Trundling Through Time

It's that time of year again - Forces in the Field! Despite returning for the third year in a row, we had a blast (no pun intended). It was a cooler day than last year, which worked in our favour as Missy was happy to trundle about and look cute in her costume.

The event was definitely more focused on the World Wars this time and even had a competition for the different reenactment groups. (Although I voted for the NAFFI, I was absolutely delighted that the Women's Institute group won, they were a delight last year). NAFFI I hear you say, we'll, yes, this time the food was brought to us in good old British style:

A fun change to the burgers and chips normally on offer at Duncarron! Missy sat out of the gun demo, chilling with us girls instead as we tried to learn some crochet (it's still the devil's art, my poppy is most definitely a red sunflower) and Hubby watched the guns. He was very impressed at the display which included a mortar, which he hadn't seen go off before.

We did all manage to dress up, Hubby reused last years Home Guard costume and I went as a WW2 Propaganda Poster Nurse again. I was both flattered and mortified when people asked to have thier photo with Missy and myself! Our friend also joined in the fun as a WASP. Don't know what that is? Look them up, some very kick-ass ladies! 

I'll leave things there, it's been a very busy week, but I shall share the details at the weekend! 

Leaping Through the Year

How is it almost the end of August?! How is it my birthday tomorrow, already?! 

We had a nice weekend - hubby was off yesterday and, whilst he was keen to make it a special day owing to him working today and tomorrow (and myself working tomorrow too), I just wanted to have a nice day together.

He convinced me to open my pressies and we took Missy a nice walk with my new Pokemon GO+ (yes folks, I'm playing Pokemon Sleep and, whilst it's not really helped me get more sleep, it's provided a night time routine that certainly seems to be helping me get to sleep). We then did the shops for me to get my ironing board which is what I had asked for for my birthday (I'm too old to iron on the floor in a towel any more - too many ambitious projects!).

Look at me, totally rock and roll! 

You wanna know what else is rock and roll? Vikings - that's right, I finished my sisters outfit and got it in the post in time for her birthday. 

It came out perfect. I held off on a post last weekend as I wanted feedback from her reenactment group first. I pleased to say it was well received with enquiries of commissions. If that's not the highest compliment, I don't know what is! 

Well, I can, but you'll have to pop over to Roxys blog to see her becoming a viking! 

Needless to say, seeing her gush over it all has been a highlight of the week. As is her response to Munin, her actual birthday gift:

Because every viking needs a dragon. 

To top off the weekend, the chefs kiss, was what I suspect will be our final dog show of the year:

There was ice cream for humans and doggos. Tombolas. Raffles. Hotdogs. And hot dogs. Despite a poor forecast, it was glorious! 

My older sister came with me (and nephew and Wee Ben in tow) and we all had a great laugh. Missy and I won best costume in our pirate regalia, and she was also in for Golden Oldie and Best Rescue (I think we would have placed in best rescue as I was asked if I had won something already, and I was honest and said we had!). 

Wee Ben went in for dog judge would most like to take home, but sadly the judge didn't want him. He did meet a pair of elderly ladies with a fleet of spaniels though that I'm sure would have had off with him! 

(Wee Ben peeking in on the right).

And that's that. Next weekend is hubby's birthday weekend, so expect more adventures then! 

A Tale of Two Kirtles

So last weekend was a Tale of Two Cities as we packed up the car for a flying visit to Liverpool. Missy was very pleased to see her buddy Ren and the hubby and I caught up with my oldest friend, her hubby and kid who, about to turn 2, was definitely the epitome of toddlerdom.

It was a mixed visit. We managed to play on the switch a bit, had a long chinwag and some walks. Both hubby's we're out of commission - our friend owing to a lads night the day before. My Hubby was out of action after a foul pizza (he has - 2 to dairy atm, and he rolled a critical failure against that pizza). We've been experimenting with a suspected dairy intolerace for a few months now - he was never very good with digestion, always being bloated, but has gotten significantly worse after a really bad stomach bug. 

And to top it off, both myself and my friend have had really bad news regarding the health of a parent recently.

I won't go into detail here. Out of respect to her privacy and also because I'm still not really done processing things on my side. Just understand some cathartic tears were shed. Not all visits are sunshine and daisies, but we both definitely needed to see one another.

Hence no update last week. This week has been a quiet one - hubby went off on his own boys break Friday through Saturday, so I got to work on one of my most ambitious projects to date. 

So ambitious in fact that I made a mockup! 

 

Ignore the neckline. I'm that happy with the mock up I'm keeping it for myself so will change that.

Roxy, my Manchester based sister, has joined a viking reenactment group. Which, in and of itself is super cool, but that means she needs a historically accurate costume. Which is where I come in. Despite Roxy more than having the skills to make one herself, she's a knitter. Even though she rarely follows them, she likes to have a pattern in front of her. She likes adjusting patterns into new things. She does not like squiggles on a scrap of paper like so:

She also lacks the complete unbridled enthusiasm I have to take on a large project that I can sink my teeth into and have examined by masters of thier craft. The above mockup was indeed based on the above squiggles and I now have a proper paper pattern. So I made this:

A (as far as matters) historically accurate under kirtle. Think viking underwear. The long seams are serged and machined, with the neck, cuffs and hem hand stitched using linen threads picked off a scrap peice of linen.

Such tiny stitches and I am beyond pleased with the result. The decorative overdress is next, which is in cranberry, and I am twice as excited to make that one. Alas, the weekend is over, so I'm gonna chip damage that one during the week. 

I did manage to get out the house this weekend and met up with my local friend for a dog friendly lunch and walk. We had a catch up and it was good to touch base and have a normal day following last weekend. So all in all its been a proper reset of a weekend. 

Missy was not ignored for all the sewing - and her patience was well rewarded. She definitely approved of her pupcakes, as you can see! 

Until next time! 

A Fabulously Quiet Weekend

It happened. The impossible was achieved. We had A Quiet Weekend(tm). And it was glorious. 

I have been guarding this weekend all month, deliberately keeping it as free as possible. I will confess that on Saturday I did have a moment: there was a re-enactment event on in Falkirk and I did swither. But by the time I crawled out of bed, got dressed and opened the curtains to a persistent drizzle, the thought had left my mind.

Hubby worked Saturday, so I did both soggy dog walks and got cracking into a large sewing project. Christmas crafts have also begun, but I shan't say anymore lest eyes they are destined for happen across this page. 

I did get out for a bit as we had a get together with friends for the Barbie Movie. I loved it. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but for a feel good childhood nostalgia trip with feminist undercurrents, you can't go wrong. Won't say any more...

Well, except to share my outfit. Of course we had to join in on the pink (except hubby, who doesn't own any pink on the basis that he's far too colourblind to see it). Originally assembled as a Nurse Joy outfit for my nephews pokemon party, my gloriously pink culottes got an outing:

Today was a quiet one with hubby. The shops been done, as have the chores, but in good company. A lots been going on behind the scenes, so it's been what I needed to recharge the batteries. 

So until next time, live your best life! 

Dog Day Out at Traquair

A bit of a quieter weekend for us this time! I had the eldest nephew staying over for a birthday sleepover. There was lots of Japanese food, anime and board games. We also took him for his first ever escape room, and we successfully achieved our mission in 45 minutes with no hints!

Sunday was Missys day. I had asked my nephew if he wanted to stay an extra night and come along for the Dog Day Out or if he wanted I could drop him off home the Saturday night. He chose an extra night of anime and board games!

We met up with my brother and Maisie and all headed down together. My nephew was in the back with both dogs whilst I drove us all down, my brother having just finished a late shift. 

There was plenty to see an do - we watched the agility but didn't have a go (whilst Missy considers herself healed up, she's still to avoid running and jumping for another week or two). There was gun dog demos and there was meant to be a sheepdog one, but the event was cancelled owing to "naughty sheep"! We enjoyed a Story-telling dog walk, hearing stories of different dogs from across Scotland as we meandered about the grounds and of course there was stalls and a dog show. 

I insisted that Maisibshoukd go in for once and, whilst she didn't place, I felt she should definitely have taken a ribbon for dog judge would most like to take home! My nephew was her wrangler for that, my brother insisting that he wasn't going in the ring. 

Missy placed 3rd in Best Rescue and 2nd in Golden Oldie, which was really nice. Her favourite event had to be the fastest sausage eating contest. And yes. You read that right. A sausage eating contest. For the dogs. 

Dogs were put in groups of four, lined up with the sausage placed at the feet of a judge and, upon completion, the judge would raise thier hand. First to raise thier hand indicated the winning dog. 

Missy was in the fourth set of dogs to go through the first heat and, when she clocked what was going on, was desperate to get her sausage.

I was genuinely surprised that she beat a lab and a gigantic fluffy hound in her first run, both dogs much bigger than her! She places 3rd in the second heat and, whilst I returned to my brother and nephew, they both scolded me for giving Missy the disadvantage - apparently I held her back in her dash. So next time I should drop the lead! The audacity of them both! 

Still, two sausages, Missy clearly felt she was a winner for that alone! Part of me really wants to see more events like that at the shows - ones that embrace the dogs as pets, rather than how they look. 

And that was the weekend. A fly by one again, and a great laugh. So until next time, dream of doggos enjoying sausages and life! 

A Busy Weekend for the Little Jacobite

Its a been another busy little weekend. Firstly we started with the Dalkeith show on Saturday. It was my second time at the Dalkeith show and, particularly after my volunteer day at the Royal Highland Show, I couldn't get over how much smaller this one was. 

Still, it was really nice getting to see some friends and watch the livestock. I had gone with my local friend, and my other friend with the twins came along too to say hi. The weather unexpectedly held out for us, barring a short shower at 10am as we arrived, and it was soon boiling. 

Missy did enter the dog show, but didn't place (although she did come second in musical sit, which is pretty good for her!). And by that point everyone had had enough sun and we called it a day.

After thunderstorms and heavy rain from 7pm tell well past bedtime, I was rather worried about our plan to take another friend of ours to Duncarron. It was the same friend who we tool last time and, honestly, just watching her live out her favourite renfaire vibes is delightful. 

Still, we got up to bright sunshine. The storm had cleared the humidity, but it was hot. 8am and the jumper was discarded before I even got out for the morning walk. 

Duncarron was a success as always. There was sword fights and musket fire, although Missy has recently decided that she dislikes the musket fire. Not to the point she's freaking out, but definitely showing us that she doesn't like it - I'm wondering if sorting out her allergies (and the prolific ear infections that we're a side effect) has resulted in her sensitivity to noise increasing. Hubby thinks it's just because she's getting old and doesn't feel obligated to put up with nonsense any more!

That was certainly the case with her outfit today - I had made a little plaid for her and she decided after ten minutes that she wasn't happy so we took it off her. I definitely think it was because it was so hot - she did later oblige me a woodland photoshoot in the afternoon when it was cooler. 

I may have made a coat. We matched. It was awesome. 

That aside, we all had a great time. I'd remembered a picnic blanket so Missy was in princess mode lying across it and refusing to share with humans or other dogs! We watched the archery demonstration, had better luck with the axe throwing, learned all about the plaid and watched the fight demonstrations. 

There were plenty of dogs at this event; a lot of the volunteers had brought thier own and plenty of visitors too. The hunting hawks were also being shown and, the biggest surprise was the very first Cat of Duncarron! 

A very successful day! We have a relatively busy run next weekend and then I have a quiet one planned that I am fiercely guarding to myself! 

Until next update, have a good one! 

Joust in Time

Following on from Missys mishap with the evil squirrels; we had literally booked a trip away the day before - last minute and non refundable. 

We waited out it out and, as she had passed the ten days bed rest and was getting very frustrated and bored, we decided that a change of scenery was perhaps just what the vet would recommend. 

The plan had always been a very quiet glamping trip to de-stress from the rat race, so why not? 

And Maisie came too! We had double booked a weekend looking after her with our holiday, so just extended her stay with us. To stop over walking Missy, we split them up for walks so that Missy was effectively still on bed rest whilst Maisie got a full walk. It worked a charm with, I think, both dogs appreciating the alone time with a human. 

We went down to Penrith and stayed at Howdy Glamping in their gypsy pod. It was exactly as advertised, neatly tucked away in a woodland and in a black spot for signal, just what we wanted! 

We did get in some adventures. One day was spent at Brougham Castle and the neighboring King Arthur's Table. That was our best day weatherwise as... 

 

Our day in Ullswater was rather wet! We did the steamers so that Missy spent most of the day resting barring the short walk we did at Howtown Pier. There wasots of dogs on the sailing, and we enjoyed chatting away to folk. We stopped for lunch at one end of the lake and then had tea and dessert on the other end!

 and then it was time for home and a stop at Carlisle Castle. It was a great castle but I was getting concerned about the amount of stairs. Whilst Missy is a master of the spiral staircase, we're to restrict too much of that motion, and Maisie has legs that are far too short for such tall flagstones. She gave up halfway and I had to carry her the rest of the way!

Theres not a lot to say of the holiday. We didn't spend as long as we normally would at places (thank goodness our passes got us in free!) owing to Missy. And if I'm honest, owing to ourselves. Hubby and I have definitely burned the candle too much at both ends recently. We definitely needed the quiet evenings listening to birdsong and playing cards.

We finishes our little holiday back home with the Spectacular Jousting in Linlithgow. Always a highlight in the calander. We took it super easy: no walk in the morning for Missy. She walked from the car to the Jousting. Lay down and watched said jousting whilst being fawned over for her Sir Checkmate inspired regalia, and then a wee dither about the stalls before we repeated the above in reverse.

Whilst she didn't get to meet her favourite pantomime villain, we all had a terrific time. Missy is definitely on the mend and wants to do much more than we're letting her, but these things take time to heal. So hopefully the cha he in sights and smells will be enough to have her feel less bored for now. 

Anyway, until next time, here is a photo of the infamous Sir Checkmate to tide you over!