I’m always being asked about my animals, the pets that hang out with me in my office at home as I write. Or they ask me about my horses, knowing that it was a riding accident that led to me having time to complete my first novel, Maisie Dobbs. So, here’s more about the gang!
Sally, the dog, is in her thirteenth year, a senior citizen with graying hair and a slightly wobbly gait, who can become extraordinarily puppy-like if a ball is thrown for her, or if I pick up a stick. She’s a water-dog through and through, and those tottery legs will carry her at quite a clip to the water hole for a swim. Last year a routine dental cleaning revealed that Sal had mouth cancer. She had surgery which, sadly, left her with a partially paralyzed tongue and unable to drink from a bowl. My husband quickly put together two drinking fountains for her -- one indoors, and one in the garden -- so she has a constant fountain of water instead of having to try to quench her thirst with an inefficient lap. Frankly, I think she could probably drink from her bowl by now, but the old dog rather likes the new trick!
Delderfield the cat -- “Deldy” for short -- adopted us shortly after we moved into our house three years ago. At first Sal wasn’t quite sure about the interloper, but Deldy completely took over, and positively demanded affection from us all. My husband was reading a book by R.F. Delderfield when she began hounding us in the front yard, so we simply called her Delderfield. Guess she must have liked it!
Benjamin is my brother’s draft horse. Half Percheron and half Friesian, he stands over 18 hands and weighs about 2300 lbs -- and he is one heck of a character. I began spending time with Ben when we moved to Ojai, and working with him under halter helped me to gain confidence around horses again.
Then in March 2006, along came Sara, a Dutch warmblood/Thoroughbred cross. It was only when I saw her papers that I found out her registered name: Serendipity. I think I would have bought her on the basis of her name alone, however, she really is the horse I always wanted. She loves to work, but at times can be a bit of a princess -- she wallows in being pampered and gets very excited about something as simple as a new saddle-pad. Such model-girl behavior has earned her the nickname: Sara-Diva.
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