Day Two Hundred and Forty Six

Miss Pancake 

Zita and I got up very early today. 

And when we opened the back door our outside was all full of too much smoke. 

And when we opened our curtains I could not see the trees in our park.  Oh my goodness. 

And everywhere was just smoky.

It is all the lovely trees which are all on fire that is making all the smelly smoke. 

So right away Zita went to a giant hardware store, so she could bring home some clean all the air inside our house machines. 

And she got two. So the basement can be nice and clean too. 

So we put one right in the living for a try. 

Right beside Craig’s little table for coffee. 

We had a cinnamon bun for breakfast. I helped him clean his plate.

Then I went into our office to be Zita’s best helper. 

Because we are very busy with rascal ladies work. 

Zita said I should change my name to Miss Crêpe.

Because crêpes are skinny French pancakes. 

And now I am skinny too. And French. Oh my goodness. 

But what would happen to Miss Pancake if now I was Miss Crêpe. 

Maybe she would have to find a new family. I would not like that. 

So Zita and I decided I would just stay Miss Pancake. 

But I could be Miss Crêpe on special days.

Like the special day for croissants, or the everybody should eat smelly cheeses day. Ha. That was a good idea. 

Festis and Furrgus 

Uncle Dugal’s coughing awoke us before dawn this morning. 

His respiration has been a bit of an issue since the gassing at Ypres in ‘15. 

Furrgus went to find his Puffer I opened the front door and to my befuddlement I could barely see the ponds.

Actually I could barely make out the sun. 

The smoke from those forest fires was enveloping the city. Well that is not acceptable. 

And apparently it was not acceptable to Mrs. T either. 

As soon as she and Miss P opened the door she made up her mind.

Miss Niamh was awakened and Mrs. T was off to the local construction yard, returning home with two industrial strength air purifiers. 

She is never the one to delay a decision let me tell you. 

There was one placed in a temporary position in the living room and another one yet to be placed in the basement for full coverage. 

We did not mention Dugal’s coughing as it would have embarrassed him no end.

We got new masks and went out on patrol. I must say it was earie outside. Rather like a bad gothic novel. 

Steeling ourselves we made it up to Bank Street. We decided on The Wild Oat as it was closest. 

On our way home we stopped in at Victories and picked up a dozen or so doughnuts for Uncle. 

We had dissuaded him from accompanying us. 

When we got home Mrs. T was on the telephone with Mrs. Kathy. 

After talking to Mrs. T she ordered two of these air purifiers for the cottage. As the situation there was even worse than here.

We elevated the ambience by freely distributing doughnuts. 

Dugal, we were pleased to see was fast asleep. We followed him.

Miss Pancake 

We did not go for our lunchtime walk today. Because of the too smoky air outside. 

So I had my first lunch and then went back to my rascal ladies job. 

But then I had to help Craig with lunch. 

Zita found a brand new bottle of peanut butter in the basement.

So he had a peanut butter sandwich and it was so big I had to help him eat it. Good for me.

Then it was time for nap. 

But when I was asleep there was thunder. And I did not like to hear that thunder. 

I barked at it but it did not go away. Too bad for me.

Then Zita and I went for a practice walk. 

But I was not such a very good walker today.

So we had to come back in the house so I could practice my listening. 

But then it was my dinner time. Oh dear. 

You do not even get one treat if you do not listen. Too bad for me. 

And just after I was finished Niamh was home. For a together dinner. 

But before she had to rest her feet, because they were too sore.

Then we had a together dinner. 

After dinner I went for a car ride with Niamh and Tarryn. 

When we got home Craig and Zita and I watched the very good detective program from way way far away New Zealand.