There was a happy change of routine yesterday as I was able to mow grass. Actual grass! Green grass! Those wonderfully soft luxuriant emerald blades of grass have at last come forth from the barren wasteland that had, until recent welcome showers, passed for our lawns. The mulching attachment on the ride-on mower was, at long last, able to handle moist grass clippings, returning them to the lawn, instead of the dead leaves, sticks and stringy bark from our defoliating eucalyptus trees. What a dusty unpleasant pastime that has been! For months here in Cobbitty there has been no rain, only unseasonably hot dry winds that have sucked every last available drop of moisture from all the plant life on our hill. With enormous quantities of water we had been able to keep a patch of lawn somewhat greenish in color for Liquorice, and of late, young master Keaton. That section of the back lawn is now glorious, elsewhere is still recovering, but it is g-r-e-e-n! There was even a light misty shower of rain as I mowed yesterday. The sheer joy of those refreshing droplets on my face added a sensuous touch to my happy task.
Liquorice has always chosen to lie on a freshly mown strip where she can watch as I “circle” the back lawn. As I approach her position Liquorice jumps to her feet and runs hurriedly away, not trusting me to miss her position. However my driving is not as bad as her assessment would have you believe. When Liquorice returns it is always one mown strip closer to my next circuit than where she had been. Keaton accepts that this is the expected behavior thus he duplicates Liquorice’s every move! When I had finished the lawn looked the best it had been in many long months! Especially with Liquorice’s shiny jet-black form and Keaton’s predominantly white body reclining on the contrasting freshly mown background.
At night, as is her custom, Liquorice enjoys a peaceful rest on the back lawn, simply listening to all the sounds of the night, a nocturnal bird’s call, a distant car, a cow or dog chatting with its brethren. These are the sounds that interest my little darling. At other times she may simply lay on her back, stretched out in a somewhat “un-ladylike” pose. Perhaps she also enjoys some quiet time to herself and away from Keaton, our playful Landseer boy. Without the verandah lights on Liquorice disappears into the night as she has no white markings at all! Keaton’s abundant whiteness allow him to stand out. No chance of my clumsily tripping over him after dark, as I have done with Liquorice! Keaton has two small black patches, one on each side of his ribcage, almost like saddlebags, nearly touching over his backbone. Keaton has another black patch a few inches wide, draped over his rump just above his tail. The right side of his head is black and so is his left ear. So apart from the small patches and some ticking my little man’s coat is completely white. When asked “Who’s a pretty boy, then?” master Keaton can honestly say that it is he!
Last night Keaton went outside to relieve himself and decided to lay with his big “sister” in the cool. They looked so relaxed together. And after a while they began to play. It is never very long before the desire to play overwhelms these two! They ran around the back lawn, tumbling and wrestling as they went, Keaton “biting” at big Liquorice’s paws making her dance nimbly before him. Liquorice would pin him to the ground or allow herself to be pinned there, and each would mouth the other with gay abandon! They have a marvelous time together and their romp last night was no exception! Even when a light misty sprinkle of rain drifted down from the heavens I could not bring myself to disturb their play by calling them inside. I left them to their games knowing their slumbers that night would be long and, justifiably deep!
In due course the puppies were called to bed, but first, as usual, I roamed about in the darkness with my pair of little darlings so they could “empty out”. All went well until Liquorice and young master Keaton came into the light. As expected, Liquorice’s coat was “spiky” around her head and neck from her encounters with Keaton. He too had that spiky “punk rock” look as well. Both their coats were moistened from the misty drizzle. This too was not unexpected. What was beyond my comprehension was that the predominant color on Keaton’s black and white coat was now stained GREEN, from where Liquorice had been rubbing him in the newly mown, and now rather damp, lawn!!!!!
Have you ever seen a tri-colored, black white and green, Newfoundland? Not a sight for tired eyes!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Very stylish indeed!
Keaton – I’m a trendsetter!