Scotland Trip!

 I went up to visit my family in Scotland last week! Given Nicola Sturgeons announcement today that people are no longer allowed to meet in other peoples houses in Scotland, it appears that I went just in time! I have been useless updated my blog recently, we have also done some covid shows since I last posted so I will try and update those next time.

I went with just Sparkle as Matt had to work and I really appreciate him sheltie sitting. Our first stop was overnight with my Dad and Lesley and Spark took great delight in having cuddles! She met my Dad as a teeny weeny puppy and is always beside herself to see him 😂

She kept stomping around in the night and I finally figured out she was maybe a bit cold...she slept like a log after I wrapped her in a blanket. Spoilt!

We had a lovely walk on the beach the next morning. There were people swimming in the sea at 7am! The beach has a one way system which was very sensible.

It was a bit windy!!

I loved the orange berries on the bushes

Bass rock and Tantallon castle

Seacliff looking over to Tantallon

Britains smallest harbour at Seacliff...the entrance is only 3m across and its still used by fishing boats

Gullane beach

She found a treasure!

Then we went onto Aberdeenshire to see my Mum and Amy, getting there via the new Aberdeen bypass was so much quicker! These photos are all in the wrong order so I will label them as I can't shuffle them easily (stupid blogger!)

Amy managed to get a rare pic of all of us by balancing her phone in a tree 😂

We also couldn't resist posing Spark in this quirky tree stump!

Forest walk at Fochabers to find the 'Earth Pillars'...said pillars weren't found but we had a nice walk with good views!

I got spoilt with my fav pud of LMP (lemon meringue pie!) 

Spark was shattered on our first evening, she made herself a nest out of the bed!

View of Bennachie

Mum and I went for a long walk round Rayne, it was so nice we ended up in t-shirts!

Garden posing to prove it was very warm!

I lost at Monopoly...to Mum! 😲

At the Garden Centre cafe in Fochabers...they had an amazing amount of teapots on display!

After our coffee we went to Gordon Castle walled garden and spent a lovely few hours wandering round there. I loved these apples! So many varieties but these were so red and shiny!

Globe artichoke!

Mum and Amy by the sweet peas

Pumpkin/squash patch!

I have lettuce envy!!

An artistic water droplet in a leaf!

We went for a walk along the river Spey, Spark enjoyed a paddle

Fochabers memorial garden

Spark by the salmon ladder

LMP with yellow raspberries from the walled garden!

Spark on Brambles old walk, Old Port Road in Inverurie

East Auquorthies stone circle with Bennachie in the background

I had such a brilliant time away and it was so nice to catch up and see my family in person. Its such strange times so it was good to take the opportunity while it was possible. Matt was an absolute superstar as Brodie wasn't well while I was away so Matt had to do a lot of work caring for him. He is much better now but I'll save that for the next post!

Week off and Lumps

 Matt and I have had a great week off work apart from the weather which really wasn't on our side for the first half of the week! Unfortunately for Spark she started the week with a visit to the vets as I found a lump on her tail and wanted them to take a sample which they duly did. Yet again I'm kicking myself that we haven't changed vets as they have been useless at getting back to me with the results! They got the results on Thursday but its only a vet that can tell us and despite me ringing a couple of times he never rang back. I'm furious and worried! I'm hoping I will hear tomorrow and that it is good news 

This was her face post vets!

We spent some time in the garden despite the rain trying to clean up our pond...it was gross! We have got rid of so much stuff in there and found a big frog and a newt in the process...they will have more space now! 

We decided to do a 7 mile local walk on one of the wettest days which was so peaceful (no one else mad enough to be out walking!) and the doglets had a great time.

Toad got to be pub dog! He was shattered after such a long walk but was still bouncing along at the end despite being 13.5 years young!

On one of the nicer mornings we had a sheltie photoshoot with Bridget Davey who is an awesome dog photographer (she took the lovely bluebell photos last year) The theme was heather and ferns and the shelties just loved posing for her! Here is Brooke bean getting up close with the camera

A phone pic of the three of them ❤

Toad in the ferns!

Miss Sparkalina hates cameras so we took her for a separate walk and took a pic instead!

After that we spent the afternoon at Bru and Brookes breeder as she has a beautiful litter of pups (Bru's half siblings) I could have taken this little boy home! We also had a chat about future litter plans and I'm so excited about a pup hopefully next year fingers crossed! 

Auntie Bean always loves socialising the babies!

These are pics from one of our other local walks, Bru actually was brave enough to get his paws wet!

And Brooke was the pub dog!

Thanks to Amy for suggesting we grow rainbow chard, isn't it beautiful!

A special mention for my Aunt and Uncle who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary!! Huge congratulations to them! 🎉🎉🎉 My cousin had been super organised and got a cake with a wedding photo printed on it and some goodies and we surprised them with a family zoom call! 

The last two days of out week off were spent on agility camp, it was insanely hard stuff but so exciting to watch Matt and Bru trying the courses. I'm hoping the videos will post as blogger was a pain last time! I will give it a go, fingers crossed! Spark also got a go doing some course running!

Bru camp Day 1

Bru camp Day 2

Spark course running 

Here is Brooke having a play at my field this week

And Mr Toad playing hoopers in the garden!