a tree and ends up living there.
I love the photo of L’il Puss looking ready to spring away at a moment’s notice. That character of yours will need a lofty sort of name. He reminds me of that Italo Calvino story about the boy who climbs up a tree and ends up living there.
Brass monkeys had better watch out here, too – the wind is straight from Siberia, carrying hurting hail.
Your old man sounds like he needs a biblical name, eg Joachim or Abraham. If you need help with names, somewhere on my computer is a wonderful website which gives you choices of first and family names:- eg http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm there are lots more.
cool, thank you viv.. c
We’ll all need a coat like that before we know it. He looks cozy!
Ya for Big Dog! Of course he’s not rolling it off – he knows a good thing! I live in NC and both my cockers have winter coats – they are lean, mean running machines so not much warming blubber either. In fact, my 14 yo has a doggy parka with hood and sleeves, though I get ugly looks if I try to put the hood on him 🙂
I’m not looking forward to this grief of growing old. When does it happen?
AHA! Roger.. that is what I will name that cantankerous old man.. Roger. c
I think that Big Dog looks pariticularly dashing in his new attire! He’s very sensible at his age – I wish that my dad was equally sensible with his choice of coat when the temperature is just above freezing. It’s probably easier just to hide his summer fleece!
Christine
Please please take a photo of a horse in NZ all kitted out in its jacket from hoof to ears. Paddy has now put in an order for next winter – he might be needing it this summer if it carries on the way it has been last week 🙂 Laura
PS: Kupa would approve of the colours
For that i will need to go to the horse races, can be arranged! c
Big Dog looks very happy in his coat 😉
That front porch of yours is something from the storybooks…a porch like that could make me happy for the rest of my life I think. Come what may, there’d always be that porch with its deep overhang and a view on the world. I love it. The dog is dignified despite his coat. Tell him we respect him all the same. And the man in the cherry picker? Hmmmm. Perhaps he’s left his name behind, on the ground, with everything else that didn’t quite suit him. A name can be so confining.
The best of luck in November! Just another of your experiences that I am going to enjoy vicariously.
What an excellent thought..
Big Dog may be an old dog but he’s still a handsome dog. And you’re right. The fact that he didn’t try to get the coat off says he’s pleased with it. Good. With Winter coming fast, he’ll need some help keeping warm.
No farmers market today. I’ve already got plenty of food around here to prepare and put away. Hope you have a great day, Celi. It may be cold but at least the sun is out.
Love it when my old doggy mate gets a mention
Bright and cold here too, 1st trip out in a beanie this year, me and the hat enjoyed our morning on the plot.
will have to think of a name …
Hey, warm is warm. Who cares what it looks like. Big Dog is a smart cookie. 🙂 Love the picture of Daisy today. Hope you have a lovely Saturday. Stay warm! ~ April
he looks so adorable in his new coat, and i am glad he has not tried to take it off!