Bobby pics

He has cataracts in both eyes, a heart murmur, Some deafness, a healthy apetite and a wonderful disposition. He settled in in no time at all, was totally 'clean' after one 'accident' by me not recognising the signs to 'Go'! He rarely leaves my side, walks beautifully on the lead and the welcome I get when I come home is great! A neighbour (who has rescued 3 Yorkies), takes him out in the middle of the day with her dogs. He gets on well with my sisters' greyhound and greyhound cross too, though he cannot keep up with them when they go for a 'blast' around the park!

Bobby

Hmmm, I've been doing my rescue bit and aquired a ...DOG! He's called Bobby.
He's a Shitzu, 13 yrs old, yes, 13! He's a smart little cookie, I reckon his IQ is way up above mine LOL!
More to follow and pics soon, only I must get some shut eye.

Composting

I have been a bit over run with kitchen waste, my sister saves hers for me. I cannot bear to think of it going to the landfill sites when it makes such a lovely soil conditioner and mulch. So, a few weeks ago, I asked my nephew if he uses all of the compost bins he has on his allotment and he said he didn't , so he gave me one of them.
This morning I drilled some 3/4" holes in the bottom and placed it not too far from my very full, existing one, then started adding the kitchen waste, some pet hair from groomings, some fresh duck poo that Mr&Mrs Mallard keep leaving on the paths, grass and patio, some torn up egg cartons and some pelleted chicken manure, oh and some hedgehog poo!
Now all I need is the worms to find it! I've watered around the compost bin with saved rainwater from my waterbutt, to encouraged them up into the bin.
The other bin is going to have a rest and in a few months' time I will tip it out, seive it and use around the garden. Then let the other one 'rest' and start all over again.
I really prefer what I call the 'New Zealand' type of bins, double or treble but, I'm sure the neighbours would think it unsightly! When I finally get a patch at the unofficial allotments on the estate, I will build one there.
Because I didn't start on the patch offered to me, someone else took it over but, Nev says it's full of mares' tail weed and they haven't dug it all out, so who'll be sorry there then? I've been offered a patch at the side of Nevs' plot, so will be up there soon to make a start on clearing it. Watch this space! LOL!

Yep! We got snow!

Outside the back door and looking over part of the neighbours' garden, can you see her Penny Farthing bike planter?


It was all gone by midday!
More snow expected tonight....

Casper

At last, the long-awaited pics of Casper, my sis's new dog. He's a bit of a handful but, so loving.

Here he is playing with his squeaky monkey toy.

On two of the pics(which I loaded and are the same one, DERRR!), he looks like he is laughing!

He likes to greet you by standing up and putting his forelegs on your shoulders, he tends not to lick your face but, loves to be hugged and cuddled. Now there is no room for humans when both dogs are on the sofa LOL!

Bradgate Park

This treeto the left is remarkable don't you think?
It looks like a man-like creature, holding a tree in it's left hand, when in fact, it is the only obviously living bit of the tree.

If you click on the next pic, you will see the deer jumping over the ditch/wall to the right. Then, more deer. A pic of the end gable of the visitor centre, closed! (Could have drank a mug of hot tea too!)

This rather ingenious 'hole in the wall' is just in front of a bench, strategically placed so that you can rest your elbows on the ledge just below the bottom of the hole with your binoculars poised to see the wildlife on the otherside of the wall/reservoir.
It got quite cold, so we headed back to the car park and home, via the Farm Shop.

Walkies!

Yesterday I went for walkies in Bradgate park. Originally I was going with my Sister, her two dogs and friend Graham but, sis couldn't make it, so it was jus Graham and I. I would like to show you some photos I took, but blogger is being a b****er and won't let me upload them at present, so I'll try later.

I'm jammin'

Finally cooked the mixed plums and damsons today, then strained them through a jelly bag. I have not measured the resulting volume of liquid yet, I intend to do that tomorrow morning before I boil it to make jelly. (Couldn't be doing with all those stones and skins).

I expect there will be around 4 pints of liquid and when it's ready to pot up, there will be around 3-31/2 pounds of jelly....watch this space for pics of the finished product!