I cannot imagine a life lived without having read the stupendous works of Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen). We are all familiar with the movie "Out of Africa" (& it actually follows Blixen's memoir quite accurately). However, her observations & heartbreak are all beautifully woven into her other works as well. 

We are all but fleeting moments who swirl in life, atop civilisation- our feet graze the surface of the world & almost immediately, our footpaths are obliterated....Karen left a monument which stands unburnished. Dogs, life, loves & endless wild vistas...written of with acuity. 

Caesar, a Norfolk Terrier, was the loyal companion of King Edward VII. He was bred by the Duchess of Newcastle and presented to the King in 1903. Caesar quickly became the King's favourite dog and accompanied him everywhere. This Fabergé model was commissioned by the King in 1907 as part of a larger set of farmyard animals. It is made from chalcedony with cabochon ruby eyes and has a gold and enamelled collar which is inscribed 'I belong to the King'.
Caesar achieved worldwide fame in 1910 when he followed the funeral procession of his master. He is immortalised in stone sitting at the feet of the King's tomb in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Caesar was the King's favourite dog, and his collar was inscribed with 'I am Caesar. I belong to the King'. He achieved worldwide fame in 1910 when he joined the funeral procession of his master.

​A portrait model of a Clumber spaniel 'Sandringham Lucy' looking slightly downwards, carved in pale grey chalcedony with cabochon ruby eyes.

King George V was particularly keen on Labrador retrievers and Clumber spaniels for his working dogs, and 'Sandringham Lucy' was a very fine example of the latter. The breed originated in France in the eighteenth century and was first bred in England by the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire. This portrait model is both well observed and particularly endearing, and was purchased by King George V, when Prince of Wales, in 1909 at a cost of £102.

The magickal mandrake root purportedly screams (& drives mad, the harvester who hears the scream) when pulled from the ground. I wouldn't know...as my seeds stay as fixed, remote & unwavering as a distant planet, refusing to give me even a nod. What would I do with a mandrake root? Now? At this, the autumnalis of my years? I think a Sasquatch sighting is more likely! A flirtation with madness would be phun though...

Probably everyone should plant a responsibly-fenced witches garden...sited under the proper dominion of sun/moon/planets in mind. If for nothing but the connection to our deepest selves...henbane, belladonna, opium, mandrake, mugwort, foxglove artemisia, clary sage, basil....& whomever else the plant kingdom calls. Think of said garden as living medieval history...

If you read my blogh...you know that I love illuminated manuscripts & medieval art. Thats why this custom is before ye...here it tis...: the custom of harvesting mandragora autumnalis was to tether one's dog to the mandrake root, throw a piece of meat far beyond the reach of the dog's leash & let the dog rip the root from the earth. Thereby letting the dog go mad, rather than the harvester. I imagine this explained the mad dogs staggering about the villages...
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Click here for more on magickal plants...

This slideshow is of antique nooks & crates...scroll down for modern opportunities from Chateaux de la Pooch.

David Bowie, one of the greatest artists everrrrrrr. Aladdin Sane starts at 04:37...with Mike Garson on the piano, definitely one of my favourite Bowie songs...though, i will posting one more manana...his exit song.

Listen in wonderment at these brilliant, complex, gleaming things. Brian Wilson: one of the greatest composers of all time.
Brian Wilson says:  "Thank you Julia"...one of the greatest moments of all time!

Last year, when I commenced to write a blip on death/dying & the responsibility we have to the animals we share our lives with, it was motivated, of course, by Corona. Here we are again & the reality is, it can & will level some of us. Will we: "bite the big one, croak, do the dirty dance" etc...or, will we have a sci-fi hospital stay? I hope we all get along swimmingly & celebrate next year (2022) with aplomb...but for now...

Son-Of-A-Rona is here.

In the spirit of elegant preparedness, here are some suggestions  for going greatly into the good night...(or not...)...

1) Select your responsible party....& be certain that they know they've been selected! This person knows your animals, can identify all of your animals, is fiscally responsible with your funds, is timely, mature & above-board. 

Oh hell.

2) Make 2 copies of your animal's health records, registration papers (if any), feeding protocols, nuances & quirks (example: "Freud will kill any cat found traipsing through the yard") (really Freud???! We will have to examine that...later though...) etc.. Fotograf each animal & make a sheaf for each. Place one set in the 3-ring binder you've got sitting in plain sight atop your desk (& which everyone knows about). Give the other binder to the sainted party described in item #1 (above). Be certain that there is an envelope of cash in binder #2...

This sets the precedent.

2a) In the event you're en hospital, you'll want your animals to have the same excellent attention to detail & care that you've always provided, right? Is Howard actually able to handle the household duties, the extraordinary measures & your animals while you recover?

Is your significant other truly significant? Is now the time to put it to the test? Can you imagine lying supine, on a ventilator, in a netherworld with the following words ringing in your ears? "You love those dogs more than you love ME!" (Yes, Howard, I do).

Whether significant or insignificant...your other may not be the one you choose as pet-parent, ...so, have a chunk of cash set aside for the sainted party above to bend over backwards for you, without falling over backwards for you. Insist upon it.

Howard can go to hell.

3) I've suggested getting metal identification tags pre-ordered with the sainted person's contact info engraved onto the tags...so that (lets say you're on a ventilator...) in the event of estray (or whatever), your animal has a contact. I recommend Red Dingo tags because they'll last more than 3 lifetimes, maybe 4. Even if you don't have dogs & cats collared...in the event the sainted person is transporting, exercising etc...& Fifi gets loose...there's a chance for return, right? The tags can go right into a packet in your 3-ring binder.

3a) Each animal should have a collar & leash, halter & lead etc..for easy transfer from point A-point B. The idea is to make this as seamless as possible...with excellent working equipment. Not baling twine &/or slip-nooses.

4) In the case of one's mortality, I've recommended specific insurance policies with the sainted person as beneficiary...this covers all kinds of fiscal issues which will occur such as: improvements to the sainted person's kenneling, fencing & general infrastructure...(which the burden of your animals compelled). In addition, it covers food, grooming, supplies, maintenance, veterinary, transport, registration, legal & all-sorts. How much does it maintain one dog on a raw diet per year? And, how about a horse? What's the longevity? How much can you afford? Whatever the case, we cannot afford to blight friendships & acts of kindness without assuaging the enormous burdens of our animals...

5) In the event one is en hospital. The sainted person will need either a prepaid debit card, access to your monies, a chunk of cash, a cheque from your attorney etc.. Auto-ship is great for food subscriptions...but be certain that the sainted person has access to your subscription accounts so that modifications & address-changes can be made. This is a must, as food deliveries are perishable & without proper notice, your animal's food foodstuffs may perish while sitting on your palazzo terrace for 2 weeks...but, you detailed all of this in the 3-ring binder, right?

6) Then theres the long-term plan. While the sainted person rocked it in the friend-department, did he/she/they really want to house your 4 dogs forever? What does forever mean?

7) What are the end-of-life dictates for your animals? After you've passed into the aethyr, do you want the sainted person to employ reasonable veterinary care & diagnostics to your animals before opting for euthanol? Do you want them to use their better judgment? What DO you desire?

I don't know what to say about Howard.