Dog in the Workhouse

Shock! Horror!

2010-04-07T19:37:00.002Z

Fact is, folks, I'm just not getting paws on this machine much at all these days. There's always some damn human here, hogging it.
I have decided that L is just going to have to share her blog with me from now on, and that's that.

So I'll leave all 116 posts up here but I'll be posting over at Tart's Tales now, whenever she's not looking. Thanks for sharing the journey so far with me, and do come over and see me at her place soon....

Ash

Dearie me, how time flies...

2010-02-24T12:58:00.004Z

Can't believe it's so long since I last posted here...and we've STILL got snow!

OK, bit of an exaggeration but it's been snowing on and off since last year and we only ever get a few days' respite from it, and it's chilly chilly chilly. This means snuggling up to a lukewarm stove or charging about an empty field with Midge, growling and snarling the while, in order to get some heat in my nearly-middle-aged bones!

But, other STUFF has been happening and Hugh's new business is ready to launch.

It's called...

You can learn more about it HERE and it's full of this sort of thing... It's the place to go to learn how to drive off-road safely and confidently, with due care for the environment and your self. If I had a driving licence (which is a little unlikely, I know), I'd be first in the queue to learn and then show off as the only chocolate labrador in the whole world with four-wheel drive and four-paw drive.
The whole Workhouse website has been re-launched to promote the cottage as well as Far x 4 and the arty stuff that happens round here - nip over and have a look - see, there are two ways to get there!

Snow Business ll

2010-01-18T14:08:00.003Z

Well, you might not have seen ENOUGH snow yet..., so here we have the road home from Jedburgh,
The little utility room that Hugh built in the autumn (nice timing, Mr Roberts)
Arty shot by Mrs Roberts...
And the path across the garden to that wee gate, beyond which lies the woodshed....

That's all folks! I'll spare you the saddest picture which would be the polytunnel that collapsed under the weight of snow and ice, as we are not up to addressing that wee calamity yet.
The snow is disappearing fast now and the fields are full of glaur (good Scots word meaning mud).

xx Ash

Snow Business

2009-12-28T16:58:00.003Z

Midge takes snowball-catching very seriously, as you can see! She still misses 'em, of course, but she gives it her best shot every time. I'm just there to give helpful advice and score for any reward biscuits which may be on offer.

Basically we are having a ball this Christmastime, what with good walks and games in the snow, and a toasty warm stove to retreat to. There have been visitors to make a fuss of and more promised for a few days' time, and I think we may be having a Grand Day Out tomorrow, though whether that's north, south, east or west, I don't know. Hugh's enjoying the challenge of driving in snow and ice - not that he can afford to get stuck now that he's a qualified off-road instructor.....!

Hope y'all have a good New Year!

Festive Good Wishes

2009-12-19T17:20:00.004Z

Hello folks! Are you all suffering in this seasonably chilly weather? We've had big fat snowflakes here this afternoon, to top up yesterday's meagre efforts. As you can see from Hugh's stylish portraits of us, Midge likes to eat as much snow as possible and leave it dribbling from her chops. She's not the most refined of eaters at the best of times.....

We're pretty festive here now, what with the tree in the living room, the cards on strings in the corridor, the supply of home made sweeties tucked away, and the lovely big pack of tripe flavoured chews in 'our' tin. Roll on the big day, say I. We've been promised a good walk and a well packed stove in the living room. Hopefully there may be the vestiges of turkey lurking about too. These will help to make up for the lack of attention over the next few days as the lord and lady dart hither and yon, socialising if you please.

I cannot tarry here as the computer lurks too far from the stove and my paws are chilling rapidly. I'd like to wish you all very happy holidays and as many bones and chews as you can eat without disgracing yourself on the carpet . And remember, take a seasonal lesson from Midge - eating tree decorations can result in savage indigestion.

Winter Draw(er)s On

2009-11-13T10:38:00.006Z

Blimey - six weeks since I last graced you with my presence. So little has happened that I hardly know where to start...

OK, I jest, but the minutiae of life by the stove is not going to make entrancing reading.

Hugh has cut a mountain of firewood so we'll be warm for the next month or two, and he's been painting more pictures. He and Lindsay took more of his pigs and belties and ducks over to Conundrum Farm at Berwick to hang on the walls in the restaurant there, to be snapped up by discerning animal lovers (we hope).

Her Ladyship had a fine time selling her handmade 'stuff' at the Wool Festival at St Abbs earlier this month and her next outing is on Saturday 21st at the Village Hall for the Christmas Fayre.

To that end she is causing a sugar shortage in the district - there's to be a whole lot of cooking going on next week in the cottage kitchen, away from us hounds, as she creates irresistible edibles for the Fayre (if we are to believe her hype).

Midge and me - we are specialising in snuffling out where the neighbouring cat has been in wandering in OUR garden when we've been indoors. And there are a few fallen apples to be quietly disposed of, and piles of leaves to explore for mouses and those sort of late autumn duties. We are presently quietly content.

BAD STUFF BAD STUFF BAD

Dressing up is for humans - dogs are fine as they are. If anyone attempts this sort of torture on me I will bite them, and I say that as a lady of breeding.

http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/archives/Animal-science-blog/Nov-15-2007.html

http://coloradoright.wordpress.com/category/dogs/

http://coloradoright.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/why-dogs-bite-people/

Cool Day

2009-10-01T18:32:00.003Z

Yup, I finally had a whole day out with Hugh. You see he'd organised this off-road driving day in the forests for 4 x 4 folks, experienced and otherwise, and it went off pretty smoothly really, considering the number of men involved in the marshalling and winching out of the occasional stuck vehicle and all that stuff.So the next weekend the trusty helpers were able to go back into the forests to do a tidy up and check it was all left unlittered.It inevitably involved driving along tricky tracks, across open moorland, down steep slippy slopes and so on and I WAS THERE! All Day. In the FRONT SEAT. Enjoying every minute, even when I needed to put my front paws on the dashboard to keep my balance. I must stress for those of a nervous disposition that extreme caution was taken by Hugh at all times and that speeds were very slow and careful.
And there were meal breaks and snacks stops and I WAS THERE, and Midge was not......

Arty Tarty

2009-09-07T19:29:00.006Z

Just as I suspected, my blog has been hijacked for the shameless promotion of her ladyship and her arty friends....
So we had best just get on and do this thing..

CROSSING BORDERS ANNUAL ART TRAIL
SEPTEMBER 11th - 13th
Across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland

And, starring at Southdean Village Hall from 10 am until 5.00 pm each day, we have

Lynne Henderson - illustrator extraordinaire, who will be demonstrating her skills with watercolours over the whole three daysMirjam van Beek with her delicious individually handpainted and dyed silks - from scarves and jewellery to lampshades and much much more
Ian Oliver's excellent images of the glorious Border landscape in all weathers and seasons
The ceramics of Clair Norris - covetable stripey pots, groovy tiles and these fantastic organic bowls
Bold and impressive jewellery in lots of variations by Danielle Ray

and a few bits of paper and some scraps of yarn from my mistress - I dare say she's waffling on about them some other place...

BUT, don't forget - the whole three days at the Hall, refreshments ALL DAY! Yup, well, you'll have to cough up a penny or two for them but at least there will be coffee and cake to restore your strength before you head off to see some more arty types in their natural habitat....

House-bound

2009-08-13T20:43:00.003Z

There has been a great deal of this going on... even more than usual. Now, I don't mean Midge trying to get me in a head lock, nothing new about that, sadly. She delights in biting my back legs, bouncing on top of me, stealing the football, pushing in when I am trying to have a bit of a cuddle with my folks and all the usual bad behavious of a 20 month old cross. What's happening is the Hugh is doing construction work at the front of the house so there is no gate in place for much of the time. This is a situation I would be more than happy to take advantage of but Hugh thinks otherwise. Thus we are penned in the house for HOURS at a time, and deprived of the opportunity to get between him, his hammer and various bits of wood. Hardly fair, is it?Lindsay wanted to show off a flower - bloomin' sharp spikey thing it is too, with a perfume which, as any dog knows, is not a proper smell at all. Still, here it is in all its glory. Not that she knows what variety it is or anything useful like that...

There's other stuff going on, always is. For a start there's definitely another DOG living next door in the cottage - been there all week, and I have not been allowed to visit. I am to understand they are paying guests and I must show respect. Harrumph!

Before you know it it will be Open Studios time, and I'll be expected to post information and pictures of ART up here, instead of tasteful canine type stuff. So enjoy this while you can.....

Chips for tea..

2009-07-16T18:33:00.003Z

Eric Junior and his girls

Just back from a little light exercise. It had the bonus of being followed up by a visit to the chippie so Midge and I were rewarded for our extremely good table manners (only a little river of drool) with a couple of chips and some fish each.
I reported to Her Ladyship that Tara had not heard of Strawberry Curd, so, lo, I have a recipe for you...

Strawberry Curd
200 gm strawberries, 300 gm fine sugar, 120gm butter,
4 eggs, zest of an orange, zest and juice of a lemon.

Push the strawberries through a sieve to make a puree. Melt the butter, sugar, zest and juice together and stir in the puree. Beat the eggs lightly then add to the hot mixture, stirring vigorously. Return to the heat and cook gently, stirring all the time (or you can cook in 30 second blasts in the microwave, removing the bowl and stirring, and repeating the process for as long as it takes) The curd is ready when it has a slightly thickened jellied appearance. It will thicken further as it cools. Pot up in sterilised jars. It is absolutely delicious - keep the jars in the fridge, heavily disguised.

Life is a lemon...

2009-07-01T14:54:00.003Z

Well a lemon curd at least, or orange or strawberry.... Despite the hot and clammy weather, the kitchen has been a veritable fruit shop these past few days. The lady of the house will not have any free time again till Saturday though I think she's scheming to bake fancy breads on Sunday morning. All this productivity is to stock her stall at the CURLY KALE & CREAM CAKES afternoon at the Village Hall.Recognise the strawberry thief? We have our very own. A young blackbird who WILL NOT stay out of the polytunnel where the strawberries are ripening. There are wire mesh doors to block his way but he perseveres, battles his way in and proceeds to take chunks out of every juicy berry he can fund. Her Ladyship is NOT AMUSED and has threatened retribution. Still, Midge and I score for some half eaten berries so all is not lost.

Blissssss

2009-06-14T09:22:00.002Z

The weather has been pretty fine here lately. Much attention has been lavished on the garden - though it's mainly been in the line of destruction - grass cutting and strimming, weeding and other endless tasks. In my role as chief sniffer-out of moles and other unwanted critters, I have been busy, but the warm days and nights have made up for all that work.

And then, if we are inside and if the bedroom door has been left open, Midge and I are more than happy to slip quietly in to the empty room and take full advantage of the sun pouring through.

Her ladyship spent yesterday painting outside walls and finding bits of the garden to photograph, mainly to prove to herself that stuff really is growing.

His Nibs was painting a large masterpiece, to the accompaniment of old rocker type music - well, it keep him happy.

We've been for a dip in the river this morning so you'll excuse me if I return to steaming myself dry in yet another day of sunshine - such a life.....

Did you miss me?

2009-05-21T15:19:00.005Z

I'm back, at long last.
It's been a busy old time, with lots of this

and this
a little bit of this
and even this...
A little explanation required? Well, the garden has been flooded and boggy the last couple of summers and really meant that the all-important vegetables were suffering - underwater strawberries are no fun. So Hugh decided to take matters into his own hands, borrow Brian's state-of-the-art (in the 1960s) tractor with diggery attachment and construct some drains and a 'pond'. It took a long time. It is mostly done now and some of it is working very well, and some of it stubbornly is not. He is not completely happy....

And then there's George - he is our Land Rover with special Ash-sized seat in the middle for viewing of wildlife in comfort. But George's chassis was not in good order, not at all, and the time had come for it to be replaced. This pic shows George's body returning to sit on its wheels complete with gleaming new galvanised chassis yesterday afternoon. However, the work continues and Hugh is still at the garage helping with the re-building process. One day soon they may return to the bosom of the family and we can all go for a drive together. (sigh)

The cottage is finished, and ready and waiting for lots of lovely visitors. You can read all about it here and here. Midge and I posed in the cottage garden so that we can appear online, thus demonstrating what a dog-friendly place it is. (If you read far enough through the text on the Cottage blog you'll find that children may be considered but dogs accepted if you just ask nicely - and quite right too, in my view.)

And the last pic? Well Brian and Linda had a fine birthday party and the theme was animated characters - though Dennis the Menace is a cartoon character he is a fairly animated one and Hugh entered into the spirit of the party with accessories - the catapult (which garden tree did he massacre to make it?), a bag of sweeties (Midget Gems and Smarties for the connoisseurs) and, best of all, a giant toy spider in a matchbox. You DO know who Dennis is, don't you? If not, check him out here. Although she could have gone as Minnie the Minx or Beryl the Peril, the other lady of the house failed to get her act together in time and has not been allowed to forget it.

Remember Me?

2009-01-29T17:52:00.002Z

I am still here
I have not fallen off the edge of the world
I cannot get near the computer these days for PEOPLE
They're either ordering bits of house stuff or using forums to ask complicated vehicle maintenence questions, or designing things or just, well, getting IN THE WAY

Normal service will be resumed at some point, maybe before I turn grey with frustration.

Delicate Disposition? ...Look Away Now

2008-12-22T10:29:00.005Z

At last sense prevailed, the temperature dropped further and the STOVE WAS LIT.

Midge and I enjoyed a blissful evening in front of it... and another....

all was going well...

until the day I was whisked to the vets,

suffered the ingnominy of a SHAVE,

drugged and sliced open,

vital bits removed,

stitched up again and left to come round from the anaesthetic in a CAGE.

What NEXT, for dog's sake?

I am now doomed to celibacy, no he-dog will ever show interest again, my looks will fade and I will become an embittered old hound, out on the lonesome prairie, shunned by all...

Yeah, well, it might happen like that. Meanwhile, I was given scrambled eggs for tea, lots of pampering, and the stove was on ALL DAY to keep me warm, so in truth I have made a speedy recovery and am back to giving Midge a run for her money when she starts winding me up.

Anyway, folks, Christmas is upon us and I should wish you all a very fine holiday, with lots of bones and snacks, milk and dog chocolates and anything else you can con out of them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ASH

Painting by Anne Mandeville 'The Marvellous Eve'

Winter Drawers On

2008-11-10T13:34:00.005Z

Brrrr, the wind is howling, the rain is disguised as hail and I WANT THE STOVE ON.
Still no central heating in this house, still no new stove that will run it and the hot water - only been on order since July, for goodness' sake. So we make do with a measly electric radiator and then, eventually, the high and mighty ones get round to putting the stove on in the living room in the late afternoon. It only heats the room, no back boiler or radiators off it, you see, and it's at the far end of the house. They are 'doing things' during the day, or hovering over the radiator scoffing food, and have little thought to the comfort of us shivering hounds.
So I am curled up as tight as I can in my bed, with Midge sprawled on top of me, for half the day, waiting, waiting, waiting for the great moment when the stove is lit , knowing I can bake my bones for the next few hours. Ho hum, such is my lot....
He has just finished a commissioned painting and is off to install new kitchen units in the village hall, she is painting walls and doors and the like in the cottage, and pulling out wiring (eek) and in between time loading stuff onto her new online SHOP (aye, she's changed it again and is now with Folksy - for those of you who have no idea what I am on about click HERE).
She is also preparing for the Southdean Christmas Fayre - a feast for all the senses, with lots of crafty goodness as well as soup and bacon rolls, mulled wine and mince pies!

SATURDAY November 22nd

12 noon till 4pm

Southdean Village Hall

Autumn

2008-10-22T11:30:00.005Z

Lindsay stripped the tomato plants, found a few sad leftover spring onions and rescued the last of the courgettes. The carrots got nobbled this year by carrot fly despite her defences (which meant you had to mountaineer over fleece 'fences' to get anywhere near them - not much chance of a sly theft by yours truly then...) Most of this lot went into chutney, I think, though an escapee rolled onto the ground. I didn't want it much but I wasn't going to let Midge know that.

She was too busy posing in her new collar. She outgrew her baby collar and then managed to break my 'spare' one - so whaddyaknow, she only got bought a purple one with white paw prints on it. Favouritism, methinks. L's been swanning about on committees and painting bits of the cottage but Hugh has been looking after us - particulary good walks in the mornings lately when we can really appreciate autumn sniffs and smells. Oh, and hen house cleaning and that sort of thing - mmmm, such rich sniffs....

We did have a mini nighttime safari too, when ALL of us piled in the front of the Land Rover. To be honest, it's time they realised it's pointless letting Midge use up valuable space there as all she does is curl up and go to sleep. That was fine when she was a titch and fitted on L's knee but she's leggy now and spreads herself onto the centre seat which is strictly MY territory. Anyway, as a result of her somnulent habits she missed two separate sightings of badgers, a barn owl and wee moosie that night and we were only out for twenty minutes.

Hoots Mon!

2008-10-04T17:48:00.002Z

Here's the evidence, folks, of another successful Macmillan Fundraiser. Legs included this year, by popular request, and all men clutching ice cream scoops and Macmillan balloons for added, ermm, added style, perhaps? The combination of the Southdean Ice Cream Parlour afternoon and cones made with the leftovers at the evening film showing made for a total of £320 for the charity. Lindsay says a big thankyou to all who contributed in whatever way, not least Niall who phoned to offer homemade mango and lime ice cream which was quickly added to the menu and met with approval by all who requested it.
Midge and I saw customarily little of the proceedings though Joe and Ross, les garcons, did call in at the house afterwards so we were able to judge their appearances in the kilt. We agreed on how fine each of the three looked but thought it wise not to award a first, second and third prize for fear of inducing sulking and huffs. After all, they have agreed to wait for two years in succession and Lindsay is probably hopeful now of collaring them for a third.

Other news is not so rosy. Slow progress in most fields, though Hugh has been cutting up lots of wood to keep the home fires burning this winter. First frost on the windscreen on Friday, can't remember when I was last allowed a bone to chew, and talk of some rather permanent sounding operation for little me next month. To put the tin lid on it, some evil hacker has wiped Lindsay's Border Tart webshop off the face of the virtual earth so she's rebuilding it at www.bordertart.blogspot.com with Tart's Tales moving to www.tartstales.blogspot.com. Still with me? It's not easy keeping up in this house, I can tell you.

I scream

2008-09-22T16:25:00.002Z

Check out the Tart's blog for more info on the Southdean Ice Cream Parlour. Aye, folks, her ladyship is busy busy busy making ice cream this week in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Get here if you can, it's all in a good cause.

Just back from kennels, still v tired, must snooooooooooooooze

Chocolate Dog Chocolate Cake

2008-09-07T10:34:00.003Z

At last, an up-to-date pic of ME - albeit that I had to share with the liquorice dog. Incidentally, I would like to make it quite clear that despite appearances to the contrary, I am STILL taller and stronger than Midge. She may be pretty nippy at cornering but I reckon I could still beat her in a 100m straight dash - it's just that I choose not to demean myself by entering into such challenges. I am after all a pure bred hound with an impressive pedigree while the tyke is a cross breed. Midge still thinks it's pretty smart to obey all commands. I wish she'd start showing some gumption by NOT coming back when called, by indicating that sniffing is MUCH more important and not to be hurried. All that happens is that she gets extra biscuits and I get shouted at and often some pretty rough treatment - even put back on a lead, for goodness' sake

She does, however, wind H and L up quite dramatically whenever we are left home alone for any length of time. She eviscerates her dog bed, and mine, given half a chance. She gnaws through the latest cover and extracts yards and yards of wadding and stuff and spreads it round the house. Blissssss.

Anyway, folks, as you may have gathered by now, it's Open Studio time. Sadly it also a time of excessive rain - its hasn't stopped in days and days and days. This does not encourage people to get in the cars and travel round open studios. This means spare chocolate cake and the merest hint of a chance that some may fall into the laps of the dogs...

Maybe the weather will brighten and we may have more visitors over the coming week, maybe not. Ho hum! It's an ill wind.

This post has been brought to you in Full Chococolour

Showtime

2008-08-28T11:33:00.003Z

Twas the morn before the Show and all was quiet - the first of the tents were up, including the all-important tea and beer one, and the day had dawned miraculously dry and sunny....

By mid afternoon most of the scarecrows had arrived, though sadly this pic does not include the glorious SCAREBABY dressed in a white babygro. It does show the winner on the right - Linda's wonderful glitzy lady with rolling pin to batter the birds with! (We'll say nothing about the tipsy lady in the headscarf at the back which was Lindsay's rather feeble effort)There were several tugs-of-war - this one was a free-for-all, I think. It was noticeable that the teams pulling downhill always won...... Sadly no pics of the jelly races or of the marshmallow and spaghetti sculptures, or indeed of the stripy gazebo blowing away in the wind. But for a little show in the back of beyond, it was a great day and lots of people had fun.
Now that's done, the next GREAT EVENT is H and L getting into a fankle over their OPEN STUDIOS.

Look out for more news very shortly...........

Local Heroes

2008-08-20T12:24:00.006Z

On Sunday a Ladies Off Road Driving Challenge Event was held near Peebles,

in aid of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Hugh was the prime organiser of this event (he would say no, no, I had lots of help but I know that he did the bulk of it, and the worrying and phoning and drumming up helpers and so on). He and several of the stalwart members of the Scottish Off Road Club allowed lots of ladies to drive their beloved vehicles off road, through mud and river beds, up steep banks and across slopes, all in the name of charity. There was also a range of other interesting vehicles - a mini digger and a road roller for example, and challenges like driving blindfold, relying on your co-driver to give you accurate directions. The ladies all had a great day, gaining much off road training and squealing frequently... and best of all, they raised £7000 in sponsorship to take part!

Big round of applause to Hugh and the boys, and to the Trust.

A Good Cause

2008-08-09T08:02:00.008Z

Bit of promotion, here, for a local event that needs your support...

SATURDAY 16th AUGUST

10 am - 4 pm

Fundraising Day

at 6-8 Canongate

in Jedburgh

in aid of

Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline

tea and cakes (of course)

tombola bric a brac,

a clothing sale, as well as treatments like

reiki, Indian head massage and

neck and shoulder massages

Plus information on CCLL and what's involved in hosting

young children from Chernobyl for a few weeks each summer.

This summer 14 children from Belarus stayed with Borders families for a month. They all live within the area contaminated by the disaster and a month in the clean air of the Borders boosts their damaged immune systems to a huge extent. Host families participate in events with the children, and ensure they leave with suitcases of clothes and other items to help them once back home. This is the fifth year that volunteers have hosted children - money raised through events such as the one above helps to fund the associated costs.

Phew, what a scorcher!

2008-07-25T16:30:00.001Z

Tooooo hot to blog. Must go and lie down again......

Party Time!

2008-06-29T09:29:00.005Z

More adventures for Miss Midge. Her Mum is called Fay and her owners, Jo and Alan, held a BBQ so all the puppies could meet up again. They are nearly six months old already. I'll point out now that although I was invited THEY did not take me. There was a lot of muttering about 'disruptive influence', 'too big for her own boots', 'show-off' and other wounding and hurtful dialogue too painful to repeat here. So there you have it - favouritism.

However, photographs were taken, as you can see. Also you will note from the top pic that Midge really is a midget - she is the littlest of the litter now. That's her and one of her brothers going off to investigate the trampoline. Shortly after, Midge beat a hasty retreat back to the other hounds - bit scary, those boys.

As well as the pups and mum and granny, there were two visiting black lab great aunts. The amazing thing was how fantastically well behaved everybody was - no barking or nipping or bad language from anyone.This statement has been repeated to me ad nauseam, I might add.

The middle pic shows a squirming Midge beside her mother Fay and her grandmother Flora (a full English Setter).Today is a celebration of a completely different kind. This vehicle was acquired by Hugh many months ago and he has been working on it ever since, in his spare time. A Range Rover of mature years and rusty chassis, it was 'bobtailed' by Hugh - that is , the back end was chopped off and refashioned. A demon welder then constructed an external rollcage for it before Hugh set to the seemingly endless patching and welding of the rusty bits, plus many more previously undiscovered problem areas, and other techie stuff. Finally, in the nick of time, it was finished and today he rolled out with Shorty on a trailer, for its first off-road trial. We wait with baited breath to learn how the day has gone....