BUSY DOING VERY LITTLE.!!

It has been a quiet time here at the Castle since the visitors left,so I have been having a well deserved rest.

John is busy in the garden getting it ready for the winter,he has to make the most of the good weather today and tomorrow as the forecast is not good for the rest of the week.

The days have been so over cast and foggy,I have very few photos to share with you,so I am posting some I took a few weeks ago.It is amazing how the garden has changed in just a few weeks,in the photo of the sheep the leaves are still on the trees,but now they have all gone,one of the jobs John is doing today,raking them all up.!!

Freddie has learned to sit on command,he goes to the door when he needs to relieve himself but still likes to chew up my slippers.!! He has had all his shots now so I will be taking him out on his first walk later today,charlie will be glad of the company,I am sure.

We will be voting in our Presidential elections this week,it does not really matter who wins,they are only a figure head,doing  PR work,but I do not rate any of the candidates,none of them are as good as the last two that were in office,both women,both intelligent and both were good at the job.

Well here are my photos,such as they are.

 DEPARTING GUESTS.!

 A WREN ON THE FOUNTAIN

 THE RESIDENT HERON

 RAIN DROPS

Enjoy the rest of the week. Photos will enlarge.

Carolyn.

NO SPIDERS.

This week I have been out and about on a hunt for spiders webs,I managed to get about ten different ones but only have four worth posting.
I am always amazed at the variety,shapes and sizes of the webs,one wonders if one design works better than the others.? I had hoped to find ones with the respective owner in residence,but I could not find even one spider,in it's web or out of it.!!

 " Come into my parlor " said the spider to the fly. This has to be the  most superior web I have found.There are loads of flies in the chamber,presumably they fly in and get trapped.

 The trampoline

The chandelier.

Multi storey.

Unfortunately thats all I have for this week,until the next time ,have a good weekend everyone.
Carolyn.

A NEW VISITOR TO THE GARDEN

Yesterday evening I saw this fox in the garden.This is the first fox I have managed to photograph,though I have seen them in the field behind our garden,this is the first one to venture into the garden.I believe this is a young one and appears  to be in the process of getting it's winter coat, after exploring the garden he came right up to the shed just a few feet from my window.These shots were taken through the window as I knew if I had opened the door he/she, would have run off.

I took lots of pictures but most of them are not good enough to publish,the window distorted them too much,but they are enough to remind me of his/her welcome visit.
Enjoy your weekend.I am off later to see what else I can find for my next post.

BOB V FREDDIE

The new puppy is settling in well,though only 11 weeks old he is remarkably clean in the house,only one accident--so far.!!
When I went to the kennels to choose him,he looked like a BOB,jumping up and down when he ran around,I thought the name suited him,so when I collected him on Friday,the breeder told me he had been using the given name since I was last there,but that the dog did not seem interested in responding to it. Since he has been home with us  he has not shown any interest at all in his name,even with treats to tempt him to respond.!!
I tried out a few names to see if he showed any interest them,in the end I declared that he was as stubborn as uncle Fred,( my husbands late uncle )much loved,by the way.As soon as I said Fred,the pups ears pricked up and he came over to me and sat looking at me with his head cocked to one side,I said Fred again and he jumped up at me,he has been responding to this name ever since.!! I have even called him Freddie,he responds to that as well,so it is obvious the pup has chosen his own name. Have you had  a dog that has chosen his own name.??

 Freddie exploring the garden

Freddie and his chum Charlie.The pup follows Charlie everywhere, so far they have got on well,though Charlie did give him a warning growl,when the pup bit his ear,!!
I have to start getting him used to the collar and leash soon as he will be able to come out with Charlie and me on our walks when he has had his second lot of vaccinations,until then he has to stay in the perimeter of the gardens.

How to stop a new puppy from howling at night.
The breeder told me to bring a small blanket or towel with me,he rubbed this all over the Dam,then told me to put it in the dog cage when we got home,the pup curled up in it and there was not a peep out of him all night.
Once Freddie got used to me being his new mum I swapped the towel for one of my old jumpers that I wore for a day to get my scent into it and he has that in his bed at night now,it works a treat.
I thought this might be a useful tip to anyone getting a new puppy.
Will post a picture of the pup as he develops,he will not look like this in a few months time,he will have a very wiry coat and muzzle and a slightly lighter color .

Until the next time,take care ,
Carolyn.