Me and My …
… Have you ever heard of that song “Me and My Shadow.” (sorry, an ear-worm if ever there was one) I need to go back and read the lyrics because I am sure this song is about a man (or woman) and his dog. It is an old song – from the 20’s I think.
I am willing to bet that your dogs do this too:
The moment I reach for even the slightest of my outside gear (like my little first scarf) TonTon (Border Collie) races to the kitchen and sits there to guard the door in case I get away without him, and Boo (Blue Heeler cross) leaps up and glues himself to my side. While Ton guards the door Boo will not let me take a step without him. He tracks me through the house pace for pace. If I move right he moves right, left he goes left. He adjusts his position by throwing his bottom across first, to land it on my shin, then shuffles his front paws across. Watching me from the fartherest corner of his eye. If I am still he is against my leg facing forward.
He will follow me through the house up and down the basement steps, DOGGING my every step. When I stand still to pull on extra socks or pull up the second layer of yoga pants he is right there. Against my leg, facing forward. Once I am ready to step into my boots we are joined by the door minder. I stand at the door gathering my buckets. They sit. I open the door. They wait. Watching me. Tails a quiver. Eyes locked on my body. I say (very softly) “Ton, see Sheila” and Ton is up and out the door within a milli -second. I shut the door. Boo and I watch Ton as he races down the steps and bolts for the barn. Then I pause – to give him a head start. Then I open the door and look at Boo. Boo waits and I wait. Both facing forward. Eye corner to eye corner, shin to shin. “BooBoo, ” I whisper and he shoots through the doorway like a horse out of a gate racing as fast as he can to catch up with Ton who has already disappeared from view. Then I follow. I shut the door.
By the time I get to the steps with my buckets both dogs are back. They whirl about so there is one dog on either side of their woman. Ton is genteel as he gently aligns himself with me. Boo’s body shrieks around like a cross country motorbike in full skid, whirling his front wheel in one spot while flinging his rear into position but all in mid air then screeching to a halt and dropping to the ground perfectly placed against my leg. They sit. Very pleased with themselves.
Then with great dignity and a word of command we process towards our afternoons work followed by two turkeys, a peacock and a Tima in full – blown song.
My shadows.
Of course like so many of my blog pages the words have nothing to do with the images. The pictures are all about the twins Molly and Tahiti waiting for their dinner and the big birds.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
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thekitchensgarden 
It sounds awfully cold where you are. Here, in Dordogne, France it is a pleasant day, sunny and 7 Celsius.
Busy testing recipes for my cookery school students. At the moment I have a cheesecake on speculoos crust in the oven.
Oh a cheesecake Nadia ! – YUM maybe you can help me, I am designing a cooked cheesecake recipe using steamed and smashed oranges. I am going to put dark bitter shavings of chocolate on top.
Sounds absolutely scrumptious. Dark chocolate and oranges, my favourite
Sign me up for a slice! 😉
Yes – my shadow is the new beagle Chloe. She is forever between me and my destination. I work on training her daily to go sit on the rug or a spot on the carpet in each room. Sit is a command she knows well, stay, well that is her hard one. If she can see me, it works. If I move a fraction of an inch out of her sight – there she is right in front of me.
George and Peg will follow me if I move to the other rooms – vs the main living, kitchen & dining area – but if I’m in that large space – they find a place on the couch or chair and wait for me.
You have two very well-trained, obedient and contented dogs. They know their job, they know the boss, and they love both. Love your happy twins, watched by Boo, and Sheila supervising everything from the distance.
LOL that is so close to what happens in my house it is unreal. Sam (Border Collie) has to sniff each piece of clothing as i put it on, this way he knows if we are a) going in the garden, or b) I am going out without him (shopping etc.) If b) he will go lie on his bed and refuse to look at me. If a) we join Shelly (Border Collie/Sheltie mix) at the back door while I gather feed for chickens and then we are off.
We are all bracing for our first snow storm this Friday/Saturday. Predictions so far are between 6 to 18 inches!!
That’s so funny Lynda, my Mirrhi ( border collie/cattle dog cross) does that sniffing thing too, checks what I’m holding….aaah, her ball and she’s off to find her collar because a ball means a walk and a walk means she has to have her collar on. Car keys might mean she’s coming too if again there’s a ball. No ball and she just goes on her bed and doesn’t bother heading to the gate.
I’m guessing that your dog is super smart! A border collie/cattle dog cross must be quite intelligent, as both breeds are known for their intelligence! 🙂
Yep, she is, super smart, and a very sweet gentle nature as well. She looks like Ton with Boo’s head, just not as thick set as him.
Your dogs have a lot of energy that’s for sure! Radio is saying we received 3.5 inches of snow I haven’t looked out yet. Hope the roads are ok and I get up there without any problems. I am so ready for spring!
The snow is glorious – fluffy and light. I think we go over two anyway. Looks lovely.. c
Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr 1927. My procession is Cisca (Lab/Sharpei cross) and Oliver and Luca (ginger toms) wherever I go. When I pick up the car keys the cats head upstairs and the dog goes outside. Just got to love them even when you nearly fall over them when they are sat too close behind you 🙂 Laura
You’ve made me miss my childhood border collie. Thanks for the trip down memory lane this morning. Dogs are special creatures indeed.
Don’t what I’d do without a dog. Molly and Tahiti are the best sight gags for any occasion at all! Always appropriate, if you ask me. They’d be good visuals during some Presidential debates, for example.
Wouldn’t that be great!!!! We need some humor in the debates this year!!!!!
Just LOVE those twin piggies!!! They are too much!!! 🙂
It’s the first time I’m here (since April) that I see a guinea fowl pictured. Is this an old pic?
Love your nicely told doggy story and the cute Molly&Tahiti pics… I can’t believe that they still and always stay so close together. Twins. I’ve never seen that before. But I now think and believe that if their other three siblings were still there, they would stick together in the same way as they did before… – all five. Like a choir onstage.
Hi Irmi – One of my blog promises to my readers is that every picture you ever see is from yesterday unless otherwise noted. Everything is always current you can be well assured. I have two old, old guinea fowl. I am surprised you have not seen them before – maybe they were hiding from the camera. c
Or was I kind of blind then?
My shadow is a 50 pound 3-legged pitbull named Bernie. He is so well-trained (by his previous owner who flaked out and dumped him), and so tuned in to me and my movements. I am humbled by this gentle, loving soul.
Gone are those days, c. My little Molly is completely blind now. She’ll occasionally sniff at the door, confirming that the seal isn’t as tight and insulting as I suspect, but she has no desire to step outside unless it’s to empty herself. It’s all too much for her; sensory over-load, I think. She does still love her food though — nothing wrong with the girl’s appetite. Or her desire for a belly rub.
A very good morning to you, c, and to our farmy friends. >
Dogs can look into your eyes, right into your soul. I think my dog is communicating with me and I am not receiving. Then we come to a happy compromise. Those twins look well fed! Probably dreaming about your cheesecake concoction. Enjoy your day and thank you for my morning smile.
What well trained dogs. Have a fab day ☺️
Boomer is like your Boo…so much love and protection. Fuzzy was like Ton-ton.
Linda
My grandad was always signing or whistling that song so know I am remembering him with a smile on my face 🙂 Our pups too know the signs for when we are going out with them or without them – how they work it out I’m not sure, but they’re rarely wrong!
So enjoyable! This needs to be saved. I’m saving it for myself in a slightly edited form (no pictures, a few words cut, only one or two added, line arrangement changed) which makes it look and feel like the fresh spontaneous poetry it is:
MY SHADOWS
Have you ever heard of that song “Me and My Shadow”
about a man and his dog.
I am willing to bet that your dogs do this too:
The moment I reach for even the slightest of my outside gear
TonTon (Border Collie) races to the kitchen
and sits there to guard the door in case I get away without him,
and Boo (Blue Heeler cross) leaps up and glues himself to my side.
While Ton guards the door, Boo will not let me take a step
without him. He tracks me through the house pace for pace.
If I move right he moves right, left he goes left.
He adjusts his position by throwing his bottom across first,
lands it on my shin, then shuffles his front paws across.
Watching me from the farthest corner of his eye.
If I am still, he is against my leg, facing forward.
He will follow me through the house
up and down the basement steps,
DOGGING my every step.
When I stand still to pull on extra socks
or pull up the second layer of yoga pant,
he is right there. Against my leg, facing forward.
Once I am ready to step into my boots
we are joined by the door minder.
I stand at the door gathering my buckets.
They sit. I open the door. They wait. Watching me.
Tails a quiver. Eyes locked on my body.
I say (very softly) “Ton, see Sheila” (big pig) and Ton is up
and out the door within a milli-second.
I shut the door. Boo and I watch Ton
as he races down the steps and bolts for the barn.
I pause – to give him a head start. Then I open the door
and look at Boo. Boo waits and I wait.
Both facing forward. Eye corner to eye corner, shin to shin.
“BooBoo, ” I whisper
and he shoots through the doorway like a horse out of a gate racing as fast as he can to catch up with Ton
who has already disappeared from view.
I follow.
By the time I get to the steps with my buckets
both dogs are back. They whirl about
so there is one dog on either side of their woman.
Ton is genteel as he gently aligns himself with me.
Boo’s body shrieks around like a cross country motorbike in full skid,
whirling his front wheel in one spot while flinging his rear into position but all in mid-air
then screeching to a halt and dropping to the ground
perfectly placed against my leg.
They sit. Very pleased with themselves.
Then with great dignity and a word of command
we process towards our afternoon’s work
followed by two turkeys, a peacock and Tima (little pig)
in full–blown song.
My shadows.
* * *
So you mind if I send it to friends this way, your name and blog address attached?
I meant, “Do you mind . . .”
That is so great. While reading the text that way again I get the rhythm that’s in it. Well done, Celi! Well done, Albert! – It’s touching!
How cool! You are most welcome to send anything to your friends.. much love!
Well donw!!
I think those adorable pigs want to come too 😉
I just adore your dogs and pigs and birds!
I love your shadows. My one kitty, Buddy, has a similar behavior. When I head for the stairs to go to my office he streaks out of wherever he is hiding or sleeping or whatever and races to the top to beat me. And then waits patiently by my desk to get a treat from the bottom drawer of my desk. I guess I got him trained because when I work on cards and writing I have to get him off of my desk/arms/lap and give him some treats on his cat tower so that he will leave me alone so I can work. Now it is a thing. He can be sound asleep in the bedroom but when he hears me head towards the stairs (which don’t even squeak, mind you) he comes racing, knocking against me to get beat me to the top. It cracks me up. Who says animals are dumb? Not when there are treats involved!
What a clever cat! c
I loved reading how your dogs work. Detailed and vivid. Both are good breeds. My mother almost ruined her dog before I got it a year later. She was a good dog but no discipline. She wouldn’t stay with anyone. Then I trained her with treats in my pockets. After that we called her Velcro. She never knew when the treat would come out or if I indeed had one. I just patted my pocket and got immediate attention. It was very useful since we were in bear and coyote country. She stayed right by my side and didn’t notice anything else. Good training, any training is essential for animals. I didn’t know much about training but learned the best I could. Love all your photos, especially the twins on the fence. 🙂
Dogs respond well to training – especially the ones who like to please you – like your Velcro.. c
She was a really great dog. I miss her still. Most people let their dogs behave badly but would admonish others for poorly behaved children. I treated my dog the way I treated my children. With kindness and respect but firmness. Lots of discipline,, lots of love. Works well every time. 🙂 Your bunch knows that too.
Interesting…I have been singing that song for years but never occurred to me it could be his dog. I have believed for a long time that we sing what we are feeling. I sing his usually when I feel sad and lonely and become conscious that I am nearing a slight depressive state. The “shadow” for me was the aloneness I was often perceiving . Also, the shadow in Jungian terms can mean our dark side may be surfacing…the side of the coin we are not too fond of in ourselves.
I love your interpretation and wish I had called my dog Shadow….for truly he is.
Love your work.
Diane
Here’s the words to ‘Me and My Shadow’ – and a link… to this song being song by Judy Garland. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/judygarland/meandmyshadow.html
“Me And My Shadow”
Shades of night are falling and I’m lonely
Standing on the corner feeling blue
Sweethearts out for fun
Pass me one by one
Guess I’ll wind up like I always do
With only
Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
But when it’s twelve a clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
‘Cause nobody’s there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue
And when it’s twelve a clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
‘Cause nobody’s there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue
Love the shot of the two pigs, peeking through the fence!!
You reminded me of another delightful song, ‘Me and My Arrow’ from the sweet film The Point (Harry Nilsson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1n9QTkrkP0 . Arrow is, like Ton & Boo, a dog, and also a winsome and wise one. Another excellent earworm! But gosh, what a joy to have so many animal companions altogether as you have, and such charmers. Then again, they are all incredibly lucky to have *you* for *their* companion! What a happy post. 😀
❤
K
Hi Kathryn – I will check out this song – thank you… c
Somehow I missed that you had guineas too! And I spied Sheila lagging behind Molly and Tahiti… my GOODNESS she’s large!! She’s much bigger than the wild hogs I’ve seen in these parts!
All your training and building of trust has paid off one hundred fold. Molly and Tahiti look so healthy and ready for fun. Mind you with the meals you serve, they cannot be anything but happy.
I’m pleased to see the shot of the guinea fowl, I had been wondering if they were still with you. I was so engrossed with your words I had to go back and looks at the pics. At the moment I have the G.O. dogging my steps… hilarious, if I go to the clothesline to hang out or bring in clothes I can be almost sure of him lighting a cigarette and being in the vicinity… but many years ago I had a dog and 2 cats as my three points.
well at least he is not running to the treats jar!! – laugh – c
Too funny, those dogs. All I have to do is pick up my goat milk lip balm and the both leap up ready to go along outside. If I pick up my purse they know they’re probably staying home and race to the cupboard where the treats are kept.
Ah, dogs. They do love you and love to please. Your Molly and Tahiti are so cute! And your Guinea fowl is gorgeous.
and old – the oldest birds on the property those guinea fowl.. c
It’s all the bugs they eat, combined with therapeutic shrieking…
Yes I love the Frankie’Sammie version of ‘Me and my shadow’ also but it surely was not taped in 1927 😀 !!!!! !960s/70s methinks ? The song became ours in the 1930s courtesy of Billy Rose and ‘the shadow’ I believe is a man, Rose’s wife’s previous lover/husband, whatever 🙂 ! But just love your connection of Boo and the lyrics and music . . . now you have me singing it in the middle of a very busy day . . .
Thank you for clarifying that Eha – a quick search of mine the other night noted it as written in 1927. c
Love that the dogs are so well trained!
I had a shadow for 17 years… Santa (Border Collie) that left this plane about 10 years ago now, but I still miss him every day. He knew the moment I began to think about going out. I didn’t have to make a move but if I was thinking of my next move, he knew almost before I did. The synergy was quite remarkable. We have a large poodle these days, Kanoo, and he is his own man; a very independent critter that will come if he feels like it, or not. He’s lovely too, but he’s no one’s shadow.
Those piggies are perfectly adorable. You can almost feel their great desire to be your shadow too, in between playing pranks. Hope your day was a good one. ~ Mame 🙂
Ton is like that too Those collies are almost intuitive.. c
Oh how I wish I could be a witness to that performance. I would cheer and applaud, and be very happy.
Now I know where the expression “dog my footsteps” comes from!
love,
ViV x
Thank you but I do not need to have you and your shadow in my head. I’ve already got the 70’s hit “Me and My Arrow” stuck on a loop there, ever since I started using my latest kitchen gadget. Make it stop! 😀
Oops – sorry!! ha ha ha cc
Ha! I don’t think I’m responsible for having given you the Nilsson song loop, despite my having mentioned it too. But I found that going back to it on YouTube not only cheered me up and (gasp!) led me to listen to the entire soundtrack (also on YouTube), hearing it several times like that during the day seemed to cure my earworm, at least for a while. Who knew?
Hope you’re staying warm, too, John! It’s just plain old raining here, today. Maybe a nice hot toddy will cheer us *all* up this evening…. 😉
Kath
How nice to have a shadow. Dan shadows my hubby. True love! Speaking of that, I love the pics of your pigs .. Sigh 😀
Guess what – a cousin of mine just posted a selfie of ‘her and her shadow’… which was her shadow on the snow. She was cross-country skiing in New Hampshire – and I remembered this post!! ; o )
Molly and Tahiti are a fun duo. I enjoyed your description of getting ready with your shadows close.
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