Monday 4 September 2017

Notebook season



A weekend of two halves. Saturday: glorious sunshine, cricket, which you will see I watched attentively, walking the dog in the woods when all that sitting down got too much and a few light snacks on the grass. Sunday: rain, football, wet dog.

Bertie had his eyebrows trimmed the other day, the better to see us all. They gave him a bit of a wash and brush up as well and he was returned to us more than a little perfumed. I preferred the puppy smell. It was strong enough to fragrance a whole room. The perfume that is, not the puppy smell, that was nice and pretty much undetectable.

The grooming place had a whole menu of extras you could add to your dog's pampering experience including a blueberry facial, paw wax, a hydrating butter treatment, fresh breath foam and a spritz of perfume. A blueberry facial. How would that even work? Bertie should be counting his lucky stars. Although a little soothing paw balm might be a nice thing after all that beach galloping. There was something about nose moisturising as well. Maybe that's where the hydrating butter goes.

Dog training continues apace. I was in trouble when I let Bertie eat the bit of sausage he was supposed to be Leaving. I thought I detected a micro hesitation, at which point I thought I was supposed to reward him. Apparently not. Everyone also needs to work on Waiting At A Door as well. A lot of rushing through in front of one's person which isn't the done thing at all. Waiting Nicely is what we're aiming for. Lots to work on. Next week it's recall.

School is off and running and the shops are nicely full of new notebooks. Some people love shoes; I'm a notebook and bag person. All the endless possibilities for adventure and finding an inspirational spot to sit and write. Scribblers amongst you, don't waste the opportunity, get out there and find yourself a new notebook while they're in season. Before you know it we'll be on to Hallowe'en and you don't want to be full of regret for opportunities lost.

18 comments:

  1. I'm so with you on the notebook thing. Nothing better than buying a new notebook. All that potential for lists and planning :)
    Jillxo

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  2. I love notebooks too! Just yesterday, I transferred a lot of papers to a larger three-ring binder than the one I'd been storing them in. That was really fun for me! It's a pretty color too. :) I laughed about the services available to dogs. I've never had a facial myself and I'd be darned if my pet got one before I did! :)

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  3. A nice post for a damp and dull day. Talk about pet pampering! Good for you for letting him have the bit of sausage, I would have done the same. I've got a few notebooks used mostly for plotting and blogging notes.
    Enjoy your week. xx

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  4. We've just about cracked the waiting at the door thing (it's only taken 4 years with the dog; boys are another matter...) but recall is still tricky – there are far too many interesting smells out there! Good luck. I'm a notebook-fan, too; in fact most stationery, so I love the whole pencil-and-pen-buying back-to-school thing. Re your previous post, I think you are very wise to stop the allotment for a while. Not easy with a puppy, especially when you have many other demands. We can all do without too many weights. S xx

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  5. I am feeling guilty, our dog has never even had a trim at the groomers, not to mention a facial. Mind you, he manages to get faecal facials on a regular basis. We have also never been to puppy training but luckily, Jack is so lazy he would wait at the door until dragged out. He can army crawl and shake paws, less useful but more fun. He has great recall, which I really appreciate but I think we've just been lucky. Notebook buying: I do that far too often. I never write in them, just like to admire them and the pages eventually end up as paper planes. Happy scribbling! xx

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  6. He's looking beautifully interested in the cricket. Blueberry facials. Oh. My. God. Whatever next? I take my own doggy shampoo to mrs D which doesn't pong. Can't bear the sickly sweet perfume that they return with otherwise.

    Notebooks, oh yes, we definitely share a love of those. I went back to school today but resisted the temptation to purchase further stationary as the husband has started to notice. L goes back next week but sadly isn't interested in new writing materials. Have a good week, chick xx

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  7. Bertie sounds like he is more pampered than my poor Max. The poor boy had a brushing yesterday and today, as well as his nails trimmed and his ears cleaned all by his retched Mother! He pouted for a bit afterward but then forgave me after he received a few treats. i love new notebooks, they are so clean and fresh, full of possibilities.

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  8. It certainly was such a contrast between Saturday and Sunday! You sound as if your dog grooming place is very up market compared with what we have here! Sarah x

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  9. My very best favourite thing about September is the influx of paper and pens and pencils and all manner of stationery goodness..*happy sigh*. I'm being Very Good, though...trying to be mindful of the trees and whatnot so using up what I have and then choosing carefully. It's so. very. hard, though. I just loooove all of the pretty notebooks and stickers and planners (which I'm utterly rubbish at keeping up with, btw). It's a sickness, really.

    I knew there was this thing about dog spas but good heavens, I had no idea there was such a selection of options. It's a bit grim, actually. Emma-dog has her medicated shampoo for her summer itches and then a boring old oatmeal shampoo for the rest of the year. She tends to pong so gets a bath fairly regularly lest she become offensive. I don't suppose they would actually enjoy being too fragrant, what with those sensitive noses....

    wishing you scribbly joy! xo

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  10. Your grooming parlour sounds rather OTT. I picture you picking blueberries out of brown fur

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  11. What a lucky dog to get to be pampered at the doggie salon. Our Cairn Terrier goes to the groomer when he gets way too shaggy. I also love a new notebook. And journals. As a calligrapher I can attest to being a paper/pen/ink-aholic. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  12. me too, me too...i love notebooks... ;) I loved today catching up on posts now my daughters started back at school ;)

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  13. Liking the sound of a blueberry facial (or maybe not if you end up resembling Violet Beauregarde). Another fan of all things stationery, N is definitely for notebook (ordered one online recently and it turned out to be the size of my thumbnail!). Hope the writing is going well.

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  14. You can't beat a fresh new notebook! Love the feel and smell and so many gorgeous designs!

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  15. I love that you take advantage of your time while being with your kids. A great way to have ME time, and still be there for those young minds who need your time.

    New notebooks are my passion...I truly have to steer away from them or I could go craaaaaazy! I think I mentioned I started a new journal. Here at the lake the best I could do was a simple ruled notebook from the drugstore, and I've been going good despite the lack of prettiness!!!! :-)

    Jane xxxx

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  16. Totally with you on the new notebook thing ( which explains why I only have old shoes!). My mind is boggling over the paw wax never mind the blueberry facial... really?

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  17. Our weather has devolved into split personalities as well. There is always a plus side to it and a negative so (shrug) I find the things to enjoy. Enjoy the notebooks the freelance writing! and the sideline activities and puppy love.

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  18. Hey CJ,
    I was looking longingly at notebooks in Sainsbury today. They had some good ones there. I have enough, but I miss the days of having them as Xmas presents from my parents. I am loving seeing you in these posts. You always look so composed and deep in thought.
    Leanne xx

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