Mimosa in full bloom

The Mimosa is in full bloom and looks wonderful. Fortunately the weather has been good since we got back from the UK and we have been able to go out on long walks.

Back Home

Well we are all back home and it seems Pippa is glad to see us as she is not chasing the dog. Both the cats are more tolerant.

We picked up Shula , Pat and Mike had put a huge bow on her, all the dogs came to greet us. I am so happy I have found such a nice place for her when we are away. No more thought of finding kennels, this is a holiday home. I am sure she will always be happy there, lots of dogs to play with and Pat and Mike who are dog people to look after her.

On her holidays

I took Shula to her holiday home yesterday where she will live in with the family dogs and cats. Pat the lady who is looking after her rang this morning to say she settled in okay and is having a good time playing with all the other dogs. I will at least be able to go away knowing she is happy and well cared for. I am so lucky to have found Pat and Mike. The idea of putting her into kennels where she would be in a run on her own was not something I wanted to do. All my animals are now well catered for, as my cats can come and go through their cat flap and my friend Carmen will come twice a day to feed them.

My beautiful girl

My beautiful girl weighs 15.7 kilos and is quite a solid little dog - I think we are going to have to watch her weight now, especially as she has been spayed. We go out walking for about two hours a day. I am always grateful when we meet other people with their dogs as it gives her chance to run more.

I walk Shula mainly though the local ravines, which round here is the only place where I can safely let her off the lead. This has its problems because although I regulary keep up her flea and tick protection she has so far picked up three ticks at various times.

I have looked into all the ways of safetly removing them and so far - one I pulled out by dropping a small drop of surgical alchol and pulling it firmly in a clockwise direction - but the last one which was very small I removed with a little plastic tick remover my friend had purchased on the internet. This was really easy and will be the method I will use in future - I think I will still use the little drop of surgical alchol as this is a good antiseptic.

Holiday home for Shula

Last Thursday Ken and I took Shula to meet a lady who boards dogs in her house. She has four dogs of her own, two small ones and two about the same size as Shula. When we arrived we stayed in the front garden while she brought out first the two small dogs, then a Doberman type cross and then a Border Collie. All the dogs were fine but we gave them time to run around together before going in for coffee. The dogs were then let out into a large back garden, Shula loved it, dashing round with the Doberman cross who was called Livvy. All the dogs are rescue dogs and seemed very happy and well cared for. I was really pleased that Shula got on well with them and Pat liked her as this is where she is going to stay for a couple of weeks when we are in the UK. The visit was to see if she would fit in with the other dogs as Pat only takes one boarder at a time, and only dogs that get on well with hers. I think Shula will be very happy there and it will be so much better than putting her in kennels.

Rain, rain, rain.

The rain is back and the ravine is again running with water. Shula doesn't seem to mind, I try to get out as soon as the rain stops or at least when it is not pouring down. I do try to walk her for two hours a day but it is not very pleasant when it is so wet.

Spring

Last week before the rain started again it seemed like spring had arrived. The Mimosa trees are in full bloom and most of the wild flowers are yellow. The few days of sunshine reminded us of why we came to live here.