A friend coming around for supper, somebody who notices dust.
So I have dusted and swept the floors and washed down surfaces and wiped mirrors and shooed the puppies outside. Brought in fresh flowers, canna lilies and strelitzias, polished silver and glass. It ooks perfect to my uncritical eyes. Except that one puppy has carried in a large dripping papaya and there is a trail of shiny pulpy black seeds across the living room carpet. The other puppy has climbed into a large white ceramic bowl on the table and is sitting looking puzzled, with her silky ears pinned back.
My friend is the fastidious type who does not allow her cat on the furniture. Personally I think a small fat puppy in an ornamental bowl on a clean table looks damn cute, but that is me. And last night she chewed up the television remote viewer, so we are stuck for canned entertainment. Not a bad thing.
Of course by the time the guest arrives at the front door with smiles and a growling tummy, the pups will have reduced the house to its usual state of chaos. The truly houseproud of this world tend not to have pets or children.
But for now the surfaces are gleaming and the upholstery nicely brushed and the carpet less of a swamp, so I feel very happy and virtuous. Una is much better today, on antibiotics again but more cheerful. She has bought a brown seed loaf for the smoked salmon.
‘Why is that dog sitting in the white bowl you bought in London because you thought it was Spode and it turned out to be Marks & Spencers circa 1996?’ she asks. ‘You kept insisting it was apple-white china but that was just the green gloom of the shop. Are you teaching the dog to be an object of beauty and a joy for ever?’
The dog sits in the bowl with the look of a dowager who is not sure she put on panties this morning. Such a sweet dog. Now I must go and plunge slivers of garlic and rosemary into the lamb.
Stay sober sweet readers.
I once read a real estate listing for a home that made the claim that children had never lived in the home. It was described as immaculate. I view petless and childless homes as lacking…not something to brag about. I say keep the puppy in the bowl and call it performing art. All the rage in South Africa
Ah yes, my kitten likes to hang out in the bathroom sink. I admit I’m trying to train him to stay out of the kitchen while I’m cooking, but he is a very persistent little bugger. I love reading about what you’re cooking up!
I’m visualizing a museum devoted to Kristin’s “performing art”, All the rage in South Africa–gaining acceptance worldwide!
Mary, your blog today sounds written by one who has peace in her soul. And that might be YOU!
–A ‘sweet reader’ who is ataying sober today -grin!
Finally Mary, finally a plant name I recognize; canna lilies. I have orange ones.
My sister in law is coming to visit next month. She actually takes the light switch plates off the wall of every room in the house once a month and soaks them in Pine Sol. I love to look for any kind of dirt in her home. I’ve never found any…ever.
I love the description of the puppy as dowager.
At first I thought your dinner guest might be my mother, but then I realized my mother would never have a cat.
Bring on the cats and kids, I say!
(Dogs are welcome too, but they must be of the smallish breeds).
Ah, dear girl….
I am chuckling as I try to type with one hand because I have 2 kittens sleeping over my heart and I can’t bear to disturb them. The little buggers are 4 weeks old now and EVERYWHERE. Presently, it’s Goldie and Merlin that have climbed up my poor leg with their little razor sharp claws….
When I am [finally] Queen of the World, I promise a dog in every pot!
People who are afraid of a little fur or feathers can stay away from my castle !
xoxoxo
You do your lamb like I do. I’m sure that your guest will be overcome by the smell of garlic and rosemary and won’t notice the puppy. And so what if she does? Life won’t end. Have and enjoyable evening.
Houskeeping? Oh the literal kind! You can tell I am on Step Ten as I immediately assumed it was the “personal” kind. By the way, it sounds as though those puppies make your house a real home.
Love and Kindness,
Atiyanna
She doesn’t let her cat on the furniture? how does she accomplish that I might ask? When she is not home, I can assure you the cat is wherever it pleases.