How many hours in a day??

Down on the farm we have a new litter of gorgeous Cockapoo puppies. Toffee is Mum and Duke Dad. She is a loyal girl as has only ever "married" him. They do make lovely puppies/ adult dogs and there are a few around this area if you wanted to see how these puppies will turn out.

Ruby, my Rotti puppy, has started her training so every day I need to spend one to one time with her as I'm determined to have her at least as good as her Mum, Phoebe. My friend Mel and I took our 4 Rotti's out along the canal Wednesday. It was Ruby's first time on the highway and on a lead. She did well. Our next outing we are taking the two puppies into the city :)

We have acquired a pig, YES a pig who apparently hasn't lived with pigs as doesn't get along with them but is very used to dogs. She is great with my dogs but I will need to build her a safe place for when I'm busy with outer peoples dogs who may not be so good with her. (another job to do) She is such a lovely, loving girl who is also house trained but she is either pregnant or has very large worms :) Time will tell.
Everyone loves her including the many teenage boys we have around here :)

We have acquired a 15.1hh horse. A girl and I don't really do girl horses as they can be so "marish" but she found us and what a lovely calm and gentle girl she is so we have decided to take a foal off her. I have found a stunning stallion who is used by the queen to produce the grey horses to pull her carriage. Good enough for the queen :)
She has had her swabs taken and doesn't have any sexually transmitted diseases!!!  Just as well as she has never been courting before. The stallion owner insists on the test and I cannot blame her as she wants to keep her boy "clean" I had no idea it was such a problem with horses.
I also had her scanned to see where she is in her cycle and she is going to be "married" over this weekend as is about to ovulate.
Fingers crossed 11 month time we will have the pitter, patter of more tiny feet :)

The new dog run a proving a god send and our many boarding dogs can be outside most of the day and if not yappy they never get shut in at all. I do run nice kennels even though I do say so myself. Actually many others say so as we are getting very busy all the time and at points in the summer we are already full.

Painting in the cattery is almost there. Just the doors and the floor to do now then we are ready for summer.

I am looking to take some help on but finding the right person is not easy. Someone who can maintain our high standards, who is great with the animals, who can work and think for themselves and who is trustworthy and good with people. A tall order but I am looking as we would like a holiday and after 9 years of trading I would like a full day off a week :)

Exam season is over for my boys so wind down is happening. They are soon on summer holidays. Middle son is trying to secure a summer job in HR as that is what he is studying at university in September. I'm so proud

What's new?

Where do I begin? :)

We now have a large, supper, dooper  dog run which goes round the island and takes in trees so great for shade on those illusive hot, sunny, summer days. This gives me 3 large exercise areas so ready for the busy summer.

My lovely horse had to be put to sleep as had a long standing problem with his hind legs. So very sad but at least he isn't being passed onto some poor, unsuspecting buyer and I will look again as not ready to hang up my riding boots yet :)

We have acquired a micro pig called Whinney. She thinks she is a dog and cannot settle with other pigs. In fact she does fight them. She is great with my dogs, is house trained and comes when called. She loves fuss and likes watching TV too :)

My ride on mower is proving fantastic and helping me keep on top of maintenance of the place.

My lovely boys are in the middle of exams and seem to be working and doing well. Time will tell :)
Despite having an unconditional offer at university to study business studies with H R my middle son is working hard to do well with his A levels.

I am a very proud Mum

Down on the farm

Thought I would give you an update on what I have been up to "down on the farm"

Maintenance

I have bought a second hand mower so I have half a fighting chance of keeping on top of the mowing. It's a beefy little machine and whilst it is a novelty my youngest is happy to do it. Good move :)

I have had lots of earth moved as am creating a fantastic dog run which encompasses part of an iseland and includes some trees. It will be great for the high energy dogs and whilst i'm at home they could be outdoors all day as there is shelter/shade too.

Cattery

I have got lovely fitted floors in the new cattery block and almost finished the painting so ready for the summer although we have been very busy this week with cats as well as dogs.  I have been gathering chairs and small tables so each unit gives each cat a nice place to sit, either high or low. Either by the window or not. Either inside or out in their own private run.

Our animals

Ruby Do, Phoebe's daughter is doing very well and her training has started.

We have a new addition but i'm not telling you what and see if you spot her when you're next here :)

Bookings

Yes, summer is upon us and bookings are coming in thick and fast. We are almost full in the dog boarding and many units are booked in the cattery too. Dog owners do seem to book earlier than cat's but I guess if you cannot accommodate your dog you really are stuck for going away where as it's probably easier to have a cat looked after by a friend or neighbour.

Phew! another Family Fun and Doggy Day over :)

It was fantastic, the weather was perfect, people arrived in their droves, we had to use our neighbours field for extra parking.

We had in excess of 1000 people on site and hundreds of dogs who were all impeccably well behaved.

The show classes were well subscribed and boy! did we have a good giggle at the scurry dogs.

The team of helpers were fantastic and Mel, in both the run up and on the day, as always, is such a rock. We make a great pair. We think the same and both graft, never shy of work and prepared to do what ever it takes to ensure everyone has a lovely time.

The demonstrations were wonderful so a huge thank you to Prospector canine events team and Dave Blackshaw dog agility group (Sophi)

A big thank you, of course goes to the many, many people who came to support the day.

The big question is, will we do it again next year?

where does the time go?

I cannot believe how busy I am at the moment and this should be my lul before the summer storm :)
I have painting to finish and floors to lay in the cattery units and other maintenance bit to do.

So where is my time going?

Well :) We do have two litters of puppies which are real time wasters :) They do take a lot of care, putting food in one end and cleaning up the other before they plaster it all over each other. I cannot wait to get them out in the fresh air for a little while but at just 3 weeks they are still too young.

We have cockatoo puppies too. Born Saturday. They are noisy but no trouble at the moment as Jess is doing a fantastic job. Good girl.

I have several of my other girls in season so coordinating their mating when the studs are available takes some doing too. I usually mate, when she is receptive then 24 hours later so very time consuming but worth it when we see the lovely puppies we produce.

Then we have the fun day looming so my grounds have to be well prepared. I spent all afternoon mowing the parking field. Ill finish that off today. We are busy chasing stall holders and demonstrations. Ensuring we have commitment wherever we can. We need to have the running order for the day in place and details of the sponsors to we can utilise Mel's dad to sign write the "thank you" board.

We now have as entertainment

Heal work to music
Dog obedience demonstration
Dog agility and 'come and have a go"

Birds of pray
pony rides
Little pigs
Quad bikes
Remote controlled cars and oodles more

And I have my new horse too. I have put him on a friends yard as he was clearly lonely. He has settled very well and is much calmer. He needs some work to build up his muscles but is proving a joy to work with

What's happening down on the farm?

 I have a new (second hand ) mower so been mowing anything that stands still long enough in preparation for May Day charity event. Hope we are going to see you, your family and friends. 

We have managed to secure a demonstration of dog agility with a "have a go session" which will be fun I have no doubt. Why not come along and "have a go" it is great for the dogs, they love it once they get the hang of it and it certainly helps with their training.

I am trying to work out how to fill in some of the moat so when I create the big, new dog run for the boarders I can let them have the run of part of our island. They will love it as there are trees for the boys to do what only boy dogs do well :) The ground is undulating which will be fun for them to run and play on. The first, lovely job for me is to go into the stagnant water to put an extension on the pipe that brings storm water in off the roofs of the houses. Nice but some one has to do it :)

Marian has been helping me as we have given the cattery a spring clean. I'm hoping she will be around next week too to help with my mammoth task of painting it all. My cattery is now quite a few years old and people do comment on how fresh, clean and definitely non smelly it is and that is my mission to maintain.

My new horse is proving a little trick as he is in need of company, they are herd animals after all. Being here alone isn't nice as he calls to the many horses next door but no one calls back. 

I am worried about hacking on these dreadful roads as many of the drivers these days don't seem to acknowledge there is a person on the back of that horse and clearly think you have no right to be there as they squeeze you into the curb. 

I may move him to a "better place"

He is a lovely boy with the most fantastic paces, just needs some good quality work and muscling up in the "correct" way. A great project for me and as his underlaying nature is kind that is going to be very rewarding. I have only had him two weeks tomorrow so very early days.

What have I been up to? :)

Extension of cattery now has double, exterior cladding, heat pads, electric lights and I have started painting, the floor covering will be the last job then all ready for the summer rush :)
We have put a smart sink with a fantastic, instant water heater in too for washing the pots. No longer will they have to go into my house kitchen.

Cleaning of dog and cat units never stops as I am so determined never to have smelly units so as we have been very busy over Easter that has kept me busy too.

Ok, this is what I have been up to too :)

I have bought myself a new horse. Well it is my passion and I'm no longer providing them for my boys as they are off doing other things. Teenage boys :) This is my time
This gorgeous boy is 12 years old 16.3hh so big ish. He is a lovely natured and a very honest horse. I have had lots of fun with him already and only had him 1 week. The lovely people who had him for 5 years I know are missing him but we will, undoubtedly stay in touch. He has only ever had 2 homes which is quite something in the horse world. I'll let you know what we get up to and how we get on if you like?

Back to business

Bookings are coming in for summer so please don't delay or there won't be any room at the inn

Family Fun and Doggy Day plans are well underway and I really hope it is a huge success and the two children's charities we raise funds for will benefit also
Mel and I think this will be our last one so please make sure you join us for a fun day out