I know, that like me, you are feeling wretched about Daisy, sadly soothed by Big Dogs gentle slide into the after world and in a killing rage about the mink murdering so many chickens that night. I read all your loving comments during the following days. This Fellowship we have is such a wonderful place to be. You have my heart. Thank you.
In amongst all that sadness, I have news that might hearten you. You will be pleased to hear that a mink met its end when it came back in broad daylight the other day and tried to drag off another of our chickens. I was inside, in the kitchen, which is a hard place to be because the kitchen window overlooks Daisy’s field. But I was cooking when Boo and I both heard the awful sound of a chook fighting for its life inside the chook house.
Boo had the kitchen door open before I knew what I was hearing and we ran at full tilt straight through the garden, across the drive, into the corridor paddock and straight at the chook house door. I realised I was carrying my boots, how useless, I thought. Boo and I streaked through the door – I heard the fight going on behind the door and screamed Siccum BooBoo! Ksk-Ksk!. I threw my boots through the door trying to hit something. Boo’s whole body went fluid as he shot through the door and leapt into the air, ears up and eyes wild. Seeking the predator. In that instant of seeing it, he stretched up, turned his whole body in mid air, like a dancer, a Russian dancer, kicked up his back legs and slammed down onto the mink. The chicken shot out from under him straight at my feet and as I stumbled, I heard a dreadful scream from the mink and then smelt its nasty smell. Boo streaked straight back out into the field leaping, galloping, whipping his head to and fro and they were gone.
So from now on Boo sleeps in the hen house with the chickens. I hang his collar on a nail so he does not jingle and he watches over the remnants of the flock. he is only put to bed in there after all the chooks have gone up high to roost. Just to be sure.
He takes his new job very seriously.
I have another piece of news that you might like to hear.
A while back one of The Fellowship, an artist and writer who lives in Milan suggested a collaboration on a childrens book. “Can I bring the farmy to Milan?” she asked. She is an illustrator and her work is marvellous. So we have been working on a book about the animals catching a plane to Milan to look for miss c because Mama is about to have her cry baby lamb babies and miss c has gone off to buy red gumboots. (not really but Queenie is a little hard of hearing and got the wrong end of the stick) And – here is the good bit – in the book is Mama, The Duke of Kupa and Daisy, all with starring roles in this adventure – and they all speak. It is very cute and very funny and we are having a wonderful time creating it. We began even before Mama died.
There is still a LOT of writing to do and months of painting. But I am heartened by having Mama having lambs again and Kupa and Daisy along with Sheila and Marcel and Marmalade and Ton, who is pulling a red wagon, catching a plane to Milan. Daisy is wearing her best bra too.
Here is an excerpt:
“Have you seen Miss C?” Daisy asked a huge white horse with a man on top, blinking her long cow lashes in the Italian sun. “She is our farmer, and we have lost her.” The tall horse looked down his long Roman nose at the cow, opened his mouth then shut it again then said nothing very much at all. So, being a polite cow, Daisy politely thanked him and turned to go. “Rude horse.” she said to The Duke of Kupa. The Duke ruffled. “Ciao Cow,” said the horse with a horsey grin. Daisy turned her head, looked back at him and swished her tail. Her mother had taught her never to swish her tail at strange horses, but really he was rather handsome. Pity he was a horse of course. ….Nothing is finished yet but it feels like the right time to tell you. And creating a childrens book with our own farmy characters – well it feels even more right to me now!
Tui and Pania are still laying eggs and trying to hatch them. So I have put some (hopefully) fertile chickens eggs under them. That will keep them occupied until I get back. And Alisons chook still has her nine chicks in the Peacock Palace. They can stay up there safe and sound until I get back too. Jake will feed them for me.
Tima is trying out her new big girls field. This is where she will be when I am away, but with Stalkers Garden, the walled vegetable garden, open for her too, she will like that and hopefully will behave herself.
I leave for New Zealand in eleven days. And I have a dent in my head, my eyes were teary blurry the last few days and yesterday I was stacking hay and swung around and wacked my head on a rafter in the loft of the barn. It left a stupid abrasian on my forehead. That better be healed before I have to play the role of mother of the groom. Typical!
There now. That is me back on the horse. Better. Crappy but better.
Your friend – still on the farm
celi
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The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “Good Boo Hunting”
And the children’s book made me smile.
Celi, I am so sorry for your losses and, like all your friends, so admiring of your spirit. I really AM sad about the old dog (and I don’t even LIKE dogs!) because your drew such a vivid picture of him in both pictures and words: going to bed with his blanket, walking around in his cape! So he lives on in my memory—even though I never met him. A children’s’ book–what could be better!
I LOVE that leading shot of Boo. Gorgeous! I’m glad the mink is no longer eating the chooks.
Good dog, Boo! One less bastard mink in the world. I love the visual of him bounding off with it. And a children’s book! Something I’ve always thought I wanted to do. Love the idea and the snippet. And a great way to keep the memory and life of those lost alive and carrying on. Love it. Take care these eleven days…you’re still tender.
Good boy, Boo!
Good boy, Boo! I always knew you were a star. Rolo and Annabel (Chocolate Labs) send their love. They keep the foxes from our chickens her in London.
Boo, canine defender of the universe! What a super fur-face of a hero he is. I like the sound of your children’s book. My grandson would love it.
Go Boo Go!!! You know, working dog breeds need a job. Boo’s job is being a nurse and now a mink hunter. He will excel at this, too. You know, all the animals will miss you terribly when you are gone. Be sure to tell them all that you will be back soon. The new book sounds so wonderful…save one for me, too. I will miss Daisy, same as you. She will always be part of us all, along with Big Dog. The dogs will have their paws full keeping Tima the Terrible in line while you are away. Should be fun!
The children’s book sounds enchanting, you had me on first few lines of dialogue, and Boo is worth his weight in gold. I adore him. He’s such a momma/daddy wrapped into one beast with 4 legs, fur, and such a beating heart. Best to all the 4 leggers and two leggers!
Finally, a children’s book is on the horizon. Some of us have been after you for quite a while, Celi. You have oodles of stories. I swear each of the critters is a story in himself/herself. I’m thinking of how unique each is. Sheila, for example. Picking up her bowl and “handing” it to you when she’s finished eating, diving through the window, sneaking tomatoes. And Daisy her ear ringing the bell, her tail swatting you, her running at you full court press. Marcel the sweetest face ever and Boo the mother of all mothers. You have a whole series of stories, not just one. Tima into the dishwasher. My oh my!!!
I am so amazed at Boo. I didn’t know a dog would go after a mink. That’s how little I know. But what a wild story that is. Another one!!!
Your children’s book will surely have a lot of older-children readers, myself included! It is wonderful news, because the Farmy Cast are perfect book character’s, and film… my imagination views the excerpt you shared on a as a scene on screen 🙂 Boo is the hero, vengeance is mine sayeth the dog, I will not let Miss C. down. Big Dog will be looking down from his comfy spot on high and saying, I’m proud of that boy 🙂
Hooray for Boo, beginning his journeyman years! He must feel so important. What a good boy. After those terrible losses all at once, life is settling and continuing at the farmy, as it should. ❤ What a fun children's book! Thank you for sharing it with us at last! 🙂
Can I pre order a copy of the book now ?!
What a rough time you’ve been having. But Boo is proving his worth, and the children’s book sounds fantastic. Sounds like this is a good time for a break. I believe October is going to be a dryer month (September has been a wash-out), so that will be perfect timing for you to be in NZ. I’m looking forward to getting the book.
Two words repeated over and over again, across continents and generations, in hundreds of languages and heartfelt every time: “Good Dog.” And good luck with the book, it sounds grand! Cheers, Ben