Shade in Sicily. More photos of Italy in this weekend's Cinema Vérité.
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enflure (on-fler) noun, feminine
: swelling (of cheek, etc)
also enfler (to swell) and enflé = (swollen)
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Notre chien a été piqué par une abeille. Sa "bosse," c'est l'enflure d'une piqûre. Our dog was stung by a bee. His "bump," it is the swelling of a sting.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
"Bobbing for Bees in Elizabethan France"
Smokey is doing just fine after Friday's "stitching up" chez la vétérinaire (this following his attack by two dogs last fall. The first surgery, which left him with staples across the neck and the cheek, also left behind one stubborn wound, which would not close).
If his furry face is swollen, this has more to do with curiosity than with surgery: on Saturday morning our Golden happened upon the honey hive!
Manque de chance! I had just fitted the one-year-old rescapé with one of those plastic head cones or "e-collars,"(e" for "Elizabethan," after the resemblance of the cone to Elizabethan-era fashion). Such space collars are designed to keep a dog from licking its wounds or, worse, from scratching them.
(We won't go into details regarding the farce involved in assembling a deceptively simple e-collar. Bref, it is a wonder more pet owners don't end up wearing them—as one does a straitjacket—for by the time the enigma of all those flaps and all those buckles has been solved, Insanity's onset is apparent in the e-cone assembler.)
Having fitted the cone around Smokey's neck, I stepped outside for some needed air in the garden, where I noticed how quickly our pup adjusted, undertaking normal activities (eating, roughhousing with Mama Braise, adventuring) unhindered by the constrictive cone circling his head.
Satisfied, I turned my back on the dogs and went about a few chores in the flower patch: the belles-de-nuit were ready for seed-harvesting and the cherry tomatoes (propped up with the help of the hollyhock's trunk) had a new crimson crop on offer. I tossed a few tomates cerises into my mouth while discovering the latest developments in the jardin.
My eardrums began to tickle and I turned to have a look at the front gate. Commotion in the periphery of my gaze had my eyes darting over to the wooden beehive, where Smokey had just stuck his head! Next, I saw our dog spring backwards from la ruche! He threw his coned head to and fro, then, on hind legs, he reached his front paws forward and began swatting (in vain…). That is when I understood or "got it": our patient had bees in his bonnet!
I took off running, my own arms flailing and swatting while a high pitch issued from deep inside of me, a mad and murderous menace directed at those bees! All that shaking and shrieking soon sent the swarm to pick on other life forms. As the bees settled on the lavender and the last of the sunflowers, I knelt down to look at Smokey's face, just beyond the not-so-protective cone. Calm eyes starred back at me.
Stoic Smokey had not so much as yelped for help—not even when the two-legged tornado chasing him and those bees quit spinning—at which point he pushed his nose past the limits of the e-cone and kissed the dizzy woman, recognizing her as his own.
Le Coin Commentaires
Corrections, comments, and stories of your own are most welcome. Thank you for leaving messages in this comments box.
French Vocabulary
chez la (le) vétérinaire = at the veterinarian's
manque de chance! = bad luck
le (la) rescapé = the survivor
bref = in brief
la belle-de-nuit = "lady of the night" flower
la tomate cerise = cherry tomato
le jardin = garden
la ruche = beehive
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Smokey has such a good mother in you, Kristin! Bees better watch out. Wow! Hope he heals soon. (Also, I love that photo from Sicily!)
Dear Smokey,
Many of us who have dogs as part of our families have had one or two of them sport an E-Collar. They are never very comfortable nor terribly attractive but your story takes the cake. What a nightmare – bees in the E-Collar. Not a good way to celebrate your birthday but more proof that you are quite a trooper.
For now I suggest you do not smell the roses (or the lavendar in your case!). I hope you heal soon.
Margaret in same old hot & muggy Durham.
Boy, Smokey, if it’s not one thing it’s another. You just try to smell the flowers with your e-collar on and those darn bees start attacking you. I think you need to find a quiet place in the shade to relax and heal.
Ktistin – please tell me about the long row of hats!!! What is that all about?
I feel bad for your poor Doggie. Those collars are more a vuisance than help. I could not keep it on my Dog.
Thanks for the french tips. Enjoy what is left of a hot Summer.
yvonne
I do believe that Smokey has developed the traits of a “noble” dog. Just a stoic. One of my cats was destined to wear THE COLLAR after surgery and she was so angry that if we even glanced at her, she would hiss and growl in fury for the duration of her sentence.
Poor Smokey, thank God you were near by. Mommy to the rescue! Hope he feels better soon.:)
DianeD
The poor thing is so sweet even the bees can’t resist. A bee in your bonnet is never a good thing.
I’m with Marika – I’d love to know the story behind the photo. Is it perhaps taken at the site of a church, where hats are not allowed or maybe the ledge beside a shady park while a game of boules is being played?
(By the way, I love your pool!!!!)
We hope that Smokey heals quickly. But if the wound persists, you might try taking him to an acupuncturist or someone skilled in Traditional chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is in general well-suited for dealing with chronic conditions, and an acupuncturist might know of herbs or a paste or solution that would speed the healing.
Love the chapeaux! Were they for sale? It’s a great and attractive way to display them, whatever the reason. Thanks for sharing the entertaining continuing adventures of Smokey Dokey.
Awww…Sweet Smokey! Poor thing…not only does he have to deal with surgery but also with bees and is stoic through the whole ordeal. He knew you had his back 🙂
Sandy in Central Illinois
What a cute story (if a little terrifying for those of us scared of bees!) Mr Smokey has a cameo on my blog today — he’s sure a great French teacher!
What a sweet face and eyes Smokey has. I loved this “Mama Bear” story and the hats, too. You have such a great eye for photos.
Smokey, Brave Lad, you are our handsome hero! Purrs from Nike and Maja, and a hug from Lisa.
In the past, we’ve seen a fairly small mark on Smokey’s face from the attack last year. In the final picture today, it looks as though there is a much bigger mark – did it reopen, or what?
Apparently you now have a pool of your own? Or were you somewhere else?
I hope Smokey recovers quickly, and I again am happy that you have such a wonderful place to live.
Hi Kristin,
I was going to click the “like” button but I really don’t like that Smokey was stung by bees after all he has been through. I can relate though because my husband has turned into a beekeeper and has two hives since April. He told me to just sit on the bench he erected nearby and observe the busy bees. I happened to be wearing L’heure Bleu, which I had wanted to try since reading a previous posting of yours. It seemed to attract the busy ones and I flailed my arms and was stung.
I’m pretty sure you took that picture in Taormina (unless there’s somewhere else with just the same steps, wall, and hat display, which I suppose is very likely). If Taormina, did you walk all the way down from the town to the beach or did you wimp out, as I did, and take the funivia?
Sion and friends, thank you for the well wishes!
Marika, Karen, and Carol: glad you asked about the hats! They were for sale there, on the stairs leading down to one of the beaches in the touristy town of Taormina.
Passante: Bravo for the correct guess! And you mean to tell me now there was a lift? A LIFT? We panted our way up those stairs twice!
Daryl, natural therapies are always interesting (we tried clay…) but we had to get Smokey back to the vet’s for surgery this time.
Mary, I enjoyed your funny cat story 🙂
Marianne, you are right: the wound was much smaller. The vet had to reopen it and file down the piece of pointy cartilege that prevented the wound from closing. Yes, that is our pool. It wasn’t such a pretty sight before (the “coque” was unfinished when we moved here, leaving a concrete “plage” all around. Jean-Marc had the idea of putting a wooden deck around it, and suddenly the area is much more inviting!
Eileen, sorry to read about your sting! Perhaps it was the blue in “l’heure bleu”? I have read that bees hate blue – even the though of it makes them testy!
Ann, thank you for the Smokey cameo! Wonderful to see him on your blog.
Thanks again for the kind wishes. I’ll keep you posted on Smokey’s progress.
Dear Smokey, such a wonderful guy. AND a very curious sort. Btw, Kristen, even though I am very busy this morning, I literally stopped when I saw your email and HAD to read it right then and there. I love your stories of life… thanks.
People are so kind aren’t they? I too love Smokey and his family although I missed you all while you were in Sicely/ mispelled/ I am glad you are home and back to normal. Oh yea, Whatever normal is! Joyce Hoover Hampton, VA
Poor little Smokey Dokey! He gets back from the trauma of the vet only to end up with bees in his bonnet! I’m glad he has such a good and nurturing Maman to come to his rescue. Hope all heals well. Looking forward to rain tomorrow here in SW KS. (Rain? what is that anyway? ha!)
Good luckm, Smokey with all your exploits..take it easy, ok? What does Mama Braise think of you messing with the bees…hope the collar come off, soon.
Ooh…pauvre Smokey Dokey- as if his e-cone isn’t enough!! He’s a real puppy prince who’s lucky to have you…and you, him! What a sweetie and so good natured!
I love the way you somehow find a touching story to tell from your many adventures…whether simple, everyday things or unusual happenings. Definitely a big fan of your writing as well as your adventures in storytelling. Thanks so much for sharing your life with all of us…
Bisous to you and your family,
Abby
Even in his e-collar, even stung by bees, Smokey “R.” Dokey has the most loving eyes and sweet, soft mouth. What a lucky dog, what a lucky family! Kristin, we thank you for your quirky, life-affirming stories and photos, and for making of your readers a true world community, sharing the small victories, but also the challenges.