Yum!

Autumn is here and the falling leaves bring lots of new smells to investigate. The only problem is that the ground gets muddy on some days, so I have to have a wash when we get home before I'm allowed inside. So, to help out I sometimes jump in The Beck to wash myself off! Unforunately, it doesn't always work very well...but I do enjoy it. The other day we went to a new place and I jumped into a nearby stream for a wash but found that unlike The Beck my feet didn't reach the bottom. I had a bit of a panic and started paddling about frantically, only to discover that I'm a natural swimmer! I paddled to the bank and climbed out, glad to get out of the 'refeshingly' cold water and back on dry land.

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My family also pick fruit at this time of year: apples (nice), pears (not my thing really), walnuts (too hard) and my favourite - blackberries...which I lap up when they fall to the ground. Recently, I have even found some blackberry bushes with fruit so low down that I can reach it myself and help with the picking - of course, I don't put the blackberries I pick into the basket...Yum! Yum!

Summer Days.

The summer has whooshed by. I love the long warm days so I can spent a lot of time out in the garden and taking walks with lots of bounding through long grass! My master has had to be away more this year and I miss him a lot when he is not here. I make sure to look after my mistress and when he returns I get very excited, and we go for long walks together. We even sometimes visit him whilst he is away, which I enjoy. We have also been to see our friends at the bird-field lots, and also visited another bird-field and I met lots of new friends. I am always excited to go to the bird-field, and people always give me a lot of fuss, which gives me a vey waggy tail! My family have had many rides on our big white bird this summer, and while the are up in the sky I relax and wait for them to return.

The Wedding Buster!!!

I have just returned from my first family wedding and it was great with perfect weather and lots of friendly people. We travelled up north early yesterday morning. It was a lovely sunny day and my family made sure I was comfortable in the cool hotel room before they went to the ceremony. Later, I came out to say hello to the guests at the reception and stretch my legs in the hotel grounds. Everyone was so friendly and I got plenty of strokes and met lots of new family and friends. Everybody was dressed very smartly so I had to be on my best behaviour. It was very thoughtful of the happy couple (my master's sister and her chap...husband now!) to arrange the wedding in a dog-friendly hotel so that I could come along! This morning was again lovely and sunny so we went for a long walk and I had a great time exploring this new place. All too soon we had to travel home so I said good-bye to everyone and we set off on the long drive home.

Easter in the West.

It is springtime again and I can smell new things growing. Recently my Master has had to be away much more. I miss him a lot, and so does my Lady. I look after her by cuddling up to her in the evenings and we watch the picture box together. When my Master comes home we are both very excited to see him. Whilst he is home we all go for long walks together and I run around and fetch a stick. Sometimes I keep the stick and carry it.
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Recently we had another trip to the west to the bird-field in the hills. It is a long trip, but much better in our new metal cart. We towed the Big White Bird over. My Master was away, and I was sad to go without him. I was worried about him and did not wish to be away in case he came home and was alone. I should not have worried at all - he met up with us in the West. I was overjoyed and licked him! We all spent several nice days together and went walking and we also visited family again, and I played with Hippy & Hogan who were overjoyed to see me again. All the people at the Western Bird Field fussed me and were please to see me...it is a very nice place.
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After a few days my Master had to go away again, but my Lady and I stayed a few days longer before returning East.

New Year's day.

This morning we got up late. I have now been here in my new home with my new family for a whole year and I am having the time of my life. To celebrate I was given another present - a black and white football. I was so excited and couldn't wait to take it out in the garden and play with it. I played with my ball with my family until I was all puffed out. Later we went for a walk and tonight I went to bed reflecting on my first year of adventures with my family.
What a difference a year makes...I love it here.

New Year's Eve

Another cold dry day with a lovely walk. Tonight my family went out for a couple of hours. When they came back it was New Year and I greeted them as they let the New Year in...what could be better?