Puppies again catching up and Lucy at 10 weeks

It's time to catch up today on all those photos taken a few weeks ago but not yet uploaded because real life took over and we have been soooo busy busy busy. And it was sunny too so we were OUTSIDE!!!

Watch this: here there are still 2 puppies and mum at 8-9 weeks old and they move about so:

Lucy: I just can't get comfortable....... Jack now known as Ricci moves up too.....

And back down again, while Lucy thinks the basket next door looks a better bet.

AAAAAAAAAH Jack/Ricci now has a real relaxation moment...!!!

Can you still see me? I'm hiding!!!

Who is that then behind that flashing thing?

Jack's spotted something under the table: a bee.....

Lucy again: what a pretty face: this is at 9 weeks exactly on the morning Jack/Ricci was collected to go to his new home.

He's still enjoying the sunshine on our patio....

Joins mum in rolling Lucy over at playtime....

Showing how similar they look from above: Lucy in a red collar, Ricci in the blue... Lucy trying to muscle in on Pippa's fetch and squeak toy.... Ricci has the sense to watch.

No luck, mum is still boss, leader of the pack.

Where have they gone?

''What's with all the photos? We are playing!''

More movements in the basket: it's fascinating to watch...

Lucy having extra cuddles when Jack/Ricci had left: aaaaaaah.

Priceless this look: Lucy really demonstrating that she's OK with all the extra attention lavished on just HER!!!

Later on she did look a bit lost and the following week she definately was a little down as she missed Ricci who she'd played with, ate with and always slept with from the day she was born....

She has this AMAZING direct eye contact look, something most dog trainers will tell you dogs just do not do...????And even better after a few minutes: she'll tilt her head sideways really quizically.... LOVELY! She's a bright spark this: one you can almost hear what she's thinking!

Just SEE those little brain cells ticking away.......I think you can see intelligence in a dog just as much as you can see it in children's and any people's eyes....

10 weeks old now and at 11 weeks we'll be walking in the big wide world. See you again soon?

New Beginnings April 2009

Today I would like to catch up with the elements of Spring right with us every day.

The eggshells we found in the garden the other day: light as a feather and thin as paper yet firm and strong. One white and slightly larger, one pale blue- not duck egg as it's NOT a duck's egg but very similar... And our collared dove has finished his/her brooding:is eother of these one of hers maybe?

Every day when we walk Pippa we see the lambs: when they are close by - I usually don't have my camera!- and when they are in the distance I have it so apologies for the blurry images.

They are a reminder of many lovely afternoon and evening walks watching them gambolling about.

Where's my mummy???......

Where? And Jack fast asleep here at least 2 weeks ago now, has started a new life in Woodstock under the name Ricci and has an older dachshund to play with all day named Rodney. We wish him well and I'm quite sure he's very happy there.

And finally : our friends have been using an incubator and some of their eggs have hatched: these are all chickeny chicks but different varieties of chicken. They very kindly let me snap a quick :'' aaaaaah ''photo for you to enjoy!

So raise your glass of water, juice or wine or Pimms and toast with me:

Here's to the JOYS OF SPRING and all the new life and happiness it bring.(s) CHEERS!!!!

A Wonderful Walk in the Chilterns-Beginning of May

On the May Bank Holiday weekend it was such lovely sunny weather that we took a family walk on the Saturday but I forgot my camera and we enjoyed it so very much that I did it all over again on the Sunday when the weather was slightly less sunny....

We park at Kimble and walk up a steep-ish hill labelled as ''The North Bucks Way'' by a signpost.
You can just see Pippa up ahead raring to go! She absolutely adores this walk!!!


There is fabulous grassland and wonderful BIG trees, all kinds including ancient oak trees....

Isn't this green just heavenly? All tones of lime and leaf green, so sooo many many greens.....

A tree struck by lightning I guess.....

We climb a small hillock at the top the view is AMAZING!!! Miles and miles all around can be seen: gloriously green Buckinghamshire. I think the little yellow flowers are cowslips?

It's heavenly up here: I must remember to come here OFTEN! It's only a 15 minute drive and then a 15 minute walk...

Pippa is sniffing out all those rabbits.....

At the bottom of the hill we turn left towards the hilltop with the two trees seen below: If continued for far enough it takes you across the Chequers estate and down a hill into Ellesborough. We saw lots of rabbits on the way: I could not let Pippa run free but she was happy at the end of a 5m lead, leading the way!

Such pretty blue flowers: not sure what they are. Not forget-me-nots but what?

This one below looks like the bee orchids that I used to see when walking in the South Downs in Hampshire many years ago... Pippa was pulling the lead so it may be a little out of focus.

It took 4 attempts as it was as she decided to lick the camera lens as I was trying to take a photo.

When we had reached the steps that lead down to Ellesborough we turned back and walked a loop across the chalklands savouring all the lovely views on the way. To the right:

And to the left:

And back on the right:

I'll get all WI at this point and feel like singing ''Jerusalem'' or something from the Sound of Music: I'm feeling so very very HAPPY!!! Views,sunshine,countryside,exercise,fresh air,good company all combined into a fabulous euphoric combination. The path stretches ahead and you just want to keep on walking...
The eventually there's a right turn and Pippa is looking quite tired now, her tongue is almost on the ground despite having had several long drinks of water. She starts hinting by lying down and refusing to walk on.

The path leading back down is spotted and we descend. There's butterflies: white with orange tips or fluorescent yellow or white. Many bees too especially among the blue Borage that form seas of blue along the sides.

I have a bee picture to load with some more pictures to be loaded another day. Aren't these just GLORIOUS?!!Beautiful brilliant bedazzling blues.

Contrasting with these lacy fragile whites....

And then we reach the car and drive home. Exhausted, content, happy,inspired,rejuvinated, invigorated and resolved to keep walking EVERY weekend from now on: different walks from the OS map of the area I was given- well I bought with a gift of funds- for my birthday.