June Drop, the highlight of a Dandie Dinmont Terrier's Year

Hard to imagine that the little green blob in front of Bliss' nose could be the cause for such excitement!

Of course, Boy has been collecting the 'drops' for years. You know, the little apples that drop off the trees in June letting the rest develop into full sized apples. In our old home we had an orchard. That was Boy's home and every day during apple time he would amble down to the orchard and take about an hour to choose his apple.

It was an old orchard planted by a Reverend with a love of breeding apples. There were many unusual varieties including the sweetest and best which was a type of russet with pink swirls in the flesh which burst with tingles on one's tongue. Boy's sixty minutes of ferreting in the long grass for the tastiest and best always resulted in the homecoming. A slow plod up the gradient to the house, carefully carrying his apple, resulted in consumption by the Rayburn in the kitchen followed by a snooze. A journey of pure joy for Boy.

Now in a different home, I have planted some apple trees for the Dandies but they are young saplings and mostly are holding on to their fruit. But the wonderful, spreading, cooking apple tree - a Bramley, performs the required June drop superbly much to the delight of Boy. He makes me aware of the drop by bringing me one. Although an old man now he is still taking joy in one of nature's treats.

But he is passing on his skills. The last two days, whenever she has been out in the garden, Bliss has come in with her own little drops to play with them like a cat will play with a mouse. Darting here and there, around and under the furniture, only to eventually tire and therefore change the subject. At this point, Boy who has lain recumbently feigning sleep, arises slowly and claims the prize. No more does he have to go out in the rain to find his drop - he has trained his little Bliss to do the job for him. Just one of the benefits of experience and age.