Gibson and Ghetto get back together

 I.N.S.E.P.A.R.A.B.L.E - that is the only way to describe Gibson and Ghetto ever since the little monster came home last week!

As you can see from the pictures, Ghetto has gone for the hippy-look this season, with long unkempt dreadlocks, but we try not to talk about it, we'd hate to upset him.

Gibson is forever the patient, generous and understanding one, although now and again he does shoot me a look that says,

 "do I REALLY have to put up with this nonsense?"

or  

"doesn't he EVER slow down?!"

Only a few more days and the dynamo will be gone again, and the house
will feel strangely quieter..... and tidier!

Just saying.

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the quiet time

There is a peaceful routine around taking care of our horses.  They are pretty low maintenance, I have neither the time nor the inclination to stable them, so they live up in a field behind the house, and in the winter they get to wear a blanket or two.

Not a day goes by however without going up to check on them, scratch an ear, make sure they have water and feed them with cereal or hay or both.

We have a pony and a horse, both good natured, but the pony is by far the brightest of the two.

Sometimes when the day is rushed I put off the moment to go to see them "I'll just do that first,",  "I'll finish this then go straight away" ...  but once I'm in my boots and out the  door with Gibson at my side, I inevitably wonder why I was stalling.  Come rain, sleet, sun or snow it is only pleasure.

If the sun is bright I may find them laying down and soaking up the heat, but otherwise they'll be heads down grazing, rarely more than 10 paces apart.

It is always the pon, who sees me first, and makes that soft snorting noise that says "oh, there she is, wonder what she's got for us".  The horse is always slower to react, but when he realises his pal may get to me before him he kick-starts with an energetic buck and canters over.

Iris checks my hands, my pockets, only interested in food; I swear that pony is a walking stomach.  Jacquard forgives me if I have no treats for him and hangs around to have his head scratched, putting his ears down to my shoulder level to allow me to get to the bits that really matter.

We can stand like that for a while, Iris walking around me saying "so when  are you going to feed us" and Jacquard with half shut eyes, drifting away into an ecstatic snooze and gradually leaning on my shoulder until his weight becomes uncomfortable.  While this is going on Gibson is nose to the ground, gleaning helpful information on any animals that went through the field in the night.

Recently a lovely guest to our cottage said to me "but what would you do here if you didn't have the blog to write?!",  I smiled thinking of the list of things that were awaiting my attention, but I didn't even attempt to explain that a few minutes scratching a horse's ear is one of the important moments in my day.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend; may you also have an ear to scratch and enjoy the simple  pleasure of quiet company.

And a quick PS for the kind readers who have asked for news of Ghetto ... the whirlwind returns, tomorrow for a week or so, so I'll be able to show you his latest tricks!

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a dog has to do what a dog has to do ...

Gibson  is beyond excited today to show you his amazing new  trick and ALSO to show you the first in his range of couture pooch pads!

Young Gibson has finally found his true calling  - he is a horse handler!!  Every time we go to get the horses from the field he now insists on grabbing the lead rein and bringing one of them back to the house.

He is so proud of himself it's shameful !!

Iris is an exceptionally understanding and patient pony (most of the time) so that helps, but they are still pretty cute don't you think?!

So back to the cushions, if you are interested you can find them listed individually in the store, but basically they have been made to fit around standard rectangular bed pillows.  The small size takes one pillow the big-boy size takes two.

I'll be taking orders for pillows with your choice of name incorporated into the logo if desired.

Each of the cushions is made from old burlap grain sack and backed with vintage ticking.  I hope you like them!

A demain!

Have a lovely day ....

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the thoughtful dog

How sweet is this story ....  Young Gibson accompanied my daughter, riding her pony Iris (the daughter was riding not the dog) around the forest yesterday afternoon.  Spring is in the air here and it's frankly plain difficult to stay inside when all this loveliness is beckoning us to come out and enjoy.

They cantered up and down the alleys of the forest, jumping fallen trees and having a great time.  When Nina finally remembered her promise to be home before dark they set off in the right direction, but as they left the forest, she suddenly realised she had lost a glove.

"Bother!  Oh no! Come on Iris we have to go back and find the glove"  she turned the pony around and started heading back up the path, and called to Gibson, "come on Gibson, I've lost my glove"  Gibson sat down, ( I'm sorry to say that is normal when he's called).  She turned to look at him "Come on Gibson, it's getting dark, let's try and find that gl.... WOW Gibson!! "   

You guessed it, sweet little Gibson had picked the glove up from wherever she had dropped it and was kindly carrying it home for her.

I tell you, Golden Retrievers are just born gentlemen.

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gibson goes on holiday

If Gibson is looking blue, it's because he is home after his holiday where he had such a good time it is hard to re-adjust! :)

We did not take Gibson with us to Nice, even though Ghetto would have loved to see him.  Gibson had his own agenda .... Our very kind friends P and D invited Gibson to stay and join in the  action packed week planned for their grandchildren and thought that Gibson may like to join in.

Amongst the activities planned for the week were learning to use a compass, how to tie a good knot, how to light a campfire when you haven't any matches and how to cook sausages.  The sort of French country survival course that any self respecting Golden Retriever would simply love.

The evening before we left, Gibson packed his new cushion, his lead and collar and an unreasonable quantity of tennis balls.

What can I say?  Gibson arrived a day after the granchildren so unfortunately missed the lesson on knot tying and the practice run with the compass around the swimming pool, but I am told that despite this lack of preparation he was with the winning team on the orienteering course and also selflessly volunteered to test the sausages, in case they weren't cooked properly.

Gibson asked me to pass on his thanks for the lovely week he had; that he adored the numerous walks each day!  and to repeat that if ever they need another sausage tester that he's their dog. 

He's not really as miserable as he looks on these pictures, but it's raining hard here and he's wondering why we haven't been for a walk this afternoon.

  Gibson also asked me to show you that his new cushion is an incredibly fashionable combination of grain sack and vintage ticking ..... Don't ever tell me it's a dog's life.

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snowy sunday

Images of fresh snow, excited dogs, worried daffodils, snow arrived in the night and is promised to continue falling until Tuesday.  As usual, Normandy is hopelessly under equipped to deal with even a few inches of snow, so my children are delighted at the prospect of a day off school, huddled down at home,  keeping the fire going.

Friends over for lunch today, cakes in the oven already, guinea fowl on the menu, the first day of being snowed in is always fun!

Hope you are enjoying a good weekend, à demain

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my special christmas greetings to you

The holidays are here, our house is full.

The family is complete (Ghetto has come home too! YAY!)  

There's a turkey in the oven, a Christmas pudding 

ready to steam, crackers to be pulled, 

fires to be lit, games to be played, stockings 

to delve into, gifts to unwrap.   

Soft music in the background, 
champagne is poured, 

perfume dabbed behind ears,

and pretty dresses slipped on.

I won't be blogging for a couple of days; this is a time to

enjoy precious family, but I would like to thank you all.

Thank you for reading me during this year;

thank you for leaving me comments and sending me emails;

thank you for inspiring me to write;

thank you to all those who came to 
visit us here in Normandy, 

it has been a pleasure and a privilege getting to know you.

Gibson and Ghetto join me and the whole family in wishing 

you all a very joyeux noël, 

and may the new year be kind to us all.



(PS.  the dogs hope you like their very kitsch card - you can't imagine what 
it took to get this shot - I should have done a 'making of!!)

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dog days

At the risk of going into overkill on the whole autumn,/dog in the forest thing, I would just like to inform you that not only is young Ghetto home for the weekend (considerably larger!) , but we also have a certain Gaston to stay for a few days too.  A dog weekend.!!

All three born with 6 weeks of each other, hence the names beginning with G, and each one as unheeding of my commands as the other.....  sigh ....

After a few very noisy attempts at a group portrait, I surrendered and took them off for a walk.  The forest was as unbearably crowded as usual (ie: me, the dogs and the girls on horseback!) , but what else do you expect on a Saturday afternoon?

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

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the designer forest

This morning Gibson took me to one side and gave me a talking to.  It came as a surprise I admit, not really being used to being ordered around by a 5 month old golden retriever, but full of my habitual good grace, I listened and finally ... gave in.

He explained that it was sunny outside, that this was autumn, that instead of peering into my cupboards of textiles or inside that weird box he's heard me call a computer, then maybe I should look to the forest for inspiration.

He promised me colour, he promised me geometrical designs, he whispered sweet words like paisleys and swirls.  What could a girl say?

When we got home he told me to look at my old V and A textile collections, and check out the similarities between their  19th century designs and my freshly developed photos.

Well I have to hand it to him, although it pains me to admit it in public, he was right, I was wrong.

So to thank him I didn't even tell him off when he swam in The Slimy Green Pond  ...

...happy days.

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gibson in the forest

Gibson is big enough now to start enjoying the forest, and he has found himself a walking buddy called Rupert.  Young Rupert is a rather large, extremely enthusiastic sort of chap who likes to bounce a lot, so Gibson has good fun and gets incredibly muddy while I burn off calories and put the world to rights with Rupert's chauffeur.

One of the problems with over excited dogs is that they won't stay in focus!  Having spoilt a large number of pictures on moving targets, I turned my camera' attention to the rather better behaved and totally beautiful autumn trees. I hope you enjoy.

Tomorrow, don't miss the second guest in My Stylish French Girlfriends!

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