Down on the farm

My place is looking very clean and tidy. I have been painting and cleaning all the cat units (with a little help from my boys) I have painted the floor and what a difference it has made to it. It is all 5 years old now so was in need of a spruce up.

The dog boarding continues to go well. I have lots of dogs in and summer is proving to be very busy.
I love nothing better than to get to know their charactors and who can go out to play with who. I have cut back a little on how much they went out as the dogs were getting so very tired as it was turning out to be about 4 hours play time a day and I guess they are just not used to it. They still have  3/4 runs out a day and ooodles of attention. My boys love helping too. They have all been brought up with animals of course so are very confident around them. No summer holiday for us this year.

We are down to just 2 horses as I have parted with mine. A multi factorial decision of course but I am missing them as I cannot get on top of all the grass this year.  Perhaps we need sheep?

Idilic life??

Ok, so it is not always an idilic life style as today I have been trying to divert the flow of water off my drive and cleaning out drains but it is all part of it. This weather is showing me just what I need to do to have my place as close to perfect as is possible. :)

The cattery has stood up to it very, very well in fact, I did have to laugh as, as the torrential rain fell I looked across and saw every unit with the cat occupant sat out in their run (under cover of course).

The dog boarding has just let some rain water in through the block work at the rear. The roof continues to leak but I have a solution to that. The dogs really don't mind getting wet and have had their usual amount of exercise and play time. I am on my 4th change of dry clothes today.

I do really enjoy it though which is half the battle. I love making sure all the animals in my care are well cared for no matter what the weather.

I have noticed an incredible amount of slugs this year. I guess due to the wet and humid conditions. There are also mini tree frogs every where. I haven't spotted them on my land before.

Summer is on it's way.        I hope!

Summer is here

I am so not going to moan about the weather!!!

I am really enjoying the dog boarding and it is lovely to get to know all our guests. We have a Rotti in at the moment who I would love to hide when the owners come to collect her. She is just fabulous. So affectionate and loving. She and some of the others come up onto my yard for a good run around. My boys are loving it too as they get to play with these lovely dogs. They are animal crackers too.

We do have a cocker spaniel in who hasn't settled in the boarding and didn't even settle in our house until I put her with some of my dogs. I think she needed the company.  She is fine now.

The girls cooking litters are starting to look a little round now so we should have puppies later this month. We are expecting Labradoodles and jackapoos. Fingers crossed all goes well for them.

Toffee should come into season soon so we should have cockerpoos later in the year too.

A Lull

We actually have one day with no boarding dogs in so I am going to put the finishing coat on the floor then we are ready for summer. This coat is specialist for kennels and will not be affected by dogs claws and we can pressure hose it with no ill effect. I am determined to keep it all looking as smart as it is now and never smelly.

We have been having real problems with the horses not letting us clean their ears so have resorted to a very simple, sedating method called a twitch.
You have a stick with a loop of sting and take their top lip and in effect restrict the circulation. This releases endorphins in their brain and they are very sleepy which allows you to complete the treatments much more safely and effectively. Once the twitch is removed they are fully alert with no after effects.

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

I am giving the cattery a thorough, spring clean. I have hoovered every nook and cranny and my eldest son is painting and freshening up the wood work.

We have found some lovely paint to do the floor in both the cattery and dog boarding so that is the next job.

He is coming to the end of his GCSE's and with the unemployment in the youth of today there is ever increased amount of pressure for them to do well. Fingers crossed. He does care which is half the battle.

I still haven't ridden for ages, partly as so busy but also having saddle problems. Think I have it sorted though.

We have new neighbours who seem very nice and reasonable so I am happy as living in such a secluded area is easier just knowing you have nice people on your door step.

My feet have hardly touched the floor :)

I cannot believe how busy I have been with boarding dogs, cats and small pets.
It took me pretty much all day to tend them all, to ensure a good level of care and attention all round.

I had a Collie who had managed to eat rat poison a few days before she came to me so she needed special care and attention and vitamin K. What a responsibility. I had a few others guests on medication too. I really should charge for the administration of it.

My own dogs are settling to the visitors although i'm not sure that they are very impressed with it all.
I have had some of my girls in season too.
Pippa has mated a poodle so we should have Jackapoos
Jilly has also mated a poodle to create Labradoodles. First cross
Bae is having a rest this time around much to her disgust.

I only have a couple more to come into season so they should be all done for my busy summer time.

The horses are all very well but rather fat with all this lovely, lush grass.
My boys and I set out to do a ragwart pull in the horses field as it is poisonous if they eat it. I could not believe how much there was. We filled 2 big bins and have much more left. Years ago we never had a problem with it as there is a small orange and black caterpillar that eats it but nower days it has been killed off by use insecticides.

I haven't ridden very much as have just been so busy but I would like to do a dressage competition before the end of the year. Just the one :)
I am trying to get hold of a saddle flocker (stuffer) at the moment to alter our saddles but how hard is that proving?
There are so few of them around, good ones any way.

I do miss the ponies

This is the first year we have had to mow the lawn! It was hard work and took myself and 2 of my boys hours to get on top of it. It's looking good now though.
In the past we have had our small ponies who who were great at mowing and didn't churn it up if they had a run around (unlike the big guys). They didn't keep it quite so even so there is that bonus.

How is the weather suiting you?

I am so pleased with the dogs boarding in that as it is south facing it gets the sun and does get very warm what with the light concrete bas as well. The granite floor within the units is so lovely and cool though so the dogs are absolutely fine. The automatic water dispensers work very well giving them fresh, cold water at all times. We have just had one who doesn't like to drink out of it but that's no problem as we have many water bowls.

My male Labrador (Oscar) is getting very worked up as I have 3 bitches in season and he cannot "marry" any of them. Bea is having her season off. Jilly has mated with a standard poodle to produce first cross labradoodles. (Jilly is Hug's Mum) and Pippa will mate with a miniature poodle hopefully next week to produce Jackapoos.

All go as ever down on the farm as my eldest has a new horse too. Rocket. He has been out of work for some time so we are taking it slowly and sensibly to bring him back as he aims to go to camp on him in July.

All good fun!