I do like to check the borders for mice and they love tulips, but maybe not so much at Chalfield where our bulbs get covered in a Cayenne Pepper paste before they are planted: as  mice and voles do not like that taste. Thank goodness my delicious bones that I bury have not been treated in such a way!! 

The swallows are back which everyone loves to see but poor Pam who looks after the church gets  put out when they return to their warm beams in the nave  to start another family and Oh the mess!. They really need a little lesson from us doggies. I really cannot help, at my age I am simply not able to jump that high.

We have just had the annual plant fair with over 900 visitors coming to see me.  I do enjoy this day as by now I am of course quite famous and the tea room is full of happy people spoiling us rotten.

This raises funds for Action Medical Research, Paddington Bear is their Guest.

Admission is £3 including for NT members, Children free, Giant Cake Stall

10.30 am to 4.00pm 

When Robert and Patsy got home they found that the beastly jackdaws had tried to lay their nest in our sitting room chimney.  This makes me so cross as I like to sit next to that fire and it takes Robert a long time to get rid of all the sticks but `I guess it is good kindling!!!

It is so nice to have my fans all coming to see me again,  The garden is looking very pretty with all the Spring colour.  I like to follow the visitors around and show them my favourite places.

Easter was fun with all the family.  I enjoy joining in on decorating the church with all my friends who love to see me,  I do try not to get in the way.

The children had fun running around the house searching for Easter Eggs.  We found quite a few but sadly I have to decline eating them as chocolate is not good for us four footed creatures

For the first 2 weeks of February it was so cold that even walking around my favourite fields was not much fun.  Sadly I missed out on the teas on snow drop day as it was so cold Patsy decided we were better off in front of the fire.  I think I had to agree with her but over 400 people flocked through the gates in the two hours that the garden was open.  They must have been so disappointed not to see us doggies. 

As I write this, at last the sun is shining and we are once more enjoying being in the garden.  Now I can start my morning ritual  having a good tummy scratch on the mat out side the front door.

 One of my favourite walks is through the woods where there are wonderful foxy smells, the odd pheasant basking in his glory and of course squirrels to chase.  Today was a very special walk with the sun coming through the trees and all so quiet except for the birds.

 Patsy went off to Ireland for a few days with out my permission.  I was a little sad but it does mean that Robert spoils us with lots of tit bits and life is really very cosy.  We were ready for her return with a very warm welcome. I do enjoy sitting on her bed watching the suitcase being unpacked and put firmly away.

I have spent a lot of the last few weeks getting as close to the fire as I can.Patsy did buy me a new bed which  is right next to the Aga  -   Pretty cosy really.

 My American coats have come in very handy and I am now quite happy to go out for a walk in them despite what the other dogs along the way may think of me all dressed up. 

We did have some London friends  King Charles Spaniels to stay which I rather enjoyed as I can boss them around.  They were certainly not used to our cold house  so I had to make it quite clear that I am top dog and they were not allowed to steal my place on the bench in front of the fire. They managed to steal Molly’s chair instead.

Most days we walk across the fields to the village to buy the newspaper. This always takes me a very long time as there are so many messages on the way that I need to attend to.  Patsy gets very cold waiting for me.  I like visiting the shop as it is warm, cosy and everyone seems pleased to see me. Molly stays outside in her obedient way. I still have not managed to get any tit bits yet but I am working on it. 

At last we have an open day on Sunday to see our snow drops in aid of Dorothy House.  This is a great occasion for me as I can entertain all our visitors in the tea room while they enjoy delicious cakes which some times get passed on to us if we are really good.

 Our Christmas Fair was great fun this year..The house looked wonderful with the huge tree and lots of fires for me to get warm in front of.

Robert and I sat outside the front door meeting and greeting all my friends  who I am sure had just come to see me and not  to do their Christmas shopping..  As it was quite cold Robert gave me his warm coat to snuggle up  in. Patsy was quite cross as he then got a horrible headcold and had to retire to bed for a day, however I managed to sneak up stairs when no one was looking and keep him company.

The house has been full of children racing around from one end of the house to the other.  At one point there was a very small helicopter flying around.  I wonder if you can spot it.

  What I love about Christmas is the fire in the great hall where I can always escape the roaring cars and toy fire engines that maybe zooming up & down the passage and around the hall.

On Christmas day the family did a very strange thing, after Church we all walked across the fields to The Fox in Broughton Gifford. Molly and I had never been to a pub before but I have to admit it was rather fun and we found lots of friends who were pleased to see us.  Also it was very warm.

Blow me down, we then repeated the exercise in the pouring rain on New Years Day but this time it was for lunch so we had plenty of time to dry off and be very spoilt.

 Happy New Year to you all from us contented doggies.

What a wonderful November we have had, we have been able to spend lots of time in the garden.  As you can see I love to help with the digging but Patsy gets quite cross when I teach Molly how to dig.  For some reason Labradors are not supposed to take part in such activities.  I cannot understand why as they are much stronger and can dig  really deep holes unlike my rather limited attempts.

We have lots of ducks on our moat this year, they have become good friends and never scared of us when we are in the garden. but I wish they would not sleep in the orchard at night as some horrible fox will come and catch them and I fear they are feeling quite drunk after eating the fallen apples. Robert and Pats say that they like to leave some apples on the ground for the birds and ducks in case it is a very cold winter like last year.

Patsy and Robert were so excited when they went out to dinner for a great Thanksgiving feast at the American Museum in Britain as I got a mention in the speeches. This is no surprise to me as I do have a lot of American fans but I was rather sad not to have been asked too.  You know how I love a good party.

Having said  that our next party here is on the 18^th December which I am really looking forward to.  Molly will no doubt hide but I will certainly join in and be there to meet and greet you all. I wonder can you spot me in this poster.

Cows and Gates 

We have had some scary walks lately.  First some cows have been put in our walking field which we have to cross on our way to get the news paper every day.  I do not like cows, sheep are bad enough but cows are another matter altogether and I have to say they scare me.  Thankfully so far we have stood up to them and they have just stared at us with those huge eyes.

Another very frightening moment was when we were walking past the glove factory where I always pop in for a good sniff, just before we get to the shop. This morning the gates started to close on me, well, I screamed with fright and bolted out to Patsy and hung onto her leg for dear life.

Now we have just closed for the Winter.  I will miss my days with Linda meeting and greeting however the last week was rather cold and bleak and I spent more time in front of our fire than sitting on my seat in the court yard.

The last week of the month was so hot – Neil mowed the orchard so we spent most of the days looking for the odd mouse, one day Molly became quite ill and we think she got heat stroke.  It was nearly a case for the dog doctor but luckily she was fine the next day.  I made a point of being close to the water so I could have lots of swims to keep cool. 

During the heat wave we had 3 nights on the trot partying in the garden.  Firstly it was  a party for the Farmers so lots of goodies handed down to us, second night was The Friends of Chalfield’s concert, sadly I was not allowed to watch in case I joined in which I sometimes do but we were allowed to join everyone for the interval in the garden and the Sunday night was all the church goers after the Harvest Festival service which was very nice for us as they are all friends and they know us well