There's a lot going on here, and none of it is photogenic. In fact some of it is downright ugly. My latest technological difficulties for example. A whole email disaster that has taken hours of red level fury and hammering away at the laptop and more fury at the wasted hours and the impossibility of it all. It always amazes me how technology can push me to the absolute edge.
I had the luxury of a whole mud-free day on Sunday. I was the teeniest bit tired of trudging around the locale with the dog and looking at endless brown. Which is unusual for me, I do love the winter, I'm not sure why it happened. Anyway, I went to (indoor) cricket training in the morning (littlest boy, not me) and then I took him to the mall in the afternoon to buy a copy of the Beano and to have a drink and a piece of cake. It's not something we do often, but I thought it would be a nice non-mud treat; he's been very good with the winter dog walking. Anyway, I'm happy to report that a couple of hours of looking at the bright plastic things from China and the endless rubbish for sale I was completely cured of mud ennui. My settings were reset. The next day the walk by the stream was quite blissful.
The biggest boy has just finished a week of exams. He was walking to school one morning and a bird pooped all down his coat. He asked me if I could clean it. 'It's alright though, I got most of it off. I used a revision worksheet.' He said it was okay, he knew most of it already. So long as he's taking it all properly seriously.
In other news, I found someone had got the nailbrush out in the bathroom the other day and used it without being asked. For one heady moment I thought, my work here is done.
The littlest boy, and the others and me as well in fact, have all been enjoying Plumdog by Emma Chichester Clark. It was a gift from Father Christmas and is absolutely brilliant. Our very own Plumdog is off to the dog barber on Monday for a deep trim. I have tried to capture his very hairiness for posterity in the meantime. He is scruffy little hippy at the moment. People often tell me he looks like a bear. From Monday he will be more rat than bear I fear.
At least he'll be able to see where he's going though.
Wishing all a good weekend. I have no end of mud lined up and I am very happy about it, as is the little brown dog. I shall be back anon with before and after photos. Brace yourselves.
It’s his brown nose that gets me. Adorable. I can’t wait to see the results of the haircut. T and p aren’t due till March!
ReplyDeleteRelentless mud can get a bit much, even for the hardiest of countryside souls. A brilliant idea to reset by plastic rubbish overload in the shops. I’ll remember that one.
As for technology. It has the exact same effect on me. I want to throw it at the wall.
Have a lovely, stress-free weekend xx
What is it about technology malfunction that brings on total frenzy? I include myself in this! I have my own theory that it has something to due with the fact that computers should be totally logical and so it is inexcusable when they are not!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the before and after photos.x
Lovely post and pictures, which has me smiling as usual. I sympathise about the emails, and hope that it's all sorted now.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering what Bertie will look like once he's been clipped.
Thanks, and you too. xx
He truly is adorable, and I love his deep chocolate brown. I have a wild one here, he has already made two messes in the house and it is only 7:30 in the morning, that is after being taken out three times. Puppies rule the family!
ReplyDeleteTell biggest boy it’s very lucky to be pooped on from above...he should do well. My coat is only just recovering from an attack at Christmas, obviously the gulls had eaten one too many Christmas pies. Not sure how you manage on your muddy walks, Bertie is so camouflaged you must lose him constantly. I look forward to the before and after pictures. Just managed to get a copy of Prodigal Summer from the library van. Loving it already. Thanks for the recommendation. Have a happy weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteI love that he used a worksheet, I'm laughing out loud at his bold resourcefulness. I think that book sounds wonderful, so I'm going to see about buying it. Easter baskets need filling before I know it. I hope you have a great, clean weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteThere;s a very fine line between furry cuddliness and hairy scruffiness isn’t there? The ideal doggy hair length period is very short lived, So will you be in the market for a dog coat post shearing?
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more infuriating than computer troubles, if you ask me. Just after that is car troubles or jerks on the road, but computers take the cake! I hope things resolve themselves soon! <3
ReplyDeleteGlad to see your post today. I have been missing you. Be prepared for Bertie hijinks after his beauty appointment! We had poodles when I was growing up, and after they were groomed they were very well aware that they looked good, and they acted like it. Master Bertie will own the house come Monday evening!
ReplyDeleteOh that Bertie is one handsome young fur kid! I look forward to seeing what the groomer will do. I know our dog improved greatly from his trim. We're a mud pit around here too. We need new gravel on our driveway. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI guess your oldest didn't need the revision sheet anymore. Bertie's wee nose makes me smile. He looks like the dog I always wanted when I was little, only smaller and cuter. I think a visit to the shopping centre would just about kill me. I haven't been to one since I took the teenager clothes shopping last autumn - still slightly traumatised. It is a good place though to rediscover the joy of winter mud walking. Have a wonderful weekend x
ReplyDeleteYour hippie bear dog is beautiful and I've ordered 2 copies of PlumDog to share. Thanks, CJ! You have a good weekend too.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you with the computer problems, CJ. I'm having an email issue that's been going on for months. I think I may have to bring it into our Tech Squad.
ReplyDeleteYour furry friend is a cute hippie!! Do you have an idea in mind for his grooming? My son has an enormous English Cream Retriever, that could pass for a polar bear if not groomed. He has it done differently each time. Right now he's cut very short with a huge fan tail.
I feel for you with the mud as well, I had that for a long time in our backyard. I would lay sheets just inside the back door to catch it. Some straw outside near the door helps, too.
The book looks delightful! I wonder if it is suitable, as far as pictures mostly---little Madelyn already has a love for books and sits very still when read to. Amazing for a 13 month old babe!
Love across the miles,
Jane x
Mud? Yep, 19 paws can track in quite a lot. (One dog is missing a paw - that's how we have the odd number.) Luckily we don't have fancy dinner guests that care. Enjoy your wild and wonderful times outside.
ReplyDeleteYour Bertie certainly carries all the hairiness very well. A topknot? Dreadlocks? The mud, though. It's the same here, with our Boo drawn like a moth to a flame to the boggiest bits of the dog walks and requiring hosing down on his return home. It's a wonder he hasn't developed trench foot. Wishing you a week free from laptop problems.
ReplyDeleteOH MY! Bertie is gorgeous. I have been away from the whole blog scene for a while and am only catching up extremely slowly on those I follow so this is the first time i've seen him. Oh a play date with Toby would be cool xx
ReplyDeleteBless...I have no problem with a muddy dog....it's just where that dog deposits the mud that drives me to distraction! x
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I am a little tired of the endless mud but it will always be preferable to a shopping mall. He is such a pretty dog!
ReplyDeleteHow did the haircut go?! Has Bertie forgiven you? :-) Tech stuff drives me nuts, too, and there's a cliff edge not far from here... You have to learn to love mud in the country. I'm used to it now but friends who visit from London never have the right footwear. Hope you had a lovely weekend. S x
ReplyDeleteI share you frustration of so much mud at least Bertie matches the surroundings. Hope the hair cut went well, does Bertie look like a puppy again? Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the mud. It's relentless. An afternoon in the mall would probably make me appreciate it more too. Bertie is gorgeous. I'm tearing my hair out with Ziggy at the moment. The chewing, dear God the chewing. Xx
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