Winter has Arrived

Well, it was -3C on the dog walk this morning. Time to pack away all things autumn, winter is here!

Been a busy few weeks, November is always a busy month where I try and cram in all my Christmas making and coordinate with friends to fit in visits before the Christmas Chaos. And fit in all the fair weather walking, especially when the Christmas markets are in full swing.

Talking of Christmas markets, I met up with a friend and we had a dither around Newhailes. Whilst we only purchased hot drinks, its set off the Christmas vibes.

Just a short update this week, got a very busy run coming up.

Something "fabulous" you could say....

Pinning on the Purple Poppy

Its been a busy week run this week - from sneaking out of work to volunteer at the Greyhound Rescue Centre Fife for a day, to hosting friends and having a laugh playing Baker Street. It's been a good one. And this weekend was the icing on the cake:

Firstly, Saturday was a Armed Forces Event in conjunction with The Purple Poppy UK. Purple poppies remember the animals that have served, or still serve in the military, so it was only fitting that in addition to the horses on show, bedecked in purple poppies themselves, that there was a dog show. It was actually my older sister who found out about it, she being fairly local, and she suggested possibly going to it (spoiler, she turned up as we left, the show being packed up).

I'm gonna be honest, the dog show was the weakest part of the day. Competing against police dog demos, pipe bands, 50s jive demos, highland dancing, live music, hundreds of stalls and a living history village from WW2, it was definitely overshadowed. I won't complain, Missy took home 2 ribbons, although I almost missed golden oldie as I ran off to watch the Highland dancing!

It was Missy's Mercy Dog outfit that won the day - it's debut in competition and the only location I felt it would do well. And that was the day. A fabulous solo adventure for Missy and I!

Sunday was just for the dogs - the long awaited return of Doghailes. The logistics of this day were a disaster - originally hubby was off and we were gonna meet friends, and then he wasn't, but that shouldn't spoil the day, right? Well, then we got double booked, big Sis if off on her holidays and could I take Wee Ben? 

I had committed to having him, when the holiday was meant to have happened in Easter. As it was, tickets had been bought and paid for for Doghailes by the time the dates were booked. As my friend has a no dogs on furniture policy, I couldn't take Ben with and go for dinner as originally planned. As Hubby was working, I couldn't just pick him up and go myself, I operate a strict one dog per person policy at events. So in the end I strong armed my niece into coming along and doing the drop off.

There wasn't much in the way of coercion. My niece wanted away from the mad flap of packing, and had been asking me repeatedly about when the next show was on she could take Ben to. I paid thier entry and off we went.

We shared a picnic, cheered on the dogs, fitted in a nice walk about the estate and generally had a lovely day. Missy placed 2nd in fancy dress, the only ribbon we picked up, but it's all for charity, so we didn't mind in the slightest.

A fab weekend all round.

With us having Ben this week, we have an unexpected quiet week thrust upon us and, I won't lie, it's probably needed!

Until next time!

Another Year Goes By

It's been 9 years since Missy chose us and, apart from a wee grey chin, she hasn't changed a bit! Still biscuit mad, squirrel daft and as accident prone as ever.

I've told the story before of how we came to be a family, and it still feels like yesterday we found her sad and morose in a shelter. Yet at the same time, she's always been here.

We celebrated yesterday with a nice walk about Newhailes. So this picture, in addition to the 9 above, marks every Adoptiversary, including the day we got her. 

Newhailes have a wee art exhibition on, featuring local artists and thier interpretation of Newhailes and what it means to them. It was nice that we could take Missy into the gazebo to admire the work. Despite the hard frost today, Spring is definitely trying to come along, there were snow drops aplenty, and something very floral, that was so strongly scented it gave me a nosebleed (I'm thinking hyacinths, although I couldn't see any) 

A good excuse for a hot chocolate in the cafe though. Missy got lots of attention in her little coat. The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed the many hearts stitched along the back. Yep. Barely a week after she got it, she tore the whole back open going under a barbed wire fence - I'd much rather the coat get cut up than her, so just mended it up as best I could.

What did I say about some things never changing? 

We went into Jollyes on the way home and let her pick a treat. After failing to explain to her that there was no way she could have the knuckle bone the size of her head, she chose a chicken doughnut thing and then watched hubby very, very carefully as he filled a pick and mix bag with biscuits for her. 

And that was that. We are having a quiet day today with some nice local walks planned in, and much cuddling on the sofa. 

The flowers might be trying to tell us otherwise, but its definitely not spring yet, so we'll take advantage and have a well eared duvet day! 

Until next time

A Lot to Celebrate

We've had good news. Missys results came back and everything is officially benign so she's out the woods with another scar and none the wiser. That news came on Wednesday, so with my sister arriving Thursday, I was in a great mood to celebrate seeing family and enjoying all the Jubilee activities on offer.

As always when she visits, it's been a busy week. Firstly it was Edinburgh Zoo as we all wanted to take advantage of our passes. 

Then it was a day at the Family Festival in Newhailes. Missy had gotten her stitches out that morning and we kept her walking to a minimum. It was good to watch the live music and enjoy the atmosphere. 

Honestly, covid is starting to feel like a fever dream sometimes, except that I know too many people who are affected long term by it. 

Talking of covid, our friends with the twins joined us (sans husband) and it was great to have both my neices and nephews play together. They're all at that wonderful age where they make friends fast and were soon causing havok.

To finish wrapping up the weekend, we did a family garden party. It felt like a gathering of the clan as each branch of the tree arrived. Our friends mentioned above were also invited, partly because the children were getting on so well, and partly because we're really the only family they have locally, so want to include them as much as possible. 

And it went great. There's always a bit of trepidation when I get everyone together, but it worked well. The kids had a great time running riot (thank goodness it's a big garden) and the adults all got to catch up. 

A success! 

And talking of successes, I managed it. Saturday night the last of the stitches were done, in perfect time for the party. Bit bad for less than a months work, especially as most of that month was worrying about Missy!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, whatever you got up to!