The weekend bought the first 'proper' sunny and warm day yet (chilly in the wind though...)
Dad had his shorts on for the first time this year.....this usually brings on lashing rain....
one of many personal 'jumping rocks'...
.
It was good to get out :)
He's a big dog and it's a cat basket. He was protesting at the removal of his bed whilst I was painting the back room...............................
The loveliness of the weekend was tinged with illness unfortunately. Trips to the out of hours GP. Temp of 39 plus for four days previous , peaking at a nice 40 (104) on Sunday night. Maddie by the way. She rallied for a couple of hours at the christening, heavily dosed up but spent the rest of the time snuggled up close. Totally still, very un - Maddie like.
She's got a nasty ear infection in both and tonsillitis. Antibiotics, her first ever dose.....and Manuka honey. I must say I prefer the natural treatments but it's just got to be knocked on the head. She's still miserable to be honest and that's hard on everyone as I know you know ;)... I'm pretty tired.
Just been having some down time which is pretty much all you can do with a little poorly limpet at your side.
making 'birthday cakes' with her magnets
colouring under the 'snug' (blanket)
May or may not see you tomorrow...........
This little dress used to be mine and I couldn't wait to put it on Maddie. It's so 70's, made of cheesecloth I think and consists of an underdress and a little petticoat over the top. A 'pretty dress' occasion presented itself this weekend with the christening of my little niece and nephew. It was a lovely day.
Family from here and overseas, a beautiful ceremony and last and by no means least - a super lunch !
Definitely a warm and fuzzy event :)
A lot of you have enquired about me - I'm very flattered. I can't help being so handsome...
When I was about 12 weeks old my master saw me being loaded into a dog wardens van in Exeter. I don't know how I got there and had been wandering for a while. Seeing as I was very cute and pointy and tiny and skinny (just the sort of hound Mum liked) he found out where I was being taken and reported back to her. Now she wasn't that keen at first, being 8 wks pregnant and coping with half the house being knocked down and rebuilt. A puppy was not the first thing on her must get list. Still, he worked on her and she agreed very reservedly to just come and look at me. Well of course one look into her eyes and her heart melted - the rest is history. I'm definitely 'her' dog.
I'm now 4 years old, no longer tiny (they should have known by the size of my paws) but still skinny. No one is sure of my ancestry apart from the greyhound bit , maybe some collie, maybe some deerhound....everyone has a guess but we shall never know.
I really landed on my feet with this family. They soon gave in on the 'no sofa' rule, I'm just too darn cute ! I still get on laps for a super cuddle but at 25kg it's not a popular move.
You may have noticed the cats around here..........they seem to love me with all their nuzzling and rubbing. I pretend not to like it , got to remain aloof. Seeing as I should be chasing and shaking little fluffy creatures I think I'm doing rather well controlling my instincts. Actually I can't be bothered. After a few bursts around the field I'm barely bothered to get off the couch for food. It's a hard life.
I've had the odd moment of trouble though. There was the unfortunate incident with the animal behaviourist after my incessant bin emptying and strewing the minute I was left alone. Separation anxiety....I'm such a sensitive soul. Got over that now you'll be pleased to know. I keep my sensitivity for the vets where I like to do my speciality howling to make them feel really bad..(they don't seem to care. I was called a drama queen last time).
Right , I'm making myself look bad so I'll leave you with some action shots of me in my prime, doing what I love best. Nice to meet you!
Springing into action...watch out....
Look at me go - impressed yet ?
Can't believe they gave me this pink squeaky ball to play with. Thank gawd there were no other dogs around.
I tried to make the best of it...
A tad tired..give me a drink
Those pesky kids hogging the limelight..
(just pretend you haven't seen the dangling flex from the wall. 6 months on and I still can't find a wall light I like that's in stock ..........)
a favourite game - 'gymnastics' and 'dance school', actually I think this may have been 'swimming lessons' going by Maddies diving hands...
I could watch the girls playing together like this all day. It's not always the case. You would think with a 7.5 year age gap there would be no bickering......wrong, very wrong...as I'm starting to gather now they are at home together all day. They are lovely girls and are devoted to each other as you can see in the bottom pic but wow does it get noisy at times. At least they won't be teenagers together - I'll cling on to that !
Mowzer joins in the fun ..........this cat is the less stable shall we say, of the two....(it's a very high wall but he made it, just)
Pretty much sums up the weekend. Bizarre weather......from this ..
(new togs courtesy of Girly Style Wardrobe again. As you can tell I'm in love with this book..)
and this..
(note swimming costume over a thick dress...she looked like superman with bulging pecs. I just let her get on with it ;)
to this....
in the space of about half an hour . And back and forth and back and forth all weekend.
Those kids were so excited and stood outside collecting all the 'snow', which is now in lumps in the freezer ...... this may seem like small fry to any of you coming out of a severe winter, but to us snow starved individuals it was like Christmas so to speak. Very sad I know....
If you click on the pic you will also notice Maddie taking advantage of my distraction and helping herself to the scrapings out of the rice pudding tin... No sharp edges involved you'll be pleased to know.
There has been quite a bit more 'making' going on too, nothing fantastically exciting, just some practical stuff. You know, the more 'boring' sewing. Will take some pics and show soon. Don't die of anticipation ;)
I've been playing with my new 'toy'. Well not really new..It was given to me (I mean loaned, Dad..) back last summer and to be honest I was too scared of it to try it. How very silly I was. This thing ROCKS baby !!
There was a learning curve to be sure, one I have not completed yet - but still, the potential...my sewing life has suddenly become a lot easier and that can't be bad. Can you spot it, on the end of the table ?
I know it drives Nick bonkers but I love the fact that the kitchen table has hair straighteners (Lilys new toy...at 10...I ask you..bought with birthday money so don't blame me) toys, overlocker, sewing stuff etc. It's us. We do manage to be tidy too but it was Sunday morning, so don't judge to harshly !
The childrens Easter break is upon us and that means, most importantly, no school run, breakfast and dressing panic, shouting and stressing to get out of the house. Two weeks of pure heaven.
to say a *massive* thankyou for all the lovely comments wishing me well (and regarding Lilys crocheting...she was a bit overwhelmed when she read them!).
It's very kind of you all, seems like having a bad back is something you can all relate to! Sorry I've not responded individually - I do like to but sitting here is not very comfortable.
It's getting better, there is no doubt about it, just keeping up the ibuprofen and getting on with it really...like you do ;) Went in to work last night which wasn't the best idea seeing as most of my work involves bending, lifting or kneeling on the floor! Was told in no uncertain terms to stay off until it's better...we are a very small team and with the current budget and staffing issues there is NO room for sickness...still can't be helped. We all unfortunately feel guilty if we have to take time off.
Anyway - I'll quickly post a few pics from the weekend. Big sister was a very big help, keeping the little one amused. And she went down for a 2.5 hr nap (and we all collapsed in a heap, losing that hour obviously affecting us all ! )
The weekend in pictures ... (despite tummy bugs we did get away)
you may just about be able to see the seals in the bottom right curve of the sand
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Aunty Mary in NZ....if you are reading...belated Happy Birthday from us all..!!! (Dad's now using the blog as an international messaging service ;) xx
Yesterday afternoon Lils was given the all clear - hooraay ! After days of nailbiting and tears she was ecstatic. Stupid old skin condition, very glad to see the back of that.
I had to find the place up on the moor, in the rain, wind and failing light.......I actually found it quite easily but that doesn't sound so dramatic ;)
this was interesting...as I hesitated a farm Landy ploughed past me in a huffy, get out of my way you townie, sort of way. OK....we went through without a hitch. The times I've done this in younger years, in tiny, tinny, non diesel cars...clutching the wheel tight and praying I didn't stall - and then did invariably. I can laugh now......
On arrival we were greeted by the sight of her friends trudging back from abseiling, absolutely soaked to the bone but looking very happy and tired. The teacher told me that a lot of 'jumping in a lake fully clothed' had gone on too........ We entered the place via a huge drying room festooned with sopping wet clothes, the floor strewn with a million pairs of wellies, come to think of it, I don't think I saw an actual pair such was the chaos. I hastily beat a retreat and left her in the capable hands of her friends and teacher, who seemed remarkably unphased in the face of all the squealing, excited and hyper girls (and boys, but I didn't see them..probably banished to the furthest reaches of the facility by said girls) brave man.
Back to normal here then today - I have a delightful morning of house blitzing ahead of me whilst the little is at pre school. We've had the alloted half an hour of sun already and it's getting darker and darker as I type. At least I won't feel so hard done by, slaving over the ironing if it's tipping down outside. (Anyone will tell you that I never iron, but some things unfortunately resist the fold it up and hope for the best treatment. Those things are now in a pile up to my waist....time to wade in...)
