BELLA'S FIRST WEEK



DAY ONE AND I'M JUST GETTING THE HANG OF THIS SLIDING DOOR

 

MY COSY NEW BED

 

MEETING DEBBIE AND BEN

 

OF ALL MY NEW TOYS .... MY FAVOURITE IS
A CLOTHES PEG AND LIDL BAG!!!

 

AND I'VE EVEN LEARNED CATCH AND (ALMOST) FETCH IN 4 DAYS!!!

 

DAY ONE WITH BELLA

Oh how quickly we have taken this little lady to our hearts....she is adorable.

Since I am still on holiday today I took Bella into work to visit and, of course, everyone just loved her.   We then had a visit from Barbara and Harry this evening as they wanted to meet the new arrival

and she is getting plenty of good reports and cuddles.

 

Last night (her first night with us) I kept her in her basket at my side of the bed.....was a BIG mistake.

Bella was as good as gold and didn't get out of bed once.....I was awake ALL NIGHT...keeping an eye on her and making sure everything with her was ok.  Tonight she will sleep in the kitchen which will be her space for the future nights anyhow....and I am sure she will settle well.

DAY ONE - A LITTLE MUM AND BELLA BONDING

 

MISS BELLA ARRIVES

Collected our little Miss Bella on the way home from the airport - flight was slightly delayed and with our own diversion to collect the puppy we weren't actually getting home until 10pm.
Have just spent a couple of hours with this little lady and we are so seriously in love with her.

Just arrived in this new home for me - Daddy seems to like me ok !



ANDALUCIA SEPT 2014

Our holiday this year is one week in Andalucia. This is not our usual type of holiday...we favour less touristy destinations like Slovenia and Croatia but, since these take quite a bit of research and planning and I haven't had the time to dedicate to that, we thought we would take up this offer advertised on Travelzoo.

We now know that the typical 'package holiday' is really not for us. It may have been different if we had been booked into a more scenic area but we are in Algeciras which we have discovered is more industrial than tourist! Our hotel is very pleasant, set in beautiful gardens but around about there is really nothing of interest or beauty. Our benchmark is the rolling, lush hills of Slovenia, acres and acres of vines circling the hillsides...and Algeciras has nothing to compare!

The weather however has been beautiful which has been the one saving grace of Andalucia and we have had a lovely relaxing break....the batteries have been charged and we are feeling refreshed and I think nicely 'reconnected' having had the chance up spend so little quality time together in recent years.

We have spent much time walking and just 'being' and it has been good!

Today we have been married 28 years. Obviously we have had our moments but on the whole we have had fun together and have marvelled at the routes God has taken us along. We've learned much together and, while there is much I would probably do differently if I had a second chance at life, I do thank God for all He has given me in Jonathan.  I pray He continues to bless us as we live for Him.

PUPPY PREP UNDER WAY

We head off on Sunday - I am not packed yet, although I do have clothes

and some 'things' organised but.....

have been preparing a little for Bella's arrival  :)

AWAITING BELLA'S ARRIVAL

 



SWISS ROLL BAKING

Inspired by Great British Bake Off and reminded

of my long ago knack at baking a pretty

decent swiss roll I thought I would rustle one up tonight

-a 'fat free treat' for the office on Friday

after a week of healthy eating by all.

.....and a fairly decent roll has been achieved!

 

 



'HOUSEWORK'

Days spent prepping walls and cleaning up EVERY night!

Have been greatly speeded on in our work with the help of Harry who spent

2 full days chipping off plaster to get our walls back to bare brick.

Bedroom bay window

Lounge walls

Lounge walls

Lounge bay

Lounge walls

DOGGY MEMORIES

Thinking of training a new puppy, all the internet searches I'm doing at present, since it's been an unbelievable 20 years since we trained our puppy girls, Jessie and Jo.  And all this thinking has had me reliving many of the experiences they brought us through.  They were wonderful companions and such great company and I don't imagine we will EVER forget them.  And I do imagine little Miss Bella will often be compare to them ...... I just hope she lives up to her forerunners!

BEAUTIFUL, FEISTY JOJO

THE GORGEOUS, GENTLE, KISSING JESSIS

 

And we STILL say these are the two prettiest girls we've ever seen!!

SATURDAY BAKING

Lovely light, fluffy egg sponge sandwiched with blackcurrant jam and

rich velvety double cream..........

EGG SPONGE with BLACKCURRANT JAM and DOUBLE CREAM

Ok.....this is not baking but..... top hats at their best!

PARTY TOP HATS

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

We have always said we would never have another dog.  We both loved our two girls right through the 15 years we had them but, once we lost them, I was determined I never wanted to put myself in the position where I would have to inevitably face the same grief again.

 

Ben came to stay with us for a week....was here since last Friday.  He had just been here ONE NIGHT when I knew the battle was lost....we had to have another dog! 

We will never, ever forget our first two girls, Jessie and Jojo but

I am now ready to give a home of love to another little puppy.

 

I spent the week checking the newspapers and online -  initially thinking of a mini Schnauzer - then a Lhasa Apso, then a Shih Tzu.  I really was open to any offers!  There appeared to be no mini Schnauzers available, or Lhasa Apsos.  And then I found the most adorable little Shih Tzu puppy.... oh my goodness.... what's not to love??!! 

PUPPY BELLA FROM HER GUMTREE ADVERT

I could hardly wait to see her but we arranged

with the breeder to meet at Sprucefield on Friday evening and....

she is ADORABLE!!   Here's my first pictures taken

with the darling Bella.   One look at her, one cuddle

and she had both our hearts.....Jonathan is as

taken as I am!!

OUR FIRST MEETING WITH BELLA

What's not to love?????????

We pick her up on our return from holiday and I can hardly wait!!