Spring is in the Air

Its been a strange week for me - I had to use up some annual leave or I'd have lost the days. Ordinarily that would have meant a wee trip up north to see the in-laws, or south to see my sister, or a staycation somewhere random and dog friendly but in these times of covid, that's meant more free time in the same 4 walls of the house.

To add salt to the wound, these two weeks (I also have next week off) were meant to have been reserved for a holiday in Florida. Thank goodness we had the sense to not book anything last year, but regardless, I have found myself a few times lamenting over foreign holidays past and where we may go in the future (I think Japan may be revisited as our next big foreign break, they seem to have everything in order and I only had time to do one of the two Disney parks when we went last time, although we did sit down and have a serious chat and, realistically, I think it will be 2023 before we go abroad again).

So, what have I been doing? Mostly the garden. There is now a new baby hedge in the front garden (hedge I say, its mostly a small wall of sticks) and the planters have been topped up with fresh compost and the seeds planted in the greenhouse. The waiting game has begun. Hubby was laughing when I dug out the spare calendar (they're like buses, some years no one buys you one, and then others you get three of them) and marked on it what seeds were to be planted each month, what would be ready to pick each month and a sketch of the planter rotation, but I think he's secretly impressed at the pedantic organisation.

Theres been lots of local walks, kite flying on the beach and, with the meeting up restrictions moving to 4 people in a group, we've got out to see some friends on dog walks. I managed to catch up with my brother at Almondell Country Park today and Missy and Maisie had a great time together. Missy can often take or leave the company of other dogs (she's clearly the cool aloof loner type), but Maisie is very sociable (I like to think of her as an overexcited cheerleader with an underbite) and this lockdown has been hard on her.

Not that she would pose for me in the daffodils! One day I will get a nice photo of them together.

With the warmer weather, spring has definitely been in the air and its got me out of my crafts rut and I made a new garland for the window - the rabbits I cut from felt myself, but the little flowers are ancient and have been kicking about the bottom of a drawer for ages now. Does it count as spring cleaning when its turned into spring crafts?

An Unusual Mother's Day

I've been doing well with the #mindfulmarch photo challenge (see @missys_grand_adventures on insta for this weeks photos) and I am very pleased to say that, finally, I'm about to go on annual leave (use it or lose it, so I have 2 glorious weeks with nothing but dog walks and the garden being started for the year booked).

The thought of getting away from my laptop and the never ceasing pull of the day job has made a long week bearable. Nothing in particular, just a long week. As a colleague said to me who has next week off - "don't know why as every day is like the other, but it feels like this time off is a week late!" 

Whilst not the official anniversary of lockdown starting in the UK (owing to the moving dates of Easter) mothers day last year was the day before lockdown was announced, so that hit home for me. We were practicing social distancing at that point, and as a result, I've realised I haven't hugged my mother in more than a year. Apart from when I briefly merged bubbles when my sister visited in August (and honestly, I'm not sure which of us needed that hug more) the only human I've had contact with is my husband, for more than a year. I think that bummed me out more than I realised. 

But we still managed something akin to mothers day and went for a walk. I brought cake, pre-tubbed to minimise contact, packed enough umbrellas to shelter the roman legion and then, as we drove to the designated meeting point, the three day rain storm that had been battering most of Scotland, lifted for us. 

Not necessarily warm by any stretch, but dry. Its amazing how much that can salvage a walk. No one cares about muddy puddles when your head is dry.

A good wee top up in the cup of life.

And talking of mothers, a very good friend of mine recently announced they were going to become a mother later this year. Baby isn't due till August, but I've already gotten carried away and put together a quilt and picked out a matching embroidery which I've yet to start.

Gender is being kept a surprise, so I got to play with a gender neutral palette, what do you all think? 

So, to all the mothers, the would be mothers and pawrents of furbabies, I hope this weekend has found you well and given you some hope for when our families can see one another in the future, and the long awaited hugs we are to recieve. 

Mindful March

It's been a week. It's the kind of week where you stumble off the hurdle and spend the rest of it flailing to the finish line which you're positive someone has to have moved by at least an extra 2 days.

It started well enough, this month launched the the #mindfulmarch photo contest with Dog Furiendly, which I've been looking forward to for a while now. I've got a list of nice quotes and so far I've managed a new photo for every day. Some of the challenges are quite easy - jump for joy, something green, but others I've had to think a little outside the box on (such as Love, above). 

This is actually my third attempt at today's blog. Whilst I won't shy away from a bad week on here, I've seemed it too negative. So just know it sucked. Nothing actually bad, just lots of stress and the people about us viewing everything as not just a grey cloud, but surely a tsunami.

Everyone has struggled this week. I urge you to reach out and check in on someone who's been quiet. You might not be ae to help, but reminding them you are thinking of them will do far more good than you can imagine.

So. The highlights of my week in lockdown. 

Finished Neil Gaimans Neverwhere. I struggled with the book, so listened to him reading it and found it far more enjoyable. 

Managed all 7 photos this week for the mindful March challenge. 

Finished this epic papercraft that has been sitting in my loft for nearly a decade:

Planted my first crop for the year: potatoes

Finished season 3 of Star Wars Rebels. 

And lastly watched Raya and the last dragon and now need to make Missy a dragon costume. I'm sure if she could speak she would be overwhelmingly optimistic. 

Who am I kidding, she's probably more a Kermit:

I urge you all to take a moment and think of an achievement from the week. Then reach out and say hi to someone. Check in on those who are too busy trying to look happy and put together to check in on themselves.

I'll leave you on some words I found whilst doing my homework on mindful march:

“There are a thousand reasons to live this life, every one of them sufficient” ― Marilynne Robinson 

Enjoy the Moment

It's been a pretty crazy week work wise (lots of deadlines and projects going awry), resulting in some serious screen fatigue and generally feeling wiped out. Spring is helping, it always does, and with a weekend of bright dry weather promised, I was keen to embrace the outdoors and continue looking for new walks.

Following from the success of last week, we decided to go the other direction and go big, or go home, by doubling the walk to 8 miles. Yep, after years on the to-do list, we finally walked Bo'ness to Blackness Castle (with a picnic in between). I'd clocked the walk when taking Missy around Bo'ness Harbour (usually before or after a train ride) and logged it for another day.

Well, today was the perfect day. Sunny, but not hot. Breezy, but not cold. And most importantly, dry.

We parked at the harbour and set off. Like last week, there was enough passing traffic that the polite how-do-you-dos and Good-mornings made a lovely soundtrack to the day. We saw plenty of dogs (a handsome whippet took a particular fancy to Missy) and there was plenty of cyclists and walkers too.

Once at the castle, we enjoyed a picnic (we were better prepared this week) in which Missy kept a keen eye out for runaway crumbs and, after admiring the view, headed back again. 

The foreshore path is well maintained - most of the journey was on proper pavement with just the final leg to the castle being beaten path. It made it an easier walk than last week, although our feet and legs are now very tired!

Missy is happily dozing on the sofa, recharging for the future squirrel apocalypse. At least, she's successfully chasing them in her sleep, if the yips are anything to go by.

On a sad note, this week marks the passing of my sisters much loved cat, Crumble. She's the only cat I have known to dismiss Missy with a hard stare and a swagger and, on one occasion, primly told Missy off with a (claws in) bap to the face. 

After that pack order was accepted and, when enjoying a cup of tea on a visit, I would often spot them holding council in the corner, Crumble the ruling queen, her many furred bretherin about her with Missy sat alongside them to complete the circle as they conferred in the silent ways animals truly discuss the goings on in the world. 

No matter your loyalties to cat or dog, they all live too short a time. Her pawprints have left thier marks on many a heart. 

An Early Spring Trek

So, the weather had made a full about turn from our snowy valentines last week. It ramped up to 10C and rained non stop most of this week, getting rid of any hint of snow. The warm turn, and probably all the rain, have set off the snowdrops who are all showing thier little white lined caps with the promise of thier full flowers in a few days to come. My rhubarb has also started growing, so my mind has turned to the garden and my plans for the planters this year. Carrots, I suspect, will be a much demanded choice.

Yesterday was one of those days where I got the house turned around to it's spring colours - the winter themed quilt has been swapped with Peter Rabbit and the thick fleece throws have been exchanged for a lighter place to snuggle up in. 

Missy is also putting on her springwear and, in the last few days, has begun to cast terribly. Despite the bed hair, she's doing well and we seem safely past the ailments of the cold winter. 

Today the rain stopped. The first laundry to be dried outside made its appearance and it was definitely the kind of morning that required an adventure. But where? We've done almost every woodland in West Lothian and are still not allowed to sneak into neighbouring areas. Then I recalled that the dog walker had posted online previously that West Lothian had a single beach. The hubby dismissed this as the scrubby rocky bit at Blackness Castle and I was adamant that whilst, OK, that was in West Lothian, but there was apparently an actual beach. I trawled for that post online and found the name of the place.

Abercorn, right beside North Deer Wood and, lo and behold, coastline. So we packed the kites and some snacks and made our way there. We were immediately within a lovely woodland walk and played pooh sticks on the bridge. A little further and we could see the promised beach before us. It was onf the pebbly sort, but that was fine so long as we could fly the kites a little. So we let Missy leas the way out of the trees and to a spectacular view of Blackness Castle, just a little further down the coast. 

We agreed to a draw. 

It was too still to fly the kites so, after getting our wellies wet, we continued along the woodland path and spotted a sign stating the way we had come was half a mile back, and Blackness was 2 more ahead. 

Why not. 

It was a busy little path with other dog walkers, cyclists and joggers and very soon, after much exchanging of pleasantries, it actually started to feel like a normal day, pre covid. Spirits lifted, we were soon at the castle (which we both decided we had to go and physically poke to say we'd actually been to the castle). We had our picnic, found a strong enough breeze to get the kite flying and all was well again in the world. 

Whilst the kite got many compliments from passers by, Missy was soon bored and we decided to head back and complete the 5mile circular. 

Once home, we got on with the garden jobs that have been neglected and Missy only stirred from the sofa to insist it was dinner time now. 

A very pleasant end to the week. 

I did manage to find some time to get on the sewing machine and I'm very pleased with this upcycle. What was once hubby's very nice quality chinos (which now make him look like he's wearing a paper bag as he's lost so much weight) have now been given a second chance as some dungarees for my nephew. Hopefully he'll wear them more than my hubby did!

Snowy Valentines

Its been a funny old week. There's been highs and lows and everything in between. 

After my extravagant attempt last week to cheer everyone up, it was my turn to turn into a flump. I completely lost interest in my crafts, I was losing patience with the home schooling and I felt trapped in a perpetual groundhog day. The snow had returned with a vengeance and I was ready to call it quits.

Hubby, bless him, was very good with me and pandered to my mood, offering nice things to do and organising calls with friends. Owing to the snow, we've been more cooped up than usual, so getting to see some different faces was a nice change. Missy's paw is all better, so she's been enjoying the snow this time round which has been nice to see, although I do wish she would stop eating so much of it!

I was caught out on Chinese New Year, remembering it on Thursday so didn't have time to make anything special for dinner or organise a cute photoshoot with Missy (my niece and nephew always appreciate silly photos of Missy). Determined not to make the same mistake for Valentines, I roped hubby into setting up the photoshoot for Missy. Like a lot of people, we did most of our Valentines celebrations on the Saturday; I'd organised a family call for the afternoon and I spent the late morning going around the zoo with Missy and the hubby. The zoo really has been a life saver in terms of getting out to do something, and the animals did not disappoint us - although the goat was very cheeky sticking his tongue out at us!

Todays been a quiet day getting on with jobs, and my sewing mojo has returned - one day I will finish my Hamilton Spencer jacket, if all the hand stitching doesn't kill me first!

marking Seven Years

It's been seven years since Missy chose us, and time has flown when I think back to the excitement of bringing her home and all the mischief she caused and love she brought. In seven years she has built herself a place on honour amongst the wider family, so much so that there was genuine sadness that we would not be hosting a party for her this year, what with the pandemic and all.

The week didn't start great - it's one of those weeks where its been tough for everyone for different reasons, and by the time Friday rolled round I had gotten through my melancholy and was keen to get the rest of the family out of it. 

Phase one, let's get silly:

Let's be honest here, find me a dog that wouldn't love a chicken as a cake? (Disclaimer: hubby was on hand in case she was too tempted and went for it, and it was carved before she was given a small amount. She acts like chicken is crack cocaine, she only needs a little bit!) 

Missy spent the rest of her Adoptiversary cuddled up on the prime spot of the sofa sleeping off said chicken. 

Phase 2:

Random acts of kindness. OK, officially Random Acts of Kindness Day is next week, but it's hardly random when a day's been set aside for it, right? So, what to do when your lockdown and can't leave your council area? Get things delivered!

Big sis likes baths to the point she must have been a mermaid in her past life - bath bombs. 

Little Sister has a sweet tooth to rival a bumblebee and misses home - gourmet shortbread and fudge.

Brother who works backshift, regularly misses mail and has a dog that will still go for packages sometimes, uh, an IOU with an explanation (he's so laid back in the world, he didn't feel any need for a gift and didn't understand what I was trying to achieve, so he's fine, just didn't want to leave him out).

Mum - flowers. But maybe not the sort that will die. But also Hardy enough she won't kill them with her black thumb. A bromeliad. 

I eagerly awaited through Saturday. Little sister got hers first and a thank you was messaged. Mission accomplished. Oh, she's keeping it off the family chat, that raises the stakes for big sis. Delivery time rolls by. I get an automated message that it's been received. No call. No text. Huh.

She rings and tells on about her MIL. 

I break and ask - any deliveries today?

Pause. Is this...did you send the bath bombs? 

Yep! You've had so much on your plate, I felt you needed to be reminded I'm here for you. 

Happy gasp followed by uncontrolled laughter. 

There should have been a slip with my name on it? 

We try not to touch the packaging - Neice was claiming they were hers! And when I pointed out that it was in my name, BIL said he bought them for my Xmas, but they must have been lost in the post. Mystery solved! 

Instantly on the group chat. Little Sis chimes in about hers and I damage control brother (who seemed confused about the whole idea) and mum. 

The bromeliad. That wasn't getting posted. I'd already organised a walk with a friend at the boundary of my council district and, wihh some essentials for friends who are vulnerable, I made my way to mums. It had started to snow, so we exchanged a brief minute of conversation whilst she was absolutely dumbstruck to see me and I retreated back to the cars heating. I rang her on the drive home (hands free) and she was delighted. She was shocked I'd turned up on her doorstep as I'm very much aggressively following the rules, and I explained about our vulnerable friends and that she was a detour on an essential journey. 

Job done. 

Today marks the end of #leadthewayatoz, and the letter W. We had a Wintery Walk by the Water. It's bitter sweet to see it end, there was definitely some fatigue with the difficult letters at the end, but it's really been a highlight for me during lockdown and adding some purpose to the weekend walk. 

We also won the monthly Waggiest Wanderer through #leadthewayatoz, and on the explorer front we got our Pioneer Pooch badge and won explorer of the month!  I cannot wait to see her little cartoon emoji when it's done. 

Its fair to say Missy has had an excellent week for her Adoptiversary, and we hope we've sent some of that joy out to the family.