Stalking

This morning we chased tennis balls and squeaky toy bunnies, then this afternoon we returned to the Chiltern Open Air Museum to do a bit of stalking - this time of the Horrible Histories cast. We ran them to ground eating their lunch (no, they didn't offer to share) and the Madwoman flourished a DVD under their noses and asked them to sign it. They kindly agreed - although we suspect that it was possibly to get her to go away so they could eat in peace and quiet ... Of course, it could also have had a lot to do with the fact that we looked our very cutest, and that the signed DVD is in aid of raising money for the Emergency Kennelling fund being organised by Sighthounds Online. This is to help those dogs in pounds which have only a seven-day stay before being euthanased find a place in emergency kennelling while a place in rescue kennels or a home is being sorted out for them. One of our predecessors, a big hairy person called Boris, was rescued on his last day by the Madwoman, so it's a fund raiser close to her heart. We think it's a pretty good idea too.
So please thank Horrible Histories and it's lovely cast, and please support Sighthounds Online -you can find out more at www.sighthoundsonline.org.uk - and keep an eye out there for details of how you can place a bid for the autographed DVD!

Seeing stars

And not a single person asked us for a pawtograph!

We went for a stroll round the Open Air Museum this afternoon: Horrible Histories were busy filming there. We watched for a while as witches, soldiers and kings wandered around and rehearsed a bit, whilst pursued by a flock of film crew people: it would appear that for every actor there are at least 6 other people - that's the ratio we counted here but no doubt there are more as there were hordes of others in the carpark.
We quickly got bored but had to wait to set off down the track towards our car until they'd finished dragging a portaloo along it, leaving it in place next to the field they were filming in. When we passed it there was a sign hanging on the door saying 'Out of order'. So what was the point of going to all that bother? Especially as there is a much nicer permanent toilet block right next to the field anyway ...
The whole thing is a mystery to us. Not that we ever use them ourselves you understand: the seats are poorly designed for wippitts, and far too high. No, we make do with a bit of grass (watch out for nettles) or discreetly behind a tree if one is conveniently handy. Of course, you do need to take a human with you to pick up the more ... solid ... offerings.

Snacking

Nasturtiums ... peppery ... yum.

Angel is rather partial to a bit of salad with some bite. She has her own personal salad bar (you'll be able to read more about this next year in the book on dog friendly gardening which she and Archie have written, although no doubt the Madwoman will attempt to steal the credit for it as usual), but now the American Land Cress is past it's best, she has to nibble on nasturtiums instead.
Right, that's the starter ... where's the main course?

Scrobbled!

Waiting under my fleece for a

bit of TLC ...

Archie got scrobbled by a cat yesterday ... while harmlessly pottering around outside, enjoying the sunshine and a nibble of grass he was ambushed by an evil kitty which leapt into the garden on top of him. Covered in bites and scratches and hobbling around on three legs after the close encounter, he had to be whisked off to the emergency vets for antibiotics and an eye check. The Madwoman had to go back again later for painkillers and anti-inflams as he was in so much pain from his lame leg, which had also become really swollen and tender by this time. It hurt so much in fact, that he took to the sofa and refused his dinner. Angel did offer to eat it for him, but wasn't allowed to. Off to our regular vet this morning, where he had a much more sympathetic reception as well as more drugs, and is feeling much better as a result.

Too much to expect get any well wishes or treats we suppose after the total lack of them when Angel got bitten by a bee - but maybe you'd like to join our campaign to rid the world of evil kitties?

Pleasure and treasure beyond measure

Gimme, gimme, gimme! ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Where'd it go?

The Madwoman finally got herself organised and took us treasure hunting yesterday - as promised in previous blogs. Due to the unseasonally hot weather Archie didn't get to dress up in his rather fetching Cap'n Archie Sparrow jumper, or Angel to don her scourge-of-the-evil-kitties bandanna, but fun was had all round.

If you want to teach your human how to organise a treasure hunt for you it's very simple - even the stupidest human can learn how to do it. They run round (the exercise is good for them) and hide treats and toys, which you then get to hunt out and liberate. Angel likes to have treats hidden under soft toys, flower pots and those little sports cone thingys, rolled up in towels, or inside empty eggboxes. Archie likes these too, but best of all he likes hunting for tennis balls.

You can play this game in the garden or around the house if it's a bit cold and wet out: or if you are really lucky and can persuade your human to make one for you, digging for treasure in your very own digging pit is pretty good too ...

Have you hoard about it?

Here's one we prepared earlier ...

We went for our Sunday stroll round the Open Air Museum this morning, stopping along the way to watch the blacksmith at work in the forge there. He was making nails: it had taken much time and sweat to make a dozen last time he'd been up, and he was hoping to produce at least fourteen today. We left him to it and continued on our way, stopping once again on the way out at the Iron Age hut. They had a Saxon in residence, demonstrating Saxon crafting skills: shields had been left casually propped up against the fence, presumably in readiness to repel any invading armies who dared disturb his crafting ... There was a handy looking axe buried in a block of wood (but no swords in stones we noted), and various other items such as a decorated dagger sheath and a wooden hammer. We were quite impressed until we stuck our noses inside and peeking behind the door spotted a rather more modern 21st century collection of woodworking tools. What a cheat, we thought.

Passing the blacksmith again, still laboriously hammering away at his meagre collection of nails, we did think about suggesting he just went and borrowed a few off the New Age Saxon ... but in the end decided not too: he seemed to be having such fun - and at least he was genuinely making them from scratch.

Needless to say the Madwoman once again failed to bring the camera with her, so we've used our initiative to give this post a bit more of a Saxon flavour: the pictures at the top show us using a towel, an eggbox and some gravy bones to recreate the discovery of the Sutton Hoo hoard.

Shiver our timbers!

Angel tests the squeak in her toy bunny

Avast there our hearties - it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day today, so we're doing our bit, although we'd rather have pieces of treats than pieces of eight ... In fact we were rather expecting, and looking forward to, quite a few pieces of treats today, as the Madwoman had promised to take us treasure hunting as part of Talk like a Pirate day. Unfortunately this plan has been thwarted as Archie had an upset stomach yesterday and was sick in the morning: he was also noticed to be favouring a paw. Although he seems fine this morning, the Madwoman has postponed the treasure hunt for a couple of days. Spoilsport. Maybe we should make her walk the plank ... trouble is, there are only goldfish-infested waters in the garden, so we don't think it will be much of a threat. In the meantime you'll just have to make do with a picture of Angel playing with her squeaky bunny toy.

Ar-har me hearties!

Archie practices his hidden treasure locating skills

Apparently Monday is the International Talk Like A Pirate Day, so to celebrate the Madwoman has promised to take us on a treasure hunt. Excited? We are. And we will of course, also dress for the occasion ... in the meantime as it is raining, we are doing a little indoor treat-hunting in order to hone our skills. We'll remind the Madwoman to take her camera along so if you come back on Monday you can see us in action ...

Odour nil

Sulking. Well, wouldn't you?

Angel found something really whiffy to roll in this morning: even someone as nasally challenged as the Madwoman could smell her a mile off. When we got back to the car we were fully expecting Angel to be subjected to the wippitt wet wipes which live in the glove compartment for just such occasions but tragically, they appear to have vanished. So we got a ride home inhaling the delicious aroma while shivering in the gale force winds blowing through the open car windows ...

Once back we had to wait for our elevenses while Angel was led away to the bathroom and scrubbed from head to toe: after a brisk towel-down her fur is sticking up like hedgehog spikes and she now smells of Neem shampoo. So only a short-lived triumph for the art of scent. Next time we must remember to hide the shampoo as well ...

To the rescue!

Like a fish out of water ... well, it was, earlier. Meet Blondie.

The Madwoman has been taking things easy for the last few days, so we've been putting our paws up too ... it was action stations this morning though when she went out to feed the fish (there are two which live in the front garden) and found that one had managed to beach itself on top of a bit of vegetation near the edge. We thought it was only whales that did that, but it would appear that goldfish can too. First of all there were shrieks when she thought it was dead, but then it started panting, so she quickly scooped it back into the deep end while we supervised. It seems to be okay - we all trooped out to check on it again before going for our morning run - lets hope it's sense of direction has improved and it doesn't do it again, as we're just about to settle down for a nap and would prefer not to be disturbed by any further fishy goings-on.