mooching around the local lanes with my dog

Penny did her 'puppy eyes' trick today, glancing at her lead as if to say, 'When are we going out?'

Of course, I couldn't resist. I love it when she communicates with me so clearly. But I wasn't in the mood for a full-on exercise-type walk, so we strolled around for half an hour just smelling the flowers.

I feel sure Penny was smelling things, because she had the tell-tale froth around her nostrils that says she's in full scenting mode.

But, strangely, all the flowers she examined were low to the ground. Could it be that she wasn't actually enjoying perfumed flowers, but was sniffing around for pee-mails?

I, on the other hand, WAS looking at plants for aesthetic reasons. Oh, wait, I guess canine aesthetics involves urine, so I shouldn't feel so superior.

I recently attended a workshop on edible weeds at Ceres, so I was looking out for them. Here are a couple I noticed:

dandelion

plantain (I think)

I saw a lovely dandelion seedhead, and crouched down to get a photo of the ball of fluff. 

But Penny came to see what I was doing and wandered away with half the seeds stuck to her coat!

when a dog's sense of smell is telling us something

Penny has been refusing to get into the car for the last few months. I've tried giving her treats, urging her into the car, getting in before her and having someone bring her to the car - all to no avail. She just doesn't like the car any more.

I've had lots of suggestions as to what the problem might be - she suddenly hates the car harness; the beeps from the overhead gantries on the tollway are hurting her ears: too many long trips; you name it, we've thought of everything.

But have we? What about her sense of smell?

I took the car to the auto mechanic today to complain about the petrol smell in the interior and he said, 'Well, just don't light up a cigarette while you're driving.'

I said, 'Why not?'

'Because the car will probably explode.'

Wow!! the car's sitting up there so he can fix the leak in the petrol tank.

I wonder if Penny will be happier to travel in it in the future?