Well, another school break is over with and once again the relative calm of term-time reigns here. It wasn't a bad week – the usual ups and downs associated with life with Toby, a few more downs than ups, but there you go. I even learnt something new – though I'd rather not have learnt it in the way that I did…
Up until last week I was blissfully aware of the potential poisonousness of peonies. They've always been one of my favourite flowers both in their fragrance and the abundance of those velvety soft petals and so when I saw bunches of them at the checkout I popped one on the conveyor belt.
Back home I did my standard flower arranging technique of bunging them haphazardly in a vase and plonked them on the table to enjoy when I swept past. Later in the day I noticed Toby taking an interest in them and thought he must like the texture but as I looked on he plucked a handful of petals and stuffed them in his mouth! It was one of those slow-motion moments when you can't seem to move quickly enough and before I could hook them out they'd been swallowed – obviously Toby likes peonies too! After dumping the flowers outside I flew to the computer in a panic but was relieved to read that they're only poisonous in excessive quantities and as 5 or 6 petals seems less than excessive, I settled for observing him for the rest of the day while poised to dash off to casualty if he showed any signs of illness. Luckily he stayed well and we got through the rest of the week without any more heart-stopping incidents, I have however resolved to stick to fabric flowers from now on!
little cotton rabbits 
Peonies are my favourite flower!
LikeLike
Hallo, ich bin mal kurz hier gelandet. Ein wirklich schöner Blog. Zu den Pfingsrosen: Ich liebe sie ebenfalls. Habe 3 große Stauden in meinem Garten und sie stehen voll in der Blüte. Der Duft ist berauschend schön. Gerne hole ich mir einen Strauß ins Zimmer. Ja, nur essen sollte man sie wirklich nicht. Ist ja noch einmal alles gut gegangen.
Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Tag
Pluminchen
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! They are such beautiful blooms too! Like big pink marshmallows! Glad to hear he is OK though. Our little girl once bit into a block meant to go in the cistern of your toilet. We took her to A and E where the palms of her hands and feet went bright red! After 12 hours the symptoms subsided but I know how worried you must have been for those few hours after.
Becky x
LikeLike
gosh I had never heard of peonies being poisonous, glad all was ok! Hugs, Catherine x
LikeLike
Oh dear Julie! Mind you, they do look good enough to eat don’t they?
LikeLike
Gosh, I never even knew they were poisonous. So pleased to hear Toby didn’t suffer any ill-effects.
LikeLike
I had no idea they were toxic. Summer just hit here and it feels great. Sadly, our peonies are not blooming. Our lilacs are just now finishing. Glad you caught him before he consumed more. I have pink silk peonies, although not as lovely, they are ever present.
LikeLike
My heart skiped a beat for a moment….so scary, I know how you felt and the slow motion thing…my son ate a safety pin that was open and I reached out and took it from his mouth just as he tried to swallow…..two seconds of unkown fear!!!!
Glad everything is okay, the peopnies are lovely but you are so right…cloth flowers!
Hugs,
Margaret B
LikeLike
Hi Julie
Oh dear, that was a close call – loving your photo and nice to be able to put a name to a face.
Davina x
LikeLike
How frightening, Julie. Such a pity as the peonies are lovely at the moment – I rescued some sorry looking specimens from the reduced bin at the supermarket and they’ve rewarded my faith by becoming enormous blowsy pink blooms. Glad to hear that Toby has suffered no ill effects – wonder if he’s drawn to any other flowers or perhaps it’s because these smell so sweet.
LikeLike
Oh bli, that was a bit scary. Peonies are so lovely, I was admiring a neighbour’s garden full of them just a few hours ago and thinking perhaps I’ll buy some to plant in my own. Elaine x
LikeLike
No matter their place on the autism scale – from “normal” to “not,” they stay ahead of us. Sometimes a fatal few seconds, sometimes just enough to snatch our day right out of our hands. I know the stopping of the heart – and would rather never know it again.
I am very much enjoying the new layout. I love having your picture here, and I love being in touch with a beautiful life. I can see that you are reaching out to others who are struggling every day to understand the life they have been given, and I am deeply moved by it. I think that life on earth was not designed for isolation of any kind, and that we were meant to share what we experience and learn. Surely, no one lives long enough to make all the mistakes himself, or to find all the secrets of truth alone. And people who work very hard at giving their children the best possible life and making the best and wisest choices for themselves and their families and then share what they have learned – they are saints.
You. You are one of those rare and blessed folk.
LikeLike
Ouch! Peonies are gorgeous….but that was one experience too many! Glad Toby didn’t suffer any ill effects. Just caught up with your “Woodland” post, too. Wonderful pictures! We’ve planted three young Betula trees in our tiny patch this week…the ones with the ice-white stems…not quite a woodland….but the birds are perching in them already! Jenni x
LikeLike
Yikes ! I had no idea they were on the poisonous list–glad all was well and you now have a week of calm.
LikeLike
Oh goodness. Peonies are among my favorite flowers too, and I had no idea they could be poisonous. So glad Toby was alright.
K x
LikeLike
Oh my , I never knew they were poisonous either – glad he’s okay .
LikeLike
Crikey! Yes, love of peonies must be genetic: glad Toby is OK! Also loving your new photograph at the left of the screen: a lovely finishing touch =)
LikeLike
Oh blimey, been there, done that. Why do they insist on testing the strength of our hearts so regularly?
Let’s try really hard to meet up before the summer holidays. It would be great to see you again.
LikeLike
oh gosh how traumatic. It is a shame though to stick to fabric flowers – perhaps you could allow yourself some edible flowers from time to time
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, I never knew they were poisonous, thankfully Toby was ok! They are so beautiful though but I think you’re right, best sticking to the fabric sort from now on!!
Thanks for ‘dropping’ in, it would be so lovely if you could call in for tea, 24 of us now, that would be quite a party!!
Vivienne x
LikeLike
Oh my…seemed like such an innocent purchase! Those slow motion events are strange, aren’t they? Glad all is well. I love your picture too.
LikeLike
OMGoodness! I’m glad Toby’s okay…what a scary moment for you. Peonies are beautiful though, aren’t they…
LikeLike
Good to see your photo and glad that Toby is ok. The rain has put paid to my peonies which haven’t lasted very well this year.
I’m going to have a lazy day and knit one of your egg cosy bunnies to match my new kitchen tiles -just because I feel like it!!
How indulgent is that?!
LikeLike
Peonies smell so delicious I can understand why he would think that they would taste delicious, too!! good things it was just a few petals, though. Yikes!
LikeLike
Oh julie, is it horrible to say this post made me smile? It made me think of the many trips my mum made to casualty with me nd my siblings over the years with the things we all got up to. Kids! Glad Toby was ok x
LikeLike
Count me among the people who didn’t know peonies were poisonous. Glad Toby was okay. It must be difficult to be “on guard” all the time! Just a note – that I click on the other names of people who comment to you – and have found many more wonderful blogs, recipes and ideas. I could spend hours and hours if only my body would cooperate. Thanks for sharing your photo. It is nice to see who I am admiring. I check your blog every day.
Joan from Wisconsin USA
LikeLike
Weans!
Dawn x
LikeLike
Gosh Julie – who would have thought peonies were poisonous!!! So glad Toby was ok, even though your nerves may have been especially frayed at the time. Gorgeous photos in your recent posts and it really is good to see who is sharing their life and thoughts with us. Hope things are settling back to some sort of normality after the break and that you are all well. JennyH.
LikeLike
You certainly kept your head and handled this situation appropriately Julie. Glad to hear that Toby is fine.
Marie x
LikeLike
I notice Mr. Toby often wear striped trousers is it your love or his?
LikeLike
I was thinking the same thing about rhubarb the other day. I’ve a perfect spot for it….. but then I thought about the implications of having one of The Native’s try to eat the leaves and……… because they would!! 🙂
I can’t get them to eat what they should, and so for that, they’d get some strange inkling to try a rhubarb leaf!
LikeLike