All in a day's work...............

I've been working today - I went to collect two beautiful chocolate Labradors from the venue where they

were Ring-bearers at their human's wedding.  They had just finished having their photos taken and were eager to be off.......given the still snowy weather this March,  I think they may well have been the only two who didn't feel the cold!  

Of course Chocolates have to be one of the most photogenic of dogs and these two looked stunning.  Their coats had been brushed until they shone and they were wearing purple bow ties to match the bridesmaids dresses.

You could tell they were excited and happy that they had been part of something wonderful, even if they are maybe still wondering just what it was.  Once home the youngest one ran circuits of the garden before coming back inside with a silly grin on his face and demolishing a bowlful of water!

The other is more laid back and was really only interested in his stuffed penguin.

I wonder what they really think?

Happy New Year - (if belated)

Apologies for not having updated for two months; I really have no idea where time goes and I have no excuse.

All of Lola's pups were homed, the last going just before Christmas.

This is Lola and Dolly (her pup) - she's growing so quickly, just look at those feet!!

Little & Large............

Will take some more photos later this week; the pups are growing so quickly, it almost seems as though they grow daily.

I was having a cuddle with the chocolate pup, he's so adorable and those beautiful eyes........he settled into my arms and we were having a little chat, as you do, when I noticed Lola looking at me, she clearly wasn't happy with the division of labour.  

Me with one and her with the rest of the football team!! and surely 'crowd control' is my thing, not hers.

I did laugh, if she could have talked, I would have been soundly told off...one indeed!

Now you may wonder why I have two such different photos on this post, and you'll have to ignore the lovely little Daschund at the front of the second photo (sorry Roco) but both the girls are called Lola, and since I can't photograph them together, this was the best I could do.

The whole of my little Chihuahua friend would fit very neatly between Mastiff Lola's paws....and her pups are already as big as small Lola!

And they're growing...........

Latest photos of pups.....they're growing really fast now and are playing.

Makes cleaning up after them fun as they're constantly trying to get my attention by pulling my trouser legs or ripping the newspaper up as I put it down!!

23 days old ...............

 The puppies are now 23 days old, their eyes opened by day 10 and they are now starting to move around quite a bit.  There are small play growls starting and they are becoming aware of each other, not just as a source of comfort but also as potential playmates.

And they're growing - quickly too, I hadn't seen them since Friday and they've changed just in that time.

Lola still sometimes has this look of pure amazement on her face, as if to say 'are they really mine'?

Meet Lola & her pups .........

Its all a bit tiring...........you should try having 11!!

Say hello to Lola, a beautiful, 5yr old Neapolitan Mastiff & her first litter of pups.

I shall be following their development on the blog and hope that you'll be as fascinated with their progress as I am.

The puppies were born 17 days ago and are so sweet; you can already see their wrinkles and their eyes were all open by day 10.  They're growing slowly but surely and Lola is such a good Mum to them.

I'm lucky enough to be going into them half way through the day to let Lola out for a bit of 'me time' and feed her.  Of course once the pups are weaned things will change but for the time being she's enjoying the chance to stretch her legs.

She has a lovely, calm nature and although large, is exceptionally gentle with her puppies.

If anyone is interested in offering the pups a home, please follow the link below, which will show more beautiful pictures, together with contact details and further information.

As with owning any dog, please give serious thought to it before acting.  These puppies may be tiny now but Mastiffs are a large breed dog, with everything that it entails.   Please do your homework and ensure that a pup would fit in with your lifestyle, not only when they're 10 weeks old, but also when they're the size of Lola.

http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/129597-old-type-neo-mastiff-puppies-for-sale-pedigree-chelmsford.html

Summer's end...............

Is it just me or are there a lot of squirrels about suddenly?

Everywhere I look I'm seeing them and I've seen so many sadly on the road this year.

But there's a definite nip in the air now and they're gathering food and burying it in preparation for winter.

 There are a pair in the garden next door and I've watched them a couple of afternoons stealing the peanuts from the bird feeder and industriously burying them in the grass.

It always amazes me how they manage to find them again, but they do.

The birds too are busily stocking up on peanuts, and the suet feeders are mobbed morning and night by a large flock of starlings, many of them this year's youngsters. 

The noise as they squabble bring Jet & Jax rushing to the window to chatter at them, but the birds carry on, oblivious to the threat.   They obviously know the cats can't get them. 

Sometimes when I'm walking the dogs in the nature reserve the noise from the sparrows is overwhelming, until they sense me near and then a sudden quiet descends.  I've stood quietly waiting to see if I can trick them into thinking I've moved on but they're too wise to fall for it, but as I walk away they gradually start up again, one by one.

           The end of summer brings with it a sweet sadness for the warm, sunny days but I love 

Autumn and her wonderful colours; the fields are bare now except for stacks of hay waiting to be taken in and the fields are already ploughed and sown with winter seeds, bright green shoots already visible.

Apples and pears are already flooding the farm shop, the bright reds and greens in sharp contrast to the warm colours of summer pineapples, bananas & plums. And out in the verges near the trees, mushrooms and toadstools are plentiful.

There'll be a rich harvest this autumn for the wildlife & birds, with perhaps just a little help from their human friends