Running free together

Attempt three!

I've written a few non starters this morning, this one, hopefully will make the grade (also a change of subject will help!)

When Youngest was at senior school, I would walk up to the local nature reserve to meet him as he hopped off the bus. He would rather I collected him in the car, but I had a dog to walk (Moss) and a brain to clear (mine) so walking it was. The silly thing was, at the end of it we always had a good walk, time to chat and if the weather was good and the homework not too demanding, we'd end up in the cafe for a hot chocolate and put the world to rights.

I would try to get to the reserve earlier than needed so Moss and I could walk around before the bus arrived.  And, as you do, you get to see the same folk wandering around with their dogs too. There was an older chap with the most glorious head of white hair and the twinkliest blue eyes with his border collie.  We would chat as we passed each other around the paths.

Our first meet was to exclaim how alike our two dogs were as they were both strikingly unusually marked border collies. There were subtle differences however the similarities were impressive. Over the year of walking and waiting for Youngest at the bus, Angus and Zack were regular ports of chat each afternoon.

We, Angus and I, often wondered if our dogs came from the same breeder as they both had the white face with a large black 'cape' of fur on their backs, Zack's fur was longer but they could have been 'cut from the same Border Collie cloth'. They were both failed farm dogs with good breeding, had professional sheep dog training and came from the same area. Their gait and their behaviour were incredibly similar and although Zack was two years younger than Moss - they could have been litter mates.

Moss died roughly two years ago - her liver riddled with tumours and her heart failing - she was only ten and it broke my heart.

Zack died two weeks ago - of the same disease......... he was ten. 

I found typing that last sentence hard - I know that Angus will be as devastated as I was. A mutual friend commissioned the pebble, I was going to deliver it to her today, that will have to wait - It is a bit of a blizzard out there - Willow might just have to hang on for her walk a little longer. 

Not that I think she is fussed about at the moment as she is asleep in her bed underneath her duvet .... spoilt? 

Not in the slightest...

The spark

Cool grey air swirled around us, leaving misty droplets on my eyelashes and making Willow' coat twinkle. The horizon was greyed out and all the villages in the valleys just did not appear.

We walked out of the village, up on to the ridge, sploshed through the playing fields and then along the road before dropping down into the neighbouring hamlet. 

The weight of the mist dulled sounds giving a strange eery feeling - almost liberating!

I stopped briefly to chat to a farmer who had been reroofing one of his sheds however two of his helpers had called time, jumped in their van and were driving off. The farmer was feeling deflated and muttered things about the unreliable state of agency staff. He looked cold and dejected but defiant... He was off to ring the company who'd come recommended and give them a blasting.

When we returned home, Willow was absolutely famished and fell upon her food which such gusto I am sure she inhaled the entire meal in milliseconds.

She now has fallen asleep with twitching paws - think she enjoyed her walk.

Monday's meanderings

 I really should be getting on.

No really.... I SHOULD!

However my mug of tea, although almost finished is enough to keep me here.

But - the washing machine has fallen silent which strangely calls rather loudly to be emptied.

The carpet also rather tight lipped is pointedly saying that it needs vacuuming.

The dog, now asleep from her walk this morning snores gently with her face pressed deep into the fluff of her bed. I would like to take a quick photo but the moment I attempt to stand up her eyes fly open and she is ready for the next adventure - even if it only to the garden for a piddle....

I've a friend landing shortly - she invited herself having discovered I am now no longer working. A mixed blessing this new found freedom - I have things I want to do and I things I have to do but I am not getting round to them!

I have, to my delight, discovered another local name (to be filed under village folk law, myth and legend) for a small winding pathway on our dog walk. A narrow track, probably a pack horse originally, slips behind houses and around fields and terminates in a jumble of cottages. In summer it is a rash of flowers and weeds opening out to wider muddy tracks - perfect for dog walking away from traffic.

I am also rather pleased to be given a Victorian cow/horse tether which some twenty years ago, had been found up on the moors near a dilapidated barn. It still has the rope on it from that lucky find. I already have one that I discovered in a Victorian tip in Wales years and years ago. So I have offered it to Eldest and he is more than happy to give it a home in his garden.

And I shall leave you with a couple of photo's of my Youngest's boys who were peeping beneath the banister yesterday when we visited with Willow. They were rather horrified at the thought of a stinky dog in THEIR domain😆

Hope your weekend was good and your Monday is gentle xx

Willow's wuffs (Dogologue)

Hi, Willow here ...

Have you ever heard of a 'shipping forecast'? No - me neeva - How am I - a mere doggo s'posed to know about that? 

Any huff, she mentioned today that our walks are a bit like the shipping forecast then she muttered something about it should be called the dogging pawcast then she burst out laughing - I nearly leapt out of my red and white fluff - she managed to splutter - may be NOT DOGGING pawcast....

What is she on?

Any huff, as I said, she says our walks are like the DOG pawcast......  As we go along, she rattles off the list of places we have walked ..... Dead Duck lane, Stunsteads, Fridge Farm, White Goose Field, The Rec, The Souterills, Killer Chicken Quarry, Bough Gap, Crow Quarry, Watering trough, Ol' Joe's Lane, Peter's Field and back down Dead Duck Lane.

Apparently according to her only one or two of those places is on a real paper map (wot ever that is) and the rest are a mix of village folklore, myth and legend (once again I ask ... what is she on?)

Wot ever - as long as I can sniff the peemails and check out any other interesting smells - I am a happy wuffo.  Home now, eaten a biscuit coz apparently Iz been very good (though I was all the time) and now I am off to snuggle my duvet.

Whilst watching the snow fall

Last night was my leaving do from work. I will be honest, I was feeling a bit apprehensive - but then I do when there are these sort of events. I feel out of my depth and although it was with some of the loveliest people I could have met and worked with - I still had the jitters. 

However, it was a enjoyable evening spent with some very special folk and I came away feeling both loved and rather overwhelmed. And it seems I will not be able to finish quietly, there is another get-together planned later on in the month and I have been told that I must be there ... or else!

Any hoo - last night was good and by the time I drove home - it was late, so this morning when Willow and Himself were up and ready to go downstairs I was feeling a little less enthusiastic. After waving Himself off to work and waiting for Willow to finish her breakfast, we returned to bed for a little more 'recuperating'. Gone are the days when I could work all day, stay up and out late and bounce back the next day - I now chose to do one or the other and not all three hahaha.

After an hour or so Willow decided that she'd 'recuperated' enough especially as she'd not been out so late as I. A quick breakfast for me then after wrapping up well we set off. Hells teef - the wind!! We were buffeted and blown from side to side. The wind ripped and roared through the trees along the valley, the hills vanished beneath the grey sky, and at one point, it felt like I was the only dog walker out.

Eventually even Willow started to shoot dark looks at me over her shoulder - I knew it was time to shorten the walk and head directly home. 

I love living in a village. I returned and on the wall were four jars of home made marmalade waiting for me. A parcel was waiting at the front door - this one was for Willow and a neighbour popped round to see how she is settling in.

Now, as I drink a mug of tea, watch the snow flurries whirl around outside there is a small red and white dog fast asleep behind me.

Procrastinating is a fine art - which I am attempting to perfect

Despite the months rolling on towards spring, winter definitely is not letting go of her grip - mind you, I should not be surprised, it is only just February and I should not rely on the positive (if a little misguided) joy of seeing snowdrops everywhere!

To be honest I am gently procrastinating this morning's dog walk for another few minutes or until at least I have finished my mug of tea - Willow on the other hand has no concept of '𝓭𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓮𝓪 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓶' and is giving me the collie hard eye..... She seems to have forgotten we have both galloped down to the bottom of the garden twice this morning. Me hanging on to my hat and coat as she scampering so far ahead all I could see was her 'tail light'.

The weather is remarkably unappealing today. The sky is leaden grey as the trees tear at the wind making it roar around the house and through the village. Never mind, my mug of tea is still warm and Willow has given up living and has thrown herself back to bed with a most.put.out.sigh. Wait there dear dog, we'll go out shortly I promise.

The house has a rather delicious scent at the moment, the last of the chrimbly Hyacinths are filling the lounge with their final fragrance and the kitchen and dining room are both filled with that gloriously warm spicy perfume that Stocks exude. 

Willow, when she moved in, brought very little with her. We'd purposely not purchased anything before we collected her on the off chance things might be duplicated. However, as I mentioned, she brought very little with her. So new beds, bowls and toys were the order of the day and yesterday a lovely friend who only ever buys 'the best' she can, gifted me or rather Willow, a lovely Kath Kidson dog bed. Her dog refused to use it, choosing to do 'unspeakable things' to it which my friend could not utter without blushing to her roots🫣! She quickly confirmed that the bed had been through the washing machine and so it was clean and ready to use. She does make me chuckle.

However, Willow has fallen in love with the erstwhile 'love-toy' bed. Himself and I wondered if she had ever 'owned' her own things before and we think not. She adores her Kath Kidson bed (sorry dog, the one I ordered for you, and is coming today, is not quite up to that standard). 

The sky at the moment has slipped from a driech silvery grey to a rather puce yellow, I think our walk will require some serious wrapping up and urgent scurrying. Fortunately - I am still drinking my tea and Willow is contemplating the extreme disappointment of a new owner who is a practising procrastinator. 

*******************

Bit Later:
We're back from a blustery buffeting windy walk which was surprisingly enjoyable. There were few other dog walkers about - all bearing the same grimace with damp dogs. Willow and I took the moorland field - which in weather like this is definitely a welly boot walk and we sploshed and slid our way across towards Goose Green Lane. We worked our way around the forest school field, another muddy route, then down through the village and up to the cobbled tram lines before heading for home.

She is napping in HER bed, I have another hot mug of tea and a pebble commission to paint - so, better stop nattering and get on with it.

Have a lovely Tuesday x

Weekend away

We have just returned from a weekend away - Willow's first 'holiday'. It was a gift from work and it made a lovely end to my time there. We were in a shepherd's hut in the Ribble Valley and despite the dire weather warnings for the weekend, it turned out to be mild and almost spring like.

The hut was oh so cosy and warm and comfortable.  We landed quite late on the Friday so could only see the interior but on the Saturday when the sun came up - wow.

We scoffed our breakfast, jumped into our wellies and grabbed a rather excited dog and set out for a walk. As soon as we stepped through the gate and into what felt like a holloway (sunken track) forgotten by time. 

Willow snuffled and sniffed and explored - we felt as if she was trying to inhale the entire track just in case she never walked up one again. As the lane rose up to the moors, we spotted buzzards, kestrels, a kite, deer, hare and squirrels.

The view at the top - if a little cool and blustery - was glorious.

Later we were joined by Youngest and his lovely girl then, after lunch in the shepherds hut, we set off for another walk - Willow was delighted. This time we went down into the valley, following farm tracks and river banks. It was certainly muddy.

Then after a couple of hours, we returned to the hut, put the kettle on, filled a plate with biscuits, cake and mini apple pies and sat and chatted whilst a happy dog fell asleep at our feet. In the evening, when it was just us - Willow suddenly sat up, gave a tiny little half wuff and the smallest and silliest little hamster sized growl which made us laugh. Thinking she'd had a dream we placated her, but no, she insisted that she needed to look outside. So to humour her, I took a torch opened the door and shone it on a fox just on the other side of the fence!

What a weekend!

And one last photo - taken whilst wandering around the village Sunday night - Willow is a nervous little girl and for some reason decided she just.could.NOT walk to the bottom of the garden because there.was.a.SCARY.thing down there (no idea...) we we went for a wander to take her mind off things. And the moon over some of the cottages looked magical.

In which Willow woofs (aka the Dogologue)

 Willow here. Hi.

I was called Coco - but that was past me, I am now 'Willow who Walks' and until a few days ago, I lived in a terraced house in a small but busy market town.

I've just returned from a wet walk with my new human, the spare human is out and won't get back until it is dark, so I keep my human company and on discovering she needs a lot of exercise - I take her out as often as I can.

I used to share my house with five humans, some tall and some very small and they were so busy I had to keep out of the way and it made me very sad and I felt very insignificant. I tried to join in the games but I must have done it wrong as I was made to go to my crate. They were never horrible to me but I felt very left out.

Now, I know I must avoid the cat food plates - my feet take me away but my eyes stare very hard! I know where my treats are in the cupboard, I can point out which is my bag of food, and best of all,  I know the difference between my leads. The red rope lead is for popping into the garden for a piddle while my stretchy lead and harness means proper get out and get muddy walks!

My humans have taught me that chairs are not for dogs (who knew!!) and doing zoomies across the settee is not really an indoor game ... again - who knew!

a brisk rub down and a biscuit just waiting to be nibbled - bliss

But best of all is, when we return from a wet walk, I get a rub down with a warm towel and a biscuit treat to chew in my bed - I think training my human and the spare human is making headway - they still have lots to learn and I am the dog to do it.

However - the cat..... the cat is definitely in charge, even the humans know that! 

said cat in bed coz snowing outside

Slow down and sniff the daisies

Some years ago, with a recently acquired friend, we trogged our way up the side of Ingleborough on a cool damp June morning. After heavy rain over night, drifts of mist slid their way up through the valleys and against the hill. Walking through one of these misty drifts, my friend mentioned that she'd accompanied a serious hill walker who yomped up hills with apparent ease leaving her to gasp and stumble some distance behind. She'd only put up with this as she rather fancied him. 

After a while, she began to dread the weekend walks and wondered despite his 'other charms' and her love of being out on the hills, whether to call time on the relationship. Then one weekend whilst walking in Eryri (then known as Snowdonia) a thick mist descended, reducing visibility to a few feet ahead. Fortunately he stopped and waited and walked with her and whilst they were stumbling along a slatey pathway he started to point out fossils and other interesting items. Showing her bits of forgotten mining detritus and architecture as they loomed out of the thick mist. She was fascinated by the various shades of the slate - not the grey she assumed it all was, but greens, blues and even a purply hue.

the back of winter has been broken - snowdrops are making their appearance known

They soon parted their ways - she fell in love with slow detailed walking and took up photography and he decided he'd like to do mountain guiding as a job and left for Europe. Where this is all going is .... the last few days Willow and I have fairly galloped around the countryside to help burn off that desperate need for her to walk. But today I decided a sniff ramble would do her just as much good, if not more, than the high speed route marches we have done. 

Willow actually feeling a bit more in control of herself

And after an hour and a half of serious sniffing interposed with short stretches of busy collie trotting... I now have a fast asleep (and muddy) dog. Interestingly enough, the last bit home is the worst in her opinion as we have to do a short bit on our village main road and it can be busy which stresses her out. This section, today, seemed a lot less awful for her. I am hoping that her nervous system found today's walk was just what was needed.

PS it also meant I could take photos - happy me