Friday, August 27

a 'tubby tummy' episode...


little olive returned from the kennels a little tubby.
the morning of collecting her i stood at the desk,
the lad behind the desk mumbled something.
after several times of saying "excuse me i didn't quite catch what you said"
i decoded his mumblings to say
"er yes, you're the one with the little dog right? yes well, we kind of noted she was gaining weight, so we separated her from the big dog at feeding times"

after i had decoded his mumblings,
i felt the color drain from my face, and my pulse a quicken.
the words 'gaining weight' and 'little dog' especially a daxie dog
should never be said in the same sentence.
i recovered my composure,
which i was quite impressed by, considering the long haul flight was still not far behind me.

"and when did you notice this happening?" i enquired.
further mumbling came forth
after a few delayed seconds i decoded it to say
"yesterday afternoon"

i must tell you dearest readers i was a little speechless at this point,
little olive and used dog had been together on their vacation for over two weeks
and yet it wasn't until the afternoon before they were due to go home,
her tubby ways were discovered.
i am thinking little olive had been helping herself to used dog's dinner
for over 14 days before being detected.
the only explanation being
she must have been sucking in her tummy every time someone walked by
and then let it go when they had passed onto the doggie in the next run.
by now i had an image of a barrel on little short legs
running out to greet me...

being the Brit i am, i thanked them kindly,
wrote a cheque that had the color draining from my face once again
collected up used dog, bingo, linus and 'tubby tummy'
and bought them home to the shed.
upon arrival, 'tubby tummy' hid away in her suitcase.




i told little olive
"do not fret nor worry about your tubby tummy,
sweet little doggie,
i too am sporting an extra ring around my middle
since my return from old blighty"

i then announced,
how the two of us would embark on a 'keep fit' regime starting the very next day.
how thrilling it would be to launch into our new fitness fad together,
having each other for support...
she would also cut down on the quantity of her breakfast
and i in return, to show my support
would give up chocolate spread on toast.
having eaten chocolate spread on toast for 40 years of my life,
this rash decision had me more concerned than little olive's growing mid drift.
however the situation called for drastic measures
and so drastic measures i took.
this show of support appeared to perk little olive up no end


and after several days of keeping fit together
she is looking most pesky and peachy indeed.
i wish i could say the same for myself but i can't,
going cold turkey from chocolate spread on toast
has sent my body into shock
and i fear it may never quite recover...

she is wishing you all a rather peachy weekend in your neck of the woods ~ Tif

47 comments:

Vicki K. said...

Dear Little Olive appears to be so relieved to be back with you all and in her own little bed. And such a pretty bed it is!

sew obsessed said...

What a lovely tale. I especially like the bit about writing the cheque and thanking kindly as only a brit can do - what are we like!!

Victory Garden Yarn said...

Oh DEAR! I feel you could submit this entire post to Cute Overload and they would start squeaking uncontrollably due to the overwhelming cuteness factor that is little Olive's tubby tummy. For goodness sake, the tubby tummy even hid in shame! :)

Lucinda said...

Forgive me if I laugh, just a little. As a professional petsitter, ( I watch pets and their people's homes so that the furbabies can stick to their routine and not be too traumatized) I live in terror of my furry charges eating something they should not. It was only this morning I had to warn two Great Danes away from a dead prairie vole and some other unidentified nastiness. So, it could be worse.

I shudder to imagine a breakfast without chocolate. Hope everything is back to normal soon.

Anonymous said...

Oh bless her little face, like butter wouldn't melt, bet she pulled the wool over their eyes! Our Tobydog runs to his bowl and gives pleading eyes to my mam when she comes round to pretend he hasn't been fed for days and is ever so hungry!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

it's o.k. little olive...it happens to all us girls
:-)

kary and teddy
xxx

Selfsewn said...

I do love your blog!

Did you mean perky and peachy, rather than pesky and peachy?

Have a great weekend fellow radio 2 listener!

Clare

silverpebble said...

It seems that the post holiday paunch is quite the thing. Well, I'm trying to convince myself of that anyway. I ate too much of Nanna's shortbread I did. I may have had some chippy chips too - by the seaside. It can happen.

vesna said...

she is so cute!!

star cat said...

omgoddess - that is the cutest doggy bed i have ever seen - does she really sleep in there?or was it for travels only? adorable! so what kind of chocolate do you eat on toast? many moons ago i visited germany where they had there ,soft chocloate sprinkles that you would put on buttered toast and it would kind of melt - the most delicious way to eat toast ever, and i have never seen them in the states - sinful! so just curious as to what chololate you use, i have yearned to have chocolate toast evermore but am not to keen on nutella - not a hazelnout kinda gal. anyways, hope you had a great trip, good luck on the doggy diet! peace and love, chella

Sharon Stanley said...

and a happy weekend to you as well...hope that fitness thing works out for the two of ya'll...if so...we may try it with ringo our beagle who looks like a tick with legs popping out of the side as we found that neighboring farmers have been feeding him almost as much as us...several of them...oh me...

Pamela Holderman said...

oh it's a sad day at our house when there's no nutella in the cupboard to greet us. you have my deepest sympathy...

willywagtail said...

Poor little Olive. She looks very happy to be home in her own little corner. So unfair that she had to have the diet and exercise when it was the big meannies who did the wrong. As for your extra roll it just entitles you to enter our ever growing, but exclusive club, of middle aged matrons so don't fret too much on the chocolate spread. You'll lose it all by the time you hit 75 I'm sure. Cherrie in Aus.

angelina said...

happy days to you guys too...your wit and humour is such a great way to start my day.x

guerrillartmomma said...

Welcome back, tubby tummies and all. We are intrigued and must ask, what chocolate spread is good to have on toast? I am a chocolate appreciator and have decided to give it a try!

Kimmie said...

I just LOVE piebald dachshunds!! I have a red shorthaired and a black-and-tan semi shorthaired (he's a freak of nature at 40 pounds...), but when the day comes to find a new doxie, I will be looking for a piebald. I absolutely loved the pictures. The ceremonial circling in the covers and subsequent burrowing never fail to get a giggle from me. I think they are the best dogs on the planet. Thanks for sharing!

Kimmie in Fort Worth

made-and-found said...

Poor Olive- may she return to her svelte size normal self in a twinkling.My poor old doglet has put on two kilos since his last checkup.It cost me twenty pounds to learn this!It was suggested I give him grated carrot for a few weeks.Well the poor twelve year old boy has bad arthritis in his spine and feeet so he can't walk too far at a time and yes he does sometimes gobble up the cats' food but I think I would hasten his end if I gave him grated carrot instead of his usual iams and chicken.Anne x

Anonymous said...

Poor Olive, she looks really pleased to be home.

Scented Sweetpeas said...

Thank you for the chuckle, the image of little Olive standing and sucking her tummy in made me laugh out loud :-) Oohhh maybe you could wean yourself of that addictive chocy spread substance??? maybe half a slice with chocy and half with something less chocy to start with?

Dajda said...

I love how she's wrapping herself up in that blanket completely - it reminds me of how much I miss a dog at home.

Miss Cinti - my poppet said...

What a sweetie she is, and her bed is adorable.

Carol said...

teeheeteehee, you do make me laugh, brightened my day with your wonderful dotty post.
Poor Olive hiding away her expanding waistline (perchance she is hiding some new shed residents in there?!)
I think giving up your chocolate spread could be a step too far.
Have a lovely weekend Tif.
Carol xx

suswhit said...

Adorable (as always.) I have a tubby tummy'd little one, too. Who sneaks her sisters food as well. I've been giving her extra of a certain vegetable that I'm afraid to mention for fear of ruining your day. :-)

nicole said...

Poor dear! Giving up chocolate on toast is rather traumatic. Glad little olive is back to her good old pesky/peachy self.

Rubyred said...

I feel little Olive's pain as i am sporting a 'tubby tummy' of my own! It has to go!The cushions look fabulous!I totally understand the 'carrots thing'. At the mo I am all alone, hubby is working away in Slovakia, my first born is in Brighton (uni) and my son who is only 16 has gone to a fesival for FOUR days and hasn't rung once! Luckily I have my little puppy Wilson to keep me company!I really miss the girly chats with my daughter but we email a lot!I kept dishing up 4 meals for ages after sh'd gone!Hope it becomes a bit easier over time!Big hugs
Rachel x

dottie angel said...

indeed blackcat, she does sleep in her suitcase, she however does not take it on her vacations... the back has some wood screwed to it to avoid the lid falling down on her. i am thinking for a little doggie that could lead to trauma, that in turn, would lead to me having to 'council her' on the newly found fear of suitcases shutting.

lucinda! thank you for your tale, i imagine you have many of them being a petsitter :)

and as for the chocolate spread, which i have had trouble even tippity tapping as my tummy is rumbling and i have yet to have breakfast...
i like Cadbury's chocolate spread, it does not have the nutty taste of nutela. here it is

http://www.britishdelights.com/cadbury_chocolate_spread.asp

right, i am now off to get a bowl of horse food and chomp my way through that... which takes me quite the time as it does not appear to be easily swallowed unlike chocolate :)
have a lovely weekend my dears

Laurie said...

That picture of Olive made me want to kiss her sweet nose. And your tale had me chuckling into my coffee cup. It's always a delight to come visit here.

barbara said...

Totally adorable ... and superb photos in her darling little bed.

Various and Sunday said...

what a sweet story. i love to hear the touching tales about the incredible bond of human-dog relationships; especially this one that involves dieting together! so funny! love your blog, your clothes, your sewing...all of it! welcome back. --robin

Jude said...

Life eeh! Hope you enjoyed gathering you tum together in blighty. It won't be long till you're back to your svelt shape, I'm sure!!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear 'Olive', I think you are Wonderful and I really like your suitcase! I come to visit you soon again! Best wishes from 'Nero'!

Emerson Bindery said...

The exact same thing happened to my dogs. I boarded them while on vacation and the small one feasted on the big one's dinner. Big one lost weight, small one gained weight. Kennel staff was totally oblivious.

Pia K said...

oh no, poor olive, it's not easy being a wee dog with a big appetite! i can relate, as my little loaf (norfolk terrier) would probably spend all days eating if he had the chance. he is suppose to be of a stout appearance, but with such a small body it's easy to get a bit over-stout so to say.

maybe she will feel a bit better if i tell you that she has been mention as as "one adorable little sausage dog" in one post i wrote a awhile ago in praise of your olive-apron http://piaks.blogspot.com/2010/08/olive-apron.html

i meant to give you feedback on etsy once i had worn the apron, but the items-needing-feedback quite strangely just vanished thus i couldn't.

i didn't think of it when i was smitten by olive the apron, but the dandelions are actually the swedish green party's sign, imagine i'd rock if i wore it rubbing shoulders with such peeps:)

paperbird said...

This had me laughing to tears- so cute and your "little" one is adorable in her little suitcase.

Planet Penny said...

Little Olive is so cute, I'm sure she'll run off the tubby tummy in no time. If not, an exercise video is available over on Planet Penny where Higgins the mini daschshund demonstrates his bouncy castle moves to music! Isn't it funny how they like to get buried in their beds so you think you've mislaid them?! love Penny x

wood & wool stool said...

I'm so glad to see, everything is okay again in the Mossy Shed :)

Anonymous said...

Oh this post is just gorgeous....the photos tell the most perfect story! How pretty is the bed?????!!!!

Christy said...

I have a tubby dachsie too, when she boards I always have to remind them that Penny will eat Lyndis food. In fact she eats everything, even paintballs. (That little episode cost me $500 at the vet) who knew paintballs tasted so good. Welcome home...Love to read your blog. P.S. I resurrected my denim overalls too, you inspired me not give up the long forgotten pleasure of wearing them, no matter what Clinton on "What Not To Wear" says. Christy from dorascottage.blogspot.com

Valentina Harper said...

Wow!I just found your blog... *LOVE* it! :)

Caterina Giglio said...

ah yes, my doxies do the same go under the covers and eat anything not nailed down! we are always on diets!!!

Pamela said...

This story cinched it ... I have a mad crush on your blog.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are back safe and sound. I missed reading your sweet little blog. Jodi B.

dottie angel said...

oh i do love to hear your tales of pesky little doggies that share our worlds... always makes me smile :)
thank you for your kind support for little olive and moi, whilst we continue our 'keep fit' regime. i fear she is doing tres better than myself!

Unknown said...

Awww i just found your blog through my friends and O How i have laughed ;-) What a lovely super blog you have, and an utterly fab way with words. And your dog aww bless him. Love it all ;-))

dottie angel said...

delia! lovely you came to visit, thank you for you kind words :)

Anonymous said...

This dog is so incredible! She is so clever and lovable!

Sarah said...

The suitcase for a dog is a great idea. My dog would be happy to have this!!! :)
I´m thinking about to make a suitcase-bed for my dog too!




http://we-live-in-a-pink-world.blogspot.com/