Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Time for a refocus so MS stuff first:

• Mr F and I had a chat about priorities for the rest of the year. We have enough money for the outbuilding repairs and about 50% of the emergency fund we'd like to save. However, winter is coming :eek: and there are some things we're going to need to keep us warm and dry in the coming months
• so, in light of the above, we have bought a log store and some garden storage for the courtyard
• I have taken Jessy's advice and bought a crate for FDawg. He is exploring more as his confidence grows and has tangled himself up in his lead a couple of times. I don't want to risk this happening whilst we are out so a crate is the answer
• FDawg is not interested in toys (yet) but he is very treat focused so I have bought him a throw and find toy with a treat bag attached. I did think about making one of these myself but was worried it wouldn't be robust enough and, therefore, unsafe
• someone has contacted me about an item I listed on FB a while ago. They want me to post it so I'll sort that out today. It's only a few pounds but they are better in my pocket and it's one less item in the annex
• Farmer Giles arrived yesterday with sheep :eek: We've been talking to him about putting sheep in the field but he'd said he wanted to cut for silage first. Apparently it is too wet for that so the sheep are going straight in. The grass really does need keeping down and we've come to an arrangement where Farmer Giles will maintain the field and boundaries for us in lieu of rent.

In FDawg news (for those that are interested) he:

• greeted Mr F very calmly
• had a bath :j My house smells so much better now I would highly recommend the camping shower. It was easy to use, held enough water for the job and will be invaluable for cleaning off muddy paws or boots - good value I'd say. It was a little chilly for him though so I think I might use a mobile groomer over the winter or until the outbuilding is ready and we can take him in there
• went in the field with the sheep. He was interested in them and I think he certainly would chase them at the moment if he could but he wasn't straining to get to them or anything

All in all, I think he coped with a quite an intense day very well

Better get on.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Karmacat wrote: »

We *like* hearing about dogs And the ex police dog trainer is a super-interesting idea, hope that works out for you.

I've had a response from the dog trainer Karma. He sounds great so I'm going to give him a call to talk further.

brizzledfw wrote: »

From another flip flip lover - I share your distress at having to shift footwear. I am moving to socks too had to light the fire too yesterday as so darn cold. Stormy overnight too, but not like the Caribbean so am definitely not complaining.

Pleased FDawg is settling well. Yes please to pics

It's pretty grim here too Brizzle - although I'm not complaining either having seen the news this morning.

We have yet to try out our log burner. Although I felt a bit chilly yesterday morning, the house seems well insulated and, by the afternoon, it has warmed up just from the general household activity. I'm hoping our heating bills will be low as a result.

I'm not sure how to go about pics now Ph0t0buck£t has started charging. I seem to remember Greying had solved that problem though so hopefully will be able to advise.

Fortune x

Karmacat

I use flickr (or rather, I'm about to!) for my blogs. But its a yahoo service, which is changing hands, so I don't know if they're going to be charging too ...

Greying_Pilgrim

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

I'm not sure how to go about pics now Ph0t0buck£t has started charging. I seem to remember Greying had solved that problem though so hopefully will be able to advise.

Fortune x

I do use fl1ckr, but I'm not happy about it I think it is a service more tailored towards amateur or semi-pro photographers who want to share their pictures for the technical aspect of photography - not for sharing 'information' pictures of 'us tea' - which have no technical photography merit whatsoever. For all its faults, pbucket was the sort of service that I required - and I'm amazed that technology hasn't found a way to circumvent the taking up of bandwidth problems that they cited as the need to start charging for their service. The charges are too high for the type of pictures that most folk want to upload to general interest forums.

I'm happy to help Fortune, but I'm thinking of pretty much mothballing my account. But then I'm not providing pictures of kittens or puppies. The world needs to see more pictures of kittens and puppies

Greying X

Fortune_Smiles

Karmacat wrote: »

I use flickr (or rather, I'm about to!) for my blogs. But its a yahoo service, which is changing hands, so I don't know if they're going to be charging too ...

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

I do use fl1ckr, but I'm not happy about it I think it is a service more tailored towards amateur or semi-pro photographers who want to share their pictures for the technical aspect of photography - not for sharing 'information' pictures of 'us tea' - which have no technical photography merit whatsoever. For all its faults, pbucket was the sort of service that I required - and I'm amazed that technology hasn't found a way to circumvent the taking up of bandwidth problems that they cited as the need to start charging for their service. The charges are too high for the type of pictures that most folk want to upload to general interest forums.

I'm happy to help Fortune, but I'm thinking of pretty much mothballing my account. But then I'm not providing pictures of kittens or puppies. The world needs to see more pictures of kittens and puppies

Greying X

Thanks for all the advice guys. I don't want to open a special account or make my photos available to the whole world so I'm going to give it a miss for now.

Fortune x

beanielou

Glad that your new addition is settling in well.
Crate will be fab for him.
Sock weather here too sadly.

Fortune_Smiles

I don't seem to have got very much accomplished today:

• menu planned for the week. Shallots, runner beans and Bramleys will be featuring heavily :rotfl:
• did the on-line grocery shop. Only spent about half the budget as Mr F is away again from tomorrow and we have the benefit of some garden produce :T
• ordered a couple of essential oils to help with any doggy odour and also to keep the flies off my clean washing :eek: They don't like lavender apparently so I'm going to put a few drops in my wash. They are Autumn flies - horrid things. I hadn't come across them before moving here and we have a lot of them because of the cattle
• put up FDawgs crate. It's enormous:eek: He's not too bothered about it and, although I don't like to see him in it, I know it will keep him safe
• we had pitta pizzas for lunch to use up some bits and pieces in the fridge. Supper was Steamed Fish & Pak Choi Parcels with rice
• I couldn't find the FB item. It may have gone to the charity shop before the move
• bagged up Mr F's foreign currency so he can take it on the next relevant trip. He has eight different kinds.

FDawg had a wee accident earlier:eek: He's been out 5 times today! I think sometimes he's too anxious and sometimes too excited to go when he has the chance. Thank goodness for T£$c0's pet odour remover - it's a godsend Maybe I should have waited to get the kitchen floor cleaned :think:

Fortune x

doingitanyway

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

]ordered a couple of essential oils to help with any doggy odour and also to keep the flies off my clean washing :eek: They don't like lavender apparently so I'm going to put a few drops in my wash.

Great tip Fortune. So copying this
Have a good week.

Fortune_Smiles

doingitanyway wrote: »

Great tip Fortune. So copying this
Have a good week.

I haven't tried it yet DIA - too wet here to put any washing out at the moment. I'm hoping it works but, if not, at least I'll have lovely smelling washing :rotfl:

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

I've had a couple of days of routine chores and admin so nothing much to report:

• booked an experience day for Mr F and DS2. We'd promised to do this for his 30th birthday present but found there were no dates left for the experience we wanted. Some more were released yesterday so I got in there quick I'd put aside the money for it before we moved and it's come in a bit cheaper so that's a bonus
• started pulling together information for all the various pensions and benefits Mr F and I are entitled to so that I have the full picture before speaking to an FA
• supper for the last couple of nights has been Chorizo, New Potato & Haddock One-Pot. I prefer to make this in the oven though, roasting the potatoes for 20 mins before adding all the other ingredients and putting back in the oven for another 20-30 minutes as required. So much easier and quicker
• researched water softeners to go in the shower and found one which has good reviews and looks very good value. Just need to measure up to make sure it will fit
• I ordered another pair of the successful jeans from Mark$. The black pair I bought are better for going out and not so practical for wearing around the house. I also ordered two pairs of cuffed hem pyjama bottoms. I have a pair already and they are ideal on hard floors and when taking FDawg out first thing. All my other pyjama bottoms are wide leg and, because I'm such a short ar$£, they drag on the floor and are getting filthy. The cuffed hem type tend to be warmer too - it was a bit chilly this morning Costs will be met from my personal spends.

Much of my time seems to be spent feeding, walking, entertaining and generally keeping an eye on FDawg. I'm gradually extending his free roaming time but he still needs supervision - today he went in my handbag and stole my tissues :rotfl: His cheeky side is starting to emerge and he's showing more interest in toys. Mr F is home tomorrow for a week so can help keep me keep an eye on him.

Tomorrow I shall be exploring the annex for Bay of E potential

Where is the week going guys?

Fortune x