Finn's World, part 2

It's been a while since I last looked at the world from little Finn's point of view.  In fairness to us all, lots of photos of Finn and grass wouldn't be the most interesting of things to see. Grass, after all, is grass.

We have, however, recently had the harvest.  I say "we" and obviously mean the nameless, faceless owner of the land that surrounds our little home, but it has such an impact on our daily walks that it feels far too personal not to be a "we".  Since these photos have been taken, for example, the field has had it's first plough and is an impassable mass of giant sods of earth.  It will be a good few weeks before we can stretch our legs across it again.  But I digress.

Harvest = a field dissected by row upon row of hay (?) and whilst Megs and I simply stepped over, Finn was faced with an obstacle course.  Ever the loving mother, once I had stopped my laughing, it was time to take a few shots.

Here comes Finn.

And here comes Megs!

Finn was loving it...

occasionally he'd be defeated...

but mostly he just cleared them in style!

And yes, go on... double click... it's worth the close up! ;o)

Three very special dogs

I volunteer a few hours a week at a dog rescue, it is great experience for my course and even better for my soul.  The kindness, commitment and dedication of the people that run it is inspiring; I love the time that I spend there and some of the dogs become very special.  I took a couple of photos today of three wonderful little souls, a snapshot of life at a dog rescue.

Little Taz, he's 14 and in need of a foster who will give him lots love and care.  He's booked in for a good groom and haircut but I rather love his shaggy dog look and I think he enjoyed his impromptu bath today.

Angel.  One noisy little girl who will do anything for a bellyrub!

And Asia.  A stunning, young girl with the most amazing ears!  She reminds me a great deal of my Megs and this photo just melts my heart.

If you ever have space in your heart and your life for a dog, there would be no better bet than a rescue.  I'm lucky to see for myself the trust that they place in their rescuers and the love that they have to give when they find their new family.  They really are very special dogs.

Saying goodbye to 38...

As the 12 year old embraced 12; I was counting down my days of 38 and wondering what the last step to 40 would feel like.  Now, 40 I'm excited about and, I apologise now, I intend to celebrate it in style... 39 feels a little underwhelming; poor 39, always a bridesmaid!

As it is, I've had a wonderful couple of days.  I filled as much of my spare time as I could with the dogs.  Walks with my two and time spent with a new "extended" pack, thanks to the local dog rescue that the 12 year old and I am now volunteering at.  Great people, wonderful dogs; it is bringing a whole new dimension to my life and studies.

Because I'm spending more time away from my two, albeit for a good cause, it makes me want to spend better time with them; varying our walks more and going out for longer. The fields at the bottom of the churchyard were off-limits while my ribs healed but the horses have moved back to their old field now and we've been enjoying the extremely long grass that's taking over instead.  Long grass is one of Megan's favourite things; she barrels through with abandon.  Finn, however, is never more than a foot from my side and will often wait for me to go in front and walk him a path.

I decided to crouch down and see the world from his height and Meggie came to find us.

Finn really does live in a very different world; I'm intrigued to see more of it from his viewpoint and am definitely going to try a few more photographs if he'll be patient with me!

As for the rest of the day, I was spoilt with love and good wishes.  I know I am a lucky woman and so thankful for my family and friends.  I'm even rather liking the sound of 39; still no 40 but pretty damn good so far!

The Corset takes shape!

I went off piste on Thursday, utterly and fabulously off piste!  In one minute there were four bits of corset, 20 minutes later there was one.  It was entirely unplanned and all the better for it; for one, I've been wondering how to finish what could be very thick, and rather obtrusive, seams.  Just getting to that point, and doing, gave me the answer.  The seams are sewn through all three layers and then trimmed to 3-4mm from the stitch line.  And, as long as each seam was trimmed back before adding another piece, although bulky,  it was surprisingly neat and easy to sew together.  So simple... I do wonder why my brain so likes to over-think things sometimes.  Once the seams are finished with bias-binding they'll be as neat as they are secure.

And, with all sorts of finishing still to be done, there it is... a tiny piece of nearly finished pinned to Miss G.  It's even holding a shape and its really interesting to see how the hip pieces are looking; they stand quite proud of Miss G's hips and I'm keen to see what happens when the other pieces are sewn in.

This, meanwhile, is how I found Megs... her very own fabric appreciation, I like how she tucked herself in!

Regrowing Celery and other things

As my little Pak Choi is doing so well, I started on a Celery and this is a quick glimpse of the progress so far.  I also planted on my second Pak Choi and will wait to see what happens with that.  It has quite a few sprouts coming up from the base, which is why I left it that bit longer in the water - to give them a chance to get taller, so it's a little haphazard, we'll see what happens.

The Celery is a slower grower, but I'm impressed by the bunching - it looks productive!  Unlike the Pak Choi, which looks like the second little shoot is never going to go any further than it has.  I need to find out more about Pak Choi as I'm not entirely sure what it does now and when and what I can do with it.

Meanwhile, my apple tree is budding in a beautiful deep pink:

We have horses, and a foal - who doesn't love a foal, now grazing in the bottom field:

And, as Megs snuck into the last celery picture and we're indulging in a little cute today, here's a gratuitous picture of Finn doing what he does best...

making cute look easy.  I almost forgive the thunk on the chest wakeup call at 4ish this morning.  Almost.  She says, smiling fondly ;o)

The week that was....

So the Finn is, touch-wood-fingers-and-toes-crossed, on the mend.  The last 48 hours (it feels far longer) I have been acting like a slightly demented anxious mama and I am very lucky to have kind and patient friends!  I am too much of a control freak to deal well with the vagueness of just waiting and seeing.  There is a list of what I can ignore and what I should phone the vet about, but the ignore list contains some pretty scary symptoms/side effects and I can't help but wonder when ignoring is no longer an option.  That, combined with the fact that my little man seems to be discovering the art of manipulation, and I am fretting far more than is sensible... we're back to the kind and patient friends :o)  So, tomorrow, baring anything really horrible happening in the morning, I am going to (wo)man-up, resist those gorgeous big ears and doleful eyes and just make sure I'm home super quick!

In the meantime, the Megs is behaving super well.  I was thinking that she would be a nightmare this week, without all her usual treats and nibbles (there would be no way of making sure Finn didn't share) and instead she's been the calmest I've seen her in a long while.  We are careful about what they eat, all natural, nothing bleached or coloured but perhaps there's more to them then we thought, there's certainly no denying the change. Poor Megs, she may just have lost her bribe rights!

Other than that, I've done none of what I planned, no sewing and very little homework, but we have booked a holiday!  The lovely boyf seems to have got on well in Boston and I've certainly not had too much spare time to mope about missing him (sorry hon!) but I'll be very glad to see him on Friday.  And the 11yr old has been a good giggle; putting up with stressed mum, eating everything I've cooked without complaint and making sure I'm all caught up on Glee, and now Primeval - watching her watch it is just hysterical.  She spends the majority of the time hiding.  We also bought ourselves a Red Nose each, all ready for the 15th, and are practicing our poses!

So, here's to a calmer Thursday and Friday, and a happy weekend everyone, where I promise not to disturb anyone unless its really, truly important! 

The perfect Monday wake up!

Should, I'm guessing be something along the lines of flowers and breakfast in bed but not in our house.

It's been cold the last couple of days; lovely, with bright sunny days and snow flurries, but biting Artic winds cold.  You can't completely escape it in the cottage, especially in the bedrooms, so it was a welcome surprise, when Megs' paw landed on the bed, to wake up this morning all lovely and toasty.  The dogs, however, were cold.  Toasty bliss lasted all of a nano-second as Finn sucker punched me in the chest, jumping over the boyf to burrow down under the covers beside me.  He is a mole masquerading as a small, scruffy mutt.  Megs, instead of her usual dobe-appropriate spot at the end of the bed, curled up, all of a shiver, on my pillow, stuck her face under the duvet and hugged my arm with her paws.  And there we stayed till the alarm went off, snug as bugs in a rug.  I haven't yet lost the smile from my face.

Now if someone could explain to my beautiful dobe that chicken coop poop or, for the purposes of the photographic evidence, the woodshavings in which they sit, is not a good look.... at one point I think her whole head was in the bucket!

Megs was in need of a loving

The dobe got a strange lump on her leg before Christmas.  The vet initially thought that it was an insect bite that she'd licked too much but I'm glad that we weren't so sure as on Friday she had, what we now knew to be, a benign tumour removed.  She was a sad girl who returned home, her history with vets has not been good and the entire experience drains her.  I don't think I'm exaggerating to think that she knows that what happens is for the good, but she does not enjoy the process.  When it came to bedtime the pain was evident.  She sat on her bed, the whites of her eyes showing and  her mouth as stiff as if she had her teeth clenched.  So there we sat, on the cold bedroom floor, long after bedtime and I held her till she was ready to fall asleep because I knew, there and then, with utter certainty that this is my girl.  We may not be related,  the same species even, but she is my girl and I adore her with the same depth of feeling that I save for my very favourite people and the other furry and feathered souls that have snuck into my heart.

There was a Church camp in Hong Kong, we went there a few times for the weekend and maybe once with school.  It was in the mountains, we did lots of walking, and on the paths around the site there were signs that often made us laugh; my favourite "Don't step on the cat, she may be your Grandmother!"  It made no sense, and I never saw the cat, but as I learnt officially about Buddhism at University, I saw how I had, through experiences like that, been living with Buddhism my entire childhood in Asia.  It had formed a great deal of how I thought about the world and, most especially, the notion of souls.  I find it perfectly acceptable, from both a faith based and scientific standpoint, that there is an essence, an energy in every living thing, that can not quite be explained by science, and which we think of as the soul.  I think it is one of the true wonders of Buddhism, the idea of reincarnation, not necessarily for what it teaches you about the progression of your faith, but for the beautiful way in which it ensures that the basic tenants of that faith, and rights that it bestows upon each soul, are shared inclusively with the other creatures on our planet.  For each of us to be able to recognise and relate to this energy, both in humans and non-humans, I see as utterly natural.  We've all met someone with whom we instantly shared a rapport... or wanted to escape from fast.  Fallen for that one puppy in the pile of equally cute puppies or found the one dog at the rescue shelter that catches our eye.  I'm not suggesting that they might be long lost Uncle Frankland, but they have an energy we like and, you never know, might just share some of what was once Uncle Frank's!

And so it is with the Megs and I.  She  is a real needy fusspot who whines way too much, thinks she can wrap me round her little finger and sulks monumentally when she doesn't get her own way, can pull me off my feet, if she thinks there's a fox to be caught, farts like you wouldn't believe and utterly hogs the sofa but look into those eyes and there's that connection.  The one that says we recognise each other, and we love what we see.

Abbie needs a home

I'm on a mission, this beautiful girl (who looks so like my Megs) needs a good home urgently. She is 6 years old and has lived the same family her whole life (pedigree, vaccinations up to date but not neutered).  Sadly, she has not adjusted to the arrival of their son a year ago and, with a second child on the way, they do not think that they can keep her.  They are also not able to walk her regularly, a important factor as any dobe owner knows!  She has not lived with other animals but is used to being left at home as they both worked full time.  If anyone can help or wants more information, please contact me.

It's been a very busy weekend!

The Visit: my brother, his wife, nephew Alfie and niece Lottie (collectively the T's), came down from Stafford for their first visit to our little cottage.  M and C have just asked me to be Lottie's Godmother and they were staying for the birthday BBQ so it was a special visit.   It was good to see them and lovely to spend time with Alfie and Lottie.  Pirates vs Dinosaurs went particularly well, until Captain Hook lost his head and Mr Sneed, both his arms.

The BBQ:  Saturday was a chaotic mix of shopping, cooking and generally tidying up in preparation for our Summer BBQ.  I swept the lawn and the bunting came out... Finn was very helpful.

Whilst the family T relaxed and enjoyed the sun.

We all hoped that Lottie might have a nap on the lawn, until Megs beat her to it.   Funnily enough, Lottie doesn't settle when she's having her face or feet licked!  Not that I think Lottie would have settled for long though, she was far too interested in everything that was going on.

The birthday BBQ was a roaring success.  We are so lucky with our friends.  Everyone contributed and helped, and although they thanked us for the good night had by all, we couldn't have done it without some seriously wonderful people pitching in.  The lovely Mrs B cooked up a storm; K & M brought their famous Bombay Potatoes and Coleslaw; D from the pub lent us a BBQ, furniture and some serious cooking expertise; and the other guys contributed more food (see the gorgeous Pavova below) and drinks than we could have ever hoped to consume in one night - though we gave it a good go!

After days of unsettled weather, the sun shone, the wind was nothing more than a gentle breeze and for several glorious, chaotic hours, our little house burst at the seams with children playing, people chatting and laughing, good food and loud music.  It was a genuine pleasure to have been part of bringing it all together.  Finn proved himself to be quite the party pup and Megs, in true dobe style, watched it all swirl around her... and occasionally got lucky and was given a leftover sausage.  We finished the evening, as we do all our parties, in the pub, playing "killer" pool and enjoying a surprise visit from the marvellous Mr S (who just happened to be passing by) before finally calling it quits at about 1.30 this morning.

The Garage: the best cure for any post-party fog is a good spring clean; or at least that's what we have been trying to convince ourselves of!  Anyone who knows the minutiae of  our life, knows that our garage has been a nuisance from the day we moved in.  It could be a great space, it's large and light and has a stunning view out into the churchyard, if only it didn't leak from every surface!  We have lost so much stuff to water damage, from leaks in places that you couldn't imagine, that it has become our bête noire.  Today was the day that we were finally going to sort the last of the things that needed to be disposed of and long, sweaty, tiring story short, this is the final result.  It won't mean much to you I know, but this neat, clean and tidy garage feels like something of a victory!  We just have to hope the weather holds a little longer and we can work on some of those damn leaks.

The Room: it is a fact that the lovely Mrs B is the 11yr old's second mum.  They even look the spit of each other.  It is a relationship that I value greatly, as Mrs B is some of the things that I have always wanted to be; outgoing, amazingly generous, vivacious... the list goes on and the 11 yr old will learn a lot from her.  And so, in Florida, they came up with a plan.  The 11 yr old's recently rejigged and redecorated room needed a little makeover to give the 11 yr old some much needed closet and makeup space.  They came up with the plan, I sighed, they knew I couldn't ignore it and, one floor plan later (just to check that this pie in the sky idea would actually fit in the space provided), it was deemed a rather good idea after all - I know when I'm beat! ;o)  Now Mrs B is not responsible for the new (not quite) double bed which arrived today; the 11 yr old and I can take the credit for that. In truth, a bed that size seemed a little daft at first, but you only get one childhood room and I have such fond memories of mine that I want her to have that same opportunity.  So, as long as it was not too big (and not too small) I was happy to agree.  When I found this one, an old size double bed, repainted white (saves me a job!), I knew that it would be just perfect for her room.  So, following a morning of hard labour, I spent the afternoon putting up her new bed and starting on the redecorating.  She still needs a mattress and bedding, and a lot more painting on my part, but the snuggle says it all.

The Pups: and just as I sat down to relax, the pups decided to play.  If you've never seen a dobe and a chihuahua play before, it's a sight and a lesson in gentleness and bravery.  On me, on the sofa, on the floor, under the sofa, up and down the stairs, in the garden, the kitchen and the dining room... they didn't stop for over an hour.

Then daddy came home and, of course, they were good as gold!  Either that, or just plain shattered... happy, sleepy, pups.

I have no excuse...

well, actually, I have two ;o) see....

How could I disturb my two, when they're so comfortable?!  And, as you can see from the happy, smiley face, the "enforced" idleness is doing me good.  I've never been so happy to be lazy... lets call it "unbusy", I like "unbusy"!

Houdini and the Gardener

The pups earned themselves new nicknames this week.  Megs, “The Gardener”, who did the exact opposite of what we would have imagined, when she found herself locked out of her kennel (thankfully during a rare break in the rain), and sunned herself in the garden instead of digging it up.  And Finn, “Houdini”, who proved his escape artist skills by unzipping his pen from the inside; much to the 10yr olds’ shock when she came home to find him mooching in the kitchen.  It should have been chaos, all flying soil and chewed up wires but it was all more than ok; they’d both been in unfamiliar situations and behaved exactly as we would hope; we could sit back and chuckle over a glass of red.

It certainly takes far longer to get back to normal following a holiday than ever you were on the holiday itself, and when you decide to throw a new puppy into the mix... we're all caught up in a heady mix of jet lag, puppy brain, broken nights' sleep (though he is very good, up at 4am for 5 minutes and we're tucked back in bed) and generally getting back into the swing of work, school and the everyday stuff.  It’s safe to say, that the ironing pile is going to grow by a few more feet yet before I get round to tackling it!

That said, as the boyf and I concluded tonight, with a certain degree of wonder, we are the most relaxed and happy we've been in ages.  The post holiday glow certainly hasn’t yet worn off, but it’s really rewarding to see our little pie-eyed “let’s get a puppy” plan come good.   I’ve talked before about the amount of time and research we put into our decision to get the Dobe and raise her right, and we have thought just as long and hard (if not more so, now that we had Megs to consider too) about how to expand out little pack.  I know that it’s very early days yet, but we are enjoying the calm that comes with the certainly to knowing what we’re doing this time round!  Finn is fitting so well into our life and he's such a happy go lucky little thing.  There’s no doubt we have our work cut out for us, but its good beginnings.

And amidst all this loved-upness, I took a look at my smock, in the hope that I can get back to some sewing this weekend... I have the dining table to clear of that ironing first though!  It felt unfamiliar and exciting all at the same time but I’m itching to get back to it again, I’m not me if I’ve not been sewing for a while.

We have a new puppy! Meet Finn.

Although it took the lovely boyf a good long time to persuade me to that I wanted a baby dobe in my life; it didn't take me long to decide that two would be better than one.  He didn't necessarily agree and, it is fair to say, I have spent the last 18 months of Megs life discussing, persuading, cajoling, bribing, pleading and, as necessary, occasionally even sulking in an attempt to win the boyf round!  So, we have a new addition to the family, Finnick Humperdink (the 10 yr old is responsible for his first name, I take full responsibility for the second, Englebert is a guilty pleasure!) a Chihuahua/Chinese Crested cross.  We wanted small, but not too small (I'm hoping he inherits his mother's long legs) and a happy mix of two of my favourite small breeds.  

He arrived home yesterday and I think it's safe to say that we're all a little in love... he's also looks to be interested in taking up photography!