Baz playing in the field with Adam on a frosty morning
19th March
Up early to get some work done - and spent a good hour sitting on the 'North Terrace' (i.e. the patio LOL) having a morning cuppa, eating my breakfast and playing ball with Baz.
Good idea playing ball downhill with an energetic dog - every time he dropped it the ball rolled away so he had to fetch it again - saved me the job of bending to pick it up!
It is not easy taking photos of him though as he is SO quick and bouncy!
 |
| see what I mean... |
****
I was listening
to Judi Spiers on BBC Radio Devon while getting dressed, making the bed etc after that leisurely
breakfast.
I stood at my bedroom window while listening to the Carpenters’ ‘On
Top Of The World’ – and confess to suddenly having a few tears.
Blackbirds and
thrushes were hopping across the lawn, there was a woodpecker busy at the fat
ball hanger and chaffinches and different types of tit were squabbling on the
other feeder.
The catkins are out, the daffodils are in bloom; all the trees are
starting to look green....
We moved
from London to this lovely place called Devon a couple of months ago, but still
feel that I am living a dream. The sun was lighting up the fields opposite and
the view across our back garden to the Taw Valley was just so, so
beautiful – it really did seem like I was standing 'on top of the world looking
down on creation'.
****
Next door DownTheHill are having some work done, several lorries laden with big bags of what is something heavy (gravel?) have trundled down the shared drive these past couple of days. Me nosey? Nah! Nor is it a problem - as long as the drivers don't flatten our primrose bank like a previous one did!
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| Missed Baz completely in this one :-) |
18th March
Ron and I sat out on the North Terrace with our morning cuppa this a.m. It was a bit chilly, but I had my warm fleecy dressing gown on (yep, hadn't showered or dressed, tea comes first!)
(The North Terrace is a grand term for the back garden patio! :-)
We heard the woodpecker, the pheasant, lots of little birds; the Tarka Line train clacketing past from Exeter to Barnstaple, someone using a chain saw, a tractor, a dog barking, a cockerel crowing, a peacock (! yes, a peacock) sheep bleating (including lambs) and a buzzard.
An improvement on the traffic on the A406 back in London!
And I haven't updated on yet another new addition!
We now have four horses!
Adam (Kathy's OtherHalf) was part owner of a racehorse. Her name, Ishi.
On advice from the trainer the syndicate decided to retire her... so guess who ended up giving her a home?
Her name is Ishi. We'll be letting her 'chill' for a few months, just relaxing in the field, then will ride her & unteach all the racing stuff she's been taught.
Oh and Baz (the dog) has finally learnt that the toilet is outdoors, not on my carpet (understandable because he is very bewildered and a little nervous) but he is settling in well and beginning to relax. He is stretched out by my feet as I write this, sound asleep and snoring!
(The North Terrace is a grand term for the back garden patio! :-)
We heard the woodpecker, the pheasant, lots of little birds; the Tarka Line train clacketing past from Exeter to Barnstaple, someone using a chain saw, a tractor, a dog barking, a cockerel crowing, a peacock (! yes, a peacock) sheep bleating (including lambs) and a buzzard.
An improvement on the traffic on the A406 back in London!
And I haven't updated on yet another new addition!
We now have four horses!
 |
| L-R: Squidgy, Lexie, Jasper, Ishi The four Musketeers (or should that be Cavaliers? LOL) |
Adam (Kathy's OtherHalf) was part owner of a racehorse. Her name, Ishi.
On advice from the trainer the syndicate decided to retire her... so guess who ended up giving her a home?
 |
| L-R: Squidge, Lexie, Jasper, Ishi |
Her name is Ishi. We'll be letting her 'chill' for a few months, just relaxing in the field, then will ride her & unteach all the racing stuff she's been taught.
 |
| Kathy jumping the Exmoor pony, Squidgy |
16th March
Ron & I went to the Dog's Trust centre in Ilfracombe/Braunton and collected our new friend - Baz.
He was found abandoned as a stray, spent over a week at the dog pound, and as no one had attempted to find him, was moved to the Trust, where a new home would be found.
He is microchipped, but when the registered people were contacted they said "We'd given him away to a new home". Frankly, a likely story. My guess is, for one reason or another they just dumped him. (Probably because he is now big & bouncy & needs a lot of exercise - or they were going off on holiday, or something)
Anyway, our gain.
After a short talk about his medical history, when he needs his next jab, general care etc, we set off for home. He was very reluctant to get in the car: we were strangers, he was frightened, but one of the Trust assistants lifted him in & we set off. The journey would be about 40 minutes. Half way, he up-chucked in the back of the car. To be expected - as far as we knew he might never have been in a car before, plus the nerves etc. Didn't matter, we'd put down old blankets.
He had a sniff round at home, was quite happy to go on his bed - loved the log fire. Wasn't sure f the horses - Sybil the cat (at the moment confined to upstairs where Baz is not going to be allowed) saw the Dog, fluffed up, hissed and sat on the landing, scowling, down the stairs. Mab has decided to stay under the bed.
They have a litter tray, food & water in the upstairs bathroom, though, so will be perfectly OK. If they want to go out, they'll have to pluck up courage, stick two fingers up at The Dog & come downstairs. (They're actually fine, just a bit affronted. "Meow. What do we want another DOG for???"
Baz was fine over night. He settled n his bed, curled up & went to sleep. Didn't hear a peep out of him!
This morning Adam has taken him for a walk up the lane & Ron is, as I type this, leading Baz round the back garden, discovering all the sniffs and smells.
He's a lovely dog. I think is already a best friend.
Follow up posts about Baz:
http://leaningonthegate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/19th-march.html
http://leaningonthegate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/video-of-baz.html
a photo of Baz taken in late May - one very happy dog!
 |
| Baz. LOL hadn't noticed the painted toes! They're not my feet, photo taken by my daughter! |
He is microchipped, but when the registered people were contacted they said "We'd given him away to a new home". Frankly, a likely story. My guess is, for one reason or another they just dumped him. (Probably because he is now big & bouncy & needs a lot of exercise - or they were going off on holiday, or something)
Anyway, our gain.
After a short talk about his medical history, when he needs his next jab, general care etc, we set off for home. He was very reluctant to get in the car: we were strangers, he was frightened, but one of the Trust assistants lifted him in & we set off. The journey would be about 40 minutes. Half way, he up-chucked in the back of the car. To be expected - as far as we knew he might never have been in a car before, plus the nerves etc. Didn't matter, we'd put down old blankets.
He had a sniff round at home, was quite happy to go on his bed - loved the log fire. Wasn't sure f the horses - Sybil the cat (at the moment confined to upstairs where Baz is not going to be allowed) saw the Dog, fluffed up, hissed and sat on the landing, scowling, down the stairs. Mab has decided to stay under the bed.
They have a litter tray, food & water in the upstairs bathroom, though, so will be perfectly OK. If they want to go out, they'll have to pluck up courage, stick two fingers up at The Dog & come downstairs. (They're actually fine, just a bit affronted. "Meow. What do we want another DOG for???"
Baz was fine over night. He settled n his bed, curled up & went to sleep. Didn't hear a peep out of him!
 |
| Adam & Baz |
He's a lovely dog. I think is already a best friend.
Follow up posts about Baz:
http://leaningonthegate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/19th-march.html
http://leaningonthegate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/video-of-baz.html
a photo of Baz taken in late May - one very happy dog!
14th March
Ron was working hard today - he decided to give the 'lawn' a bit of a cut. We still haven't got the ride-on mower fixed yet, so he managed with the electirc mower. Sort of did the job, but I think it was a bit hard going.
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| Ron at work in the orchard |
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| anyone know what these are? |
I'm especially pleased with myself as I've lost a few pounds in weight and I can now walk up the lane to Top Gate without having to stop for oxygen (well, to get my breath)
And when I say UP the lane, I mean up, you're talking just under 1/4 of a mile up hill.
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| Looking down our drive - the wooden building is the back of the stables |
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| our home...looking through the hedge along the lane |
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| and looking back at where I took the photo from our front garden - the foreground hedge is our boundary, that's next door's field with the hedge along the lane in the distance |
And talking of Squidge... here's a new, equine version of Leaning On The Gate!
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| 'Is it time to come in for dinner yet?' |
Must get my new camera sorted - it seems to be registering the wrong date :(
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