A Spooky Pause

It's been a crazy run but it's been epic. But first, the photoshoot we did a few weekends back:

Of course I had to do the viral dog photoshoot. I saw it and knew Missy would happily put up with a sheet over her head if there was enough bribery involved! We decided to go to Dechmont, the old insane asylum, with the purpose of getting nice photos and it's sad that every time we go, the construction has crept in and it's smaller and smaller. 

And we did the photoshoot. Missy got all the biscuits. Hubby got enough footage that there's even a tiktok and we had a lovely day which really go us in the mood for the spooky shenanigans planned for the month. 

What spooky shenanigans you ask? 

Halloween in Disneyland Paris!

It was just me and my sister this run. Dressed as alternate Cheshire Cats (me in pink and she in blue - when the post comes up about the outfits she made I'll pop a link here) and it was a blast. There was a lot of travel drama - trains being cancelled, planes being mislaid and flights being delayed, but we got there and it was amazing. The characters loved the outfits, we had some amazing wild meet and greet moments, and overall would 100% do again. 

One brief highlight was our Cruella meet and greet:

Cruella striding about with her handlers barely able to keep up with her, clocks us and grinds to a halt. 

Cruella: Did you make those yourselves? 

Me: (indicates sibling) All hand knit! 

Cruella: (grabs hold of one hand of each of us and tows us along) I'm in need of new minions since Horace and Jasper left - how does that sound to you both?  Join me as fashion designers?. 

Me: We'd be honoured! 

Cruella: but I prefer dogs. And spots.

Me: Oh, of course, cats are so last season! 

Sibling: (cogs finally catching up after being utterly overwhelmed) totally last season - spots are definitely coming in.... 

We spotted her again later and she asked for a progress report on the dog hunt, which just added to the hilarity of the day. 

But, alas, no rest for the wicked, it's back at work with a very busy run of more spooky fun booked! 

So I'll leave you all be with one last photo of Missy being adorable:

Picking Pumpkins

I have tried for a few years now to go pumpkin picking somewhere dog friendly to absolutely no avail. They're either sold out of time slots, or they aren't actually dog friendly. This year, as swathes of cute pups perched atop pumpkins filled my feed, a horrible thought dawned on me, clearly I'd missed it again. The gourd had sailed. My hopes we're squashed.

And it was my mums birthday weekend and I needed to find something dog friendly that wouldn't freak Ren out. I won't lie. I spent far too long go ogling an ever wider circle of pumpkin patches before I struck upon South Ardbennie Farm.

I know it seems odd, pumpkins for birthdays, but firstly, the double dog situation, secondly, what I was really offering my mum was an autumn photoshoot with a prize pumpkin to carve later in the month with the grandkids. And I'm pleased to say that, with the sun out and the wind (mostly) keeping away, the weather was perfect and she was delighted. 

The Facebook Post was already up before I'd gotten home after dropping her off! 

Ren had had a... Moment earlier in the week. Hubby watching the wrestling with his friends online and Ren went into an absolute spiral. Shibas, or at least this one, don't display thier anxiety in the usual way. I honestly thought he was pacing about because he needed the bathroom and, when that failed and he was bored playing rug if war with me, that he had reached the mid-stay I'm gonna push boundaries stage. We'd certainly had that in the morning when he snuck into the bedroom and I found him casually draped over my pillow. So when he decided to hide under the bed, I thought he was acting the goat again until he snarled and tried to bite me.

Let me tell you. We decided it best to leave him there as he was clearly frightened. I did not sleep a wink that night. I had a literal monster under the bed. 

Until the morning. The sun came up and he was bright and cheery and his delightful self.

We messaged his pawrents in the morning and they said that they had suspected crowd noises being a problem, and they apologised. Why do I mention this? Because I think it's important that people realise that taking on a second dog just because they have one already is super easy, and it isn't. 

Apparently grandpaw is one of those types that scream at the TV when the footy is on, so Ren, being in a new and weird place, panicked. It's not his fault for snapping whilst being scared, and we now know what to look for as his anxiety signs, so no harm, no foul. He deserves leniency and was quickly forgiven.  

We doubled down our efforts to make sure he had a nice stay with us, hence today being about the dogs. 

And absolutely no more wrestling for the week! 

He gets picked up tomorrow and, whilst they get on well, I do think Missy will be pleased to get her routine back! 

That's all for this week, see you next! 

A Short Interlude

Not a lot to update. BIL finally got married (they got engaged 2018) and, despite the heavens unleashing a month's worth of rain, it went very well. 

It was a long day with a stressful run up (as all weddings are) but the men donned thier kilts and the women thier best smiles and the day went as planned. 

I haven't forgotten the fur babies. Ren is with us till Sunday, so we have tried to fit in some different walks. Our trip to the House of Binns also had an ulterior motive, but more shall be revealed later! 

And that's all for now, it's a busy busy run of things - if I stop I'm not sure I'll be able to get going again. Till next time! 

Trekking Up and Down the UK

 

Its been a pretty busy couple of weeks! On top of the usual day to day life and drama, we've managed to fit in some very busy weekends.

First of all it was Open doors Day on the 23rd and we went out to the Lothian Buses depo. Open Door Day encourages businesses to allow the public in for a behind the scenes look and has been going on for years. This was the first time however that I was made aware of a dog friendly day, so of course I had to take the chance and go along with Missy.

It was a good day, we got to sit on an open top tour bus and have a drive around the depo, hearing about the history of the building before going onto another bus (with a roof!) to go through the bus wash. There was lots of vintage buses to have a wander about and plenty of volunteers ready to chat with us.

Sunday was a quick dash to Keswick and back to see my niece for her birthday. It was my brothers idea, so him, my mum, the two dogs and myself made the journey all together. We first had lunch where I got to catch up with my niece and nephew and then it was a revisit to the pencil museum owing to poor weather. Here I took Maisie and accompanied my brother as he filled in the quiz - after all his mocking of the idea of a Pencil Museum, he actually really enjoyed the day!

Then it was a full week of work.

Then Saturday was a Halloween photoshoot before getting the house in tip top condition for a very special VIPet, Ren. Rens pawrents are away to Oz for two weeks and, owing to difficult circumstances on their end, we agreed to have Ren. Its not the best two weeks for us owing to other commitments, but he's a very easy going dog, so we'll make it work.

Then yesterday was a quick trip up to Stirling with the eldest neice to practice her photography and also fit in a Howl-o-ween dog show. Ren isn't one for dressing up, so in honour of his folks going to Oz, I made him a little Steve Irwin outfit and Missy donned her pirate one. Both were beaten by a poodle dressed as Audrey 2 from little shop of horrors, and it was a well deserved win for Storm.

And then it was a nice walk about Stirling to enjoy the last of the autumn sunshine and each others company before heading back home and getting organised for another week of work. I've been paired up as a buddy to a new start who joined the team today - he seems lovely, but it's gonna be a very busy run of things I can tell! 

Until next time, embrace the spooky season! 

(Missys photoshoot will be shared later in the month, I promise its worth the wait!)