It's a dog's life.........

I thought I would show you how tough it is being a dog around here at Christmas time! Firstly leading up the Christmas Bumble spent days running around snow covered fields, sliding over icing pools of water and collecting balls of snow on all her legs, which she would nibble off when she was inside the cottage - leaving us to find mini puddles of water everywhere! It is safe to say she did not care in the slightest that this white stuff stopped all our Christmas visiting in it's tracks, that just meant more walks!


Then she was bundled up with dog bed, food and chews as we made our journey to quite wonderful friends, who had so generously invited us to stay for Christmas. I think the sight of Rose Cottage at the moment beggars belief that we can achieve a standard day, Christmas would have been a huge challenge. So we invaded their home where we spent the most lovely of times, the company was just superb, the food incredible and their friendship, kindness and generosity made our Christmas just perfect.

Needless to say Bumble makes herself perfectly at home in their house. They not only have a log burner, but also a young lady who is terribly generous with tummy rubs and she has pet rabbits! Thankfully Miffy & Cocoa have got used to Bumble running up and down the length of their run for hours on end and pay her little attention, but for Bumble it is just the hightlight of her visit.

The Christmas tree was groaning with gifts and much to Bumble's delight there were several with her name attached.


Much spoiling followed, a Christmas stocking full of doggy treats, a new squeaky Christmas pudding ball and then the gift from her tummy rubbing host that made Bumble's Christmas ........



...Phil the Pheasant!!! She could not wait for anyone to remove the tags and once she had hold of him no one was likely to get anywhere close! This toy makes a fantastic quack/honk type squeak which makes her go quite mad - it's very entertaining. This is not the first Phil that Bumble has owned, so we knew the pattern of events that would follow.



Glee and happiness as she parades around the house with him for several hours. Then a little light tossing of him into the air so that she can pounce! Next the intense look as she begins the work of exposing his squeaker - this is by far her most favourite part! Once the squeaker has been removed the general unstuffing of her beloved toy commences. This takes weeks and slowly, slowly the toy changes shape.

So now contented with a saggy toy Bumble is preparing to enjoy her next gift.........a bottle of dog beer!

Eureka!

Is it really Thursday?! December always gallops along but hec this one is the speediest yet. As usual Christmas is gaining pace on me and sending me into a whirl wind, now is when I start to panic slightly and begin my compulsive list writing.

But forget all the chaos (although I am sure that you are all terribly organised and serene) and help me enjoy my EUREKA moment.


Since our move last year I have been a full time stay at home Mum, which is a privilege. I have been able to settle Mstr B & Miss A after all the upheavel of relocating, be here for all their disasters, all their achievements and all the taxi requirements 8 & 10yr olds need! So finding my creative side has been a real adventure which has had many ups and downs in itself. I am yet to find a great love for my sewing machine but we are now friends, which is a major accomplishment but crochet has been a different matter, my hook and I now share a very special bond.


I have followed blogs avidly finding new things to crochet, new stitches and designs, I have gazed longingly at others talents, their impeccable creations which look so perfect, not a stitch out of place, colours that compliment and speed that I could only dream of.

But my dear friends today was the day that I sat back and looked at one of my creations and thought WOW. The feeling is immense, quite overwhelming and very unexpected. One would think that I have created something gigantic but it is only small and I have only actually finished one, not the two that are needed, yet I am still all unnecessary, twitchy and excitable.


Let me start with the yarn, the colours are delicious, it is a Rowan Kid Classic Yarn, so it feels just lovely to play with. I love standing in the needlecraft shop drinking in the rows of yarn, they look just like sweeties. These colours jumped out and begged to be brought home - so I obliged!


In just a short amount of time yesterday evening, hooking away I made one wrist warmer in this lovely yarn. I know I said my speed was improving too so just to let you all know I also finished a pair for a dear friend but I can't show you those or it will spoil her opening her pressie!

This single wrist warmer has made me soooooo happy, strange isn't it?! The small things really can make a big difference. Thank you so much for allowing me to wallow in my eureka moment, I can't wait for this evening to arrive so I can pick up my hook and finish my project, but for now the other side of a stay at home Mum is needing attention, the ironing is calling, supper must be prepared and the vacuum cleaner is getting such little use that it is trying to get out of the cupboard by itself, not to mention a furry ball of discontentment who is following me around with her nose at my ankles!