I had a dream

Hi guys

I guess by now many of you will be aware that Hubby and i took a trip to the US..we planned this in January and decided after consults with the vet and boarding facility that the break would be positive for Doc so went ahead and took our trip.

I want people to know that we had insurance and were planning on cancelling after the bad news with Forrest and that we had a long tough time deciding what was best..you can imagine that while it was to be a secret this trip (as it involved a fellow blogger and was planned between us both as a double blog surprise) it was even harder to deal with Forrest’s loss as we had guilt about flying out of the country at this time.

Doc as it turned out had a ball in boarding..played with other pups made friends and had a careful eye on him as staff were aware he was grieving ..they reported he did great!

We asked them to arrange some playdates with suitable pups..see Forrest and Doc never did really enjoy other dogs..as much as we all talk on our blogs about our dogs we often have pups that would not like each other..que sera sera..so it was a plan to see if we could get him sociable and it worked..a real positive out of a real negative..

So amidst the grief we had the  sudden realisation that we had neglected to get ourselves ready for travel..we had so much to do and no desire to do it..we still wondered whether we should just change our plans as we had insurance to cover it and could go later..but the reality is we felt like fleeing..sounds awful but the daily reminders were so bad that we felt like running and never coming back.

We had all Docs special meals to make up for 11 days as we cannot afford to veer from his diet with his EPI..we had him get a check up on his mental and physical well being prior to leaving.

He was given the A+  as being fine for boarding..so we cooked and packed and froze all his meals..i did not pack a bag until the night before..as excited as i was i was still very much missing my boy..no sniffing my butt at every turn..no being rude for his meals..and still crying myself to sleep most nights..

So i will discuss our holiday later..show my pictures etc but for now i have something i want to share.

This is for anyone who is mourning their precious fur babe…

One night in Georgia i had a rough night..could not sleep..no matter what i did..and when i looked last at the clock in the hotel room it read 4.19am

I realised at the same time i had not thought of Forrest that day..i felt awful..then i must have fallen asleep..

My dream:

I am in a giant carpark..no idea where..it was night but not too dark..

I remember it felt like a mild night and i could see streetlights ..and i was alone..not at all afraid but very much alone.

I started calling Forrest.. like i used too..

” FORREST..FOZZIE BEAR…BOO BOO COME ON FOZZIE ..”

Next thing Forrest comes running at me full pelt..i can hear him barking but it was softly..so softly almost as if he had lost his voice..

He knocks me down..and i land gently on the ground..even though it is concrete..and he starts licking my face all over..he is licking like there is no tomorrow..

Normally when he would lick me he would sometimes have a little nibble..not hard not violent but enough to make me move my face from him a bit..

But not this ..just licking all over so furiously licking ..his face had no white..none just like when he was younger..and his tail was wagging like crazy..

I was holding him (another thing he was not keen on cuddles at all) and he kept licking..

I told him i loved him so much and missed him so badly..i am teary just typing this as it was intense..i asked him if he was angry with us ,did we do the wrong thing by him , and he just kept licking my face and wagging his tail..all the talking i had with him was done without speaking out loud if that makes sense..

I held him tight and did not want the moment to end..i asked him ‘please stay so Dad can see you are ok Fozzie please’..then i woke up…

It was 6.20am and i had to feel my face because i was sure it would be wet from the kisses..i cried my eyes out..i knew..i just knew he was ok..deep in the part of you that doubts..deep in that part that says out loud i know they are ok but quietly does not believe it..

I wanted Phil to wake up..i wanted him to know..

When he did wake up we sat outside the hotel..both in tears..both feeling that combination of love and grief..

I wanted to share this with you all..

I am crying again..but it’s ok..my boy is safe he is happy he is pain free and young again..and who knows when he may visit me next….

 

Hugs Fozziemum

Busy Bees a buzzing

Well i am finally get back into the swing of things..and i must say i will NEVER catch up so i am visiting as best i can..

I have been spending my time getting myself ready for my first market..now this was a feat and a half..you must have certain criteria and forms needed to be filled and i was so happy when i was allocated a stall at the Maldon Market.

This town is so sweet and i visit there often, it is just a short trip from here and has beautiful old buildings and gardens and a Christmas shop that is open all year to thrill you with pretty images.

Now to ready myself i had to get busy..i needed so many things done and not just on my actual products but the stall set up and presentation..not a hard ask for a Virgo i must say..one thing we do well is Fru Fru 🙂

But also the logisitics of moving everything and getting a marquee.We were going to borrow one and then got a great deal on one so decided this was a better option..

So hubby and i set up a practice run in the backyard..now you can imagine..cats..dogs..sheesh..i had fur in everything..it seemed everytime i framed a print a fur would arrive..redo again and again..i was starting to see fur everywhere..

Items i ordered did not arrive in time so mad dashes around town ensued..and packaging and cataloging and well you get the idea!

During all the production line work ,which hubby was an amazing help ,with i had several trips for MRI’s and Xrays..i had a mole frozen off my back and have had a cortisone shot in my bursa for an unrelenting hip pain..so i have been all over the shop ..

I stopped the car down the driveway one morning when i noticed that i was not the only one busy..a hive of bees had formed on a small shrub,directly in line with a gum tree that had a hollow which the bees had been living in..they were going from this to the shrub..it was a great chance to stop myself buzzing and watch them.

Industrious and non complaining what amazing creatures and i felt so lucky that we have them here..a great sign when their populations are threatened by chemical spraying.

Well i got through all the work..some last minute dramas and we were ready! the cars were packed with all my things and hubby and i set off ..he with the farm gates that i was using for display and the tables and marquee..me with my work..

So i was behind him and a roo just missed jumping right in front of him..early morning a bad time as is dusk..i saw just the tail and butt and a dust cloud from where he took off back into the scrub.

The  hubby pulls into the service station..his panel van was overheating..really today..

We arrived set up in our area and i had my first sale before the market even opened! I was amazed..the lady loved the framed print of the dewdrops on the dry leaf and that was it..sold.

People were so lovely ,interested in my work and how i did it and not only that they wanted to know if i would be back again..i could not believe how well it all went.

People were surprised i was the person who took the photos..maybe people buy work and sell it ..who knows..

At the end of the day i was pooped..i had been so busy in the lead up and the late night early wake up had caught up..but i did well really well..i am still gobsmacked really.

And it was great to see what people really love..and to hear what appeals to them..i look forward to the next market and hope i have as much fun..and as much as it was lovely to sell things and make money from what i have done it was more rewarding that people actually loved my work..please enjoy my busy bee life with me and have a great day..

*Thoughts go out today to Stu and his family at this tough time..we are rooting for you little guy…*

 

The new hive which left two days later

 

A hive of activity

 

 

The source of the bees

 

 

 

Setting up at the market

 

My displays

 

More displays

 

This is Roy..his peeps stopped by for a look at my stall

 

He is two and quite the poser

 

 

 

Look at that face..think he was after the water i had out for doggies

 

 

 

This is Ron..his peep helps organise at the market

 

 

 

Ron is 12 and quite the man about town

 

He had plans on being elsewhere i think

Weekend in Autumn

Hi guys hope you all had a super weekend…this weekend the Castlemaine Swap Meet was held..as always a place to spot a bargain have a giggle at weird things and of course Doggie watch..
Hubby was up and down there at 5.30am as he was manning the gates and taking donations for the SES..not a chance this Pixie was going so early..
I ended up down there at about 9.30am and already it was a battle to find somewhere to park..my intention was to try and find some old house vents ..you know the external heavy old metal ones..i have found some before and they make really novel and handy stands for outside pots..not one to be found..dang!

 

Vents under my pots are super handy

So i made the most of the sunny day to mosey around, i have to say seemed like the same old things..which was a shame.
I managed to snap some pics but not many as i was really struggling to find anything that appealed..but of course the dogs that took their owners to the meet were always a joy to watch.
I always make sure when taking a close up of them that i ask “May i say hello to your pup..and take some pics” ..people are always so happy to show off their pups and it shows the pride they have in their four legged friends.
Some pics i take from a way off with a zoom as i think the natural behaviour and interaction with their surrounds sometimes says more 🙂
I met a Koolie girl called Nicky…only about 2 years old and very interested in her surrounds as she sat with her person at his stall..he said she was always hard to get to look at a camera..it’s ok as they say never work with kid’s or animals..and to me i do not care if the ‘ideal’ pose is a bit askew ..it’s real and that is what i love..so i will introduce first Nicky..look at her stunning eyes!

 

 

Nicky none too impressed with my attempts to snap her

 

A sneaky shot of Nicky

 

 

That’s it..she has had enough and better things to look at than me!

 

This puppy was super keen to be somewhere..

 

Watched this darling from a distance

 

 

And as her people got ready to roll so did she..i love how she looks up at them..

 

This little one i watched all through the meet..like an Energiser bunny..always pulling the lead to hurry up!!

The usual hot rods were there and the bright orange one was hard to miss!

This bright orange hot rod was hard to miss!

 

Engines of this kind are beautiful to see

There were also a few old engineering beauties…not as many as usual which is a shame as they are gorgeous to snap.

This was such a gorgeous old furnace and had sold so i am sure will be looking happy in a new home

My final pictures are of the very beautiful Emily..Emily’s people told me she was a rescue dog from QLD..she had been at the shelter for two years as a senior dog…they fell in love with her beautiful nature.

They travel all around Australia and this gorgeous senior girl travels with them. Emily has been a delight to her people and they said she loves everybody and could not believe no one had adopted her.The day she went to her new home with them the shelter staff cried..both with joy and the sadness of saying goodbye..these wonderful people take Emily back every year to say hello to the staff and they have never forgotten her.

Shows that you cannot discount a senior pet as the love and joy they show at having her is proof that she is just as capable as a younger dog of bringing happiness and adventure into your life..so i close with the snaps i took of this sweet girl..i did not do many as she was hot and wanting to go for  a drink..no matter what i may want to capture i always put the animal first..and this sweetie was generous enough of her time.

Have a great Monday guys..Fozziemum xx

 

Beautiful Emily

 

 

You could see the love between Emily and her people..what a treasure

Lovefest at our house

Hi everyone..i often talk about how much the dogs and cats love each other here..there is no species bias..
When it is a mild day I let the girls wander with us,usually just a stroll and a roll in the driveway then back to the Kitty Day Spa..this day Marbles was inside sound asleep on her perch on the back of the couch..i had taken the pups for a walk and let the girls come out to have a stroll..
Dinnermintz since she was first with us as a sick foster kitten has always had a special bond with Forrest and Doc..mainly with Forrest ,her main man and she hates to be apart from him..especially when they go into boarding..
Another day and another lovefest here at home in the bush 🙂

Travelling Tuesday

So today I continue the travel with Bashful I have been side tracked and now that I am getting some order in to my computers…yes still wrasslin two! i think it best I get on program!
So when we last left we were still in Mossman Gorge..and Rick our guide had kindly drawn a map of a watering hole close by..a safe one..no crocs!
So I will show you some more pics from inside the Upper Gorge walk ..I hope you do not find the amount of pics too much..just so hard to pick some…and believe me I have not even come close to the amount I took…I MAY have a problem 🙂

Vine creeping upwards

Vivid green of the rainforest

A view to the water

More revealed

Boulders in the water

These actually move when there is a massive downpour of water!

Perch swim in a waterhole

A heavenly spot

Water draws me..

So quiet

Full of life

More amazing funghi

Believe it or not a Lillypilly tree!

We say goodbye

Cane tractor as we head out of the gorge

Canefields a blur as we head to the watering hole

We arrive at our destination..a seemingly odd place

Clearly the place to be!

Beautiful cool water

Vibrant foliage hides the road

Bashful meets a friend at the watering hole

Fozziedad chilling out..looking at fellow rocks!

Views to die for

A quiet spot for me

Truly a paradise

We hit the road after a dip..in search of food..the Flame trees line the roads

A cane train stands alone

We had some lunch in Port Douglas..and I loved this little one refusing to walk!

Lunch done a stroll on the beach..

And in the distance a sweet female staffy…chasing the surf!

My favourite place to be the ocean..

This girl every day comes with her peep to play..she wore me out! but never got close to the camera !

Little sand crabs make patterns like batik!

I waited for such a long time and they are so quick! but I got him !

Day done we head back to the resort..views never a problem

Our beautiful country!

I jumped out f the car when I saw this couple..what a way to spend the first day of the New Year..on a sand bar …

Springing into the week

Thought i would share with you all some of the spring colours that are arriving here at Samovila..after such a cold Winter and some really nasty frosts it is lovely to see life is coming back into my garden.

We have not had enough rain at all and so i am already watering..it does not bode well for Summer….but we are having some lovely warm days and sunshine and myself and the animals included are making the most of sunpuddles and pretty colours..soon enough it will be hot hot hot and brown…

So let’s spring into the week…

Hellebores also called Christmas roses..rallied after a beating by the frosts

These Ranunculus are all starting to bloom….they were planted mid winter and I thought they had died

Wee little and wee wee little look after my pots on the verandah

Wanted to add a dash of colour in the back while we clean the mess and get the Catio organised..so these will hang along the length of the fence

The beautiful but deadly Euphorbia..the sap is what is used in poison darts! when the centres get little pods they pop out and you wonder what the noise is..but they shoot up everywhere..so I have been pulling them out even in the backyard..nature makes sure she finds a way to procreate!

Irises line the length of the front garden and the back..they are all doing really well despite severe frost bite..i have been pruning all the frost bitten plants and now they are happy again

Doc enjoying the sunshine

I planted these daffodils and have had a 100 percent success rate so I am really happy

Forrest enjoying the sun too

The mystery fruit tree..with the first little blossom ..small fruit fuzzy like apricots..ripe when green and taste like peaches..we call it the peachnectaapriplum tree …

Pickles getting a sunpuddle on her sweet little feet after her big week..

One of my greatest loves..the Grape hyacinth

Felix and Oscar enjoy a bit of free ranging before they head to the back paddock ..Jock was somewhere eating my wattle trees when I took this..

Plum tree blossoms

Cleo in with the flowers hiding behind my Fig tree..

Dinnermintz getting her sunshine fix on the verandah

A million miles away

There are days I wish I was a million miles away..nothing bad is happening …no real reason..just the day and the mood.

I wonder how honest most people are with themselves….or others…

The reason for the mood this morning is really nothing..that’s right..just woke up and thought urghhh.

Some days I don’t really feel like I am in the zone…I am sure some peeps will think I am complaining and really i’m not..i just pondered as I replaced the kitty litter trays for the second time..and cleaned a patch of pee that one of the girls had left on the bedroom carpet.. just how many of us have those days.

The usual shenanigans at brekkie time.. watching Dinnermintz  doesn’t eat what Pickles  has left because she is off her food, being barked at for not hurrying with the morning meal…stopping Marbles  smacking Cleo because she has woken in a mood too.

The fires out again…cleaning up the ash and dragging more wood in has no allure this morning.. if I don’t, despite the day being warm, it will be cold in here tonight.

Forrest wants to go out the front.. he is not allowed.. he digs up my garden looking for kitty nuggets..so I let him out the back.. meanwhile a baby bunny is running around in the front yard..so off to scare him off.. come back in Forrest is barking…he wants in..again..

I go to make the bed.. i forget the cat bowl was out and Dinnermintz  on a diet decides she will go for it..

I hear her collar on the bowl and bolt out and put it away.

Forrest barks.. he wants out..again..i feel like a “door bitch” as they call them at clubs.. opening closing doors all day.

Back to making the bed…which hurts my back due to weeding yesterday on rough stones…awesome.

Phone rings.. telemarketer.. ah…no.. dishes done.. the Pickles  has decided she wants her food so out with the bowl again.. while Dinnermintz  keeps vigil..so I stand and wait.

She eats a bit..i put her bowl away again.. Forrest barks.. he wants in.. again…I let him in..someone has just used the trays..so another tray change..

Dishes now…from the brekky I could not eat in peace..one cat wanting to push into my plate and steal my toast..one dog wanting out..one cat trying to start a blue with another one..

A load of washing out…one in ..rubbish  emptied.. ready to go in the bin…

Forrest wants out…………..again………….the fire is well and truly out…need to go gather some kindling….keeping an eye out for snakes.. and then clean the firebox and start a fire.. big wood is in the trailer right at the back…means pulling the smaller pieces forward and that is great on the back too.

The shower and both bathrooms need cleaning. floors need sweeping and vaccuming..

Forrest is in again…and asleep now…..thankyou….

Quick phone call to mum.. she is busy…quick phone call with my sister.. she is in the same mood..

I have more weeding to do..i just can’t find the mojo.. but  I will..

When people say how lovely we have all this land I agree.. but some days it seems an impossible task to get everything done .Phil got most of the snake mesh stapled to the outside of the back fence yesterday.. we hear the burn off restrictions may come in in October…sheesh..

Great Forrest wants out.. and I can smell the litter tray..again…

I love my life..i love my animals and my home but today…all i can think of is running away..to a place where there are no litter trays.. where I can eat a meal without interruptions ..where if  open a door it is because I am heading out to have some fun….anyone who has not had children I can tell you this is what it is like to be a parent.. the commitment the time the sometimes mundane and monotonous the routine of life with pets is just the same.

I wonder how many pet owners will be disgusted with my attitude today? I wonder how many pet owners will fess up and admit there are days they are tired.. days they think it is all too hard.

I will never regret having pets and I know I have made a promise to them for life..i am happy to go without and to sacrifice for them..my choice.. and I adore them.. but some days I wish I was a million miles away.. and I know if I was I would miss them and pine for them and want to be with them.

For today I am here.. and I just have to get on with it.. tomorrow is a new day…

 

 

The GFC ( Great Fence Construction ) is over

On the 26 th of this month we had been here in our new home for 3 years..boy the work we have done…a ten year old house with fencing along the boundaries and that was about it..so a lot of fencing and paddocks needed to be sorted.

The biggest challenge has been the realisation that the wildlife is closer than we anticipated..so keeping the wild/domestic harmony became very important..Forrest being bitten by an Eastern Brown Snake     http://www.avru.org/general/general_eastbrown.html sealed the deal…this was top priority.

Now we decided to totally enclose the back of the house yard..the fencing was not enough to stop Forrest if he wanted to leap over after a roo and the snakeproofing proved inadequate. Considering it nearly did Phil in doing the original house yard fence we were well aware of the work involved

We have 11 acres but we still wanted to have an area that we could enjoy with the pups and without losing the sunsets..we came up with the idea of ‘windows’ in the fence..we thought of stained glass but the trees everywhere proved to be problematic..so we decided on Perspex..

Of course all good ideas involve hard work and loads of cash…so it has taken a long time to get to this point…it has required ridiculous man hours (hubbies) relying on good weather and many post holes in basically concrete ground..which along the back needed a man with a rig that had a huge posthole attachment..which still lifted off the ground..

Every fence  paling (and all the gates which are fence paling also for a seamless look)..have been screwed on by hubby…what a guy…this has nearly killed him…talk about hard work..the yard is still a dump zone as we have to now start the clean up…but the yard is done..some snakewire on the outside…and all over….we are then moving on to making the catio out the back..this will be a lot easier..less pain I am sure..we will have a doggy door soon to put in the laundry door and the pups can then be outside when we go out and can go in to their beds inside in the laundry if they want..

Outside they have a large covered verandah and their outside beds…water etc..3 years we have not been able to leave the house for more than a few hours as we have had them inside for their safety…so it will be lovely to go out and have a life…without worrying that they are locked in the house.It’s different with the girls they can wander the house inside for hours…but not the boys..i am pretty sure my couch would be eaten!

The catio will have access from the main bathroom to the outside..this means the girls can come and go day and night..in summer a real bonus…we plan on hanging an old wooden ladder from the rafters of the verandah with chains..and I will make hammocks on the rungs..so the girls will love this I am sure….there is a lot of work in keeping the pets and wildlife safe..and we are just glad we have finished before Summer..

So then then the gardens will be fixed up.. with an enclosed area in the corner for my veggie garden..which i have sadly missed..but landscaping is kind of the last thing after practicality..

So after who knows how many hours and about 4 thousand dollars later ( and that was after i spotted a whole load of really cheap palings ..made a big difference believe it or not) ta da…the safe pet backyard…still messy but hey that will be easy to fix 🙂

I may be absent a bit soon as the yard needs a lot of work..the scrub needs burning off before Summer and my poor garden out front is trashed from frost..i will try and pop in as I can…I will never catch up I am sure but needs must and this lovely property is a lot of work this time of year..

 

 

My boys Birthday

Today is my Forrest’s birthday..11 years ago his poor mum had him in a puppy farm and it started a journey for Forrest that has seen some real tests..
My Forrest..AKA Fozzie Bear..Fozzie B Bear…Boo Boo Bear…Fozzy Wozzy…Forrest T.S.Green…Fozzy Wozzy Bugle Boy..Handsome…Lumox…Garga man..Boxhead…Dufus…Face like a badger…Services doggie…Oosha Boosha mummies boy….
Happy birthday you beautiful pup..my tear licker..my constant companion…my goofball..my muse…my sweet soul…and the best pup a mum could ask for…
I know we will not have 11 more years together..i know you take a bit longer to do the things you leapt at as a pup..i know you have your quirky ways..and I know sometimes we are on a different page..but you are my boy..always my boy..Love Mum xxxx

Party food time..

Doc keen to party as well

More mum!

Tired and happy

A week on a wednesday

Depsite my recalcitrant computer and it’s dodgy video and volume issues the WP gremlin and eyeballs that feel like they have been sandblasted…I still have had a good week 🙂 I am nothing if not resisiliant….hubbies car was rear ended and has spent the week at the mechanics..our old mobiles got replaced and I have been trying to learn to drive the new one..the food processors passed away  …R.I.P old friend…but life goes on and so..

Here are some images I have snapped with my new mobile phone…I am still learning to drive it but all is good so far and it has been too cold to take my camera outside..have a great rest of the week…

This is the start of 40 metres of the back snake and roo proof fencing…we are having Perspex panels to maintain the sunset views but keep the pups safe and secure..

We have a ways to go but the weather dictates when we can set concrete..

And it has been frosty and very cold down here ..

Even had some hail for awhile…a lovely change from the heat of our past summer..

So cold the town was like a ghost town on Sunday…

A beautiful crisp ghost town though

So Pickles booked the fireside cabin for one for the weekend…

Which soon became a twin share when Cleo joined in…

So I settled down to knit some critters…

And make a new jacket for Doc…

Which I am sure he will be happy to wear to the vets tomorrow….