May 2025 - Gloriously Sunny (until it wasn't)

May has been a glorious month for sunny weather. Each morning, with bright daylight bursting into the kitchen, I'd rush to the back door before I'd even had my breakfast so I could get out and feast on the day's sunshine. It was even better when the Man let me into the summerhouse. There's a peace and serenity to being out in the garden surrounded by nature, watching the blue tits play in the birdbath and the bees hovering between the flowers. It also prepares you for interlopers, like the cat over the back, who likes to prey on our birds. 

Grudgingly, I sometimes shared the space with Poppy.

Pretending her shadow has a long tongue.

I got to witness the dandelion blizzard that hit the garden for a couple of days. It was strange seeing so many dandelion seeds floating about in the wind, as if it were snowing. Next year's lawn is going to be full of them. Poppy wishes it had been for the daisies because she loves to pluck and eat their heads. She considers them a dessert.

We returned to Irvine Beach before it became the scene of a murder (a teenager was stabbed and died). We've not been back since. Poppy had a great time in the water.

    

I told you you'd get soaked, but did you listen?

Fortunately, it was so warm she dried really quickly, despite having a double coat. 

Poppy had an operation this month, the one that stops her from making babies. She received a proper body suit to wear afterwards to stop her licking her wound, unlike me, who only got a Morrisons' baby grow held in place with safety pins.

Are you going to unbutton me, or do I need to wet myself again?

She sometimes forgot her back end was covered, which was great for the carpet, as the suit was highly absorbent; however, it was not so good for her when the suit needed washing, and she had to wear an inflatable ring around her neck. 

She was supposed to take it easy in case her stitches ripped, but she's a cocker, so she still wanted to run about and jump on the couch. I had to avoid playing with her, which was heaven for a while, until I realised I missed our wrestling bouts. It was amusing to watch the humans jump in fright each time Poppy overextended herself. They'd unbutton the suit and pull it back to check on the wound. It was always fine.  

One aspect the Man had been confused over was whether Poppy would cast her dog hair. He discovered this month that she did. There were grey hairs all over her suit, her bed, his clothes and the floor. She's now getting a regular comb (hee hee!).

Because Poppy was to remain calm and controlled for ten days, we didn't get out as much as in other months. We returned to Jennyswell for a gentle walk.

Do I need to be in the photos?
Yes.

I got a few longer walks on my own, which was nice, such as up the Braes.

Gleniffer Braes

Once Poppy had recovered, we spent some lovely sunny days up at the cabin.

The humans bought us a new cool mat. Poppy got the hang of it quickly, once I'd shown her what to do.

We enjoyed some lovely walks around Aberfoyle and along the River Forth.

Taking a rest in the shade.

Poppy likes to make a splash

She's nuts!

We stopped off at the Cobleland campsite for some Coull Beans. The humans had bacon rolls and a drink.  We had Puppaccinos for the first time ever. I liked mine a lot.

Poppy can't handle her vegan cream.

We briefly had a return visitor in the shape of Molly, while her human was ill. 

Is it dinner time?

She's not getting her foot back until I'm fed.

She was aiming for cheeky, but hit cute.

Then the rain returned, which was nice for the grass (yum!), but not so good for walking.

Tired out, eventually.

I should note that the Man has been getting stressed over Poppy's bad behaviour. She is still determined to get behind the telly to finish off the cables she started chewing, and she often forgets that the outside is for urinating, walking for miles, holding it in so she can go home to pee on the carpet. She also upset the Woman by guzzling lots of water from the bowl in the kitchen, then smiling, letting the water spill out of both sides of her mouth onto the woman's dry floor. The Woman bought a mat to keep the floor dry, but Poppy gave it a yank, causing the water to spill over the sides of the bowl. The Woman was not amused. 

Now that's cheeky!

How long will they repeat the excuse, "But she's still a puppy." She's nine months old now. I wouldn't get away with such bad behaviour (chewing tissues doesn't count).