A dog in the manger...

This is what happens when you buy your Jack Russell a new bed and the Airedale feels left out!

 

                             It should look like this....

 

But as soon she she stepped out it looked like this...

Really Arthur! 

From Best in Show to the Doghouse in a day...

See this guy...

He had his proud moment at the Thorpe Hall fun day, winning best in show! He stood to attention, paraded and trotted up and down like a good un and was rewarded for his gorgeousness. We couldn't be prouder....

Until 4 o clock this morning when the street was woken by a wailing that could wake the dead. We ran down stairs in panic expecting to find a dying dog but instead found Arthur and his sidekick Pearl   , our Jack Russell, in the middle of a stand off. He was limping and she had a nip on the top of her head. Thankfully no serious damage, but what had caused this tiff in the middle of the night we'll never know. But for now they're both looking pretty sorry for themselves...

 They've both been put to bed in different rooms tonight - what's the betting they're yowling to be together by 2am. 

Next time I'm putting doggy cam up to see who started it!

All sold out...

So sale day came, and we sold...and sold....and sold. I fully intended to take lots of pictures as more and more plants arrived and we filled the hall - but there were people coming in an hour before we officially opened and that was it - we never stopped until there was very little left, like these sad lonely onions!

 I had great helpers thank goodness, citygirl, Kgirl my oldest bud (not literally old that is!), BH, Freerangenan and the marvellous ladies from All Saints church amongst others made sure everything went to plan. Even ponygirl got in on the act...
                                                

We took over £300 in 2 and half hours. Not bad going when you consider most plants were under £1. There were flowers, veg, herbs and cake - what was not to love??? We had some amazing donations, compost bins, pots, even a mini green house! It was great fun selling and talking about plants and if i'm honest i'm already planning next years event...

by the end of it we were pretty tired...I caught these usual suspects napping on the lawn!

There was a glass of two of fizz to be had after all was tidied up...and a very very good nights sleep...

A little taste of sunshine...

Last bakeup of the holidays today and a taste of somewhere sunny was definitely needed. We've been surrounded by rain and wind all day, rattling the windows and blowing the wheelie bins down the garden so i wanted something light and zesty to take away the winter blues ( and to use up some the leftover lemons sitting in the fruitbowl!)

These lovely lemon bars come from a favourite cookbook of mine The Dairy HollowHouse Cookbook by Crescent Dragonwagon - fab name I know! Every recipe has a great anecdote with it so if you ever see a copy snap it up.

Here it is...



And here's the recipe

Mix and press into the bottom of a baking tin

Half cup of butter
1 cup plain White flour
Quarter cup icing sugar

Beat

2 eggs
1 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons flour
Half teaspoon baking powder
Juice and rind of 2 lemons ( I added 1 more to the original recipe)

This mixture will be thin. Pour it over the first layer. Bake for 30 - 35 mins. Let cool slightly then sit with icing sugar.

Okay so they won't help with any diet resolutions but they are lush and brighten up the idea of tomorrow's back to work packed lunch.

I did think that a good walk with the dogs would make me feel less guilty about eating cake...I shook the lead, I put my coat on but these two are having none of it!






Oh well i tried!

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Arthur plays dead...

 This is how Arthur has taken to relaxing...

 totally still, totally immovable, totally taking over the sofa...

 all that he moves are his eyes...which is more than just a bit wierd - crazy dog!

Beach Boy...

This is what my Freerangeboy gets up when I'm hard at work...

Dog Rustling...

Hard to believe he started life a cityboy through and through...

I am wondering when all this fresh air is going to tire him out though! - still waiting on that one...

Snow, snow and more snow...

The east coast has been hit by the snow pretty badly over the past few days, and although we're inland we were certainly no exception. We've had a bit of a mixed response to it this year. On the one hand I love snow, from the first sight it I start making plans for hunkering down, preparing for a snow in, old movies log fires, perhaps a Baileys or two, whats not to love? But this year we are on a countdown to get our roof in place, the struts have arrived we just need on more day of bricklaying to be at roof height but then the white stuff arrived...

                                  

temperatures dropped and building was called to a halt...

                                   

Its been very tempting to vent and fume and shake my fists at the sky, after all this could mean tools are down till the new year, but what can you do. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade and if snow stops your building schedule then...


tether up your Airedale and go sledging...

The two little Freerangers got the day off to play in the snow and travelled in style to Freerangenans for cocoa and treats...

 Pearl had her first taste of snow, and took to it like, well like a pup to snow of course...

And I got to hear about it all when I got home from work...boo hoo! But I did get the Baileys and an amazing view of the Wolds as I made my way there...

So for now, let it snow...

Top and tailing...

I couldnt resist this...

Do you think they like their new bed?!

Meet Pearl...

BH promised me that we could get another dog just as soon as I was working closer to home...well on Friday I finished my long haul commute ready to take up my new post in September, so on Saturday I kept him to his word!

Pearl is a tenacious Jack Russell pup. She's only nine weeks old but she's already showing us what shes made of. When we first introduced her to Arthur she nipped him on the nose just to let him know she's no push over!

We were worried that they might not get on, or that he might stand on her, but so far so good. He's really taken to being a big brother and he's really gentle with her. I'm not sure who's going to be leading who astray!

Introducing Arthur...

Todays blog was going to be about my lovely new garden seat - its an early birthday present from BH and my folks. I came to day to find it built and in situ - no small feat if you'd seen the weeding that took place to reveal the paving slabs! I was led up the garden for a grande reveal and tadah!!! here it was. I am undecided whether or not to grow something up it - at the moment Im just enjoying its pristine tidiness (which is not a typical state to find anything in here!)



Until now our only seating options in the garden were some borrowed patio chairs and an upturned bucket so I cant tell you how happy I am. After lots of ooh and aahing i decided that to really do it justice I should get a glass of something nice and enjoy the evening sunshine in my new seat - at least that was the plan. Only on my return I found that I had been usurped!






Meet Arthur! He is our Airdale Terrier, He's two years old, lovely and as mad as a sack of badgers. I think he was feeling a bit left out and decided to get in on the blogging opportunites! To be honest the only reason he hasnt been on the blog so far is that he rarely stands still long enough - as you can see...



He's a terror when it comes to knocking plants over and the veg patch is off limits to him at the moment as he tramples everything in site - so no wonder he's looking for sanctuary.

Heres one of the plants that I daren't plant out yet until i find an Arthur free spot. Its a 'Big Daddy' Hosta which I bought at the Chelsea Flower show. That sounds so glam until you picture me carting this across London - trust me, it earned its name well - it weighs a ton!



and these...




I have no idea what they are but they spring up from out of nowhere and put on this amazing show.

As long as there's not an Airedale on the loose!