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!

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.

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!

a country weekend

September is proving to be beautiful (OK I know we're only the third, but I'm optimistic by nature!).

The weekend got off to a good start as Ghetto came home for a couple of days and tried to impress Gibson with some slick tricks he learnt in Paris!

The horses are surprised, they thought we had gone into the fall but the renewed heat forces them into the  shade under trees and they only want to be ridden at the end of the day.

and the special weather magics us beautiful skies for our warm evenings

I wish you all a wonderful weekend in your favourite company, be it two legged or four!

weekend puppies - growing fast

Gibson was extremely happy to see his pal Ghetto home for the weekend, they are both growing so fast.  Gibson remains the reliable placid rock, and Ghetto the feisty pint-sized tornado but they seem to appreciate each other just as much.

I just adore the shape of Ghetto, his outline and shape are so concise and neat - like a cartoon dog -  that I'd happily sit and draw him all day

weekend puppies

Life continues to be quite exciting here for Gibson and Ghetto, into all sorts of trouble, game for most things.   Ghetto is still in denial about his tiny size, this morning he tried herding the horses in the field - a 1 kilo heavy dog, rounding up a 450 kilo horse? - I don't think so!!  But he couldn 't see the problem.

A few weekend shots of them in various degrees of cleanliness ... and sleepiness

wishing you all a fun weekend!

puppy love

First of all you mustn't think this is turning into a puppy blog !  My life doesn't always  go to plan, or rather doesn't always have a plan to go to, and at the moment - quite unexpectedly - my daily routine is rather dominated by puppies.

So just when I thought there was a danger of me getting bored ... you know, not enough to do.... spending hours reading magazines and sipping wine ... the stuff we all do all the time !  LOL!

Just when we were getting into a routine with Gibson the Great , Gibson the Glorious - we find ourselves with two puppies at home!

Enter ... Ghetto !

Yup, I know he's small, exactly one tenth of Gibson's weight but between the two of them it was love at first sight.  Gibson is showing himself to be a true Golden, generously making room for Ghetto in his bed, pretending to be pulled over by the midget dog in tugs of war, letting Ghetto climb all over him and chew his ears. Amazing.

Puppy love?

In the meantime when Gibson needs a break from nursery school
he takes my son Jim out for a walk to the village shop!

PS  Just realised I forgot to tell you the breed - Fox Terrier YAY!!

a bigger family

Today is a day for family introductions  Since it feels like you kind visitors know quite a bit about our home, I have to  tell you about our new arrival

We are very happy to present Gibson to you, a 2 month Golden Retriever.  Looks like he's going to charm the socks off of everyone, well behaved and just delicious  We haven't had a dog in the home for almost two years, since we lost our lovely Lola, and  the void became unbearable.

 Gibson arrived here yesterday and settled right in!
You'll be seeing pictures of him regularly !!