Photos from the most ordinary of days. Autumn is in full swing, with mushrooms in the garden and leaves blowing everywhere. Evening football training is in the dark and so are our evening dog walks. I am thinking of getting Bertie a light-up collar. I can't decide. On the one hand, I will be able to keep an eye on him when he is off lead and it might be safer for him on the pavement (when he is always on lead) if cars can see him. On the other hand, plastic, world's resources, dog looking like Blackpool illuminations, dog friends laughing at him. Also, he is never very keen on seeing other dogs with lights on them, they're a bit scary, so he might be scary to other dogs. If you have been around here a while you will know how I love to agonise over the simplest decisions. I have honestly been known to stand in front of the toothpaste shelves in the supermarket for five full minutes, unable to make a choice.
The postman brought me a lovely treat yesterday. The littlest boy bought me a book by Sir Philip Pullman for my birthday earlier in the month. It's a story that was originally published a number of years ago, but that has been reissued in a fancy format with lovely illustrations by Chris Wormell.
And inside...
PHILIP PULLMAN'S ACTUAL SIGNATURE. I am literally his biggest fan, so this is HUGE. I have been wandering around the house showing anyone who will listen. But they are not allowed to touch, oh no, because it is all PRECIOUS. PHILIP PULLMAN! And Chris Wormell, whose art is amazing. It's important that illustrators are always properly credited, they are missed out a bit sometimes I think. He illustrated La Belle Sauvage and The Secret Commonwealth as well, all beautifully done. So I am just happy as a clam.
What a fantastic birthday present - kudos to your youngest son. I should go with the Blackpool illuminations collar. Bertie can go back to his non-embarrassing one when spring comes round again; better safe than sorry. Love the bookshelf photo (shelfie?!) and the sun shining through the leaves - autumn at its best. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful child you have.
ReplyDeleteOh what a fabulous gift! Your son knows you well! We used to have a flashing attachment for our dog's collar - it looked a bit like one of those tiny metal tubes that you write your address on a piece of paper and hide inside - and you could twist it on and off. An alternative to the plastic, perhaps, if you can still get them, and you can take it off the collar when you don't need it. It really is very funny watching your dog off lead in the dark with a flashing collar. We don't do that any more, though, as our dog disgraced himself by chasing a rabbit into someone's garden and we had to hunt the flashing dog through their fence. Not something I want to repeat! :) xx
ReplyDeleteGood pictures, I like the pink flowers. Lucky you receiving such a lovely book. Happy reading. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful looking book. It really is time I read some Philip Pullman. Which one do you recommend I start with? I’m not sure Bertie is a light up collar sort of dog, I can understand why you are agonising. B x
ReplyDeleteNorthern Lights probably a good one to start with. Or The Ruby in the Smoke, also good, but a different series. Think you could be right about Bertie and the lights. CJ xx
DeleteNorthern lights it is. Will have to snaffle my sons copy. I know he has them all :)
DeleteLike you I was concerned about a plastic light up collar and so I bought reflective tape and sewed it on to a collar and around the harness. Now my 13 month old black and tan GSD can be seen and I haven't used plastic. What a thoughtful gift and lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely present and a very thoughtful son. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it hard to make a decision, I'm blaming it on getting older as I don't recall being so indecisive when I was younger. However it might also have something to do with the amount of choice we have these days, I can only really cope with a choice of two any more than that and I go home empty handed. I love your blog it never fails to make me smile. J
ReplyDeleteBeeeeeeautiful photos, very evocative of the season.
ReplyDeleteWith walking early in the morning darkness I encounter a good number of dogs with light up collars and I can tell you that they vary enormously in terms of brightness. Maybe you could find one that wasn't quite so Blackpoolesque, and more fairylightish? I do prefer the dogs with lights on though, rather than the dark shadows that sneak up on you and make you jump x
If it helps re toothpaste choice, I was shocked to discover the difference in prices per 100ml, just because they have a fancy stripe or a supposedly whitening effect or some such. That helps me whittle away the selection when I’m shopping online at any rate. Might be a bit harder to spot on the shelf label.
ReplyDeleteThat is a fabulous gift and well done to your son for knowing what you would love. I have just been reading a few posts here and love your style. I am amused by all the dog adventures.
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