A Restorative Grape

Yesterday I had bit of a black dog day. Nothing major caused it. A few niggling irritations. An unthinking  comment. Too little sleep. Torrential rail and thunder storms, whatever it was, it's all gone now, washed away by an afternoon scrubbing muddy dog prints from the kitchen floor and a therapeutic ten minutes feeding black grapes to a dying hen.


There is something strangely wonderful when you see a little scrap of an animal closing it's eyes with obvious pleasure when it's eating something it desperately wants and needs
Chris has always commented that I am abit of a " feeder".
Anyhow I slept solidly for over nine hours  last night and I feel better for that too, though my head does feel a little like a massive  cotton wool ball
The dying hen is bright eyed and waiting for her grapes this morning, so I'll buy her and chris a punnet each when I go to town.
I'll get  him something nice  for supper too. He walked the dogs for me this  morning without being asked
I must have looked too buggered to be woken up.

Hey ho



Me me me me me!


65 comments:

  1. I was just sure the title was 'A Restorative GrOpe'.

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    1. Oh you DO know me. Hope it made you smile just a little.

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  2. One of my dogs isn't well this morning and won't touch her food. I've been to the fish van and will cook her some fish and brown rice later on to tempt her. She hates the heat so it's maybe just that or perhaps she's eaten something that's upset her (my dogs tend to guzzle anything they can get their chops round). Horrid seeing her look so miserable.

    Thinking of you x

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    1. Is she looking a little better now sue?

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    2. She's eaten some brown rice, roasted chicken breast and lemon sole but still not herself. It's been very hot today and she never has liked the heat. Thanks for asking x

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    3. Winifred hates the heat........she just lies nipples downward on cold concrete

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  3. Glad you're feeling better and more refreshed today John. And I agree that there is something heartwarming about seeing an animal's reaction when it gets much-needed nourishment.

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    1. What you see is genuine I suppose. Animals can only be honest

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  4. Anonymous11:04 am

    Chris is right: You are "a feeder", John. Very much so. Even at a (geographical) distance.

    Make sure you'll pop yourself a grape,

    U

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    1. Thanks Ursula ( I think)
      Do you want a piece of cake?

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  5. The Mothering instinct can get exhausting at times....a much deserved sleep....your body knows when to go into self preservation mode. Have a good happy day!

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    1. The older I get the longer I take to bounce back from night shift linda

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  6. I am jealous that you can sleep for a full nine hours. What a glorious experience that must be.

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    1. I am also jealous (very) on the nine hours sleep front.

      And love that the hen is getting (and enjoying) her grapes.

      Yay you.

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    2. I'm another one jealous of nine hours of sleep.

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    3. It's rare for me...I usually get by with a great deal less.....like linda said I must have needed it

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  7. hay ho and all is well with the world sleep is so restorative all you need is a cuddle or a lickie lurp form winnie

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    1. All I got was a big lump of shite on the kitchen floor

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  8. 'Bout time you thought of yourself, Mr.Gray! You are worth it you know.

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  9. I'm happy to hear of the nine hours of sleep. I had begun to think that you operated on a steady diet of no more than 3 or 4 at any time. Good to know you're not stumbling around with sleep deprivation.

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  10. sometimes the littlest things mean the most!

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  11. Reading between the lines, I think that Chris was a good choice for husband. He's not the only lucky one, is he?

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  12. awwwwww! chris is a dear one. take care of the hen well; let he pass peacefully.

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  13. I've been reading your blog for a while via Bloglovin' but couldn't seem to leave any comments without becoming a Google member. I've finally succumbed. Thanks for the always entertaining/interesting/amusing posts.

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  14. Poor little hen. Remember to take care of yourself John as well as caring for others.

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  15. My daughter had a box turtle that got the same look of bliss when given either strawberries or worms.

    Sleep is good.

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    1. You remind me of Gerald Durrell who had a strawberry loving tortoise called Achilles ... When the poor thing collapsed after falling down a well, the family tried to revive it by pushing a strawberry in its mouth

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  16. I know what a thunderstorm is but what is a rail storm? Yes sir, I spotted your deliberate mistake.

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    1. Dammmmmm automatic word check,.......AGAIN,!

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  17. Last month I nursed along a calf with tetanus. At first he seemed he would make it and after hurting him with IM injections it felt so good to feed him with his bottle. It took forever for him to eat what with the locked jaw and all but he seemed to enjoy the time and attention so much. No, he did not survive but I do believe he had some real enjoyment the last few days...or at least that is what I tell myself. Carry on you humane farmer you!

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    1. Donna..... The thing we both feel at times like these...is the fact that we have done our VERY best for a sick animal.....
      If I've done my best, then have to cull it, I can cope so much better

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  18. So glad yours was the first post I opened, it always puts me into a good place. I have been missing from blog land for a bit as our Betty is nearing the end and we both have been quite crushed by the long battle. I read your blog and am reminded that no matter the battle, be it helping a loved creature or dealing with an “unthinking comment” life goes on and we accept the next challenge. Wishing you and Chris the very best here in sunny a Portland.

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    1. Thank you doc
      Betty the corgi is well loved.
      Chin up x

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  19. You really are the kindest man I know John - grapes for a dying hen.

    Speaking of grapes - have you tasted a brie and green grape sandwich?
    Bliss.

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  20. I don't know if you've noticed, but your "me me me me me's" always include someone else... even it's a sometimes simply a dying hen.

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  21. Ditto to Mitchell. When I saw Me Me Me, I thought, are you crazy? How incredibly kind you are. Made my day.

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  22. You've got a good 'un there John. I had some work files in the back of my car tonight and forgot all about them. I mentioned to Himself last night to remind me to bring them in. Suddenly remembering I have just dashed into the hall and there the files are all neatly piled up.

    It's the little things that count.

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    1. When the chips are down....even more so x

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  23. I wish you many moments of grape smiles.

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    1. Thank you joanne...... Grape smiles...... I like that

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  24. Things always look brighter when we're rested.
    I learned a new word - punnet! Thanks!

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  25. A kiss from Thomas to make up for me.xx

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  26. Finally, a 'hey ho'!

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  27. John, here's a wee story to cheer you up. Yesterday I was standing at the kitchen sink. We have mesh over part of the pond just now as I'm tired of baby birds drowning in it. A female blackbird was on the mesh with a very speckled baby blackbird pestering her for food - beak constantly open and pushing up to the female blackbird's beak looking for food. This went on for a few minutes then the female blackbird flew into the hedge, leaving the baby behind. Down swoops a female thrush and fed the baby!! It was a baby thrush, not a baby blackbird, who obviously needs its eyes tested! Have you ever heard of this before?

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  28. I have been quite sick the last few days but instead of grapes I got a watermelon. Yummy
    I love the little hen story very sweet, sad and lovely at the same time.

    cheers, parsnip

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  29. We had some warm days that required AC, but then it cooled down again. I have the windows and the back door open. I know what you mean by a creature really enjoying something. For my late great smooth collie Faulkner, it was watermelon.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie
      A dog with watermelon?
      How odd.... Mind you Gerald Durrell's dog Roger loved grapes too

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  30. From the title I thought it was going to be about wine drinking! I prefer the hen story though, how is she and you?

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    1. She has just eaten a bowl of spaghetti ( another hen treat)
      So she and me are fine x

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  31. It's nice when the love gets spread around isn't it. A lie in for you, grapes for a poorly hen. Chickens show their appreciation so subtly yet well don't they.

    I hope you're feeling better today.

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  32. Nothing like a good night's sleep to set things to rights. Very sweet about the hen. I'd like to think that when i'm in my last days, someone will be there to care enough to see that i get some grapes.

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