Peril, adventure and adversity: three words to describe September's goings on. Okay, I fibbed about the last one, unless you count nearly running out of Dentastix, a predicament saved by Amazon Prime.
We began the month up at the cabin with the Man. This was the first time we'd been up with just him, rather than both humans. We had a great time.
Poppy had a swim, but the Man missed out on the photo op.
You want 'me' to go in for a swim?
Not here,
Or here,
Or anywhere.
I like the land.
Is there water over there?
I've been in for a dip.
I've not, and won't.
No mischief here, mate.
This looks like a runway (see later).
Chasing each other around the top of Faerie Tree Hill.
I found a bird.
It's not a parrot.
When we returned home, we needed to catch up on all our post, more specifically, the lamp posts. We'd been left so many messages, all needing to be read and replied to, with Poppy countersigning them all. She thinks she's a grown-up now.
Morar Park on a sunny day.
Is Poppy chasing those birds again?
"I nearly caught one this time." "Stop panting and pose for his photo so we can go home."
Poppy loves the park. It's home to lots of crows and seagulls. She likes to chase them. I don't bother. I know it will only lead to trouble.
She's copying my pose, isn't she?
We returned to the cabin, this time with the Woman in tow, only to discover we had another guest staying with us, and it wasn't a spider. Thankfully, the Man removed it safely using an empty Kleenex box.
It's alive!
"Poppy, what do you mean you wanted to do an 'Ozzy'?" "I'll eat anything with wings." "I know. I've seen you with a sanitary towel."
They've got a bronze neck, getting so close to us.
"I like eating acorns. It torments the Man. He thinks they're bad for dogs."
I should have said something, but Poppy made me bite my tongue.
We returned to Paisley. Poppy needed a bath after running through a muddy ditch while out walking with The Woman's friends and their dogs. She needed a second bath the next day after our trip to Irvine Beach, where she went for a swim in the sea and chased the seagulls.
Bird chasing.
My new friends don't have a lot to say for themselves. Not even a bum sniff.
The Woman wanted to explore somewhere new, so off we popped to Lochshore Park, eventually finding the car park and hub after a few satnav mishaps.
Poppy spotted some ducks on the water. Before anyone could stop her, she jumped in. She's a confident swimmer, but not as fast as the ducks. That didn't stop her from following them towards the middle of the loch. Doggedly, she swam, only giving up after they flew away.
Poppy follows the ducks.
On her way back after they'd flown away.
The Man and Woman were both frantic. After no response to the whistle, seeing her go further out, they could only keep their fingers crossed that she'd make it back. She returned to the shore feeling very tired.
Giddy up! Why isn't this horse moving?
I'm curious if he's caught any fish.
Afterwards, the humans had a drink in the cafe. We got dog biscuits. It was lovely inside.
Thank you for my new bed.
Grrr, why won't the cushion come off?
We were both treated to new beds, thanks to a special (read 'cheap') promo from Aldi. Poppy's new bed is in her crate. They still don't trust her not to do this.
It was a terminal wound. We didn't need the vet.
Poppy got a fright during our next stay in Aberfoyle. She thought the birds were sending their leader to get her.
She spotted him in the distance.
He began to descend.
Then touched down in the field.
Poppy wouldn't stay another second. She turned tail and demanded to leave, dragging The Man and me back to the entrance. He walked us along the adjacent road and reentered the field at the other end. As we approached the parasailer, she was terrified again and had to be carried, wriggling and squirming, until we'd passed him. He'd flown down all the way from Craigmore Hill, the crag that overlooks the town.
Our next walk was quite an adventure. Starting in Callander, we headed through the Coilhallan Woods, then turned right and followed the track. The sun was warm, the sky was blue, and the air was so clean. It spurred The Man to take us all the way to the Dunmore Hill Fort (which was rather disappointing - a couple of white blocks). The view from the top of the hill was fantastic.
Waiting on The Woman
Lunch afterwards at the dog-friendly Lade Inn, Then a two-mile walk back to Callander.
In other news, The Man is going to be on the telly at the Scottish Heat of the BBC's New Comedy Awards, not as a competitor, but as an audience member who was picked on by the comedian. He had to sign a release form, or else they threatened to dognap us.
Queen Elizabeth Forest Walk Trail: Witches and ghosts in daytime?
Now that Poppy knows she's a strong swimmer, she's after all kinds of birds, even the indoor variety.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
