"D" is for Dog.

Day 4 of the A- Z challenge means that today it is “D”  I am going to continue with the theme of blessings. 

“D” is for Dogs. Dogs are my passion. I have loved dogs my entire life. My Mum used to say that even as a tiny tot in my pushchair I would reach out for any that were nearby.

I was never allowed a dog as a child as my parents weren't really doggie people, although my Dad did come to love Alfie and Loulou in the last few years of his life.

My Mum used to say “when you have your own home you can have as many dogs as you like”. We have had 6 so far. At one time we had 4 together. Currently we just have one.

In the last 3 years I have been able to take my passion one step further by doing volunteer work for Three Counties Dog Rescue. I now regard myself as having over 70 dogs. Every one, of our small band of volunteers at Three Counties, treat the dogs just as we do our own. We love every single one of them. I just wish they could all find loving homes. Sadly as one goes out to a home another little soul comes in.

Here are some photos of the 6 doggie blessings that I have been privileged to have in my life.

Buick.

Sandy.

Rosie.

Alfie.

Loulou.

Beanie.

Jilly

Monday 5th January

I really want to get back into my blogging habit so even though I have nothing much to say I thought I would drop by.

We had a fairly normal weekend.  Saturday is always doggie kennel day so that was where we were until late afternoon.  We have just taken in 2 Spaniel puppies, they are 4 months old.  They are very cute and have probably already found a furever home.

The Spaniels were posted on the 3CDR  FB page and all hell broke loose.  People were just going crazy.  I found it a bit sad to be honest.  We have nearly 70 beautiful dogs and it is really hard work trying to find homes, along comes a puppy and everyone wants it.  

As you can see they are cute.

 

 

 

Saturday evening we were out to dinner at Gyll's house.  The usual crowd of us from the doggie rescue.  We are so blessed to have made such wonderful friends.

Sunday was a bit of a lazy day.  We took down all the Christmas decorations in the morning.  The house looks much lighter now.  Funny that. Then Simon pottered around in the garage doing whatever he does ou there.  I did a bit of Internet stuff and generally lazed around.

Today Simon was back to work so I can begin to get back into my normal routines.  So housework this morning including an absolute ton of ironing as it had been left over Christmas.

This afternoon was nice and relaxed and I did some computer stuff and also finished off a Hamma bead creation.

Simon got me some Hama beads and boards for Christmas.  (Perler beads to Merikans).  My children had these and so does Ellie so it seems like a childish hobby.  However, I have seen some really beautiful creations on the Internet and there are sellers on Etsy who do great work too.

I thought I would enjoy trying it out as another craft and another possible thing to sell if I get good enough.  Think it takes practise!  The ironing bit is a real skill I think!  I have manged to make a small dent in the middle of my peg board where the pegs have distorted from the heat. don't think that is supposed to happen!

It takes quite a lot of concentration but it is very relaxing.  It also takes a hell of a lot of beads.  Simon got me a tub of 4000 mixed colours and I had to buy more white ones at the weekend to complete my design.  Fortunately they are cheap.

This evening I have been doing stuff on my computer.  Listing new charms in my Etsy shop and catching up with other bits and pieces.

Tomorrow, I don't have too much housework so hopefully I will get more time for myself.  

Have you all seen that I have been updating my blog "Adventures with Tallulah"?  I have about 4 posts scheduled to go live this week.  Then I should be up to date.  Click on the tab at the top of my page to see it.

Friday 2nd of January

We spent most of today at the dog rescue kennels where most of you will remember we do volunteer work.  Simon works with the dogs,  playing, training, grooming etc.    These are some of the dogs that he had out today.

This is Tess.  She is a Rottweiler and is 5 years old.  She has been with us most of her life.  Sadly, many people do not like Rotties.  

This is Luca, he is an 11 month old Weimaraner cross.   He has only been with us a few weeks and is severely malnourished and very timid.  Simon has gained his trust.

This is Zeus another Rottie.  He is 6 years old and has been with us a very long time.  He gets over looked time and time again because of his size.  He is BIG!  He is also a soppy baby.   Gentle as can be. 

This is Beanie with Tash, one of the kennel maids.  Beanie is a 2 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he is a really sweetie.  He has not had a good start.

This is just a small selection of the dogs that are currently in the care of Three Counties Dog Rescue.

If you would like to find out more  then please click here. 3CDR

We also have a Facebook page.  3CDR Facebook

Photo 365 - 32

1st February 2014. It's Saturday so it was a kennel day.  This is Obi.

Photo 365 -30

Today was Simon's day off this week and we went to the kennels for a few hours this morning.  The people who are having little Jack came to visit again.  They are having some work done on their garden fencing so can't actually have Jack for another week.

You have already seen a photo of Jack so I am showing you Chrissie. She has just gone into a foster home.

Photo 365 - 26

We spent another few hours today at the doggie kennels.  There were a few appointments and fingers crossed 2 more dogs may be going to their new homes very soon.

The weather was horrid again, very wet and cold but it didn't stop Simon having some doggies out to play.

This is Charlie he is a Beagle Harrier and is nearly a year old.  He is full of energy and mischief and yet another that I wish I could bring home!

We had a very pleasant afternoon just lazing around at home and then went to Sam and Lisa's for dinner.  Roast beef, yum, yum.  Was lovely to have some time with the girls. Nearly bedtime now.

Photo 365 - 25

Saturday, so once again it is time to head off for the doggie kennels.   We did go to the Vet in Stamford first to collect more donated bedding.  We have been overwhelmed and really touched by the support we have had for our appeal for bedding.  People are amazing. We fetched another car load back from the Vet.

The weather was truly foul today.  Cold and wet. Despite that Simon managed to complete the tidying up of the exercise area that he begun yesterday. He cut back trees and bushes that were overhanging and swept up leaves and weeded and much more.  It looks way better now.

I was busy inside talking to people and showing them the dogs.  I did however go out for a short while.  This is me with Annie.  Simon is trying to teach her a few tricks!!  She has come out of her shell so much.  She is very timid around anyone she doesn't know and it has taken many months for us to gain her trust.  For a long while she accepted Simon but still wouldn't come near me.  As you can see we are fine now, although she can still be a bit skittish. Annie is a Neapolitan Mastiff cross.

Photo 365 - 24

Today was Simons day off so it was doggie kennel day.  We had an appointment with a guy called Mike who together with his partner is interested in Jack a little Patterdale Terrier.

All went extremely well and hopefully Jack will be in his furever home in the next week or so.

Photo 365 - 16

We were at the kennels today to bath Lily. Lily is a Husky Cross.  She has a skin condition due to a zinc deficiency.  This is quite a common thing with Huskies.  She has zinc tablets but she also needs regular baths. She was a very good girl in the bath.

Before we began we took her out for some playtime and general fuss time.  Here she is with Simon. 

She is the sweetest girl.  You can find out more about her and see more photos HERE 

Photo 365 - 11

Today is Saturday and therefore a kennel day.

This is me with Rosie.  She is a 2 year old Husky and absolutely gorgeous.

Photo 365 - 10

Busy, busy, day today. It was Simon's day off and we spent a good few hours at the kennels.  We took Lily to the vet to have her skin checked.  She has a zinc deficiency and is on medication.

This is her having a game in the paddock with a strange trampy looking man!

Photo 365 - 5

Not the best day today.  We spent a few hours at the doggie rescue kennels this morning and made the discovery that quite a lot of the dogs had wet bedding.   Everyone was incredibly upset.  Three Counties do not own the kennels.  It is a private boarding kennel. This should have been noticed. Three Counties do supply the bedding for them to use for the rescue dogs.  We are incredibly short of bedding right now so I have spent most of this afternoon appealing to anybody I possibly can for quilts and blankets.

It was even more upsetting coming home to Loulou who has a warm house and clean dry bedding. So wish that we could do more. Today's photo (which was taken today despite it appearing to be a Christmas shot!) is of Loulou opening the last one of  her Christmas presents.

Someone asked the other day about the tumour on her ear.  It has been this size for over a year.  It is not operable at her age.  It is not growing and it does not bother her in anyway.

Photo 365 - 4

Saturday.......means it's kennel day. For over 18 months now we have spent every Saturday helping at the Three Counties Dog Rescue.  Even when the weather is foul which it certainly was today.

This is Tess she is one of Simon's favourites.  I admit to a soft spot for her too.  She is a Rottweiler.  She is around 4 and has been at the rescue for most of her life.  She is very loving and adores Simon.   You can check out Tess and her friends here.

Photo 365 - 2.

Day 2.  We spent time at the Three Counties Dog Rescue this morning. It was very muddy and the first dog we had out jumped all over me with excitement.

It was jolly cold too.  But at at least it didn't rain.  I obviously didn't take this photo but it was my camera and I did take lots of other shots.  Just wanted to show you this one and I think it counts.

January 1st 2014

Out with the old and in with the new.  Happy New Year to you all.  I hope 2014 treats us all well.

I always feel a great deal of excitement on the first day of the New Year.  It’s the idea of a blank canvas just waiting to be written. It’s similar to the feeling that I get from a brand new book.  Every page is a discovery and adventure.   I wonder why we only tend to get this feeling on New Year’s Day, after all every day is a new canvas.  There really is nothing special about the 1^st of January. It is just a day like any other. 

Nevertheless, I do welcome another year. I like to look back over the year just gone and to reflect on the good memories made. I try to be thankful for all those good things in my life.  I don’t make resolutions but I do like to look ahead and set some goals.

So I am sitting here thinking and now I am going to share a few with you all………………….

Lose some weight, increase fitness level and health.  This is not a resolution but an on-going promise to myself.  As an added incentive I and another volunteer at the Three Counties Dog Rescue are going to do a sponsored slim to raise funds for the doggies.

That brings me to another goal.  To try and come up with new ways of fund raising. The dog rescue is absolutely desperate for money.  It costs around £15,000 a month which is a lot of money.

That takes me on to my sewing.  I haven’t made much from it so far. I need to concentrate on the items that do sell. I want to double the sales that I made in my first year.

Other goals are to do with learning.  I had a lovely new bridge camera for Christmas.  A Nikon P520. It has all the manual controls that you would find in a full DSLR.  I think it may even do the washing up! I want to learn how to use all those functions properly.  It is my intention to try to do a photo a day.  A 365 Photo diary.  We’ll see.   It may just help me get the blogging habit back.

Lastly, I intend to try out a new craft each month.  That seems to be a decent amount of time to try something out and get a feel for it.  If I take to something and enjoy it then I can take it on.  I am going to begin with knitting. I will keep you posted on progress.

So 2014 is set to be a good year for us.   A challenging year quite possibly and a year of change if Simon decides to cut his working hours further.  I’m up for it though, so bring it on, I can’t wait to get started.

I’m sure you have all been setting your own goals today and whatever they may be I wish you luck with them.  I wish you love health and happiness and as always I wish you ENOUGH.

BYE BYE 2013

WELCOME 2014

When is a resolution not a resolution?  When it’s a goal!

Where is my bloggin mojo?

Just had a look at my poor neglected blog. Last time I was here was back in August and prior to that May! There once was a time when I never missed a day. I seem to have lost my blogging mojo.  I started a blog for my Fabrilushus shop a while back and that has ground to a halt too. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.  I have even got very lax in reading blogs so I am totally out of the loop.  I miss my friends.  I see FB posts but that simply isn't the same.

Not much has changed here apart from the season!  How can we be in autumn already? As seems to be the norm in the UK, we had a pretty measly summer.  It wasn't as wet as last year but we didn't have that many sunny weeks and it wasn't ever what I call hot.  Feeling pretty miserable right now at the thought of the long winter months ahead.

We are all doing ok.  I have been a bit worried about Simon, he is tired and gets headaches and yesterday had a pain in his eyeball all day.  A sharp pain.  This is his good eye too and he wouldn't do anything about it!  Don't suppose I had mentioned here that he lost most of the sight in one of his eyes back in the summer?  He has a central retinal occlusion. It was pretty worrying for a while as they though he had a stroke.  That eye is getting better slowly.

The rest of the family are all ok. Our big news is we have our 6th grandchild on the way. Saskia is expecting her first baby in March.  It is very exciting.

Alfie and Loulou are both still with us, although Alfie has bladder cancer and Loulou's tumor is growing. I worry about them all the time but they are pain free and happy so we are enjoying whatever time we have left.

I am busy doing all the usual stuff.  I also look after Jessie 2 days a week.  Once the housework is taken care of I spend quite a lot of time making things to sell at Fabrilushus.  Sales are very slow but they are coming.  The rest of my time is spent doing stuff for the dog rescue.  Both Simon and I are more and more involved there which is great as it is something we do together. It has also had the added benefit that we have made some very good friends.  We love each and every one of the dogs and spend many hours playing and grooming and just generally teaching them about love.

I would like to get back into my blog.  I always used it as a sort of online journal of my life and I am so annoyed that this year there are great chunks missing.  SO, I am going to try and do a daily photo to get back in the swing of things.  I figure a photo won't take too much time to do.  We shall see how it goes.

Wishing you all a happy Autumn.

Random stuff

Just a few random thoughts.

1.  Why is it that however well you stock up, the shopping always has to be done again at some point?       I wish the cupboards would just stay full.

2. When will spring actually start?  OK, I know it has started in theory, but when will the spring weather arrive?

3. Out-laws are a bloody nightmare.  The Daleks should exterminate them.

4.  Helped on the market stall on Saturday in aid of the doggies and we made £509.  Brilliant.  Worth going out so early in the biter cold and pouring rain. Missed seeing the doggies though.

5. If other half invites someone to our house that I cannot stand why is it not OK for me to go out and leave him to it?   In fact why can't he just go and see them instead of inviting them here?

6. I will not be told by anyone who I can and can't like. It doesn't work that way.  Some you like and some you can't stand.

7. Had horrid headache most of yesterday.  I know what started it.

8. Still can't get people to read here and still missing Multiply.

9. Am going to start a new blog specifically for Fabrilushus.

10. Insurance company are refusing to pay for Alfie's prescription diet food.  It is around a £100 a month.  Simon just collected his tablets today and a months supply is £180.  Thank goodness the insurance covers that.

11. Just realised that Easter isn't far away and in just over a weeks time Simon will be under my feet again for 2 weeks.  Wish we were able to go away somewhere hot and sunny.   It isn't possible as we can't leave Alfie and Loulou.

12.  Still have headache.  Think I will go to bed and read.

Friday

Friday, the end of the week. Just realised we are exactly half way through March. That means spring really should be here soon.  Today it is supposed to be raining.  Right now it just looks grey and cold.  I like Fridays, Simon is home at 4pm and the weekend starts.

I haven't got up yet.  It is 7.30am and I am just drinking my coffee. I thought maybe if I write a few words now I will have a blog. Haven't got much to say though.

Who has heard of Sound Cloud?  I just found it.  I was reading a book review and it said to "click here" to hear an extract on Sound Cloud. It has some good stuff I think but limitations too. I haven't really explored it.  I am currently listening to Smooth Jazz.  It is quite nice.

I am hoping for a sewing day today. I haven't much housework to do. When Simon gets home we are going to Gyll's house with the trailer to load up the car with stuff for the market tomorrow.  Gyll is the owner of the dog rescue. Do you remember that once a month they have a stall on Peterborough market, selling donated goods?  It is tomorrow.  We will get there about 7.30am, Simon will go once we are unloaded but I will be working on the stall until about 2pm.  I actually really enjoy it but I am not looking forward to the cold.

Random bits:

A photo for you........... Evan. He was going to a party and requested smart clothes and gelled up hair! he is 4.  He does look cute though!

If your children call you Mother instead of Mum does it mean you have been especially annoying?  Coralie called me Mother on her Facebook page.

Simon had a pre Ofsted inspection yesterday and was graded "Outstanding"  so he is feeling pleased with  himself.

I went to a Women's Institute (WI)  meeting on Wednesday night.  Max and Gyll were the guest speakers and they asked if I would like to go along. I was very interested as I have considered joining the WI.  They have a group in my village and I had intended to join when we moved here.  I thought it would be a way to make friends.  I am glad now that I didn't join.  I don't think it is really me.  I had this idea that they do lots of fun stuff, like cooking and sewing and crafts.  Well they may well do all of that but not on their meet up evening.

This was a small group, only 12 women and they were all very elderly which wouldn't be a problem for me.  They start by singing Jerusalem, all the way through.  I have to say that they sung it beautifully, but they wouldn't have wanted to hear me joining in!  That was followed by a long tedious period where all kinds of admin was dealt with.  It was really boring.  Can't be doing with that.

Then Gyll and Max spoke about the dog rescue which was interesting. I think I would enjoy most of their guest speakers.  Next month they have someone coming from the VA to talk about the art deco period.  That sounds good.   This WI was in a village quite a long way from here and my own village one may well be different but none the less, I think this has shown me that I am not ready for WI just yet.   Oh and they don't serve coffee only tea, that is no good!

Besides, I don't have enough time as it is and I have made friends amongst the doggie crowd.

I am however ready for my breakfast, so I guess it is time to get up and shower.

Our weekend - Jackson news

How comes the weekends always go by so fast?  Saturday I was at the dog rescue form 10.30am until 5.30pm.  I am not usually there that long.  Simon went off in the morning to collect yet more stuff from his barn.  He was back at lunch time.  We had Jenson in the office when he got back and that dog was so pleased to see Simon.  He had a waggy tail and clearly recognised him.

The morning was fairly busy and 2 dogs were officially signed over to their new people which is always lovely.  There were several people come to look round but to be honest none of them seemed promising and I am not sure they will be back.

we had a phone call from a woman who wanted us to take her 2 dogs which are Kerry Blues crossed with Lakeland terriers.  She claimed to be moving and couldn't take them with her.  Those stories always make me so angry.  I mean, did she only just discover that she was moving today?  Of course not. What effort had she made to re-home her dogs elsewhere?  Probably none.  Why can't they go with her?  You know the one thing that I have realised since I have been volunteering is that no matter what story they spin you, the bottom line is they don't want the dog.   There are odd exceptions of course but mostly that is the story.

I don't understand it.  Whatever may happen to us in our life our dogs are part of it.  I would never leave my dogs behind.  I know some people are in rented accommodation and I know that sometimes homes are lost and that it can be hard to find somewhere that will take pets.  I know all that.  But, we would live in a tent if we had to rather than lose our dogs.  I hate that people lie too.  Why not have the guts to actually say, I don't love it and I don't care about it and I don't want it?  Cowards.  Horrid nasty, cowardly people.  We can only hope that we are able to find better homes where a dog is truly loved and cherished.

Bit of a rant there!  Anyway the reason we ended up being at the kennels so long was that Simon and I were the ones who were waiting for these 2 dogs to come in.  We were going to collect them but then the people said they would come in.  Gyll and Jim had to go to the vet with Monday the Lurcher so we agreed to stay.   Guess what?  They didn't come!  We waited until Gyll got back and she finally got them on the phone.  The woman said that her uncle was going to take the dogs and see how they get on. Could she not have rung up and said that?  We waited nearly 3 hours for her.  We were going to go home but we were concerned that if she turned up and nobody was there would she just let the dogs loose? You never know.  Gyll thinks that they will still end up in the rescue.  We will see.  I'll let you know if they do.  So that was Saturday.  Quite a long and tiring day.

Sunday we went to Cambridge to visit little Jackson.  We were really excited about this as we got to have our first cuddles.  My sister had taken my Dad on Friday so I was dead jealous that they got cuddles before Nanny!  He is doing really well and now weighs 3lb 9oz.  Verity is doing well and coping well.

Monday was Simon's day off and we ran errands.  A visit to the post office to post the sponsor dog newsletters and a cushion cover that I had sold.   Then Simon had his hair cut while I went in the craft shop for some wadding and then in a printers to have some photos printed.  Our printer is playing up so can't do them at home.  I think it is time to get a new one actually.  Must research which has cheapest running costs.  Once Simon was done we went and did the weeks shopping in Tesco.  After that there was just time to go home and have a late lunch before going to collect Miss Ellie from school.  She was coming to have dinner with us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was just after we collected Ellie that we received the phone call that we didn't want.....  Little Jackson is back in intensive care.  He is quite poorly and they are not yet sure what the problem is.  It may be an infection, we are waiting the results of tests.  To have him back in the NICU when he had been doing so well is a real blow. He is a little fighter though so I am sure that he will be OK. I got myself in a bit of a state last night  and consequently today I have a dreadful headache.   Upset and worry tend to do that to me.  As long as it doesn't turn into a migraine I shall be fine.  I took tablets first thing this morning and I have been taking it very easy so far. It is a bit easier now but I shall not be doing much today as I need to get rid of this.  Experience has taught me that I have to just give in and do nothing, move slowly, be quiet, no stress, no bright lights.  I may have a sleep in a while.

I will keep you updated with news of Jackson as we get it.