Normal service resumed

What a cheek - Daisy letting everyone know I nodded off yesterday.  But who would have imagined she's a budding author?  Certainly not us. Clearly she has many hidden talents...very well hidden if you ask me.  Anyway I've wrestled back control of the key board, and as we all know...possession is 9/10ths of the law.

It's been a good day today.  Nice walk in the morning.  Forty winks in the afternoon (although I did make sure Daisy was nowhere to be seen). And supper to look forward to after that.  Yes, I think I could get used to this life of leisure now I'm getting a bit older. I wonder if I might be able to squeeze onto the next spa day?  Just to see what it's all about, you understand, and on the strict understanding that no sheep EVER found out.  Just a light nail trim and polish perhaps?  Perhaps I'll have a word with Daisy about it, now we're fellow writers...

There's more good news as well...Mandy heard from the man looking after one of the Scottish boys last night. Looks like a trip to the highlands might be in the offing to see how he's getting on. How exciting is that?  Caravan trip Pie reckons.  I've only ever made it into the caravan once, but it's pretty good...even got a bed in it, and carpet. Wonder where we'll all sleep?  I can't wait.  Not like Skye, she's already grumbling about how she'll get into the caravan and up the hills - she hates hills so goodness knows how she'll cope with those. Probably go on strike like usual, until we head for home.  Pie says she's got the answer though...why not just leave her behind to look after the cat, which is more room for the rest of us in the caravan, and less pain for our ears from the grumbling.  Perfect, she says.  Only problem is Skye hasn't got the first idea about how to feed herself, let alone feed Tinker...,but, I'll just have to give that some thought.

Pie says have look at the highlands outfit she wants - those Scottish 'r' creatures won't know what's hit them

Take care

Pip xxx

Best not to show them this one though?  They might die laughing...

Daisy has her say at last

I've got to be quick. I've hijacked the blog while Pip is having a snooze. It's not fair - she gets all the fun writing whatever she wants, but not today.  Today, the worm has turned (well, I'm not a worm I know, but you get the idea). Today, Daisy the author takes to the stage (well, I know it's not a stage either, but...)  

These collies think they're the bright ones around here, but us terriers know a thing or two as well. I mean how clever do you have to be to run about in the rain chasing a bunch of sheep?  Doesn't seem as if it would take long to pick that up .  Everytime I walk past them I stop, say hello, bit of chat, bit of gossip - and we all know what terrible gossips they are so of course they come straight over to see what's what.  They don't seem to get a lot of news in the fields so I 'm sure if I told them there was a new sheep feeder in the shed, in they'd go.  They're very greedy as well you (but I might have a bit of form as far as that goes so best to move on I think).

And also...while we're talking about intelligence, just ask yourself who gets to sleep in the upstairs kennel?  I know I have to share with old ratty but us terriers stick together (well, we do until there's a snack to steal then it's speed that counts...unfortunately)

But I suppose Pip isn't that bad. She doesn't boss us about at all and never steals our food.  I sometimes think that ratty could do with a bit more bossing about to be honest but Pip just smiles when I mention it and sends me packing. I shouldn't grumble though because it's not a bad life.  I get trips off to the spa just when I start looking a bit scruffy, and sometimes best of all, Mandy gives me a trim at home.  A girl likes to look her best after all.  Although Skye says I'm going to have to stop rolling in smelly muck to get the full benefit (I'm sure I heard about that being good for your complexion though, so I'm just going to ignore her. Heavens, I don't want to get wrinkes after all).

Crikey, Pip's waking up so I'd better make myself scarce.  Just time to post a couple of my favourite photos, but I'll be back

Love

Daisy xx

No collies here...

Spa day with my mum...aaahhhh..

Nothing for me to worry about on the tummy front yet then?

Meet the puppies

Let me tell you a little about my puppies.  Seven little bundles of joy born last June.  Well, OK, it all started fine, but no-one told me how tiring they were going to be.  The first few days were no problem  at all - easy street.  I just got them squeaky clean, settled down for a good rest and wondered what all the fuss was about.

Then, after a few days they opened their eyes.  Then, after a few more days they got up and about on their little feet.  Then, after a few more days, my peace was well and truly shattered - they discovered the garden.  Life was just all about counting to seven, then starting again.  One, two...aaaargh.  Just as well it was me, because at least I can count.

Daisy and Pie spent all the time trying to get them out to play near the pond and Skye just wanted them outside so they didn't waken her.  I did get some help from Mandy and little Antonie thank goodness, but the others were definitely pushing their luck.  We were in and out all the time keeping them out of trouble - real team work it was and really tricky too because they were very determined little rascals - and the terrier twins were just as determined that they were going to get them out to play.  Mind you, that changed a bit once the pups outgrew them - even I felt a tiny bit sorry for them then, surrounded by great big boisterous collies

Anyway, the puppies were great fun really - Skye's always grumbling so we never listen to her complaints.  We had the two Scottish boys - great big strapping brutes they became, vicars number one and two, the naughty girl, Whitey, and little Abbey.  I didn't really have a favourite, but I was pleased little Abbey was the one we kept.  Well, I will be when she stops her infernal chewing.

I've got lots of photos, but here's just a few to start with

The calm before the storm...

Me, very pleased with myself

The gang

The wrong name, puppy?

On no, no, no no.  It's a disaster.  We've made a mistake, a terrible mistake. The puppy has got the wrong name so I think we're going to have to rename it...It's in disgrace again - chomping it's way through the skirtings.  And just painted as well.  It's about as bad as it gets - even Skye has noticed and has said something has to be done or we'll all be in the outside kennel.  She's VERY worried - the indoor kennel has radiators, and she's very partial to her radiators. 

So, a new name then. Chewy seems to fit the bill best.  Dozy perhaps?

Daisy thinks we should just be drafting a "For sale" notice, and let someone else choose her name - which isn't such a bad idea.  Hmmmm. Pie could run into Berwick and get it copied and put up - that should tire her out for a few days.  Skye and I could split the winnings, no, the sale proceeds.  I could buy some sheep.  Two birds with one stone...

But no, I mustn't day dream too much. And she is family after all so I suppose we've just got to make the best job we can.  We need to put someone onto "chew alert".  But who though?  Skye's no good - you could chew though a stick of dynamite and she'd sleep though it...Daisy doesn't get up early enough...All you see of Pie in the morning is a pair of heels disappearing round the yard corner.  The cat?  No - too selfish to help, and I've got sheep to worry about so can't be watching her all day.

Well, it's a tricky one.  I suppose I'll have to give her a talking to - after all, I am her mum.  Yes, that's the thing to do.  She's bound to listen to me...surely?

Take care

Pip xxx

Back online

Hello everyone it's Pip here.  We're back online.  We've got a lot of news to tell and things are still as busy as ever.

Well, it's a year on, and what's changed?  Most importantly is that I've had some puppies.  Seven.  Seven, and me a first time mum!  I had a lot of help looking after them - it was more of a double act really - Mandy kept them when I had a rest, and we had a lot of help from Antonie who stayed for a couple of weeks as well.  They've all gone now thank goodness, except for little Abbie so life is getting back to normal.  As normal as it can be with Pie zooming about the place all the time as usual, Skye snoring away as usual, and little Daisy rolling around in smelly muck as usual.  Sometimes I could wish I'd gone instead of the pups...an only dog...think of the peace...

It's been a good winter this year, no snow at all which is good as I'm not getting any younger and you skate about so much when it's cold.  Mind you it might have slowed Pie down a bit.  She's had a really good time chasing about all over the place.  This rabbit hole, that rabbit hole...you'd think she'd get bored, but not her.  And then every time she's back, we get to hear about it in detail - every single tiny little minute move by move.  And there's no interrupting her until she's finished.  Abbie loves it, but not Daisy and me. Lucky Skye we say - deaf as a post snoring away like a foghorn.  Maybe she's not so daft after all.

I'm off for a rest. Out of practice with all this typing so I might let the others have a guest spot occasionally. 

Take care

Pip xxx

PS here's a picture of me keeping an eye on the puppy.  As you can see, it's tiring work

Cat, what cat?

What a lot of mud we've got here at the moment...and it's certainly not glorious - I've had to have a bath twice in the last week and I'm not pleased about it.  Skye is staying indoors until it dries up she says.  She reckons she's got an allergy to getting dirty - allergy to work more likely - but it's not stopping Pie or me sorting sheep out and watching cattle.  Pie's alright really, and certainly gets them moving if they slow up

She's getting better with Tinker as well, or rather, Tinker is getting better with her.  They don't seem to mind each other at all, but if truth be told, I think Pie just pretends she can't see the cat, all the while hoping that no-one from the Jack Russell society comes calling.  Apparently being friendly with a cat is a definite no,no if you want to be Jack Russell of the year...poor Pie - she's always working away, looking for something to terrorise and just can't believe the cat's off limits

Lambs on the move

Winter's definitely on the way today - I couldn't see past my nose this morning for all the mist and rain.  It didn't stop us going out though, Pie and me - it'd take more than a bit of weather to stop us working.  The same definitely doesn't go for Skye, who just groaned and went back to sleep.

We had all the lambs to move today - I got them to the gate in the field they were coming out from and then little Pie chivvies them out of the gate if they look like they don't want to go.  It works really well, as long as Pie hasn't got distracted and gone off hunting, then I have to do the chivvying.  Anyway, today it worked a treat and we had them moved into a new field in a flash.

We'll just have to hope they stay where they're supposed to be, but Pie and Daisy have volunteered to keep any eye out and bark like crazy if one of the little rascals gets out.