tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216016122024-03-23T18:15:07.014+00:00Dog in the WorkhouseMusings on the complex home life of a chocolate labrador in the Scottish BordersTarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-81906528260492271792008-08-09T08:02:00.008+00:002008-08-09T09:13:29.421+00:00A Good CauseBit of promotion, here, for a<em> local</em> event that needs your support...<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">SATURDAY 16th AUGUST</span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;">10 am - 4 pm</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#999900;">Fundraising Day</span> </span></div><div align="center">at 6-8 Canongate </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">in Jedburgh</span> </div><div align="center">in aid of </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#6633ff;">Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffcc00;">*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#6633ff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#6633ff;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">tea and cakes</span></span> (of course)</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">tombola </span></span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#339999;"><strong>bric a brac</strong></span>, </div><div align="center">a <span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#999900;">clothing sale</span>, as well as treatments like </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;">reiki</span>, </span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#cc0000;"><em>Indian head massage</em></span> <span style="font-size:100%;">and</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#6633ff;">neck and shoulder massages</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#336666;">Plus information on CCLL and what's involved in hosting </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#336666;">young children from Chernobyl for a few weeks each summer.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33cc00;">*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;">*</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">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.</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-89095933709607188622008-07-25T16:30:00.001+00:002008-07-25T16:35:47.275+00:00Phew, what a scorcher!<a href="http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/B-Schonberg/Hot-Dogs-Tin-Sign-C11751089.jpeg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/B-Schonberg/Hot-Dogs-Tin-Sign-C11751089.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#663300;">Tooooo <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">hot</span> to blog. Must go and lie down again......</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-24219584021952273262008-06-29T09:29:00.005+00:002008-06-29T09:56:12.632+00:00Party Time!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY_Xt6QjYlZ4ToA9Itx__TO2P-iVz0Nvnge70C0zA0-ZxMbnDjdueiSgFF1HPXckAbLPl5t-p2QU4Hk6hxFuC6Z72X1eso-Aw5i6fgSRZIclayAVAlFCiLucUQSDapa8XfKdK/s1600-h/Midge+picnic+one.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217235788745362386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY_Xt6QjYlZ4ToA9Itx__TO2P-iVz0Nvnge70C0zA0-ZxMbnDjdueiSgFF1HPXckAbLPl5t-p2QU4Hk6hxFuC6Z72X1eso-Aw5i6fgSRZIclayAVAlFCiLucUQSDapa8XfKdK/s320/Midge+picnic+one.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1zQO_B2nRtdDDflwDN_c2YvSJbzvT16_MsDH9beQaGDV-qqJI7gFFEfAeK_Qn_NxXq33lRegtKZXhlMGV0Dl7mK_AVYgsvzCyWnPeeCj91Tm_KSse1t4HaaDSiYErc7W0DBP/s1600-h/Midge+picnic+two.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217235797701409218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1zQO_B2nRtdDDflwDN_c2YvSJbzvT16_MsDH9beQaGDV-qqJI7gFFEfAeK_Qn_NxXq33lRegtKZXhlMGV0Dl7mK_AVYgsvzCyWnPeeCj91Tm_KSse1t4HaaDSiYErc7W0DBP/s320/Midge+picnic+two.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXNYDNzd_ZYdb4lLmmRBGhDluzA19i9ovkYQDCeMSWMGH3mWe2t91B2P9Js_65PBe7yiUpjJHXTN7UmfjjaCPFTHsqwAFF25tKgqQD_xIKM9mIUFaLzruKRX-xVBOZ-lLQtb0/s1600-h/Midge+picnic+three.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217235797680646322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXNYDNzd_ZYdb4lLmmRBGhDluzA19i9ovkYQDCeMSWMGH3mWe2t91B2P9Js_65PBe7yiUpjJHXTN7UmfjjaCPFTHsqwAFF25tKgqQD_xIKM9mIUFaLzruKRX-xVBOZ-lLQtb0/s320/Midge+picnic+three.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">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. </span><span style="color:#336666;"><em>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.</em></span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;">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.</span></div><br /><span style="color:#006600;">As well as the pups and mum and granny, there were two visiting black lab great aunts.</span> <span style="color:#006600;">The amazing thing was how fantastically well behaved everybody was - no barking or nipping or bad language from anyone.</span><span style="color:#336666;"><em>This statement has been repeated to me ad nauseam, I might add.</em></span> <div><span style="color:#006600;">The middle pic shows a squirming Midge beside her mother Fay and her grandmother Flora (a full English Setter).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217235803624652882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6-SuAOVhmg690nCly4BRMhg3-pGSFBy8GWVrfuT5dR5GiufS_RmBbB4kKMndMLifei8AXVlmt4l2jqfqOYrW-O0k-64zq8GBpwrGB3XsIkU7KWESmK56mW7Fe1STrRLO86yM/s320/Shorty+before.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="color:#990000;">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....</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217235807307462594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETaWZXI2EWLxdUkbChPP_HwSHk2zdFoqCCY3gi62TE721wNGU4r3qZD0lsJNYSwko4xeKqz1IhMqYiO0EwtLTVIeoCZ45qKN7eXyWJ-wa4taEYp6Mlw2_0W7xaxWitiozZAvK/s320/Shorty+after.jpg" border="0" /></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-44175515061856061782008-06-17T21:21:00.003+00:002008-06-17T21:40:03.583+00:00Rain stopped play<span style="color:#336666;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-N2QopZa8cvhmg337-FB60ca977sRViYLCg1BU2RhVAZljf5b3XddH8hYtDLWNDOVWinJ0C2ZHRI8l_TCCdO4CT-2eO362vwjr_B5EvFo6t7-cFCwKB1PO0-CCdrvCwuvhG/s1600-h/bird-in-tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212966427122543490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-N2QopZa8cvhmg337-FB60ca977sRViYLCg1BU2RhVAZljf5b3XddH8hYtDLWNDOVWinJ0C2ZHRI8l_TCCdO4CT-2eO362vwjr_B5EvFo6t7-cFCwKB1PO0-CCdrvCwuvhG/s320/bird-in-tree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsMAHMsZki7IyF5Bl2eOoKTLPXJSJWHfv-uSaBS_GiwJtDhQNcInRKEqnfcJXHZF1SI2YdGIkyg2GKcb181bCwi9gz6ywtCxLh0yrKdutmaEcY-n1hqgE5gzHTDCoIsG8SCCQ/s1600-h/Falside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212966434612570178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsMAHMsZki7IyF5Bl2eOoKTLPXJSJWHfv-uSaBS_GiwJtDhQNcInRKEqnfcJXHZF1SI2YdGIkyg2GKcb181bCwi9gz6ywtCxLh0yrKdutmaEcY-n1hqgE5gzHTDCoIsG8SCCQ/s320/Falside.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="color:#009900;">There I was, just getting accustomed to waking up to sunshine and the comforting thought of another day to laze in the garden when lo, the rains came down. Well, alright, heavy drizzle, but still, it has rather taken the edge of my early summer. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#999900;">Hugh took pity on me and I was sole passenger on the brief car trip he made today (ooops, and then another one to his saviour, the blacksmith with the well-stocked workshop just down the road). So at least I had the joy of the back of the car all to myself, without 'Nipper' Midge at my ankles.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;">The camera <em>has</em> been out this last month, but largely to photograph fancy new yarns and stuffed animal-thingies for herself's </span><a href="http://www.bordertart.com/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">shop</span></a><span style="color:#666600;"> so <span style="color:#ff6600;">I</span> don't have anything that new and exciting to show you. Hugh's cabin is ready for the maestro but he's been cutting grass and washing cars for a living lately so there's no new masterpieces to show you yet. </span></div><div><span style="color:#666600;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#666600;"><span style="color:#996633;">H and L were down in Northumberland on Sunday, checking out The Art Tour - they saw work by fifteen different artists and craftspeople (out of many more) and had a jolly time. I fear L may feel the need to rabbit on at length about the experience but she can do that on her</span> <a href="http://www.bordertart.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#336666;">own blog</span></a>, </span><span style="color:#996633;">methinks...</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-42304898265758940192008-05-24T16:15:00.004+00:002008-05-24T16:32:59.923+00:00Beach Blues<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInLzvFpvAE_vMbNQB9_9GIUqk9uIXsEmum_MAzdwKElhjCYxDQsgsCQnaZmBOer6Ym13K9DDRyhn_5VovzwEzslNF020OFk7dLFzkml8to0B5OAYXnymfyZ1qVDqDAqhEcdvn/s1600-h/Dogs+at+Beach+in+MAy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203980078398923538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInLzvFpvAE_vMbNQB9_9GIUqk9uIXsEmum_MAzdwKElhjCYxDQsgsCQnaZmBOer6Ym13K9DDRyhn_5VovzwEzslNF020OFk7dLFzkml8to0B5OAYXnymfyZ1qVDqDAqhEcdvn/s320/Dogs+at+Beach+in+MAy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6g9jQfFzU4EJzTAcq2_Gjca-Bwsd73fWRQLNJcxzFZzHqCLFax3DpXpIoDDUHjQOFHdLkC19GzNaukdWtPO7SVp9wQgL1qwYZ7OsyTE7JwOSEBBK_j33ZgvW05OOmDDfJZ1K/s1600-h/Dogs+at+beach+lll.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203980086988858146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6g9jQfFzU4EJzTAcq2_Gjca-Bwsd73fWRQLNJcxzFZzHqCLFax3DpXpIoDDUHjQOFHdLkC19GzNaukdWtPO7SVp9wQgL1qwYZ7OsyTE7JwOSEBBK_j33ZgvW05OOmDDfJZ1K/s320/Dogs+at+beach+lll.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7Y3fNtpyCBtDYSZdFn5v0mmMIyqrRh76ZfUUnqj_kZiFhWuxSOzG7ma-HLlHVv54VMyLidhhAaSOymWCgFcRQjrAtOheOLJ76AsRqM0Fkcns7C6VkBklqQkA2Tw4IIrxWBi1/s1600-h/Dogs+at+beach+llll.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203980091283825458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7Y3fNtpyCBtDYSZdFn5v0mmMIyqrRh76ZfUUnqj_kZiFhWuxSOzG7ma-HLlHVv54VMyLidhhAaSOymWCgFcRQjrAtOheOLJ76AsRqM0Fkcns7C6VkBklqQkA2Tw4IIrxWBi1/s320/Dogs+at+beach+llll.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Greetings from sun soaked Chesters. Blimey, we've had a couple of weeks of warm dry weather and I have to say these [still young] bones will soak up any amount of sunshine given the chance. Nothing better after a walk or dinner than to flop down onto toasty warm earth and just r-e-l-a-x..... <span style="font-size:78%;">zzzzzzzzz</span></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">Hugh had a birthday this month so we all took off to the seaside. Not one of the brightest or warmest days, it must be said, but this did not deter us. I tried to introduce Midge to the pleasures of deep water but she wimped out whenever a wave approached. We were inevitably made to pose for photographs again even though I was soaking wet and Midge would rather have been sniffing along the high water mark.</span></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203982363321525058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7bg3aa1URveR9xipjqi0RhdoruLzmApHjZ0M2vUnIt8R-TMnQ31FpZvRYD9OEj5qszlgK7upscKJLgk1OyNtdZtN80wozpEq-RwgEoP6BUem9UGqRmdpDB60jnU0ZX7AeqQ6/s400/Suzi+K+pic.jpg" border="0" /> <p><span style="color:#663366;">A major highlight of the year happened just yesterday - Lindsay received all the way from South Africa this painting by </span><a href="http://arty-fartying-around.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">this talented lady</span></a><span style="color:#663366;"> . L has been scheming to acquire one of Arty Farty's artworks for quite a while and when she spotted this one on her blog she knew that was it. Fortunately when it arrived and was unrolled (it's about 1m x 1.5m!) Hugh immediately said how much he liked it too. This means its allowed to grace the living room wall, as soon as he's made a frame to stretch it over. Posh, eh? </span></p>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-43811132583915882862008-04-27T12:55:00.004+00:002008-04-27T13:11:16.720+00:00Tres tasteful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9WJoICKjcbb70Y78A8R7h-K4ZMlD_measfzf3yAuzxK73E7MYiRREkqByMR18UC9GesuXhFl5H0Z2pBgSiT7w_Ho7MZKZfh84Sy_88mjV3hiqYvugWGOks34HYA1PqQYA995/s1600-h/Cabin+painted.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193908346284485522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9WJoICKjcbb70Y78A8R7h-K4ZMlD_measfzf3yAuzxK73E7MYiRREkqByMR18UC9GesuXhFl5H0Z2pBgSiT7w_Ho7MZKZfh84Sy_88mjV3hiqYvugWGOks34HYA1PqQYA995/s320/Cabin+painted.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#993300;"> Et voila, the cabin exterior is painted and the floor has been varnished. The curtains are made but not hung yet as H & L need to find a cheap and cheerful way of insulating the roof. Then, maybe, the arty stuff can get moved in and Hugh can splash paint on those walls instead of his current garret.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4Q5VrNuC0HGwCaGW1Jjsm_6N4Wiyt0moUUYHvXfPou6WMlcGk4SHFLN6IE_HczSuC6jV86qNLhtBdw_97BHxKel1NhyphenhyphenZME3qV1cPeLPQpJd44eyEmLl8aiDgZkw58BlZjHU/s1600-h/Sheep+and+lamb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193908354874420130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4Q5VrNuC0HGwCaGW1Jjsm_6N4Wiyt0moUUYHvXfPou6WMlcGk4SHFLN6IE_HczSuC6jV86qNLhtBdw_97BHxKel1NhyphenhyphenZME3qV1cPeLPQpJd44eyEmLl8aiDgZkw58BlZjHU/s320/Sheep+and+lamb.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#006600;">Fat lambs everywhere which means no running across empty fields for Midge and me. It's either walks along the road on a lead (bah, humbug) or trips to one bit of forest or another. Even that's getting complicated as tonnes and tonnes of trees are being felled and shipped south these days.</span><br /><span style="color:#333300;">Hugh's all pleased as he's got work with the beloved little grey Fergie tractor this week, at a friend's house down the road. Just as well he's finished painting for his new exhibition which opens at the <a href="http://www.peebles.info/index.cfm?page=directory&type=4&The%20Arts"><span style="color:#009900;">Cairns Gallery</span></a> in Peebles in a couple of weeks' time.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><br /></span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-74604061914089872102008-04-13T17:48:00.002+00:002008-04-13T18:00:42.224+00:00Artistic Development ll<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdMeLpjCHPb70lLtzz5O3V1_500r_DRCzmopQ4j-S668B20ntLuBIfj0j5-NDjqseasA0l_qFquBgowtHGRqJNbL2Rdz5pBNYq_OvA_YlHB2K17hxKiATO6-8sayTeWQO4F7M/s1600-h/Ash+%26+Midge+13.04.08"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188788698451544402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdMeLpjCHPb70lLtzz5O3V1_500r_DRCzmopQ4j-S668B20ntLuBIfj0j5-NDjqseasA0l_qFquBgowtHGRqJNbL2Rdz5pBNYq_OvA_YlHB2K17hxKiATO6-8sayTeWQO4F7M/s320/Ash+%26+Midge+13.04.08" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CYG9ifa8egiYYhvoNqcuZ-W0an6wBW3sZD0DQKTCgHAGgwqaYH-_cFTdB29R8p3eLLnKk0xoHKgTc-wRsKuC-PGbtGay8E0tfR_d43TqCHyfzyjy9VikxmLCqD9_arnEDZAu/s1600-h/Cabin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188788702746511714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CYG9ifa8egiYYhvoNqcuZ-W0an6wBW3sZD0DQKTCgHAGgwqaYH-_cFTdB29R8p3eLLnKk0xoHKgTc-wRsKuC-PGbtGay8E0tfR_d43TqCHyfzyjy9VikxmLCqD9_arnEDZAu/s320/Cabin.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#336666;"> This morning was a touch frosty but then the sun shone and we were off to the forest. L was in snap happy mode so Midge and I were coerced into posing for her. </span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">We are a good advert for 'no-nonsense well-priced complete dog meal ' says she. </span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">Hmm, give us an egg now and then you'll REALLY see a shiny coat, says me.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">And here we have proof that three polite Polish cabin kit builders can drive up from London, build a cabin in a matter of six hours, turn round and drive all the way back again for a very reasonable price and two cups of coffee each. Now H & L need to get on and paint it before the unseasonable sleet takes its toll on the raw wood. In the mere blink of an eye it will be magically transformed with Cuprinol Shades 'Wild Thyme' to a subtle 'you don't really notice I'm here, do you' sort of effect....</span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-27537806754494756172008-04-04T10:15:00.003+00:002008-04-04T10:40:32.637+00:00Artistic development<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2QGUcksfaHVBIXiALtMD0W1tKJNkyP5THpz2j-4hjos9yoXnSdZyBBy-a5zVNZM2PyX5MyndA8f6ykuBM68VuMnl7RuyqbQZBz3o-AgMSiDzQpfzrT5ryYh71lhxm3k7BllM/s1600-h/Ash,+Midge+and+wrapping+paper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185333061775369714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2QGUcksfaHVBIXiALtMD0W1tKJNkyP5THpz2j-4hjos9yoXnSdZyBBy-a5zVNZM2PyX5MyndA8f6ykuBM68VuMnl7RuyqbQZBz3o-AgMSiDzQpfzrT5ryYh71lhxm3k7BllM/s320/Ash,+Midge+and+wrapping+paper.jpg" border="0" /></a> Th<span style="color:#330033;">ere's been a birthday - not mine, sadly, but it was an opportunity for me to teach Midge how to shred discarded wrapping paper into tiny pieces ready for the compost heap. It all goes well till you get sellotape in your teeth - oh and coloured tissue paper is pretty fine because if you chew it and spit it out you can stain all sorts of surfaces with it...</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuJqIPc5RKa-ktudBGQYRSXL1IFLYnESATBwKI2wn8fL9KQgmSkkGXZ3My5ZRlU80VHC7UlXb1SGtkp5KjK56fbaHg4BeRNBYy1ka1frg1MCtzcJ4vAnJq1BKoyeJltXwlafX/s1600-h/Mini+digger+for+cabin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185333074660271618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuJqIPc5RKa-ktudBGQYRSXL1IFLYnESATBwKI2wn8fL9KQgmSkkGXZ3My5ZRlU80VHC7UlXb1SGtkp5KjK56fbaHg4BeRNBYy1ka1frg1MCtzcJ4vAnJq1BKoyeJltXwlafX/s320/Mini+digger+for+cabin.jpg" border="0" /></a>La<span style="color:#663366;">st week Hugh had the inestimable assistance of his pal Jim and his mini-digger to clear the site for his fancy new 'shed'. Jim and the digger levelled it and laid hardcore and they both pegged out the area for the concrete to go down. The snow didn't really help. On April 1st (hmmmm) the concrete was delivered and Hugh and Lindsay spread it with the help of neighbour Brian and his little (vintage) dump truck. As I write this the concrete is continuing to harden off and should be fine for the arrival of the fancy big wooden shed next week. Hugh will use it to paint in and will graciously allow herself to use it too.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdc6tfv11qrzFbksgSYV-AlL0xjJTptfYslBzHLd62uvi7R2vTgzYBTkEe3wFykA1d7Ec7udZy6CPBNwg5BxXN7JQV4U7hoBehstwdGaw3ILb8csMYGutQDqSdJdhJs675cf0/s1600-h/Vintage+200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185333078955238930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdc6tfv11qrzFbksgSYV-AlL0xjJTptfYslBzHLd62uvi7R2vTgzYBTkEe3wFykA1d7Ec7udZy6CPBNwg5BxXN7JQV4U7hoBehstwdGaw3ILb8csMYGutQDqSdJdhJs675cf0/s320/Vintage+200.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#003333;">Today is a wee bit tortuous for canines. We had too many cockerels so two of them were dispatched earlier in the week. They are now being cooked up in various forms and the aromas are killing me... If I am lucky there will be some scraps heading into my dinner bowl tonight.</span> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#990000;">(By the way, lest you think H & L are any good at this sort of thing, this time Joe did the dirty deed with the two birds and Lorraine cleaned them for us - it's great to have friends)<br /></span><div></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-76976054569579650712008-03-18T21:26:00.004+00:002008-03-18T21:37:23.238+00:00Yeah, well, you might have been right...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEJ4JnPwOt3Q65v-tI5KQhMTMQfVgEmrI0eazl8ILZJSR8dHrzXpm9oI8UhwGp8hPJri0m5aJynD8r-do1S8y_oE-lFNC97k2Rrb9byIFSZu7ejEQTJJXwnuLshxCx5uarbj3/s1600-h/Dogs+in+action+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179196553341777106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEJ4JnPwOt3Q65v-tI5KQhMTMQfVgEmrI0eazl8ILZJSR8dHrzXpm9oI8UhwGp8hPJri0m5aJynD8r-do1S8y_oE-lFNC97k2Rrb9byIFSZu7ejEQTJJXwnuLshxCx5uarbj3/s320/Dogs+in+action+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidApJwoHRz8xSPekvya7BDk8hpQjcnmcF28LsASeUqWV0BXEC2qm2fHQ0dA7Ch5e8cPVFUSHJdIKMv2gruB1bYuYCd-4vhhwwBeSL9LQaorufavjMh-KVRZLtdWbSmd528ynYp/s1600-h/Dogs+in+action+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179196557636744418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidApJwoHRz8xSPekvya7BDk8hpQjcnmcF28LsASeUqWV0BXEC2qm2fHQ0dA7Ch5e8cPVFUSHJdIKMv2gruB1bYuYCd-4vhhwwBeSL9LQaorufavjMh-KVRZLtdWbSmd528ynYp/s320/Dogs+in+action+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxDWCBiSd1Vph5zBv3nVZ4PLxJyYq1eQBlDUP5j0CjLBpuy5eD3DSSkWGFNowwpab23CVdKFvYuU9lU0Ii7vjJA7IKUO6wb5MugII23jm-coKPXyHM0ERgKpD1vnynjdt3oVc/s1600-h/Dogs+in+action+2a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179196557636744434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxDWCBiSd1Vph5zBv3nVZ4PLxJyYq1eQBlDUP5j0CjLBpuy5eD3DSSkWGFNowwpab23CVdKFvYuU9lU0Ii7vjJA7IKUO6wb5MugII23jm-coKPXyHM0ERgKpD1vnynjdt3oVc/s320/Dogs+in+action+2a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV9SKURJTg764s6qq1VBYaHUFfqy8EAbXekrsw84cFRdbt9BERSMp6MffmXWZCjCAhSNchJtnfGEcP8itdqNNUaxOdc26JixyzbPl41juSC9h7DJfy5WEJ6qcDWAfI7dVeIoI/s1600-h/Dogs+in+action+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179196561931711746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV9SKURJTg764s6qq1VBYaHUFfqy8EAbXekrsw84cFRdbt9BERSMp6MffmXWZCjCAhSNchJtnfGEcP8itdqNNUaxOdc26JixyzbPl41juSC9h7DJfy5WEJ6qcDWAfI7dVeIoI/s320/Dogs+in+action+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;">Ok, Ok, I admit having Midge about is not ALL bad, after all. I try the karate kicks, the sneaky stealing of her toys when she isn't looking, the occasional nip on the back of the neck, but she's a game wee lassie and just keep coming back for more. <em>If</em> she stops nicking my bed at every opportunity we <em>may</em> develop into friends.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">She's eleven weeks old now and has had her jabs so in another week she can go beyond the garden gate and meet other dogs and perhaps stop using the flower beds with quite such regularity... Ha, just waits till she discovers the ignominity of being on a lead..... <span style="font-size:78%;">(teehee!)</span></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">[Editor's Note: For those of you not accustomed to dogs, the management seeks to reassure you that no puppies were damaged in the course of these pics and that this is normal playing behaviour, honest]</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-14355780639117927162008-03-05T10:49:00.005+00:002008-03-05T10:58:03.804+00:00Jumbled Up<div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">The Great Annual Southdean Jumble Sale is Imminent!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sharpen your elbows in preparation for Saturday, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">and </span><span style="font-size:130%;">sustain </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">your strength on the day with </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">hot soup and sausage rolls, coffee and shortbread.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#666600;">Saturday 8th March 11 am - 2pm at </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666600;">Southdean Village Hall, Chesters</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174209226127126354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaIJSpx8MK4QVvcypgOc4BnPAgQDebt4yF-pJdc0_fXDRR0cNg47rUTJS_Q1ynFpW1SqRUSi8Fp1VovFyUgRQ4hGR1sbPLpSzdEFKJ5zDmsYfoHHsrKcY4AGUVp1PWjk_ZS_r/s400/howlet.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">This great picture of the tawny owl who came down the </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">chimney in the hall was captured by Martyn Harrison.</span></p>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-91086686426940161422008-03-02T20:04:00.008+00:002008-03-02T20:37:30.121+00:00Pup, paintings, perseverance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuShRO4u_h8raDn4dyneoJdVXRRMrXuqhTsAx3iVC8ueP3MFN13QfGVLEImpgda_J6aTTHXGRBOjn1hY-KijvWYTjLP7qnX7O4C2XciDkh_Iaxoh-pjgXaW4jBTFxseMK6qzLG/s1600-h/Ash+over+Midge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173241036344287618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuShRO4u_h8raDn4dyneoJdVXRRMrXuqhTsAx3iVC8ueP3MFN13QfGVLEImpgda_J6aTTHXGRBOjn1hY-KijvWYTjLP7qnX7O4C2XciDkh_Iaxoh-pjgXaW4jBTFxseMK6qzLG/s320/Ash+over+Midge.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#666600;">Don't know where the last few weeks have gone, though I do distinctly remember spending a few days at the kennels. No complaint there - they are always pleased to see me and my room has central heating to make my nights comfortable.</span> <span style="color:#666600;">H and L were up in Dunkeld and then Edinburgh, the first to do with off road driving (except this was an AGM so it was in a hotel and apparently included beer and whisky), the second to do with having a break in the city. They walked on hard pavements a lot and had to keep stopping for coffee apparently, though they clocked up three exhibitions. I think L has probably waxed lyrical about them over at <a href="http://www.bordertart.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#003300;">Tart's Tales</span></a>. </span><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;">Meanwhile, back at Planet Chesters, work has not yet started on renovating the cottage because the Building Warrant application has not been approved yet. Without that H&L cannot show plans to tradesmen and without them they cannot get the big bits of work done. Harrumph!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173242342014345634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAmG6-tQpmCOuxwnxFFdX6HDk4Ofa5Ucm943sZ2I2mH-tEvtSLJBZeJNhzOB3_LXMFV3Rlelmd-syXDeIH_Csu6t0GGHOv7qXnwgoZ_Tb366r0at_3ZNlsiARLJ5DHjV0C783/s320/Hugh+Chesters+painting.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="color:#666600;"><span style="color:#663333;">Hugh's most recent painting (that he is happy with...) is this one of the village from 'down the field' where he and I walk and I chase hares occasionally.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173244923289690546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUdPS8P2yh79mIXcaYaJNoxna9JxSBpEzG4eISQLK2OicCfjUZshkWcOpzD45F4yf82w6TqZjuo1CNLmi5da5_Q_75gGczjHZCi7cYY-xgbW6TZTVHdIW61Uf0OdhHKDtekwR/s320/Midge+in+sun.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="color:#660000;">And you'll see, Lady Midge is now in residence. She has been here for four days, though it seems like forty four to me. Have you any <em>idea</em> how many meals she has had in that time? She is small, black and shiny. She bounces about and tries to get me to play but I am holding out. She wees A LOT, but mainly outside, though I notice no-one tells her off about walking over the flower beds. I think they have been taken in by the fact that she still looks cute. I walked into the living room on day two and she was sound asleep on MY cushion in front of the stove. I restrained myself to a sigh and pointedly left the room.</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-24030703383201636042008-02-14T21:35:00.002+00:002008-02-14T21:45:25.909+00:00Let's Get it Over With<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH99miWJhK4UDtWTHmYqWEC76x__DDMMm-cSeVuJLTdB9xZIppAzt_X05vOjbH0oan737gYH7RxjI220qIMybBc7Jtro4kcSm2pURRSR985mNY439wO2r_H4PgfFF3e6DUFQE/s1600-h/Midge+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166955013981746658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH99miWJhK4UDtWTHmYqWEC76x__DDMMm-cSeVuJLTdB9xZIppAzt_X05vOjbH0oan737gYH7RxjI220qIMybBc7Jtro4kcSm2pURRSR985mNY439wO2r_H4PgfFF3e6DUFQE/s320/Midge+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO-q5qXNrugxJCs8PvQQqoKuI0iA4-tUvyyic0yETcUYoi4Dy6XD0bWeuAlUkuw-NVnJbNn9JmSEK6d7pBIeW3pcTYgDoLjxsGh32pUcp39ZWWKTwmyexk9dZ7czit4VxUsZz/s1600-h/Midge+and+Hugh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166955026866648562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO-q5qXNrugxJCs8PvQQqoKuI0iA4-tUvyyic0yETcUYoi4Dy6XD0bWeuAlUkuw-NVnJbNn9JmSEK6d7pBIeW3pcTYgDoLjxsGh32pUcp39ZWWKTwmyexk9dZ7czit4VxUsZz/s320/Midge+and+Hugh.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#003333;">Here is more photographic evidence of the done deed. It may be Valentine's Day but the arty ones' idea of romance is to go and look at puppies. This is Midge. I ain't met her yet but she's coming to live with us in a fortnight. That's it really. Life is complete. No peace, no bed to call my own, incontinence (hers, not mine), stolen toys, fewer meals, less space in the Land Rover. Ach, I'm going off to my bed while I still can. Goodnight!</span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-1430591439092652172008-01-26T20:19:00.000+00:002008-01-27T12:02:55.210+00:00Suspicions....<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0qGKtoJQ7VUBm_PpE9uk8lWsiHPK7Bt2vAnNHBKljUUoeW8dYsHAVQaBBb3SDc7aJpZIwcbqJ76Ph5rXzkQAqpXqY6OC40Brd0W8qaBvPUbu4S3FOGZlFcvSeqagxSpSjMuJ/s1600-h/Hugh+and+puppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159882604363519138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0qGKtoJQ7VUBm_PpE9uk8lWsiHPK7Bt2vAnNHBKljUUoeW8dYsHAVQaBBb3SDc7aJpZIwcbqJ76Ph5rXzkQAqpXqY6OC40Brd0W8qaBvPUbu4S3FOGZlFcvSeqagxSpSjMuJ/s320/Hugh+and+puppy.jpg" border="0" /></a> I am amassing evidence...</div><div align="center">I was not there but I sure sniffed his clothes when he came home.... </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">(PS - May I just slip in here a very big thank you to </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Wimsey for his kind offer with regard to puppy making </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">-<span style="font-size:85%;"> see previous post comments</span> - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">a true gentleman!)<br /></span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-42598929288167078042008-01-16T10:44:00.000+00:002008-01-16T11:15:03.906+00:00Here I am!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156026484291866802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dtqBEsLePnM6MqKoZkIHJF2_XG5ROZuWAvpVZcVCncxj9CRZln8qCcOIFvMpVd2jPeySi-cBvLtL_76lp51wWZ_6KCVg5DnjKWs0aZo3k9yJy-WyO-SuHFt7bU9Ve_u17xmq/s320/Xmas+morning+view.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="color:#006600;">Helllllloooooooo! Lady Ash of Chesters has finally got back online. Now I can update you with happenings chez moi. </span><span style="color:#006600;">We'll start with Christmas as it was a very fine day for this dog. </span><div><span style="color:#006600;">Leisurely breakfast on a frosty morning followed by a drive down to Kielder Reservoir. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156026467111997586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96RD_oQdzv_s6u1B0IoBEk8z4XXwuk3uEP0n_HKhZel1gFsqu13Ne3mfqJvAAj4d7fMBK8V5ph0hnn8X9aGiKl27aidBv6fApfIK69BTxblrZc-feClN1c0wkSFSw7IysrEsE/s320/Kielder+yachts.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#666600;">The place was deserted and quite eerie - very still and misty, yachts at anchor, hardly any birdlife on the water though a few little birds in the trees as we walked.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156026475701932194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6CyUi9aMdVdtE9l1Hk1OKO_3Yd50weNPyboyqaPPgCokdrdNR7ZrtCAB5bM7jnipjTmFuJipaqPm9DcxoroQEFqjVhAbO8t8j9QUF2H25v44lySmMlC264aM6NdHn0s3t4ZD/s320/Kielder+yachts+ii.jpg" border="0" />I didn't venture in for a swim or even a paddle - a bit nippy for that - but we had a fine outing, culminating in a flask of coffee and flapjacks in the car before we headed home. There we set to with present opening. I had considerately wrapped some bottles of beer for Hugh and even more considerately helped him open the package again, and indeed any other parcels he seemed to be struggling with in the course of the afternoon. H and L then succumbed to a fancy dinner cooked in the Rayburn, including the best roast potatoes herself has ever done (as in this is the second time she has ever cooked them and they were better than the first...). I believe I may have scored for a little left over meat in the course of the evening. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156026492881801410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh730QizxWOi1rlssEOWv1XSe7vXgJNeEr0HykWJlS2YY3xaQcsfVOWUM7Ui6b46sUvZDfNhX-RzM_a2Cp05nyhgUn4qLYu0vf2bZwCo5JWntq74_gIalSrWcDuKmes4LWqMAax/s320/Xmas+present+opening.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="color:#336666;">So that was Christmas. The festive tone continued for several days so I had extra interesting walks instead of the same old sniffs around here. </span></div><div><span style="color:#336666;">There is a wee fly in the ointment, however. </span></div><div><span style="color:#336666;">On Christmas Eve the vet phoned with the results of my hip test thingy. Lo, I have the potential for dodgy hips and am advised not to have pups! Imagine! Me! Miss Fit and Healthy - pah! So there we have it - my amazing bouncing genes are not to be passed on to another generation. No pretenders to the throne of Lady Ash. Or is that really true? I happen to know that H & L bumped into friends in Hawick whose dog had pups on New Year's Day. Can you see where this is going? I, too, have strong suspicions and will report back so soon as I know what's afoot.</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-18327520200014975102007-12-31T16:28:00.000+00:002007-12-31T16:33:31.201+00:00Happy Days<span style="color:#ff0000;">Hello and a very</span> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#6600cc;">Happy New Year</span> <span style="color:#009900;">to everyone.</span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">I will be back with stories soon but at the moment our Broadband link is still kaput and we are using dial-up at a speed of two bytes an afternoon.</span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-25731428965836742092007-11-30T16:55:00.001+00:002007-11-30T17:35:08.168+00:00A Rainy St Andrews Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharqQAOl24eEkNKDS3ulCDOZ-fX5ttOcydQRjYfSznfQAvVJUfg5RmCbmoVXdueKFdLiixIGLQ8J3kLxhM_uuQnw9e6cBJ8mehLjpQB5kpYn22AHcZCZslgfx8SJddvJ19ksIX/s1600-r/Frosty+Chesters.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBUt3oC5oeE_lp0tX-B3Iy2E6MeTA1UKSE_RcrMXvjPHowXj2ZOIUiTAfULNOZMwTWTzFIrM8jb6YL6Ixpbuci4r-o1nyELDriUv8se20UXCOoQGRkUq6mm1sxQWBj4gQsITa/s1600-r/Ash+shaved+legs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138682826637356082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MXFWgcdxdZ1LHcrUpFy1KIae1tQsuL7peLEuAcJUiqad_wBYsyyW0WAB1mqsnQoUpqvjeB1HXmEx7Av1UFC1HU6T3QzKYNcoxypAC0rwTbKRmQrgrdcXJbBpYj7vcTxJeCfH/s320/Ash+shaved+legs.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#990000;">Greetings everyone! Today I bring you visual evidence of further torment at the hands of my 'caring' owners. On Wednesday I was subjected to anaesthetic in order to have my immaculately slim hips X-rayed. They wanted to get me hip scored to ensure that I will be a fit mother of healthy strong hipped pups. All very well and good but because the vet could not find a vein easily in one front leg I ended up with shaved bits on BOTH! Ruined my street cred for weeks to come. I was a bit woozy when they brought me home but after an hour or two (and a meal or two...) I regained sufficient strength to demand a game with a few toys. Least they could do, if you ask me.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitDYlPZw7RizsbsWyByS58ZYh-izRRpj2KKTq4E7jjak6AWai8bOGjKiBTVB_iD98WIdomXYJtj7Q66tCppsqKb1eMV0zGGGRRX4GUg6LlI10TH7pbzP1gou8eGJUXZ23k7a5/s1600-r/Fergie+trailer+and+wood.jpg"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138682521694678050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56B758a42fnraY8sg2IccNpZL1Zk1bNOwRCQGgsmd6aYP0I8E1OmznH6141f5Yd-0-B3lC1-kN0Zp29nTpZkqvIN2YFaapeQ2OmddBOCugsPluvyf2SE_hMjvSPrln6zkIl9Z/s320/Fergie+trailer+and+wood.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#cc0000;">I have been asked to post the next image as his lordship is terribly pleased with the refurbishment job he did on the trailer for his Fergie tractor. The trailer was pretty wrecked when he got it but now, after a mere two years, it has been restored to full working order and is holding some of this winter's wood supply.</span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#663366;">Other exciting news in this neck of the woods? Hmmm, Lindsay had a fine afternoon at the Village Hall on Saturday with her Border Tart goodies - they sold well and she came home with a smile on her face. The smile may have been aided by the three glasses of mulled wine she consumed in the course of that afternoon(hmmm, only went out and bought new shoes a few days later AND a new sweater... not so much as a chocolate button for yours truly, though...)</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138684720717933650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkxstkp1gJLMUACNXEnxPVGwi0oxbrifoRhMajYf_X1z-h-1eUbDZwrrmXBoIBE8O0iofsKtIjjI7XyLPC0rG5AfuxfBR8DydkcXVKieZfO0xy6XPmY6YdSjOxhvXzdiUwqRO/s400/Frosty+Chesters.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="color:#666666;">We had frost last week and Hugh took this when we were out for a walk one morning. It is the view to the crossroads in our village and our house is the low one second from the left, with its windows glinting in the sun. Not a bad spot for a labrador to grow up in.</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc6600;">Her ladyship is off to</span> <a href="http://www.scottish-borders.com/artman/publish/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">Scott's Selkirk</span></a> <span style="color:#cc6600;">tomorrow to meet a good friend and enjoy some Borders fare. The little village of Selkirk has been laying on this two day event for the last nine years. The author </span><a href="http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95aug/95auggifs/scott3.gif"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Sir Walter Scott</span></a> <span style="color:#cc6600;">was sheriff there (not with a shiny tin star and spurs, he was a local judge) and there's masses of entertainment laid on for the whole weekend - live music of all (Scottish) sorts, reconstructed courtroom dramas, shop- and stall-keepers in costume. Lindsay has never been so has her fingers crossed that the rain stops at the very least, so she and Susan can wander about dry if not warm. </span></p><p><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span></p>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-30090674729681684102007-11-18T16:07:00.000+00:002007-11-18T16:27:17.762+00:00Oops...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8MTGZ2g_-kU3PwDvEDe0-NSEIBzYsQZE3Ao8XImKRI6wj-hM8dE7PRo1ySyt5g2vJHGPMLHNlhLD7O0nuzcmXa1tE9kigVh8rDSdq5KK4xyHiWbdvxiag9kNJoWXf3EYbdLX/s1600-h/Saddleback.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134215360569846786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8MTGZ2g_-kU3PwDvEDe0-NSEIBzYsQZE3Ao8XImKRI6wj-hM8dE7PRo1ySyt5g2vJHGPMLHNlhLD7O0nuzcmXa1tE9kigVh8rDSdq5KK4xyHiWbdvxiag9kNJoWXf3EYbdLX/s320/Saddleback.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqyEjpYbPQHVn2H_pJqmWOTwKRGhNncpVvZX9gzOsCSNljaw5rKijrTRje6NQk6Z6JIHlLBk_FJoTVVocofOsp97ugeQSMfIIUF9btu1x1UH79djyfB_Uuhvt_zRcy4rv5Lv7/s1600-h/Wedding+Shawl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134215373454748690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqyEjpYbPQHVn2H_pJqmWOTwKRGhNncpVvZX9gzOsCSNljaw5rKijrTRje6NQk6Z6JIHlLBk_FJoTVVocofOsp97ugeQSMfIIUF9btu1x1UH79djyfB_Uuhvt_zRcy4rv5Lv7/s320/Wedding+Shawl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;">Ermmm, I did mean to mention that <a href="http://www.theworkhouse.net/"><span style="color:#993399;">The Workhouse</span></a> website has had an update too, with H and L's newer artworks on their respective pages. They have been spending much time in their garrets of late and will have work at </span><a href="http://www.cairnsgallery.com/"><span style="color:#006600;">The Cairns Gallery</span></a><span style="color:#666600;"> and the </span><a href="http://www.overtgallery.com/"><span style="color:#336666;">Overt Gallery</span></a><span style="color:#666600;"> over Christmas as well as at </span><a href="http://www.conundrumfarm.co.uk/"><span style="color:#330099;">Conundrum</span></a><span style="color:#666600;"> and </span><a href="http://www.oscars-kelso.com/"><span style="color:#663366;">Oscar's</span></a><span style="color:#666600;">! </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;">Commercial over.</span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-65075709524080081922007-11-09T14:20:00.000+00:002007-11-09T15:12:00.133+00:00Big Update<span style="color:#663333;">At last I've been able to get to the computer in a brief respite from the seemingly endless demands of country life. However, I had better start with the fact that her ladyship has uploaded a whole bundle of new arty things for the festive season, all gracing </span><a href="http://www.bordertart.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">The Border Tart</span> </a><span style="color:#663333;">webpages so please go and say I sent you (anyway, there's some <em>post free</em> stuff so it's worth a sniff).</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130856479725754914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L2Xk5gheGZZpPlMEiMMf_mWhGU8bVwWM51yeyB9rZfQaPK-A_fADUWEUJlHuLKd1tB-yVs6M9ZagVOEjeM9AKJgI_2Quc2aiobXIFSH6aRtybDsSWjf-VZrNyJn7oScqD-kJ/s400/BTart+xmas+07.JPG" border="0" /><span style="color:#666600;">Meanwhile, the glorious autumn weather continues, despite occasional high winds and chillier nights. The plus side to the latter is that the stove gets put on more often. We were all out this morning to enjoy the fresh air although my freedom was curtailed when Hugh spotted a couple of roe deer ahead of us and I was firmly re-attached to the lead. As if....</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130858051683785282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeEJrdYpmn1XBEWbUrLHvXvUSGWV8X2tK_X8rmG8fQvbDIdXQaC8BVndU_GGoGeH8mSkzIevFcC7n6qyVlRfD7jLW1PMzg7PH5fGl-4DNmLsugo4BRxvtCm1YyxBpXD4NOYcp/s400/Ash+Nov+walk.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#666600;">My fancy black collar has white paw prints on it - a Christmas gift last year - but the white bits are peeling off due to my enthusiasm for forays into the undergrowth.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130856488315689522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfHxawQOZdf-oDBYnaPiE3SaIv2Ez3AoXK60hvokx85Exr_y5iHAB3Fy3kE5kR8fbN0TxF-ezp8X3O3kb6ZeSjuxJjwNewpcuIUFTfFnj7zTt83-K9evejFqOqziVI0vCr1dF/s400/Ash+Nov+walk+ll.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">I can now (not very) exclusively reveal that WE are all moving next door, permanently, at Christmas and H & L will then be working on our cottage so they can offer it as a holiday let from next summer. It will sleep four and will be wheelchair accessible throughout by the time they are done with it. As it is already a quirky property they want to retain all that and make sure there's still lots of art on the walls and some handmade furnishings to <span style="font-size:130%;">delight</span> guests. Then there will be the fresh eggs and home made bread and preserves waiting for them, the walking and cycling from the door, the gorgeous brown hound looking cute in the next door garden - how can anyone resist?</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">As if that were not enough, they have only gone and acquired a 'mature' caravan! To be fair they were very kindly offered it by generous friends and with a few modifications and some TLC (no, not </span><a href="http://www.tlcillustration.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">that</span></a><span style="color:#000066;"> one) it will be ready to roll. Sleeps three - that's two arty types and one <span style="color:#ff0000;">ME</span>, so I am looking forward to some mini adventures in the spring.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130847056567507458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUsmrMLNsehHAdXGYgEcunVA7W5DVawUn85TtZEnCJHlb1PiKFdYcqE6zCyQX6DsR4e69aNkr93QdLQEcmkIZD2CcQ7uXWK1jw2xuxYMaKfP06imbvbWk9fyexs86BfKKEFLX/s400/Caravan.jpg" border="0" /></span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-87102279792685406322007-11-03T20:25:00.000+00:002007-11-03T20:32:14.935+00:00The Big Clear Out Starts Here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpqxFvv8atjhBXa1MiB4OqbJluciwEp8uW8TMUCLeeDHw6BoVfItnAdk2HisOQOBUZaGNah7hSxqo2eJasWNyM_v4AYPz_J9Gvk06igw_8MNDDJrXhUl0Ba0d7NQjN2JsAt6J/s1600-h/SWRI+FAir.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128713259385000946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpqxFvv8atjhBXa1MiB4OqbJluciwEp8uW8TMUCLeeDHw6BoVfItnAdk2HisOQOBUZaGNah7hSxqo2eJasWNyM_v4AYPz_J9Gvk06igw_8MNDDJrXhUl0Ba0d7NQjN2JsAt6J/s400/SWRI+FAir.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#666600;">Lindsay has sneakily pushed this onto my blog as well as her own. She has mega stocks of craft stuff she inherited from her Mum and has decided to sell it off at the Federation Show next weekend - if it's your bag, get along and grab the bargains as they are going for sweeties! </span><br /><span style="color:#666600;">With luck I'll be allowed to post soon about the developments happening round here, though she's threatening to add some of her Christmassy stuff to </span><a href="http://www.bordertart.com/"><span style="color:#666600;">The Border Tart</span></a><span style="color:#666600;"> shop so I'll be lucky to get a look-in at the keyboard.</span><br /><div></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-28323994614404944942007-10-11T17:46:00.000+00:002007-10-11T18:13:42.460+00:00Clocking up the Miles<span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I've</span> been whizzing round the countryside with the arty types of late - visiting friends, running errands and just generally working hard. Because it IS work, you know. I have to stay alert in the back of the car AT ALL TIMES lest a pheasant stray cross the road, or one of those grey ratty squirrels, or, if we are in a town, a hound dog or two. </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;">Hugh and his pal Joe spent two days walking a part of the Southern Upland Way. <span style="color:#999900;">It is Scotland's longest walk. It stretches west to east from Portpatrick's romantic seascapes over the Mull of Galloway to the dramatic North Sea cliffs at Cocksburnspath. Tracking through some of Scotland's most beautiful and varied scenery, it offers an unforgettable holiday experience for serious walkers and weekend visitors alike. By the way I lifted that last bit from</span> <a href="http://www.southernuplandway.com/walk/default.asp"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span>Anyway, L and I dropped them off near Moffat and they walked back to Traquair so they clocked up about 31 miles, staying overnight at <a href="http://www.stmarysloch.com/main.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6633ff;">St Mary's Loch</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6633ff;">.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#336666;">Since then, we have been in Newcastle (my first experience of being in a flat - no pheasants there), down to Washington where I met new friends who have a fine garden full of interesting sniffs AND a big sponge football for me to sink my teeth into AND they let me have some banana - pretty sound all round, that place. Then H and L needed to do some work near Edinburgh so we all went off in the Land Rover for that jaunt. I notice I did not get included in the coffee shop stop on the way back, however.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1uDeeK-_CPLUyokRYF94dJe_tpv3iNicNsBERkLHhHpl642p1AVtqeIOTEK8W6Mh1DSP3oFsjj8LT9pHduFcbRVymrI-fLLp6PIlSkMaWfhyO73Hn_UpawUUpQoVprnNeweO/s1600-h/Jelly+2.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqFAQ6YAkONsxh-EXaVEmW8RnE5z8nS-6vUq3iVsCLdgT-hAl0HgUIBGJ2yzE6GDkGysU89ZvcNRO41_q8ZMJXrtuqjL8sr_4cpiEAI6Li8Rt0RLLYwnWologyAO5-CWLeJn-/s1600-h/Jelly+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120141692514167538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqFAQ6YAkONsxh-EXaVEmW8RnE5z8nS-6vUq3iVsCLdgT-hAl0HgUIBGJ2yzE6GDkGysU89ZvcNRO41_q8ZMJXrtuqjL8sr_4cpiEAI6Li8Rt0RLLYwnWologyAO5-CWLeJn-/s320/Jelly+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1uDeeK-_CPLUyokRYF94dJe_tpv3iNicNsBERkLHhHpl642p1AVtqeIOTEK8W6Mh1DSP3oFsjj8LT9pHduFcbRVymrI-fLLp6PIlSkMaWfhyO73Hn_UpawUUpQoVprnNeweO/s1600-h/Jelly+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120141696809134850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1uDeeK-_CPLUyokRYF94dJe_tpv3iNicNsBERkLHhHpl642p1AVtqeIOTEK8W6Mh1DSP3oFsjj8LT9pHduFcbRVymrI-fLLp6PIlSkMaWfhyO73Hn_UpawUUpQoVprnNeweO/s320/Jelly+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqFAQ6YAkONsxh-EXaVEmW8RnE5z8nS-6vUq3iVsCLdgT-hAl0HgUIBGJ2yzE6GDkGysU89ZvcNRO41_q8ZMJXrtuqjL8sr_4cpiEAI6Li8Rt0RLLYwnWologyAO5-CWLeJn-/s1600-h/Jelly+1.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1uDeeK-_CPLUyokRYF94dJe_tpv3iNicNsBERkLHhHpl642p1AVtqeIOTEK8W6Mh1DSP3oFsjj8LT9pHduFcbRVymrI-fLLp6PIlSkMaWfhyO73Hn_UpawUUpQoVprnNeweO/s1600-h/Jelly+2.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#cc6600;">The brambles (blackberries) in the garden are ripening well now (they are always later than the wild ones) and the first few were added to some apple jelly that L made the other day - glorious colour, methinks. Not content with that, she then felt the need to make a batch of boozy mincemeat for Christmas selling. First, though, there's the Harvest Supper at the Village Hall to contend with, then a Halloween Wool Gathering - more of that on <a href="http://www.bordertart.blogspot.com/">Lindsay's blog</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"></span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-35598400765024416092007-09-23T11:27:00.000+00:002007-09-23T12:41:16.664+00:00The Tea Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfiNi2Asr7QgL9yOBNTGY2sP1rle02dr93RfQqdOy22ei21ZxbhhNkJhlFQsj_gTMjxSyeGcy2v0pZjImSomH-Fyl4MZ2LCbSr1uTqhE080vdm-mpxyMUT5QlIJSCcfeiqSQ5/s1600-h/Three+Graces.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113361300658416338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfiNi2Asr7QgL9yOBNTGY2sP1rle02dr93RfQqdOy22ei21ZxbhhNkJhlFQsj_gTMjxSyeGcy2v0pZjImSomH-Fyl4MZ2LCbSr1uTqhE080vdm-mpxyMUT5QlIJSCcfeiqSQ5/s400/Three+Graces.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#666600;"> The Crafternoon was a great success and Lindsay was very chuffed to raise £330 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Obviously the main attraction of the afternoon for certain folks was the promise of men in kilts. So here we have:</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><strong>The Three Graces</strong></span> <em>or</em></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"><strong>Macbeth's three witches</strong></span><em> or</em></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#339999;"><strong>Wilson, Keppel and Betty</strong></span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(for those of you old enough to remember your grandmother talking about them!) </span><em>or</em></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;"><strong>Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod</strong> </span><em>or perhaps</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil</strong></span> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#ff0000;">(aye, right)<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Seriously, though, Joe, Hugh and Ross did a great job serving tea, coffee, cake and large amounts of cheek, and they did all the washing up too.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Other stars of the day were Lorraine and Anne who stitched and stitched and brought goodies to sell, and Trisha, Queen of Hearts, who supplied the chocolate fountain (which promptly gave up the ghost!) and made the day of children large and small, and brought her own lavender and produce to sell too. And there were other bonuses - Hazel and Sheila and Alison all arrived with home baking to supplement the supplies. Heroes every one!</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Little me? I saw a crumb or two of cake from an empty tin. Such is my lot....</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-89346935120880748522007-09-17T18:54:00.000+00:002007-09-17T19:24:51.440+00:00Home Again<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtbH5EHAzz_62YUvVPvO1SQhrHo8d6KowRJhnH72R9elp1S6umH1bgQFKf8L9LPXmWNPMtm0vNLtUJt3rFiQzKDvMtrZ0FwN5co9eOrRgdGXtD19SDgMjv03jm5kne0QAvxv/s1600-h/Perthshire+view+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111252084536656098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtbH5EHAzz_62YUvVPvO1SQhrHo8d6KowRJhnH72R9elp1S6umH1bgQFKf8L9LPXmWNPMtm0vNLtUJt3rFiQzKDvMtrZ0FwN5co9eOrRgdGXtD19SDgMjv03jm5kne0QAvxv/s320/Perthshire+view+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxgIdWkQoLvo9W9eao3vXNX21LwQ_kJYUlVYaaFQTuha10ybl0HkcUo1JdZtXG0Pr8_Bf-glO8-dmwmSTa_UHknBnyVpiUFwvDffiMntMtG64lqgFUsN4jebpPfIPXmJcefvv/s1600-h/Perthshire+view+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111252093126590706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxgIdWkQoLvo9W9eao3vXNX21LwQ_kJYUlVYaaFQTuha10ybl0HkcUo1JdZtXG0Pr8_Bf-glO8-dmwmSTa_UHknBnyVpiUFwvDffiMntMtG64lqgFUsN4jebpPfIPXmJcefvv/s320/Perthshire+view+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0LINi4CwjbfYMRKYhbvBbo7eSTRbYvHgHuf4hqFJnwlj5HMHQrGlRGU3-su_UKq6GwRg2Uqvt-IKVQrMsUZqpVrwsD-2-m063COyBi8Z4GaIiME5SQpj0Q-jaJiWT6msFgH9/s1600-h/Perthshire+View+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111252097421558018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0LINi4CwjbfYMRKYhbvBbo7eSTRbYvHgHuf4hqFJnwlj5HMHQrGlRGU3-su_UKq6GwRg2Uqvt-IKVQrMsUZqpVrwsD-2-m063COyBi8Z4GaIiME5SQpj0Q-jaJiWT6msFgH9/s320/Perthshire+View+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">We've all been away - in separate directions. </span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">I was despatched to see my friends at the kennels where they appreciate what a fine canine specimen I am, while H and L went north. They were lucky enough to stay in a perfect cottage in the heart of the Perthshire countryside, with paths from the door, a quality village shop ten minutes walk away and dry weather all week. </span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;">Photographs were taken and here's the evidence. Typical southern Highland landscapes, tumbling streams, mirror smooth lochs, solid stone houses, turreted white harled larger 'estate' properties, red deer, roe deer, red squirrels, buzzards and rabbits. The perfect spot for a chocolate labrador, it must be said. They have promised to take me next time....</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111255692309184786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxakQESS2icTgt-p1jIxbgiFmAgex6e2d4RYU5CNjNN5lm15d3ULVfKSgI2pbj2_cQnCQhomaXQov-66muk9PlPj2ACLnuBM4u5EIIuu-7eAVIORDjwVq7xpDWsi5XjnRsXI_/s320/Lindsay+at+Kirkmichael.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111255705194086690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfErC05ITx2JKAs-Fr9txgatVUcyV-R9-RQf10VBcagSjUKuL5dZWbe00QPLAHJbRdo4IBZQb1hR7AFvQ0OoZ8vYtWKk50MVzvHMtl5VueP_j28UbddCIhntI-hopSZlF8iaz/s320/Hugh+and+guitar.jpg" border="0" /></div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#333300;">The cottage was a TV free zone but the twosome had taken their own entertainment </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#333300;">for him, his guitar and a new guitar magazine </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#333300;">for her, more stitchery and books </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#333300;">for them both, a fine bottle of malt whisky</span></p>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-8953319187963202632007-08-31T19:55:00.000+00:002007-08-31T20:28:28.069+00:00Creating a Stir!<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#009900;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">C</span><span style="color:#cc33cc;">R</span><span style="color:#6600cc;">A</span><span style="color:#3333ff;">F</span><span style="color:#336666;">T</span>E<span style="color:#999900;">R</span><span style="color:#ffcc33;">N</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">O</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">O</span><span style="color:#990000;">N </span><span style="color:#000066;">T<span style="color:#6633ff;">E</span></span><span style="color:#ff99ff;">A</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#999900;"><strong>Sat 22nd</strong> <strong>September</strong> at <strong>2.30pm</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Southdean Village Hall</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">There will be</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">tea</span>, <span style="font-family:arial;color:#ff6600;"><em>coffee</em></span>, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">home</span> <span style="color:#ffcc00;">baked </span><span style="color:#006600;">cakes</span></span> </strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em><strong>and</strong></em></span><span style="color:#3366ff;"> a</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#993399;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>luscious</strong> </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#663300;"><strong>CHOCOLATE</strong></span> <strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">fountain</span>. </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#000000;">You can watch</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong><span style="color:#999900;">a quilter</span>, <span style="color:#ff6600;">a handknitter</span>, <span style="color:#6600cc;">a patchworker</span> </strong><span style="color:#000000;">and</span><strong> <span style="color:#339999;">a hand spinner</span></strong> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#333333;">busy being creative <em>and</em> </span><span style="color:#cc0000;">you can have</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>your <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">delicious</span> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">afternoon</span> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">tea</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong><span style="color:#666666;">served by</span> <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#330099;">M</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">E</span><span style="color:#009900;">N</span> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#666666;"><em>in</em></span> <span style="color:#333300;">K<span style="color:#ff0000;">I</span><span style="color:#009900;">L</span><span style="color:#ffcc00;">T</span></span><span style="color:#cc0000;">S</span></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#990000;"><em>all in return for a generous donation to</em></span> </span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">Macmillan Cancer Support</span> </span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">as part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning!</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993300;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color:#666600;">Yup, her ladyship has rustled up some trusty textile friends to demonstrate and her gin drinking buddy to provide the chocolate fountain, smiled very sweetly at some kind hearted Scotsmen (erm, and a Geordie) and is hoping for LOTS of support for this venture at the village hall. She thinks the world of Macmillan nurses because the whole family had such support from them when her Dad was ill and this seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.</span> </span></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-25688084363440473462007-08-26T10:27:00.000+00:002007-08-26T10:55:45.425+00:00Sunny Sunday<div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;">Well, I'd love to be able to post lots of pics showing the creativity of the folks but there's precious little going on that makes for elegant images. Hugh has been verrrrry busy working long hours on things which have nowt to do with painting - mainly putting up and taking down fences for the illustrious</span> <a href="http://www.thirlestane.org/">Thirlestane Horse Trials</a> <span style="color:#990000;">(three day palaver at Lauder, forty minutes north of here) and building aviaries for a new neighbour who keeps raptors (lovely word that, and not bad for a three year old labrador). Specifically a buzzard and a Harris hawk for those of you who know about these things. And he's been cutting grass by the acre with the wee Fergie tractor as well as with a mower. As well as all that the poor lad has been working on getting the 4x4 off road event in the forests sorted out and has more of that to come before the day itself on 9th September. Oh, and he's off doing a charity cycle ride today - my hero!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102960001280297522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwHZQF-OnTjHC81YVSBp5meF3ehDxD91gp7GHkuSWBJM6jPA0WN-rnaxzusPnNWK5qRGMOmKLKhb5PkDvXHP1LfH94FetObTuDFqMmuxPKG2GIuH45HRBR5V5X29VjQdtgCHe/s320/Up+hill+beastie.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#336666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjlcvf1FLydiuz15jd_KADB_MvP6FQxrTbVGwCcXKRyH0V-eDPg-MNoh5O3A3vPX8V-KaMtTPuLpVegHYi6O_YnodOcLPtxDTFgkahAsJfiRzp6BVnJVaPLgQMq6u_KUrubWa/s1600-h/0299.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102960688475064898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjlcvf1FLydiuz15jd_KADB_MvP6FQxrTbVGwCcXKRyH0V-eDPg-MNoh5O3A3vPX8V-KaMtTPuLpVegHYi6O_YnodOcLPtxDTFgkahAsJfiRzp6BVnJVaPLgQMq6u_KUrubWa/s200/0299.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lindsay - hmmm, bit of admin stuff, bit of painting (walls and doors - she <em>hates</em> painting doors) and quite a lot of destruction of built-in wardrobes. I understand that</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Part l</span> <span style="color:#336666;">of the</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Great Plan</span> <span style="color:#336666;">is for us to move next door to where the grass is greener and the sun shines longer. This entails much pondering over paint charts, endless washing of brushes, long periods spent contemplating bare walls and muttering over the amount of 'stuff' there is to contend with. When all this gets too much she takes it out on the garden.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">I have to report a nasty trend developing chez nous. </span></div><div><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Name calling.</span> </span></div><div><span style="color:#993399;">They seem to consider that I am unusually inquisitive and a little officious in my attitude at times. In recent days I have been referred to as The Chocolate Policeman, Agent Ash of the FBI (Furry Brown Inspectorate) and even Deputy Dawg.</span><span style="color:#330099;"> <span style="font-size:78%;">I am plotting revenge....</span></span></div></div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21601612.post-59468616279070068392007-08-15T16:28:00.001+00:002007-08-15T16:40:19.054+00:00Crumbs of comfort<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1NakxXOBTmbhby8pUIpXuO_to5r2bShcp5EGOe7I0m-m2bieAHcWFGXbVidhdJD8LVv7_M6NQRT7uVvhD_q9fHWLp_N9A-SVZWInTw26qLH1K4mAXYX79j6EPfDzMNW0smeQ/s1600-h/Chesters+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098966671912026370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1NakxXOBTmbhby8pUIpXuO_to5r2bShcp5EGOe7I0m-m2bieAHcWFGXbVidhdJD8LVv7_M6NQRT7uVvhD_q9fHWLp_N9A-SVZWInTw26qLH1K4mAXYX79j6EPfDzMNW0smeQ/s320/Chesters+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T0y0A3hpchD4mJVR4A9PVLCqIJnUgQ8yAEk5ZhBzF9NVEy1cQxxNLdAWJkNxiVbBA7-oBf0utAZKZOUz7z8BMxV7Hky9qzxTTZgi3nRYnd3JLPvHEaK34VF0Zbw9FIweNSwJ/s1600-h/Chesters+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098966676206993682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T0y0A3hpchD4mJVR4A9PVLCqIJnUgQ8yAEk5ZhBzF9NVEy1cQxxNLdAWJkNxiVbBA7-oBf0utAZKZOUz7z8BMxV7Hky9qzxTTZgi3nRYnd3JLPvHEaK34VF0Zbw9FIweNSwJ/s320/Chesters+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#666600;">Her ladyship remembered to take the camera with her the other morning when she took me for a walk so here are her tasteful images taken just up the road from here. We do all realise how lucky we are to live surrounded by such glorious countryside, honest we do.</span> <span style="color:#cc6600;">The reason the fields are nice and green and lush is because the blinking rain is back with us again and this makes for more flooded boggy bits in the garden and hens plodging about in mud baths.</span> </div><div> </div>Tarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16573486103107798262noreply@blogger.com1