Monday 23 April 2012

A little bit of catching up

We've been a bit busy over Easter and I've rather neglected my blog so, instead of a long waffly post about what we've been doing, I have made you a montage:


We had lambs (I've lost count how many; mum has them all written down in her meticulous records); Brian chainsawed the unruly garden hedge into submission and found this froggy chap (Mr Frog now lives in our new big pond); I've carried on sewing bags and developed a new addiction - turning old jumpers in to cardigans; H10 and R8 cycling at Pantmaenog in the sun; delicious sesame flatbreads; Scamp had his haircut and we scoffed ice creams in New Quay.


We had some sad news on Saturday when one of our guinea pigs Lucky (left) died. He'd been showing signs of old age for a while and we'd been preparing for the worst. It really tugs at the parental heartstrings to see one's children being brave in such circumstances. We had a touching ceremony in the garden and H10, R8 and their friend G10 carried Lucky around in his little snuggle bed, cuddling and stroking him while Brian dug a hole under the apple tree. The girls tucked Lucky into a box with a small toy teddy bear for company and Hannah has painted a slate headstone to mark the grave.

For a little pig, Lucky had a big character. We rehomed him after someone found him alone in the middle of a big field of sheep near Llandysul three and a half years ago. We found another baby guinea pig on Freecycle to live with him (guinea pigs must be kept at least in pairs) and Lucky and Patchy became our Morecambe and Wise in guinea pig form.

Patchy is definitely missing his friend but at least has something to snuggle with until we can get him a new live companion - R8 stuffed one of her old socks with hay and drew a guinea pig on it. It's not Lucky but it's better than nothing apparently.

12 comments:

  1. How sweet of R8 a guinea pig comforter!

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    1. And he really loved it too! He now has a new real live companion (more about our new arrival in a future blog.)

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  2. Looks like it has been an eventful time, new life coming in to the world as old life leaves

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    1. Yes, it all reminds us of the circle of life and keeps us on our toes!

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  3. Anyone would think you've been busy Mags :) Hope it quietens down a bit for you soon x

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    1. It never does seem to quieten down - but I wouldn't have it any other way! ;)

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  4. Hoping that you'll soon have a new little guinea pig become part of your family. Your description of the family send off to the late little family pet truly showed how connected you all were.

    I will switch quickly to telling you how much I loved seeing you all enjoying that ice cream. It was summerish weather while I was in London, and now in New York, I again need my down-filled jacket. Ice cream will wait a while.

    What are your favorite flavors?

    xo

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    1. Hi Frances, yes we're all rather too devoted to our little furry friends. At least now we've been able to give a home to another homeless piggy (more in a future blog).

      You'd need your jacket in London today, and an umbrella too. You visited at a good time. AS for ice cream, it's usually coffee or honeycomb (or both!)

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  5. Ah...so sad when an animal passes away, it is hard to see the little ones lose a treasured pet, big hugs to them. Love the montage...esp no 12 lamb...soo cute. I do hope your lambing has been more successful than ours x

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    1. Hi Posie - Lambing has been mostly okay - but we only have 20 ewes now and they're all indoors. We didn't get the severe weather that you did. It must have been heartbreaking.

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  6. Lucky lived up to his name having been rescued and spending 3 years with you - I hope you find another soon.

    Lambs are adorable, I'd love to do that one day - help at lambing time. Loving the bag too - and hoping a pinny will be alright. Are you edging a cardigan with fabric? I'd like to see the finished result of that as I have a couple of sweaters that are looking a bit threadbare and I have been toying with the idea of knitting patches.

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    1. I'd love to make you a pinny Zoe - I'll sort out the pattern and the material. I'll do a blog about the jumper to cardi thing too. It's something I found on Pinterest and couldn't resist having a go.

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