Zinnia has decided to become the resident Bedlam Farm Food Scholar. Maria and I both often stand over the cutting board when we are preparing breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Zinnia watches us closely; she helps when some crumb or vegetable falls to the door.
She oversees the preparations and is always ready to give advice. She observes everything we cook or eat or move from cabinet to counter.
She knows when it’s time to cook, eat, unpack, or wash dishes. We have a food scholar right on hand. She is very well-behaved and never jumps or steals food or rushes to grab things off of the floor. If we didn’t look down, we wouldn’t even know she is there, But somehow, she always is.
She waits for permission to pick up the smallest crumb; it’s convenient to have a furry vacuum cleaner with a huge capacity for garbage. We are both used to cooking and clicking while a big white dog leans against us and keeps our legs warm. When I walk by, she always looks at me with resignation: ‘sorry pal, I have serious work to do here…”
Loyalty only goes so far with Yellow Labs when there is food nearby.
That’s so funny. My dog does the same thing. Georgie Girl knows every phase
of food preparation and what steps bring the greatest chance of manna from heaven. The big difference is mine scarfs it up practically before it hits the floor. She is not nearly as polite as Zinnia.
What DO people without dogs do? They are so enormously helpful!