Monday, July 11, 2016

The Dog Days of Summer One Particular Dog's Way by Margo Hoornstra

Life is busy. Summer for me, especially so. But I have a post due here today, and no idea what to say. So I'm going to say something I've said before way back when I first started posting on this blog four years ago. Wait! What!? Four years ago? Doesn't seem possible.

This essay was actually contracted and paid for by Country Woman magazine, but never published. It concerns a flourishing vegetable garden, a hungry rabbit and a dog who, I understand now, believed whole heartedly in peaceful coexistence.

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That Summer Saturday began innocently enough. The clear, pleasant morning gave no indication of what was to follow as I took a cup of coffee and stepped out on the back deck.

It had been a busy week with many hours spent preparing and planting the plot of backyard land that would become my garden. I had tilled the soil and placed new seeds in the holes I’d dug then gently covered them with just the right amount of dirt. The plants I’d started a month before in the house were next, spaced just so to allow them ample room to grow.

“Better put something out there to keep out the rabbits.” My husband made the suggestion as the green shoots and young leaves began to flourish.

In my heart, I knew he was right. Drastic measures are sometimes necessary to combat the unscrupulous menace, the rabbit. Substances such as dried blood are sprinkled along the garden edge as a deterrent. Scarecrows decked out in Dad’s patch riddled jeans, Mother’s frayed paint shirt and Aunt Margaret’s once favorite straw hat, stand in silent vigil with a common goal to stop the crafty foliage robbers in their tracks.

Ah, but for me things were different. I had no need for such elaborate defenses. Patrolling my carefully tilled garden patch was my own man’s best friend and all around good dog, Jason. Born of mixed heritage, Airedale and Hound among them, he had the best traits of hunter and herder. Jason wouldn’t stand for an intrusion of his turf. I had a weapon no rabbit in its right mind would dare to challenge.

As I proudly surveyed the beginnings of my garden that day something beige at one corner caught my eye. I looked closer and my worst fear became a reality. A rabbit! In my garden! Contentedly chomping on my sprouts! With ravenous abandon no less, and absolutely no regard for the sweat and toil that went into producing them.

Leaping to my feet, I called out for Jason. Surely by instinct he would know what to do.  After a number of bellows from me, he appeared from around one corner of the house looking slightly perturbed at being so rudely summoned.

“There’s a rabbit in the garden! There’s a rabbit in the garden!”

I’m not sure if I sounded more like Paul Revere or Chicken Little. I could tell by the dog’s expression that he couldn’t decide either, and really didn’t care.

Apparently convinced that he would have no peace until he at least investigated, Jason came cautiously forward. Falling into step behind him, I remained in hot pursuit, arms flailing wildly as I hollered, “Sic ‘em!” with all the confidence of a general in command of a top-notch platoon.

Jason strolled to the middle of the yard, looked first at me behind him, then at the rabbit in front of him and made a valiant attempt to slip into the house. Being quickly thwarted in that maneuver when I pivoted to block his way, he calmly sat down to contemplate his next move.

“Get ‘em!” I ordered. Arms around his chest, I picked up the reluctant dog and aimed him toward the enemy.

Casting me a self-righteous, no rest for the weary glance, he dutifully meandered forward. Reaching a particularly sunny patch, he suppressed a yawn and lowered himself to a prone position. Ready to strike, I thought, until he rolled slowly to one side and settled his head comfortably on the soft grass.

Seeing that my ally had as much as gone over to the other side, I took it upon myself to bark and growl at the offending rodent. My taking control of the situation seemed to suit Jason just fine as he closed his eyes to catch a nap.

And the rabbit? He left quietly after eating his fill. Or maybe he was just tired of all the commotion.

As I mentioned, most of this post consists of a formerly written, but not published, manuscript. I certainly have plenty of those. The one here actually sold, by the way. I received the check and everything, but for whatever reason it was never used.

Some of my other ‘unsolds’ are now up as free reads on my website at WEBSITE
 
If you’re so inclined, enjoy.

Nothing wrong with getting something for nothing huh?

Just ask that rabbit.
 
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. And I have no clue what I'm going to talk about next time.

26 comments:

Rolynn Anderson said...

Cute story, Margo! Alas, I have rabbits in my yard and no dog, no cat. And they are multiplying. But I notice they eat leaves that fall from my fruit trees. Maybe if enough rabbits come around, I won't have to rake. Plus they eat up fallen fruit. I'll soon plant some lettuce, so I'm not encouraging the critters, but so far, we're coexisting.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Grest attitude, Rolynn. Maybe you won't have to rake. Let the little critters earn their keep. LOL

Leah St. James said...

I can see myself doing the same thing (both you and the pup). :-) Too funny. Thanks for the morning chuckle.

Margo Hoornstra said...

You're welcome, Leah. I'm sure you'd do the same thing for me. Jason was a pretty special little guy.

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

Great post! Helped start my day with a chuckle
good luck and God's blessings with your garden
PamT

Susan Coryell said...

I can relate...we live in a lake subdivision we have nicknamed Jurassic Park. Moles, voles, chipmunks, deer, muskrats and, possibly, a woolly mammoth or two. NOTHING is sacred; nothing is spared. Many residents have resorted to artificial flowers for boxes and planters. Thanks for a fun post!

Betsy Ashton said...

Thanks for the Monday morning giggle. I too struggle with "livestock." I live in the country on a large lake. I don't have Susan Coryell's woolly mammoth, but we do have all the same, plus beaver, blue herons, Mallard ducks, and an occasional red fox. When I first moved to the lake, I planted the most gorgeous patch of hostas, not knowing I'd planted a salad bar for the deer. Nothing is safe, although most of the evergreens remain uneaten--until the next drought when there aren't enough acorns. Then, the deer will eat everything.

Jannine Gallant said...

Cute story. Uh, Ginger would not be nearly as nice. She chases everything on four feet from squirrels to bears. If I actually planted anything in my yard (the native thimbleberries are beautiful right now and require no work on my part), Ginger would deter any vegetarian predators!

Andrea Downing said...

I have no idea what my fellow diners here in Fortnum and Mason make of me sitting on my own laughing away but I enjoyed this immensely. And btw, as a fellow rabbit sufferer, I strongly suggest wolf pee spray from your local hardware store

Brenda Whiteside said...

Funny story, Margo. Nice start to my morning. I used a spray around the garden when we lived in Minnesota. Unfortunately, it stunk to high heaven, but it worked.

Lucy Naylor Kubash said...

Fun post! Jason sounds like he was a smart dog. Only going to do something when he wanted to do it! Our JRT Zeke used to keep the ground squirrels out of our backyard, and when he left us they took over. Foo Foo doesn't chase much, except one day she really did take off after a bunny. Couldn't believe she could move her chubby little body that fast. Of course bunny escaped before she could even get close.

Diane Burton said...

Great post, Margo. Our old dog was a real rabbit hunter. I didn't have to worry about those pests with him around. No dog now, though I keep threatening to borrow daughter's dog to chase the geese out of the yard.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Thanks, Pam. This took place a while ago. Garden is much smaller these days.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Thanks for stopping, Susan. We're in the country too and have learned - maybe taking Jason's lead - to co-habitate with the critters

Margo Hoornstra said...

I envy you, Betsy. A blue heron really? Salad bar for the deer. Sorry but I love the visual.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Ha! So where was Ginger when I needed her, huh, Jannine? Actually Jason had an aversion to cats, but that was about it. Yeah, I've heard about Ginger and the Bears. **shudder**

Margo Hoornstra said...

Now I'm the one laughing out loud, Andi, and at work too! Wolf pee you say. I'll have to get some.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Spray what, Brenda? Wolf pee? (Sorry ;-) Glad I got your morning off with a smile.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Wonder what Foo Foo would have done if, heaven forbid she caught the bunny, Lucy. Jason was his own man, I mean dog. Our last dog Heidi pretty much had the same spirit so I would have been out of luck there too.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Our daughter's dog and son's dog keep the critters at bay for us now. We too are dog less, for now. Maybe some day again-or not!

MJ Schiller said...

As usual, love it, love it, love it! You have such a nice, easy, witty style. I just love reading what you write! Thanks for sharing! And good luck with that garden!

Christine DePetrillo said...

I have a fence around my backyard garden, but not to keep out varmints who would eat my produce. I need to keep my werewolf of a dog out of it. He's one of those dogs who thinks he's a lot smaller than he actually is. One paw (which is about the size of my fist) on a plant and it's done. And while he's perfectly happy to get any creature that dares to set foot in "his" yard, the chase that usually ensues shreds the leaves on my plants. Big dog problems... sigh. Good thing he's cute.

Margo Hoornstra said...

We're dog less these days too, Diane. When the 'grand'dogs come over they patrol our turf

Margo Hoornstra said...

MJ, you always say the sweetest things. Thank you. That garden in the post was long, long ago. This year I'm down to four tomato plants and one cucumber. Less work, just enough bounty.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Chris. Big dogs are the best. IMHO anyway. Yours sounds like such a special boy. What's not to love about him protecting his turf?

Alicia Dean said...

Ha...love this! Very entertaining. I'm glad you recycled it. :)