the Lady with the Hidden Spoon

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Here's the text of the story if you don't want to click yet ( under this cut ).

Tess enjoys recall practice. :D

This one was taken on yesterday's walk. Tess is learning to recall to a specific whistle-call, and today we tested this out in earnest; a neighbour's chicken had managed to get over two fences and into the field where we walk daily. Tess spotted the chicken and made a dash for it across the field. For the first time I got the real jitters, but luckily Tess wheeled round and came straight back to me. No idea what she would have done with the chicken, probably tried to give it a tongue bath. But anyway, henny penny is safely back behind the electric fence now. :)

Since I got Tess, I've been much less of a hermit. Well, you have to stop hiding when a pup needs a walk.

So it's been a bit snowy...

...just a leetle bit (Thanks to ann_mcn for the amazing link. We are living in a Christmas Cookie Land).

...and so walkies are taking place in a village entirely up to its knees and in some cases armpits with the white stuff.

No cars, save for the saviours of the world in their four-wheel-drives. Offroad is entirely how it is, mainly because you can't SEE the road. We have no gritting vans - we're too much in the sticks for that. Refuse collection isn't happening and thank goodness it's frozen or we'd be stinking.

Anyway, I digress. This morning, I have had four calls from dog-owners. All of whom I have met while dog walking. All of whom as a result of chattering while walking know I don't have a car.

They were all calling from supermarkets asking me if I wanted anything.

♥

Which I do, as Tesco aren't booking any delivery slots til next week. Maybe. I always stock the larder because with no car and all, it's just something I am used to. Ditto the freezer. We're slowly emptying it but we're fine - we have firewood, and heating oil (just about) and electricity and we're about to have a kind delivery of bread and butter and sugar and milk.

More snow forecast for tonight! Another 5 inches apparently. Heigh ho!

Couple of 20 second clips of Tess bumtucking around in the snow this early morn. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egV87lugOy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9OsXTFBVPA

I've set it to not embeddable, so linkies only. Enjoy (and apologies for the silly soundtracks used to cover up sound of Kait-breathing :D )!

Wishing you all a joyous time, whatever you celebrate, or even if you don't, and a peaceful New Year!

See you on the flipside, Flist!

♥

So here's one...




The rest, under the cut!

(Also, Apologies for not getting replies in to the last post until now, as LJ seemed to have eaten my alerts.)

( Some Pup-Spam :) )

( pic singular, glossy smiledog! )

First offlead walk today - she was a star! :D

Well. Tess is now nearly three months old and my life is turned upside down. My forearms are covered in scabs and scars from the constant puppy-biting (teaching bite inhibition with positive reinforcement [cuddles for kisses] and negative punishment [a sharp yelp and withdrawal from play for breaking my skin] is interesting to say the least!) and my kitchen floor has actually never BEEN so clean now it's being mopped daily. ;)

She sleeps at night with no whimpering or howling, and doesn't seem ready to join in the barking of the terrorist dogs next door, to my utter relief! Housetraining is going very well - any mishaps have been due to lack of attention on my part, and she is happy to give up the stolen items (usually socks) in exchange for a more suitable toy. The house is only a little (more than usual) frayed at the edges as she cheerfully accepts her own nylabone or Kong even though she'd much rather have a good old gnaw on the brick edge of the fireplace or the iron bolt on the front door.

Tess is absolutely DYING to spend some time with Gribeau, but kittington insists that drooly dogs would cramp her style, and continues to queen it upstairs on the warm landing, with an occasional illicit nap on one of the beds. Tess is not allowed upstairs and hasn't made it past the deliciously scented wellington boots in the hallway to explore it...yet. I'm anxious that she isn't an upstairs dog as it's very bad for their joints coming down. And besides, I know I'd end up having to fight her for space on me bed.

She's already made it on to the sofa (she crept up there to snuggle with me as I napped - awww!) which doesn't surprise me since she immediately made it into our hearts. :D

( piccies! )