BooksPlease » Pets

Saturday Snapshot

Margaret — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:03:24 +0000

Here are a couple of photos taken in December 2010 when we were snowbound. I came into the kitchen early one morning and there on the decking outside was this little mouse, eating the bread we had put out for the birds:

There were actually three mice climbing all over and round the back of the loaf nibbling it. I wasn’t the only one interested. Lucy came to the patio door and wanted to go out for a closer look.

See more Saturday Snapshots on Alyce’s blog, At Home With Books.

R is for Ravensheugh Sands

Margaret — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:21:35 +0000

Ravensheugh Sands in East Lothian, Scotland.

The view below shows the beautiful, unspoilt beach, with Bass Rock on the horizon. Bass Rock is the home of thousands of gannets.

Enjoying the view:

An ABC Wednesday post to illustrate the letter R.

Saturday Snapshot

Margaret — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:07:53 +0000

I’m stepping back in time again this week for my Saturday Snapshot, but not quite as far back as last week. This is a photo of the two dogs we used to have, enjoying running for a stick in the Chiltern Hills, near our home at that time, in Great Kimble in Buckinghamshire. We were on the footpath below Pulpit Wood looking down on the old rifle range.

Zoe is the golden retriever, who always had to get the stick first with Ben, the border collie cross following on behind.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

Saturday Snapshot – Pets

Margaret — Sat, 07 May 2011 09:33:53 +0000

I’ve dug back into our photographs looking for photos of Zoe, our Golden Retriever. She was our first dog we had when our son was 5 years old – he’s grown up now with children and dogs of his own. I can’t find the one of him holding Zoe when we first brought her home, but this is one taken a few months later in the back garden. She lived with us for 13 years and we had many happy times with her – she was the most faithful and gentle of dogs.

Here is one when she was older, with me and our other dog, Ben:

A Saturday Snapshot post.

Farewell Lucy

Margaret — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:14:43 +0000

Last night our little cat, Lucy died. She was nearly 17 and was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism two years ago. Since then she did improve and coped with us moving house at the end of 2009. For a while it seemed she had a new lease of life, enjoying the garden and its wildlife. Last week she stopped eating and just declined. The vet said she had a growth in her stomach and an enlarged heart.

She was a wonderful companion, who stayed by our side like a dog, even wanting to come on walks with us. I’ve written many blog posts about her and have many photos that I’m going to bring together as a set on Flickr. Here are just a few of our favourites.

She often sat with me when I was blogging, sometimes on the windowsill and more often right in front of the keyboard whilst I was trying to type.

This is a painting of her by our friend John.

She is sadly missed!

Sunday Scene – More Snow

Margaret — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 10:17:38 +0000

We woke up this morning to yet more snow, as in most of Britain.

The birds were flocking to the feeders – which now need replenishing. Today the woodpecker stayed long enough for me to take some photos.

The tits are bolder and come up onto the decking outside the kitchen.

This one landed in the snow and nearly sank.

Lucy, who hasn’t ventured outside since the snow first came at the end of November, sits and watches the birds as they come near the window.

This is what she wished she could catch

Wordless Wednesday – Lucy Loves the Sun

Margaret — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:11:46 +0000

Lucy when she was a kitten

A Wordless Wednesday post

Sunday Scene

Margaret — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:13:53 +0000

Yesterday it was my birthday and as well as books D gave me a new camera. I’ve been trying it out today: here are a few photos I took in our garden and

Back garden

Lucy

Back garden from the decking

of the front garden

Front garden

and the field across the road where the rapeseed was being cut this afternoon.

Cutting rapeseed

(Click on the photos to enlarge.)

Wordless Wednesday – The Mouse Police*

Margaret — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:43:59 +0000

*The title of this post is taken from the song “And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps” from Jethro Tull’s album “Heavy Horses“.

A Wordless Wednesday post

The Cat that Walked by Herself

Margaret — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:30:48 +0000

I took this photo of Lucy in our little wood and it reminded me of one of Kipling’s Just So Stories - The Cat That Walked by Himself.

Click on photos to enlarge.

A nearly Wordless Wednesday post