… 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
The Kitchen's Garden 
63 responses to “Me and My …”
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!