The Diary

7 June 2010

The starlings are back! They came back to their usual nests in the stables but this a year a new mating pair decided to make a nest in the dog kennels.

I use one of the out houses as a large kennel. It is dry and warm and my dogs all have their own beds to snuggle into. I had a 'dog flap' cut into the door so my dogs could go in and out as they please. This new mating couple of Starlings actually access their nest by flying in and out through the 'dog flap'. Now that takes some skill. I have an outdoor washing machine and dryer in this out house to wash the dog beds and the horse coats. I was doing a dog bed wash yesterday and 2 Starlings buzzed around my head as I did the wash. I saw the new nest - it is just over the dryer and so the top of the dryer is covered in bird shit!

I don't mind as I am happy the Starlings found a new place to nest. They are not at all afraid of my dogs. Sure my dogs take no interest in them and they know this. At night I am sure the Starlings get no sleep with Tess, Blossie, Pepe and Pluto snoring. Bubbles is old now and so I let him sleep in at night.

It was a really hot day today and so I took Pepe to the beach, just me and him, and he had a great swim. He is losing weight at last and he is looking so much better. He is so much more alert and active. He is so loving. He looks me in the eye and then wallops my face with a huge sloppy kiss.

Later in the evening when the beach was clear of humans, I took all the dogs to the beach and they all had a swim. Pluto had her best swim so far today. She is getting more confident in the water. I take them to the channel at Killyhoey and it is just like a deep warm swmming pool.

The weather has been so good for the last while but today was extra sunny and warm. 

I got to wash Blackie and Bláithíns' saddles and they dried in no time. I may try to get a saddle on Blackie if the weather is good tomorrow. Since I can't really ride at the moment I have not put a saddle on Blackie since he arrived here and I am really looking forward to putting the tack on him as someday I hope to ride him and Bláithín when I have better pain control. I am so looking forward to getting up on Blackie and Bláithín. I miss horse riding so much. I get high when I am horse riding. It is such a fantastic feeling. Oh I miss it so much.

Paddy is behaving better now. He has settled in and he no longer nips my arse when I turn my back. He stands for ages to be petted. He is like a big huge dog only he is a horse - sort of!

Talk Soon

Annette