looking ahead

Bookings for both the cattery and dog boarding are going very well. We are almost full all summer.
I am trying to get ahead of some jobs like mowing the drive which is a challenge s the grass has shot up and is sooooo thick. It helps to keep me fit :)

I have been putting the finishing touches into the boarding units such as beds, chairs, mats, bowls etc

We have a golden doodle in at the moment as well as some others but he is huge and so bouncy. What a lovely character too.

My guys are all a bit out of sorts as I have two of my girls in season. Bae is not being mated as she is on a rest but Jilly will be as she has missed two seasons. I think my other girls are coming into season too which is driving Oscar (my male Lab) mad as he will not marry any of them.  His new wife is very settled but won't be old enough to marry until late 2012 early2013

I wormed all my guys today. Oh! I know how to live.

Good news

Sadly I lost my big brother to lung cancer last year (50 years old). Typically, for a man he refused to go to the doctors with his symptoms. Who knows what might have happened if he had.

Today I have had a message from an old school friend who I became re acquainted with at my brothers funeral. She was given a diagnosis of lung cancer last year and has had several courses of treatment and now has a "stable disease". Great news.

Business is doing well. We have a few cats one of which is emigrating to New Zealand in July. Button Mushroom is lovely. He loves a cuddle and lets me know when he has had enough.

We have two absolutely gorgeous miniature terriers in. They are so small with big characters but they do love a hug especially Cocoa.

Very proud

I hope you don't mind but I am going to mention my youngest son as he attended his first athletics competition on sunday. He is a member of derby athletics club. He was a little nervous as you would expect with 5 other clubs competing. The atmosphere was lovely, very friendly and everyone very encouraging. He ran 100 and 200 metres and came first in both (by quite a long way). Of course he is thrilled to bits to have confirmation that he is quite quick and his brothers are claiming credit for training him as he has had to run from them all these years. We shall see where he goes with it as it is a huge commitment for him with training twice a week and the competitions can be a huge distance away.
For me, I love that he has a focus with something very positive to aim for and achieve.


The dog boarding is going very well. I am getting into the swing as to how it all works out and ensuring all the animals in my care have lots of attention. My eldest son impressed me as whilst I was out at athletics he had all the boarding dogs out to exercise them.
We are almost full at points over the summer holidays so I do envisage turning business away :(

Jess is making a good recovery but she has not slowed down any :(

The rain continues to fall!

Lola continues to settle well. She was charging around with Lulu and Jilly today. They were taking it in turn to hold the ball and the other two chanced. I love to watch them play and have freedom.

I have been out erecting fencing this morning. The constant rain has made the ground nice and soft which made the knocking in with the sledge hammer easier but I am fed up with getting wet! when will it stop!

Jess is going back to the orthopaedic hospital in Lichfield tomorrow for a check x ray but she is doing very well and really starting to use that leg. I really do not feel that she will have slowed down any.

I am really hoping to get my horse out to do some dressage competitions when the weather improves. They do need to be clean and tidy which is very difficult when the ground is so wet and muddy and we don't have stables.

He is looking great and has wintered well.

What a long day

The day started extra early as I have a few boarding dogs in and I do like to give them all time and attention. I also have quite a number of cats to care for and as always my own crew.
My boys, of course need sorting then off to school.

I sat having my cuppa and browsed the internet in search of a wife for Oscar (my gorgeous chocolate lab)
Today I found her. A 7 months old chocolate labrador. Good pedigree and KC registered.
Something felt right about her but it was a nasty day with heavy rain forecast. I did have an appointment at the vets for standard jabs but my mind kept drifting back to this puppy so I moved the appointment and headed off to Leeds!!

We have called her Lola and she is lovely. A deep chocolate colour and whilst still a little nervous having been dragged from her home, she is settling well. I have been doing some training with her and she is very quick to learn. But why wouldn't she? she is a labrador.

The family who had her had just taken too much on with 4 very young children and 3 young labradors. Very brave but it was proving too much for them. I do think people underestimate how much time, attention and exercise any dog needs.

Oh! My! Goodness!

And I thought she must have just bruised herself when she ran into the log but as she was non weight bearing the next day I took her to  Bob Payne (Vet in Willington) He referred her to specialists in Lichfield and she had her fractured femur pinned and plated that very day.
I have no idea why but she wasn't pregnant which is a blessing as she has a few weeks of recovery and behaving herself.

Sorry to all those waiting so patiently for her off spring but she will make a full recovery and I shall mate her her next season in about 6 months time.

On a lighter note.
I have Red boarding with me at the moment. She is one of Toffee's last years litter and what a ball of fluff she is. I shall try and get a photograph of her if she will stay still long enough. She has a beautiful character too.

Great ears!

Bobbin and Bonnie (boarding dogs) are having a great time playing chase.
I have just put them back in their own unit for a snooze as they would play all day. I love to see them though, having some freedom and space to play.
I have had all the boarding dogs out together this morning and what a good time they all had. As I find my feet with this new business venture, always erring on the side of caution, I try new ways and as with my own dogs, I feel the best way to fully exercise a dog is off the lead, chasing and wrestling with others. This is all subject to temperament, age, gender and willingness. Of course

The pully systems are now all in situ for the trapdoors. (It took me all week) I am so pleased with them as they are substantial, aesthetically pleasing and very robust.

Jess (my cocker spaniel) is so very energetic and enthusiastic. She shot out of my gate as we were heading off across the fields and she slammed into a log. Needless to say she is feeling very sorry for herself now.

What beautiful weather again and thank goodness as my eldest son is on his silver D of E practice walk.
He was so looking forward to it so I am pleased the weather has been kind to them as it is miserable on the move for 3 days, camping and getting wet and cold.
He is about to seriously start fund raising as he is going to Tanzania next year to build toilets and teach english in an orphanage.
My youngest is running 3K at the Derby fun run. Good luck