My little darling turned ONE last Friday the 16th.
There was nothing special or unusual for my little darling’s first annual birthday, rather it was more like an ordinary monthly one. We were going to a Christmas party with Liquorice the next day and that was to be the big excitement to celebrate her huge milestone. Unfortunately it was cancelled late, however her humans improvised.
After giving my little darling birthday wishes and an extra special cuddle she walked into the breezeway of our home for her morning session of grooming. I surprised Liquorice with a coconut cookie. These are baked in Indonesia and would be made predominately from grated coconut and molasses. She took it carefully, wandering to her daybed in the breezeway, made herself comfy then slowly ate her treat enjoying every last crumb. Ma, having risen, early came into the breezeway to wish Liquorice well and we so both sang Happy Birthday to the little Lady while she ate another cookie! Then I opened a present of a new bulk-pack of pressed rawhide bones and allowed the birthday girl to select which one she would prefer to chew on while being brushed. This she did and lay down to gnaw on it while I busied myself with the rake and brushes, including a new birthday brush. That’s the “underwear and socks” type present. After that it was one of Anne’s wonderful Salmon Cookies from the recipe that she kindly posted last week. My father, who is chief cook and bottle washer around our place, made up a batch for Liquorice the previous afternoon. And did she respond to the aroma! I can see that I will have to make the next batch as Dad was feasting on Liquorice’s cookies until I put a stop to it! Liquorice adores her “new” Salmon Cookies and heartily recommends them to all Newfies everywhere!
We had our usual play and romp on the back lawn and wander around as I attended to some little early morning chores outside, then we went for our walk before sun made the day too warm. Upon our return Dad greeted Liquorice and so my little darling heard Dad and I sing Happy Birthday. Dad parted with a couple more Salmon Cookies to his baby, though I suspect he sampled some first, then she had her light breakfast. When Liquorice came inside to supervise our breakfast she received more cuddles and this time had a trio sing Happy Birthday! After breakfast Liquorice received a gift of a futon for her to lay on and immediately found good use for it, quickly snoring rhythmically after her walk and breakfast. She slept on her futon till lunchtime when the sounds food being prepared intruded on her dreams. Several more Salmon Cookies kept Liquorice satisfied as she waited for us to take our seats around the table. Then quietly she watched as we ate, accepting tid-bits from time to time as by now she knows that each birthday is followed by a strict diet. After lunch was a comfort break outside, followed by a game to help remove a few of those extra calories. Then a marrowbone to undo the good work! That occupied the birthday girl for an hour or so when she decided that her folks should be serenaded with her melodic snores, so she came inside and slept peacefully in the vestibule. Come time for afternoon tea and my little darling would not wake up. I called and called but she only opened an eye to acknowledge my presence and to indicate that she was quite comfortable where she lay. At least she was until the sound reached her ears of Dad secretly unscrewing the plastic lid from the jar that contained the ever-diminishing supply of Salmon Cookies. Liquorice was up and sitting at his side in an instant! While she ate one her eyes fell on the Chocolate Madeira cake with a single beef jerky “candle” sitting in the middle! That was from another gift, Liquorice loves her beef jerky! We all shared in the cake with some left over for the next day. Liquorice ate the “candle” after licking the icing from it! Another game followed as she assisted me in watering the gardens with the hose. The lad from down the road came up to wish Liquorice a happy birthday and he brought Beau, his Labrador/Cattle Dog mix. Liquorice always wants to play with Beau when he visits but his focus lies in finding all the half-chewed edibles that my little darling leaves. Between his visits Liquorice builds up quite a collection but none remain once Beau has departed. With the bones he takes them to the dam halfway to his territory then returns for another! So Beau tends to be too busy to play during his visits, which disappoints Liquorice. She does not mind his taking her treats, as she knows that there is plenty more to be had for a gentle smile. A good game of running back and forth across the lawn followed with grabbing one end of her rope and me the other as we pulled each other back and forth. I was worn out when the time came for her evening grooming session. Liquorice too was tired and refused a chewy as I labored away on her soft black coat. Then followed a walk and her evening meal that was somewhat less than normal due to her abundance of cookies during the day. She did not seem to mind. Then just laid on the back lawn to watch day’s light draw to a close. She lay there for an hour interested in the ducks and rabbits hopping about and then fruit bats and owls starting the night shift before finally she came inside. Then she was given a sock-like toy with a squeaker in each end. That kept her occupied for another half-hour before drifting of to slumberland thus missing out on her ice cream!
That basically was Liquorice’s first annual birthday, which is to be followed by a strict diet!
Arthur Witten – “Happy Birthday Liquorice!”
Liquorice – I like days that start with singing “Happy Birthday to You”!