The Diary

6 July 2010

Hello to you all on a wet and windy day

Where did the sun go? We all got so used to it and now it decides to hide for a few days.

Never mind, I have a huge fire lighting and the dogs are barking to get in. The only probelm is they are covered in white paint. My cousin, Patrick, is in the process of white washing the cottage and my dogs have all taken turns in brushing off the outside walls of the cottage. They all have white paint along the sides of their coats - so do I let them in? Will my furniture also get painted white I ask?

I am minding my mother's 2 dogs again - Sandy and Meg. They are sleeping in the hay barn in their own bed but my dogs love the hay barn so the 7 of them all find a nice warm spot in the hay and they snooze the night away. I went out late last night and there they all were in their nests of hay. Bubbles had made a very cosy nest and he was quite happy to stay there, even though he sleeps in each night. I usually do not let my dogs sleep in the hay barn as they mess up the bales of hay but sure never mind - once they are warm and dry so what if I have to tidy up when Sandy and Meg go back to Dublin. My dogs love when Sandy and Meg visit as they get to sleep in the hay barn - even though their own beds are perfectly comfortable - no they actually prefer to sleep on a bale of hay.

Feeding time for the dogs is a bit chaotic. Pepe and Meg are on strict diets so they must be fed separately. Sandy is on a weight gaining diet so she has to be fed separately too. I make sure Sandy eats all her dinner and I add in pasta to make it more tasty. Bubbles, Tess, Pluto and Blossie are allowed eat together as they know not to overdose on food and they have no weight issues.

Pepe is really beginning to look well. He has lost a good bit of weight now but he still has more to lose - bless him.

I have booked Niamh Mc Daid, an Equine Dentist, to come up and check Paddy and Bláithín's teeth. I bet they were never checked before. I know Bláithín definitely needs some work done as when she is eating she is not chewing with the correct muscles and her food tends to fall out of her mouth. I only know this because Niamh Mc Daid educated me on the signs to look out for when a horse or donkey needs their teeth checked.

All the Big Lads get their teeth checked once a year usually in November.

The newcomers, Bláithín and Paddy need a check now to make sure any problems are sorted.

The local village is busier this time of year and there is a nice buzz about the place. It means I have to wait longer for my takeaway cappucino but I get to gawk at the tourists and listen to their different languages. I usually get a takeaway cappucino each day and I go to the village in my work gear. I never thought I'd end up looking like a farmer but I do. I get quite a slagging about my wellies as I always have my wellies on. I usually leave Bláithín eating her dinner in the stables and while she is eating I dash to the village and grab a nice coffee so I don't go down the town in my best clothes as I'm in the middle of feeding Bláithín. Today after she had eaten her dinner I put her coat back on as it is raining and I don't want her to be cold or damp. Her rain scald is healing well so lets make sure she is protected from the rain.

No sunbathing today for any of us but we look forward to the sun coming back when it feels like it....

Talk Soon

Annette