C and D - My Daughter, Chickens and Dogs!

C is most importantly for Claire, my younger daughter, aged 31 and living in London with James. They are both Landscape Architects and lead very busy lives, but at least now they have their own home at last, and are doing lots of work to it in the little spare time they have. They live in a lovely area, with lots of trees and heathland nearby.

C is also for chickens, which we have had for four weeks now, so they are fourteen weeks old. Dotty, the French Copper Black Maran will lay deep brown eggs, but we won't be getting any for several weeks yet, as she is too young. Flo's eggs will be small bantam eggs.

French Maran Eggs

In two weeks time, we are getting three ex-battery hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust. We had some a few years ago, and can't wait for the next trio of Ginger Ninjas! Below are pics of the first ex-batts we had.

The first day...

...and after lots of TLC!

D is definitely for Dogs. I have had dogs for most of my life, growing up with poodles, which were the only type of dog my mother would have. I loved them, and although I haven't owned one since, now I am dog grooming, I can cuddle poodles again, as well as make them look nice in my salon, Doggy Dazzlers.

Charlie After Grooming

Charlie Before Grooming





When I got my own first dog, I got a Border Collie, Dillon, who played with my babies as they grew, and tried to herd the potatoes by patrolling the veggie patch incessantly! He was followed by Honey, the golden Labrador, a lovely girl who adored cuddles and took herself off for walks, usually rolling in something disgusting, before she came home.

We got Ruby, our lovely retired Greyhound, three years ago from Tia Greyhound & Lurcher Rescue in Yorkshire. We told Bob at Tia what we needed in a dog, and Ruby was the one he chose for us. We took her for a walk in the rain, and knew she was the one. Thankyou Tia for giving us our perfect dog. She settled straight in, hogging the sofa and is definitely my heart dog. She is such a good girl with everything apart from (not surprisingly) chasing small animals, like rabbits, so we are trying to train her not to chase chickens now! 

 Ruby and Me!

Snuggledog

She looks an angel, but this morning she rolled in some lovely fox poo on her walk, returned with attendant flies and had to be bathed before my customer came for its own bath!

Alfie the Shih Tzu has been adopted by a lovely new owner, lucky boy! He was very matted and smelly when she got him, needing a good bath and clipping short. He was scared, as he hadn't been before, but a DAP pheromone spray helped, along with Rescue Remedy, and he settled down in the end. Here he is...

Before...



...and After!



Alphabet in August

Susy at Chiot's Run challenged bloggers to use each letter of the alphabet to describe themselves, each day throughout August (with Sundays off) and I have just found it via Nip it in the Bud. I am starting very late, so will do two letters a day till I catch up. I am changing it slightly to things or people that are/have been important in my life, so here goes....

A is for Animals - I have always loved animals, and in my childhood used to live opposite a farm. My sister, Jenny and I used to go and pick up the new chicks and I seem to remember feeding a lamb with a bottle, but I was also guilty of disappearing from the garden when very small, and being discovered, walking over the bridge in the middle of Farmer Lawson's cows, bringing them back for milking! I also remember playing in the field with my sister, not knowing the bull was in there too, and having to beat a very hasty retreat over the gate as it ran towards us! Wonderful memories of a 1950's childhood.

The field we used to play in. Sadly, the farmhouse is now derelict, so I guess the field will be built on before too long. 

I wish farming had stayed small scale, with livestock still having names like Daisy and Clover, and farmers getting local children involved, so my own children and grandchildren could have had similar experiences.

B is for Babies - The scent of a small baby snuggled up against me is a memory most mothers will say 'Aah' to. I adored my two babies and enjoyed being their mummy so much, watching each tiny step in their development. Then, becoming a grandmother twice and feeling the wonder of these perfect tiny souls again, was and still is wonderful in a totally different way. I wish I could put their lovely pictures on here, but sadly in these times, it isn't a wise thing to do.

Garage Sale Plans

We are going to have a garage sale for Lurcher SOS, to help raise funds to pay for treatment for two lurchers called Polly and Abbie, who need to be made well before they can go to new homes.

   Polly

  Abbie

 Besides the usual clearout, we are going to sell homemade preserves and cakes, plus homemade dog treats from the fab A La Bark Baking cookbook by Kris Owen. You can get it from Lurcher SOS or http://www.alabarkbaking.co.uk/ and some of your money will help dogs in rescue. The recipes are really easy and your dogs will go mad for them.

Anyway, I have just made some spiced damson chutney, using a recipe from Nip it in the Bud.  It smelt gorgeous whilst cooking, but I haven't tasted it yet, as I'm not a chutney lover, but here it is, bubbling away...

Thanks for the recipe, Nic! There are some seriously yummy recipes on Nip it in the Bud, and I am completely addicted to the Damson and Orange Jam. It's definitely not going to last long!

Hello!

My very first post on my blog!

Today it has rained and I felt yuck - I've had a tummy bug for a couple of days - so what better time to start a blog! Feet up on the sofa, cups of tea provided by George and focusing on the future and good stuff.

The chickens are so funny. When it rains, they stand and look up at it in a bemused sort of way, and don't know what to do, but they are only 12 weeks old! And they did learn very quickly how to make a dustbath in the Eglu run. Dotty is a French Copper Black Maran and Flo is a Gold-laced Orpington bantam, from the lovely Nicola at Torkington Poultry. They are joined at the hip, so if one has a drink, the other has to. They are very lucky chucks as we have a wormery, so endless yummy treats to fight over. Here they are, though it's a couple of weeks ago. Must take some more piccies!