Henry, Molly and Badger have four new friends, they are one hen, one bantam hen and two bantam hen chicks. All the bantams are beautiful lavender aracaunas and the hen is a white aracauna. I've been after some aracaunas for about two years as they are the chickens who lay blue eggs which you very occasionally find in Tescos for an extortionate price and of course if I see them I have to buy them however much they cost because they are so lovely to look at. Aracaunas are also very hardy which is handy as it's very bleak here in the winter and you'd need to be a tough bird to withstand it.
So off I went at dusk last night to a wee small holding to collect my birds and instantly felt very bad as all the chickens there were housed in deluxe coops, one even had double glazing! Our coop is small and basic but I suppose it does the job although I think a few alterations might be in line before the winter comes in. After we'd caught the chickens, well, after I'd watched the lovely lady who I bought them from catch them, I trundeled home with them chirping in a box in the boot. It was such a lovely noise and quite funny as every time I hit a bump the hens made a sort of egg laying noise.
Once I got home I then had the tricky job of getting the birds from the box into the coop without any getting out to be lost into the night, this was harder than I thought as they refused to move and due to space restrictions I couldn't really get hold of them properly. However after a while I had them all locked up for the night.
Then this morning the alarm went off. I lay there groaning that it was early and decided to treat myself to 15 more minutes and after a couple of those minutes suddenly remembered the chickens. Oh no! Who's ridiculous idea was it to get chickens? I'd never get a lie in again! I dragged myself out of bed and still in my jammies pulled on a big fleece and wandered outside, all three dogs following and wondering why they weren't getting breakfast yet.
As soon as I opened the coop door out popped all the birds and they started pecking at the food I'd put down while making satisfied chicken noises. I have to say it was such a nice noise and a lovely sight to finally have chickens here that it was very worth while loosing that exra 15 minutes in my bed.
I shall of course report on our first egg.
Monday, 24 August 2009
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Well Done Badger
Yesterday we went to the local agricultural show. After some thought I decided that Henry and Molly would be better staying at home but that we'd take Badger as he hasn't been anywhere in the car since his multiple expeditions to the vet which have made him hate the car - can't blame him really as every time he went in it for two months somebody hurt him at the other end.
We dosed him up with anti-sickness/nerves pills, took them all for a walk to wear out Hen and Moll and let the pills take effect for Badge then off we went. Once we were there I realised this was the first time Badger had been anywhere with crowds and lots of noise so I was a bit worried it might not have been the right thing to do but he coped with it as if he goes off to agricultural shows every week.
We wandered around for a bit to begin with and then started to meet people we knew, in fact the whole day turned into one big social event as everywhere we turned we bumped into someone else we knew and it was great having a good catch up with everyone from the village and surrounding farms.
Then there was an annoucment about the dog show and I suddenly thought why not enter Badger? So off I trotted, paid my 5op entry fee and stood in the middle of the field with Badger in the puppy class trying to look as though I did this sort of thing all the time (ok I know I did it a month or so ago with Hen but that was the first time since I was about 14!). Badger took an instant dislike to a very beautiful blue coated, blue eyed dog who was fairly close to us so I edged away before anyone of importance could hear this lovely cute pup growling like a wolf.
The judges made us walk round and round the ring and then run up and down - this was the hard bit as Badge pulls like a train when he's on the lead and I've got a dodgy knee so it could all have ended up in the infirmary. Then we had to stand in a big circle while they decided who had won, and guess what? It was Badger!!! So I guess that means we officially have the best pup in the area so I'm busting with pride for him, and this makes up for all the problems and stress we've been through with him in the last few months.
Well Done Badger!
We dosed him up with anti-sickness/nerves pills, took them all for a walk to wear out Hen and Moll and let the pills take effect for Badge then off we went. Once we were there I realised this was the first time Badger had been anywhere with crowds and lots of noise so I was a bit worried it might not have been the right thing to do but he coped with it as if he goes off to agricultural shows every week.
We wandered around for a bit to begin with and then started to meet people we knew, in fact the whole day turned into one big social event as everywhere we turned we bumped into someone else we knew and it was great having a good catch up with everyone from the village and surrounding farms.
Then there was an annoucment about the dog show and I suddenly thought why not enter Badger? So off I trotted, paid my 5op entry fee and stood in the middle of the field with Badger in the puppy class trying to look as though I did this sort of thing all the time (ok I know I did it a month or so ago with Hen but that was the first time since I was about 14!). Badger took an instant dislike to a very beautiful blue coated, blue eyed dog who was fairly close to us so I edged away before anyone of importance could hear this lovely cute pup growling like a wolf.
The judges made us walk round and round the ring and then run up and down - this was the hard bit as Badge pulls like a train when he's on the lead and I've got a dodgy knee so it could all have ended up in the infirmary. Then we had to stand in a big circle while they decided who had won, and guess what? It was Badger!!! So I guess that means we officially have the best pup in the area so I'm busting with pride for him, and this makes up for all the problems and stress we've been through with him in the last few months.
Well Done Badger!
Friday, 14 August 2009
Second Day Off
Well I have another day off today hurrah! I woke up at 7am, well actually Molly woke me up with her teeth chattering and dancing around next to the bed, being very insistant that I get up, so I got up and Henry and Badger instantly sprang to life like a switch had been switched and we all bumbled down the stairs. I say bumbled as Henry shoots down the stairs as if they don't actually exist, Badger somehow slides his front paws down the stairs while his back legs propel him and Molly makes both front paws step on each stair in turn while her back paws step on every other stair. In the middle of all this is me clambering down while hanging on to the banisters for grim death hoping I wont loose my footing - yes I have tried to make them all go down in front of me but they wouldn't listen.
After letting them all out and waiting for them to come back in I promptly went back to bed. This is very rare for me, once I'm up I'm up but today I decided to treat myself to an extra 3 hours of sleep, bliss. Even more bliss was having Henry curled up beside me, a practice which is banned when Other Half is in. Molly eventually decided that lazing around in bed was not good enough and she shot up the stairs and jumped on me to wake me up, she also tries to paw you when shes being very insistant so I scrambled out of bed trying to avoid getting clawed in the head while both Molly and Henry barked at me, I was certainly well awake by then.
So what will I do with my day off? I think I'll see if my friend fancies a walk around the castle grounds with our dogs, her dog is coming to stay on Saturday which will mean four dogs running around the house. Her dog is Badgers sister, Rosie and she is lovely, very different to Badge, shes more sleek and has pointy ears and she's wriggly and affectionate and very fast!
First things first I'm just going to move very slowly and enjoy having no rush to get anywhere or do anything, after all I'm back to work tomorrow and Sunday when all of you are lazing around...
After letting them all out and waiting for them to come back in I promptly went back to bed. This is very rare for me, once I'm up I'm up but today I decided to treat myself to an extra 3 hours of sleep, bliss. Even more bliss was having Henry curled up beside me, a practice which is banned when Other Half is in. Molly eventually decided that lazing around in bed was not good enough and she shot up the stairs and jumped on me to wake me up, she also tries to paw you when shes being very insistant so I scrambled out of bed trying to avoid getting clawed in the head while both Molly and Henry barked at me, I was certainly well awake by then.
So what will I do with my day off? I think I'll see if my friend fancies a walk around the castle grounds with our dogs, her dog is coming to stay on Saturday which will mean four dogs running around the house. Her dog is Badgers sister, Rosie and she is lovely, very different to Badge, shes more sleek and has pointy ears and she's wriggly and affectionate and very fast!
First things first I'm just going to move very slowly and enjoy having no rush to get anywhere or do anything, after all I'm back to work tomorrow and Sunday when all of you are lazing around...
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Lovely Day
It's been gorgeous here all day. Just the sort of day to wear summer clothes, an event which if you live in the far north dosen't happen very often. If actually coincided with the unveiling of a spray tan that I had done during a girls night at my friends house last night. I came home thinking I looked all tanned and glam only for Other Half to burst out laughing at me. Rather insulted I trotted off to the bathroom and got an almighty shock, all you could see were my teeth and eyeballs standing out bright white against my somewhat Irn Bru'd skin. It did look rather funny I have to say, but thankfully most of the colour was the bit that washes off after the chemical bit has cooked you so I look far more normal today.
As well as sunshine, it was also my day off so I've spent it working in the garden, mowing the lawn three times as it's not been done for over six weeks due to rain and work stopping play, I also did some work while sitting at the garden table, again another rare occurence due to low temperatures, rain, wind and midges, thankfully none of them were around today.
Molly lazed on her bed outside all day long, alternating between the sunny bit and the shady bit as she got too hot and Henry and Badger spent most of the day wrestling, playing tug of war with bits of rope, play fighting and generally acting up like two little boys, oh and Badger decided to spend the entire time I mowed the lawns trying to round me and the lawnmower up, then when I spotted a long lost bone and flung it out of the way he decided the lawn mower was actually trying to eat his things and decided to attack it at every opportunity, not the best pastime for a puppy so I had to do a bit of shouting, then while I was distracting the boys, Molly snuck off her bed, grabbed the bone and took it back and guarded it for most of the rest of the day, good on you Molls!
Then early evening I took the dogs for a stroll along the lane while drinking in the niceness of it all, the farmer is mowing the silage, and still is at nearly 11pm and the swallows were singing as they flew about. I made two new discoveries this week, I didn't realise that big beech trees had blossom on that smells heavenly, nor did I realise that thistles smell lovely when they come into bloom. Usually I'm walking too fast or am contemplating too much to notice these things, or Henry will see a hare and start his howling barking and dancing around to try and get to it.
Now all the dogs are lazing around the living room, jostling for space in front of the log burner or takign up far too much of the sofas. A good day had by all I think.
As well as sunshine, it was also my day off so I've spent it working in the garden, mowing the lawn three times as it's not been done for over six weeks due to rain and work stopping play, I also did some work while sitting at the garden table, again another rare occurence due to low temperatures, rain, wind and midges, thankfully none of them were around today.
Molly lazed on her bed outside all day long, alternating between the sunny bit and the shady bit as she got too hot and Henry and Badger spent most of the day wrestling, playing tug of war with bits of rope, play fighting and generally acting up like two little boys, oh and Badger decided to spend the entire time I mowed the lawns trying to round me and the lawnmower up, then when I spotted a long lost bone and flung it out of the way he decided the lawn mower was actually trying to eat his things and decided to attack it at every opportunity, not the best pastime for a puppy so I had to do a bit of shouting, then while I was distracting the boys, Molly snuck off her bed, grabbed the bone and took it back and guarded it for most of the rest of the day, good on you Molls!
Then early evening I took the dogs for a stroll along the lane while drinking in the niceness of it all, the farmer is mowing the silage, and still is at nearly 11pm and the swallows were singing as they flew about. I made two new discoveries this week, I didn't realise that big beech trees had blossom on that smells heavenly, nor did I realise that thistles smell lovely when they come into bloom. Usually I'm walking too fast or am contemplating too much to notice these things, or Henry will see a hare and start his howling barking and dancing around to try and get to it.
Now all the dogs are lazing around the living room, jostling for space in front of the log burner or takign up far too much of the sofas. A good day had by all I think.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Dog Stress
Well what a few weeks we have had here.
Poor Wee Pup Badge has been in the wars.
First I thought he had something in his pad and it was causing it to swell and be a wee bit sore. Then the pad looked a bit 'wrong' so he went in to the vet to get it looked at a bit more closely. That meant a biopsy but best be safe than sorry. The biopsy came back saying that although it wasn't anything sinister, he had a calcifying lump in his pad and it would be rather painful and the best solution was amputation of his toe. Well this was rather a shock to say the least, strangley though, there was a three legged dog in the waiting room of the vets and he seemed to be ok so I guessed three toes would be a walk in the park in comparison.
So that was the first 10 days of visits to the vets every couple of days to get dressings changed, and the walk in the park was begining to turn into a long distance trek.
Then we discovered the same type of lump in between his pads on the other front foot, oh no! But the vet said she could take them out without any amputations required and I asked her to do that at the same time even though I knew it would be hard going for a few days but at least it would cut down on the number of operations Badger had to have and hopefully shorten the recovery time.
So off we went to the vet one morning about three weeks ago and I went off to work. I then whizzed from work to the vet to pick Badge up and he was quite rightly feeling very sorry for himself but everything had gone to plan and he would be alright, huraahh!
What I didn't bank on was quite how much hard work getting Badge back to alright was going to be, especially when I've been quite busy at work. Every two days I've had to bomb home from work, then bomb down to the vets to get his dressings changed. This in itself doesn't seem so bad but put that together with Other Half being away at the time and me having to do everything around the place and look after three dogs as well as work and work being ten miles down winding twisting roads in one direction and the vets being 18 miles down winding twisting roads in the opposite direction things start to get a little complicated and exhausting, not to mention somewhat expensive when the petrol station is 10 miles in an entirely different direction.
Anyway, we are finally through all of that and I will come back later and tell you more but Badger has finally come out of his bandages, and last night got all of his stitches out (and there were loads) and he is now on the road to recovery. It will be a long one as he has become a bit tetchy and growly and has even tried to bite the vet on several occasions all of which I'll have to sort out while he is still (just about) a pup so that he dosen't grow up into a dodgy scary collie.
The maddest thing about the whole episode though is that even despite everything he has been through he still drags me INTO the vets and greets everybody he sees in there as if they are his long lost friend, even though just about every time he sees them they do something to hurt him - amazing!
Poor Wee Pup Badge has been in the wars.
First I thought he had something in his pad and it was causing it to swell and be a wee bit sore. Then the pad looked a bit 'wrong' so he went in to the vet to get it looked at a bit more closely. That meant a biopsy but best be safe than sorry. The biopsy came back saying that although it wasn't anything sinister, he had a calcifying lump in his pad and it would be rather painful and the best solution was amputation of his toe. Well this was rather a shock to say the least, strangley though, there was a three legged dog in the waiting room of the vets and he seemed to be ok so I guessed three toes would be a walk in the park in comparison.
So that was the first 10 days of visits to the vets every couple of days to get dressings changed, and the walk in the park was begining to turn into a long distance trek.
Then we discovered the same type of lump in between his pads on the other front foot, oh no! But the vet said she could take them out without any amputations required and I asked her to do that at the same time even though I knew it would be hard going for a few days but at least it would cut down on the number of operations Badger had to have and hopefully shorten the recovery time.
So off we went to the vet one morning about three weeks ago and I went off to work. I then whizzed from work to the vet to pick Badge up and he was quite rightly feeling very sorry for himself but everything had gone to plan and he would be alright, huraahh!
What I didn't bank on was quite how much hard work getting Badge back to alright was going to be, especially when I've been quite busy at work. Every two days I've had to bomb home from work, then bomb down to the vets to get his dressings changed. This in itself doesn't seem so bad but put that together with Other Half being away at the time and me having to do everything around the place and look after three dogs as well as work and work being ten miles down winding twisting roads in one direction and the vets being 18 miles down winding twisting roads in the opposite direction things start to get a little complicated and exhausting, not to mention somewhat expensive when the petrol station is 10 miles in an entirely different direction.
Anyway, we are finally through all of that and I will come back later and tell you more but Badger has finally come out of his bandages, and last night got all of his stitches out (and there were loads) and he is now on the road to recovery. It will be a long one as he has become a bit tetchy and growly and has even tried to bite the vet on several occasions all of which I'll have to sort out while he is still (just about) a pup so that he dosen't grow up into a dodgy scary collie.
The maddest thing about the whole episode though is that even despite everything he has been through he still drags me INTO the vets and greets everybody he sees in there as if they are his long lost friend, even though just about every time he sees them they do something to hurt him - amazing!
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