Saturday 10 May 2008

Perfect Potatoes & Best Laid Plans

Yesterday morning (at the crack of dawn) R dug us some perfectly delicious new potatoes from our vegetable patch before going to work for a couple of hours. Some time later, I dragged myself out of my bed to let Grumpy outside to carry out whatever ablutions he felt necessary.

This is the sight that appeared behind me in the kitchen about ten minutes later. You can tell by his ears that he's fully aware that I will instantly know what he's been up to.

Never mind, thought I, this is something that I can sort out in no time at all. So, I traipsed out onto the overgrown lawn that was only cut two weeks ago and assumed that the heavy dew would wash Grumpy's short fluffy legs clean as he followed behind me.

Hell no! What actually happened was that I was distracted - unfortunately this happens only too easily to me - and he decided to go mole hunting, again!

This is the result of my bright idea to take a mole obsessed miniature schnauzer out for a walk in the garden.

Not one to be beaten, I then took him firmly by the lead and reached for my trusty watering can and tipped water over his legs and washed his face with handfulls of water.

He had a lovely time though and STILL hasn't succeeded in catching any moles, which secretly I'm pleased about as I couldn't bear the carnage. R on the other hand has taken to bellowing, "Your dog has dug another bloody hole again," several times a day. That mole has a lot to answer for and I wish it would find somewhere else to burrow.

19 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Another chapter in 'The Adventures of Grumpy'. Can't wait to hear more.

Kerry said...

Debs I heart your dog so bad - he is adora-bubble. Also those tatties look grand - can I recommend tatties, neeps and haggis? :)

CL Taylor said...

I love his little grumpy face!

Oh God, don't talk to me about moles. My mum and dad's cat brought a live one into the kitchen and we watched, horrified and intrigued, as it scuttled around the base of the units.

Then my dad walked in...took one look at the mole...took it outside, told us not to follow him and...um...I'll say no more but there was a shovel involved and it wasn't for digging a hole to put Mr Mole back into.

Eeek!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helenmh - he is so naughty but the children are always saying that he gets away with murder because he's so cute, which is true.

kerry - he is such a cupcake but also a pain in the bum sometimes. I shall have to ask R what neeps are as I've no idea but I'm sure it all tastes lovely, though not quite sure about the haggis bit.

Calistro - eugh, poor mole. Mind you I say this but they are a complete pain. My father's lawn is covered in little mole hills and he hates them with a passion.

Grumpy has caught one before (only the once though) and killed it so quickly I was amazed as he's usually so hopeless.

Yvonne said...

I love Grumpy so much! I hope he's been behaving himself today.

He wouldn't like Ireland much - no moles here, they didn't make it over before the last ice age. B&Q had mole-ban on the shelves in NI for ages before they realised their mistake. Whoops!

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

Oh look at that face. I love him.

My grandfather used to talk to moles to make them go away. You have to shout down the mole hill, 'Moley, sling your hook!' It worked, or so he said.

Jenny Beattie said...

I won't tell you how someone I know dealt with moles because it's horrible.

Instead I want to say I can almost taste those new potatoes, which is making me salivate...

JJx

Carol said...

This post made me laugh out loud!! I love the picture of Grumpy looking guilty as sin (hehehehe). It's funny isn't it - I know instantly when my splats (cats) have been doing something they shouldn't just by the look on their faces!!

C x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

yvonne - no moles in Ireland! How wonderful. My garden is disintergrating by the moment with this mole and the dog's attempts to catch him.

fiona - I shall certainly give it a try. I shall sing to them if that will make them shift to somewhere else.

jj - I dread to think. The potatoes were delicious, very creamy and tasty.

carol and chris - it's amazing how his expression changes just by him moving his ears!

Tamsyn Murray said...

Ha! Grumpy looks a picture of disgrace :-)

Poor moles - I'm horrendously soppy over living things (and non-living things; my friends are still laughing over the Christmas Tree Affair last year) and can't bear anything to be killed. Am I the only person alive who has an attack of conscience when putting bleach down the loo??

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

tam - no, you're not the only one. I'm the same about living things and strangely enough about bleach down the loo.

Karen said...

Grumpy's face really makes me laugh.

I like the idea of growing our own potatoes etc. but we never quite get round to doing it. Not naturally green-fingered you see. I even manage to kill tomatoes and anyone can grow tomatoes!

Anonymous said...

Grumpys face is so hysterical! talk about caught in the act! I darent susgest potato growing to D as he is so into gardening at the moment we would have them all over the place!!(and cats would wee all over them no doubt!)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

karen - he does have amusing expressions and keeps us all laughing especially when he is being naughty, which isn't such a good thing.

R is the clever one with the growing of our vegetables. I just potter and watch it all from the shed!

motherx - he is such a character. We have potatoes, carrots, beetroots, various herbs, fruits etc but it keeps R quiet otherwise he would want to decorate or do something that I may have to help with.

Lane Mathias said...

I love Grumpy's demonic little face. No-one could ever be cross with him.

Those potatoes look good enough to eat:-)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

lane - he is a cupcake but loves mole digging unfortunately.

The potatoes are delicious, which is a relief as R loves his potatoes.

Chris Stovell said...

Please can I borrow Grumpy? Our 'lawn' is about to collapse it has been so thoroughly undermined by moles!

Jill Steeples said...

Your very own Jersey royals? Oh, my goodness! Grumpy is soooo sweet!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

chrish - You would be most welcome to, but he only adds to the chaos rather than help. Our lawn is getting worse too, such a pain.

maddie moon - the potatoes are delicious. G is adorable but it makes it hard to be cross with him when he's naughty.