Guess where we have been? :)

 Skiing to Chamonix France.

My boys and I have had a fantastic week. As you can see, oooodles of snow. Skiing hard work at times but what a great hobby to enjoy with your children.

This photo was taken at La Tour which is the furthest point of the resort with excelent facilities. We used the bus service to get around which proved very easy.

This photo was taken at the top of Aiguille de midi which is a mountain next to Mont Blonc and once at the top you are at the highest accessible point in Europe :)

Stunning views and very cold but well worth the effort and we picked the perfect weather with clear blue skies.

Marion looked after all at home for me which was busy for her but she does a very good job and maintains the standards of care which is important. All the animals are happy and Phoebe rose to the occasion as Marion's co worker :)

Let me see?

What have I been up to?

Charity activity - Mel and I have been beavering away preparing for our Family Fun and Doggy day 5th May 2014 The fantastic weather we had last year has been ordered so put the date in your diary and come and join us :)

It was such a huge success last year and so many people, clearly had a lovely day it would be rude not to hold the event again. It was great to see so many dogs having a good day out too.

Tanzania - My middle son goes this year so we have various charity events planned the next is a Jazz and curry night for just £10 at Derby Grammar School this Saturday evening. Tickets are available if you are interested.

I am trying to get fitter so recently I went walking with a group of girls. We walked for 12 miles from Denstone to Alton and onto Dimmingsdale.  It was very wet and windy but a great walk. Part of it was very steep so quite challenging. We are modern girls with all the technology and had a mapmyrun app
that is how we knew we had walked the length we had also we had burned 1200 calories.

We had a culpa and a slice at The Travellers Rest in Dimmingsdale. What a beautiful place with very helpful and welcoming owners.

Business wise we are getting more busy and there are points we are almost full in summer already. We need to expand :) I now have 2 ladies on board to help me out when busy or if I would like a little time off. It is my intention that there is never a point when there is no one at my place which offers great security.

Spring is on it's way, honest. I heard the birds singing this morning, it was beautiful.

Why??

What a little cutie Phoebe is.

For those that have been to mine recently this wall is the retaining wall, supporting the earth which is a result of the installation of the new gates, as the land falls away sharply.

It is just 9 inches deep so what pocessed Phoebes to jump on and park her butt we shall never know.

We wondered if she is practising to be a statue :) A model:)

Perhaps I should have one made from this photo, friend took on her mobile phone :)

Down on the farm we are very quiet with just a few cats and rabbits in, a steady trickle of dogs and an ever decreasing number of puppies to care for as they find new, loving, caring homes.

This is historically my quietest time of the year, boarding wise and, in a way it's good as it enables me to catch up on jobs. Cleaning being a big part of what I get up to at the moment, preparing for my next busy season which is just around the corner.

I am also on a get "ultra fit" mission which involves me going to Zumba and Bokra classes and doing lots of walking and to really push myself, going running :)

I shall explain why at a later date.

I haven't been riding a lot of late but my middle son and I had a lovely ride on Scotty who was such a good boy and is a really genuine, gentle horse even though he is a full thoroughbred which are not my favourite.

Full steam ahead :)

I have just received planning permission to extend the dog boarding.

It has proved a great success and we often turn business away.

I shall be mindful not to grow too big as my main objective is to deliver a high standard of care to all my guests.

Once we have completed the new build we will have 4/5 big exercise areas. One will be in my bottom paddock giving the large dogs great space to run and play and one will incorporate part of the island so the dogs will have trees to chase around. The boy dogs will use the tree trunks too :)

Once we have quietened down after the Christmas rush I shall start painting. Dogs are soooo messy!!

I have interviewed some help who should be starting with me soon to get into the swing of things ahead of my next busy period.

A lazy day :)

On Christmas day Marion came in to help me. She is a star as we were close to full everywhere what with dogs, cats and puppies.

My lovely boys got up early and helped too. Between the 5 of us it still took a couple of hours but all our guests were well tended and had Christmas treats too :)

My children opened gifts then we went off to The Stenson Bubble for lunch :)

It was lovely with so much choice. No preparation and the biggest bonus, no siding away. It was well worth the money and we may well do it again next year.

The afternoon was full on again with animals and my helpers didn't abandon me, my boys played a lot with the dogs. They do have their favourite but make sure they give all some time and attention. The dogs love it. They are very quiet when returned to their own units as well exercised and happy to have a snooze.

The weather is being kind to us so far with only a slight frost. The units have under floor heating which goes on at night so I really don't need to worry about them getting a chill

Nanny Poebe :)

These are not your babies Phoebe!!

She is very happy sitting with the Labradoodles. She carefully lays down and even lets them suckle off her. She is so very gentle but of course we don't leave her in with the puppies.

They are all doing very well. Eyes open, ears almost. They have just about got their bellies off them floor so they can walk rather than slither.

They are still very much on Mum's milk but I will introduce solids very soon which will take the pressure off Lulu. She is doing a fantastic job and is very attentive.

Busy as usual

Almost finished the shovelling of rubble for the entrance but got a little side tracked as I am part of a team of 7 ladies, who have various fund raising events raising much needed funds for cancer research and the charity CRY

The first event was a Winter Wonderland evening. Held in Carolyn's barn atLower Damgate Farm near Ilam. Beautiful part of the country in the peak district. We spend most of last week tooing and frowing as we took this beautiful, large and empty barn, decorated it and set it up ready to receive 200 guests for a sit down meal.

We did it and the evening was a great success. Marie a friend of mine sang and entertained for most part of the evening. We ate the most delicious beef stew and dumplings served by a fantastic team of teenagers who had all kindly given up their evening for us. The atmosphere was buzzing with happy chatty people enjoying themselves who danced their little feet off till the wee small hours. The conga was like no other, even the teenagers were impressed.

We raised circa £5,000 which is fantastic as there was no raffle or auction.

Many have asked me when the next might be?

Watch this space but if you are interested please let me know as it promises to be a good one and sell out quickly :)