Australian folklore celebrates the loyalty of a pioneer bullocky's (teamster's) heroic dog who, given the task of guarding his master's tucker box, waited, though he sat on a box of food, until he eventually died of starvation.
Dermott, the least intelligent member of our family, is in the process of creating his own legend here in Italy. His 'tucker box' is an ancient cisterna (water tank) between our garden and that of our neighbours. Here he sits patiently waiting for Lorenzo or Marina to appear with biscotti (biscuits). Now you are probably wondering where the elements of courage and character are in this tale? The cover of the cisterna is half-inch steel plate - on a summer's day you can fry eggs on it! At such times our 'hero' has to tap dance. But he never deserts his 'tucker box'.
17 comments:
Robyn! This tale is just too adorable -- as is your painting! Half inch -- frypan!! WOW!
I agree...adorable, made me laugh!
Lovely sketch and a very handsome Dermott!
Ronell
What a wonderful post, Robyn! I love the story and your sketch is wonderful - and Dermott really does look adorable.Nice of hime to sit so patiently while you sketch him...
That is so funny! Great watercolour sketch - I'd love to see Dermott in 'full frontal' mode!
Do prints of this one. He's just adorable!
Such a lovely sketch and a funny story!!
P.S. I put your blog to my blog's linklist. Hope it's all right for you!
Yeah yeah. Big fizz.
Where to begin?
1. Quote: "... the least intelligent member of our family ... "
That's defamation. And remember: truth ain't a defence!
2. You followed me, waited for me to climb onto the cisterna, then loitered, watching me.
That's stalking.
3. You sketched me without my permission.
That's (a) an invasion of my privacy; and (b) an infringement of my intellectual property rights vis a vis my image.
4. You associated my name and image with a hoary old piece of mawkish Australian nationalistic anthropomorphism.
What dog in its right mind sits on a box of food and dies of starvation? A loser. That's L-O-S-E-R. What breed was it? A Bichon Frise, I'd bet. I have experience with a Bichon Frise. Its name is Barbra. She would have sat on the tucker box and sung "Evergreen". Until someone stoned her to death.
Anyway. See you in court, bub.
And remember - I trumped Perry Mason.
That is a wonderful sketch with a great story behind it. :)
i love your posts.
have you seen my 'snuffles?' she's as gorgeous as your two.
Wow, girl, you've been busy!! I go off line for a few days and come back to find a dozen new posts and sketches! Can't wait to scroll down and check them at my leisure. Dermott is adorable and who cares if he isn't an intellectual? I'm sure he has LOTS of emotional intelligence.
Oh Robyn what a wonderful post and Dermott's reply had me spitting my coffee...and I don't waste coffee for just anyone you know.
Hilarious!!!
Thank you all for enjoying my efforts!
I hope those of you who thought Dermott was cute have now had your blinkers removed!
I still think Dermott is cute - but before you decide I'm bonkers you should see the slobbering oaf I have at home as comparison.
Thanks for the great giggle this morning. LOVED this post.
Robyn, Dermott looks so dedicated sitting there and waiting. I think some dogs have more patience than humans. This is so cute of him.
I just love Dermott and love the watercolor of him. You should have put his picture in the Artwork from Life Forum when we were doing our pets. We had over 70 photos but his would have been a beautiful addition.
Jeanne - Thank you! I will check out all the pets on Artwork from Life. I can't post Dermott there though because while he can sit on a hot tin lid all day in hope of a biscuit, the sun kills me! I took a photo and retreated inside to the cool to sketch him.
That's about right. I do the hard work, getting a badly burned bottom, you retreat inside to the coolness of your plush, air-conditioned studio and defame me!
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