Swallow Tale - Part 4

[LoftyLottie]

All 4 babies successfully fledged and flying. They still come back to the porch with their parents every night to roost (and will now do so until they fly to their winter quarters) xxxx

[Rosetta]

Hi everyone. The kids are now back at school, the rosehips in the hedgerow have turned red, there is condensation on the car in the morning. It feels like autumn has arrived lol.
Hope you and your beasties are all well.
Lottie, how are you feeling now. Is the osteopathy helping?
I have tried getting pics on here but will have to keep trying as it wont upload properly. I will take new pics and see if that works.
I am off to stay with my aunt for 10days. She has 2 kittens so I will have lots of time to play with them.
Keep well everyone, speak to you all again soon.
J xxx

[alfieblue]

Hi Rosetta! Lovely to hear from you. Hope you get this before you leave to look after kits!

Oh yes, the mornings are getting darker and the evenings - it does seem like autumn is creeping in.

Pup has a new game now - he has always liked scrunching up the throws on the sofas to make a nest (even tho the throws are there to protect from muddy paws!) - now he dives under the throws and hides - doggy hide n seek Lol!!!! Its become quite a game and "when I find him"!!!! - he bounces out tail wagging!!! Its no wonder i never seem to get any work done!!!

Still lots of wee visitors to the garden which is lovely to see - but I wish my hoggies would return because the slugs (particularly at night) are really having a ball!!!

Have a wonderful time with the wee kittens - catch up with you and all nature lovers soon. :o)xxxxx

[LoftyLottie]

Hello Girls,

Haven't been on here much lately as last week we were on holiday and Mr LL has put in a large floor length picture window into our lounge just so yours truly can sit and watch the birds from the comfort of the settee!! As you can imagine lots of dust etc. from knocking down old flint walls and rebuilding, but it looks lovely and has brought the garden right into the house!

All but 2 of my swallows seem to have now left for warmer climes, but the two remaining come back to the porch every night. I hope they haven't 'missed the boat'.

I am feeling much better and the osteopathy has made a lot of difference, although I have obviously damaged t he nerves in my back and am still getting the odd electric shock down my arm. Thanks for asking Rosetta. If you haven't gone yet, have a nice time with your aunt (you know what I mean!)

You are right Alfieblue, the autumn is with us and I have just put a thick jumper on as I was really cold - and I am not a cold person generally.

LOL at Pup's new game. My little Benji makes nests with the throws as well! He also wipes his face all over them to clean himself up after dinner or runs around the sofa wiping his mouth on that!! Yuk.

Nice to hear from you both!!

Take care

LL xx

[alfieblue]

Dear Lottie - how lovely to hear from you. The window sounds wonderful. As you say, it brings the garden in - wonderful to sit and watch the wildlife.

I hope the two wee swallows will be ok. Perhaps they will fly away soon to warmer climes.

I am so pleased you are feeling a wee bit better now - you made me chuckle with your little Benji!!! Pup does just the same!!! He rushes round wiping his mouth on the throws (or sofas) and its worse if we have been out walking in the rain!!! He uses the sofas and throws as towels (even tho I have towels at the ready - apparently they are for chewing!!!) He does a runner from one end of the lounge to the other leaving a lovely trail (yuk!) of mud, etc etc!!! Then he will bury himself in a throw and deny all knowledge of the said doggy (soggy!) devastation!!!!

Then he looks at me with those spaniel eyes and ...... all is forgiven!!!!

How is the weather with you? Its absolutely awful here - rain, rain, wind and rain!! Had a good walk in the forest yesterday tho - when skies cleared - and came across 2 polecats being taken for walkies on little leads!!! Two young lads (possibly 15/16 years old) were just walking them down the lane, pup was not bothered - didnt take any notice of them. (Pup was on the lead tho and was more interested in all the lovely smells etc!!).

The two lads were so polite and chatted about the polecats. My neighbour's girl also takes her rabbit out for a little walk on a lead!!! Lol!!! Pup and I never know what we are going to see from day to day!!!

Have been busy (when weather permits) in the garden - just doing a bit of pruning and tidying up (with pup - mums little helper!). The days seem to be drawing in so quickly now.

Love to you and yours. Catch up with you soon. :o) xx

[ruthann58]

hi all not a lot to report from here have not been on much this week as have been helping my son decorate his house in the evenings the weather has most certainly changed this week cold and wet not nice at all was talking to an elderly friend today she was having some work done at her house and gave the builder �400 in cash she then went out leaving her 2 dogs at home with him when she returned he was in a right state he had laid the money on the work top in the kitchen the younger dog had jumped up got the money and eaten it . a bottle of dettol a pair of rubber gloves and four days later the notes came through not to badly chewed and she was able to gt the bits with the numbers on take the said pieces to the bank and get them replaced best bit is she ironed all the bits before she took them to the bank. so be careful what the pups get into when you are not looking

[alfieblue]

Hi ruthann! Sounds like you are very busy! Have tried to do a bit of decorating here myself but pup, being the inquisitive thing he is, has delayed proceedings somewhat!!! He is so nosey and has to supervise every step of the way!!!

So pleased your elderley friend got the money back!!!! And ironing it too!!! Lol - thats the sort of thing I would do!!!

As you know from previous posts, my pup is a terrible tealeaf! We dare not leave anything lying around - think his last bit of 'booty' was a trainer (carelessly left on floor!) and we managed to retrieve it eventually (with a bribe of cheese) but not before the laces had been redesigned by pup!!!!

Damp here again today so wellies on for walkies soon. Feel so sorry for the poor people who have had flooding - my heart goes out to them.

Very quiet here nature front - pup danced up and down the path the other evening when he discovered a large frog sitting outside the kitchen door. Poor frog!!! I managed to scoot it away - I am so pleased it didn't leap into the kitchen!!!

Well, best go for walkies now while the rain has stopped.
Best wishes, catch up with you soon. x

[alfieblue]

Hi all. Hope all goes well with you and your wee companions.

Im fairly tired - pup has had an awful upset tummy for 2 days - bless him - he sleeps in my room but whined and whinged to go out at 1.30am!!! Not like him, usually sleeps right thru. Anyway off we go into the garden (complete with dressing gown and wellies!!) and well he did what he had to do! Oh dear - mega clean up of pup - he was not a happy bunny!!!

I have slept downstairs with him for 2 nites and thankfully today he is back in form!!! No more tummy upset and bouncing around as usual!

I did all the right things - plenty of liquids, then small quantities of rice and wee mixture of puppy food lamb - very gentle (not chicken cos that doesn't agree with him). Teaspoon of natural bio yog etc. As he picked up he had few doggie biscuits, similar sort of bland things and now today I think he will be able to manage his dinner. Tummy upset seems to be over!!

Thing is, we don't know what upset him?? He had nothing out of the normal but maybe he picked something up in the garden when he was out there!! Is there a doggy bug going around??

Thank goodness he is okay now. I hate it when he's not being naughty!!! Lol!!!

On a lighter note - robin in garden (he who rules the roost) decided to perch on pups football!!! Wish I had a camera on me at the time!!! It just made me giggle!!! Poor pup - not only does robin go for his rear end when he's out in the garden but he has now nicked his favourite football!!!! It's a dog's life! xxx :o=)

[Rosetta]

Hello everyone. I've just sneaked in to use my aunts computer whilst she and kittens have a snooze.Lol
Thanks for the message Alfie. Unfortunately I didn't get the message before I left. I tried to turn on the computer to get the flight booking details but the darned thing was as dead as a dodo. As you can imagine I was in a terrible panic until Mr R reassured me that I only needed my passport. Phew!!!!!!!
Glad the treatment is helping Lottie and the window sounds wonderful.
Hi Ruthann.
Give all your furry pets a cuddle for me. I will try and reciprocate if these 2 kittens will stay still long enough!!!!!
Love to you all. Take care.

[ruthann58]

HI all ,sorry to hear pup has had an upset tum alfie, hope he is back to normal now .the birds are starting to come back slowly ,the tatty blackbird is back he is very grey round the head so he must be getting on a bit and the chaffinches are starting to come on the feeders again we had a jay on the bird table the other day that was a first , i am picking raspberries at the moment that is i pick the ones cassie cant reach before i get there its a wonder she has not got the runs thank goodness she is not very keen on the bramleys and leaves them for me we have had a dry weekend here it was lovely on thursday really warm . i went off to tescos early friday morning in just a tee shirt by the time i had done the shopping the heavens had opened i got drowned .my husband has got his redundancy notice that arrived friday morning so friday was a real good day ! but i dont suppose we will starve .lofty i am going to try to send an email to you but i bet i dont get it right .well its monday tomorrow so back to normal ,sewing for me and sleeping fo cassie she likes to sleep in the front porch in the sun while i am upstairs sewing she has got a bed in the sewing room but this time of year the porch is the place to doze when muppet was in her prime we always left the back door open when i was upstairs working so they could come and go as they pleased muppet would never have let anyone in the garden let alone in the house but cassie is no guard dog so if i am not downstairs i have to lock the doors sad that it has to be like that isnt it but you cant trust any one nowadays. its 7.30 and dark here winter is on the way i hate it dont you. Ruth and cassie

[LoftyLottie]

Just popped in briefly to say hello to my friends!

Ruth I have received your email and answered. Thanks.

Have been really busy around the garden just recently, making the most of the really lovely weather. Hence, haven't been on AB much.

Glad Pup has recovered from the trots Alfie Blue. Not a pleasant experience for him, or you!!

Will be back with some news soon (when the weather turns horrid again)!

Meanwhile love to you all.

LL

xxxx

ps Ruth - I'm sorry to hear about your husband's redundancy. Hope things work out for you. x

[alfieblue]

Hi ruthand all -Hope everything is ok with you and yours. So Sorrry to hear about redundancy. Hope all works out for you. It will, Im sure. Cassie sounds like pup - into everything - Im guessing that he got his upset tummy from eating something that was a no no!!! Mums little helper sometimes makes a boo boo!!!. Must apologise for any typing errors, I am having real problems with this tonite :o(

Pup is no guard dog lol!!!! I was hoovering yesterday upstairs and I always say to him : guard the house like a good boy!!!! Well - it seems that a wee birdie flew in to the house - dining room, lounge, kitchen ( ummm droppings were a clue!!!), flew back out the back door (thank goodness for the wee mite) and pup was in the land of nod - snoring away like a good'un!!!! Ho hum!!!!

Rosetta how are you?

Love to all of you. Have got to scoot off now cos got visitors (friends) staying over and have got to get wee buffet sorted

Oh dear!!!!! xxxxxxxx

[LoftyLottie]

Hope you didn't burn the sandwiches Alfieblue!! ;o) xxxx

[alfieblue]

Lol Lottie!! the sandwiches were fine but ummm - the sausage rolls had to have a wee bit of a haircut around the edges!!!! I blame the oven!!!!! :o))xxx

Ruth you are right, the evenings are drawing in now very quickly. The mornings too - very autumnal - brrrrr! We have had a few nice days on and off so have been trying to tidy garden up. Yesterday I decided to clean out garage (long overdue) - omg the spiders!!!!!!! Never had a car in there, no room!!! Still no room but it looks a bit better. My little helper managed to leg it away with a jay cloth and chamois leather!!!

No sign of yellow beak :o( Just off now to refill all the bird feeders for the nut and seed lovers.

I think too Ruth that when I am upstairs I will lock the door downstairs. Im far too trusting - mostly I am downstairs and pup has the run of the garden but you never know do you with the way things are these days. xxx

[ruthann58]

hi all another nice day i think thats 4 in a row must be going to rain soon had a work day today so we have not had a lot of time outside today just a little while this afternoon to pick the raspberrys and some bramleys we had a great game with a little apple as i was picking then cas deciced to eat it while im on the steps up the tree we did get a walk tonight when my husband got home before tea, they have been combineing the field at the back of ours today the horse is all bright eyed and bushy tailed you would think its the first combine he has ever seen silly old fool, the bunnies have been running all ways .its time to get the rat traps set as they will start to come off the fields now that the corn is cut we had loads last year we caught 13 in one week ! alfie your garage sounds like ours i would hae been off at the first spider dont mind the garden ones but those that you get in the garage and house at this time of year i am terrified thats the only thing i am frightened of nothing else worries me i am so glad to see rocky is hanging on its a shame she cant get on to this thread as we dont seem to et any hassle now

[Rosetta]

ruthann, I am also sorry to here about your husband's redundancy. It can be a difficult time for you both. I know when my husband was made redundant a few years back it hit him hard.

Alfie, pup sounds adorable. I am glad he got over the tummy upset. Bless them they do their best to get outside in time, but its not always possible with the runs. It sounds like he is back to his normal naughty self. lol

Lottie, how are you. I too have been trying to get some jobs done in the garden while the weather is nice. As we have a smallish garden I have grown potatoes in a container for the first time ever. I couldn't believe the crop I got when I tipped out the first bucket yesterday. I am really chuffed (and surprised)

It is starting to feel very autumnal here. I have had to resort to a jacket to take Tim out for his morning walk. He is very slow so I don't even keep warm with a brisk walk!!!

Its lovely to speak to you all again and get your news. Take care. xx
Love J

[alfieblue]

Dear rosetta and all. How are you all doing?

Lovely to read the threads and hear all your news.

Pup had a wee accident yesterday!!! Ran to get through patio doors at the speed of light (his one and only speed!!!) and yes, you have guessed it - doors were closed!!!! Oh dear!!!! Think he saw doggy stars for a few moments but quickly recovered - he has a very hard head!! After plenty of cuddles later (with pup milking the situation!!!) he was right as rain!!!! However, Im off to get some stickers for the doors - plus hopefully he will remember and slow down a wee bit when approaching the doors!!!! Ho hum!!!!

On a sadder note - I have just ready Trudy's post in pets about wee Rocky. He passed away peacefully surrounded by love - love that he had all his life as he too loved Trudy.

It's never easy is it, we have all been there, but it is never easy. Bless him and bless her, what wonderful companions they were for all those years. xxxx

[alfieblue]

Oh no!!!! Beaut day here so have been out in garden with pup, tidying up and cleaning pond. First near disaster, pup ran up and jumped up on me as i was teetering on edge of pond!!! Luckily had branch to quickly grab hold of else wud have been in face first (not the first time i might add!!!) - next - pup stole my glasses off the garden table!!! Thought i had put them out of reach but obv not far enough to stop mums wee tealeaf!!!! Have hunted high and low - no sign of them - son has been out also searching behind all the shrubs, trees etc. Nothing!!!! They have obv been buried somewhere!!!!

Luckily have a few old pairs to fall back on - thank goodness - need specks for a lot of my art work - especially the intricate bits. Ho hum - off to get new pair next week!!!! Pup has been forgiven now - still love him to bits.

Hope you are all well - its been such beaut weather here today - hopefully same tomorrow.

Will be out gardening tomoro but glasses will be hidden away from you know who!!!!! xxxxxxxx

[ruthann58]

oh alfie you just made me laugh i thought it was bad enough whn cassie pinched my clean socks and ran up the garden with them last night but at least i got them back a bit soggy though we have been outside most of the day cassie and i have made a little bird table to hang in the tree i expect the first good wind and it will fall to bits but never mind .i had to rescue a little frog this afternoon as mummys little helper was after it we had breakfast out in the garden this morning and the birds have all started to appear a couple of blue tits 3 blackbirds 2 chaffinches and a couple of dunnocks all put in a breakfast appearence the pheasent is also about up the paddock for the past couple of days plus the normal magpies, pidgeons, doves, crows ,rooks ,woodpecker and of course the bunnies ,do you email lottie if so ask her for my email address if you would like it what sort of art do you do. give pup a cuddle from me and a lick from cassie

[Rosetta]

LOL at pup and Cassie.
My little reprobate has just been clipped and he no longer looks like Shaggy Dog Dick (a story about an old English sheepdog I used to read to the boys when they were little) He smells a bit better too. Sally cat has been eating for Britain while I have been away anb she now looks more like Miss Piggy.
Its been lovely weather here in Staffordshire over the past few days so I have been catching up with the laundry. I am not sure that my three fellas know how to use the washing machine, the crafty blighters.
Have the swallows and martins gone from where you live? They have from here, I always feel sad when they disappear as we have the winter to look forward to.
Lottie has my email address so if anyone wants to contact me I would love to hear from you.

Alfie, has your daughter started at uni yet?

Well love to you all and hugs for your beasties. Takke care.

[ruthann58]

Hi all hope all is well ,alfie have you got your new glasses thankfully cassie has never had a taste for that sort of thing she prefers soft things we are still picking a few raspberrys every day i pick the high ones she eats the low ones all the bits of seed the birds drop she nibbles up off the grass ,you name it and cassie will eat it ,its been quite chilly here today she is curled up in a tight ball up the corner of the settee then next is Issy the cat and me jammed in the other corner not to much room on a little 2 seater , now the weather is turning we have got lots more birds they are even going on my little hanging table . Lottie how is your shoulder