Who is who?

 We have received some photos of a couple of the pups over the last few days and when Andy showed them to me I asked him when he took them, thinking they were of Nemo! It is amazing how alike they all look! So here is a test, who is who in the 5 pictures below? - lets hope you all recognise your own pup ha ha

1

2

3

4

5

I will let you know the answers on a later blog and also if Andy gets it right!!

Hot dogs in the garden

The weather was just lovely today so Andy, myself and the dogs took full advantage of the sunshine and spent a few hours relaxing in the garden. We took some lovely photo's of our very gorgeous dogs - it's what you are here for after all!

Jess

Nemo

The pair of them chillaxing in the shade

Molly also enjoys her shady spot as far away from Jess and Nemo as possible!

The gorgeous Nemo again

Jess wants to play

It is impossible to stroke just one without the other barging in

Our Nemo again, he is so gorgeous!

And after a lovely, relaxed aftrenoon in the garden, what do you get...?

Dog tired!!

The Saucerers Apprentice

Our plasterer came to work this week with his new apprentice.


There are some very valuable lessons for an apprentice to learn...........


Valuable lesson Number one - do not put your ham and pickle sandwich (ok it's not sauce but the pickles apprentice didn't quite work) down in a house where three Newfoundlands live!


Nemo takes no prisoners......

And that was just one bite - through the plastic bag it was in, which Nemo also ate

You call that clean?!

Andy and I quite clearly have different ideas about what is clean. Well, after all, Andy is a builder at heart and a "builders clean" is definitely something less than what I would consider clean.

 So, every night before I arrive home from work, once the days work on the barn has finished and the subbies have all gone home, Andy cleans up so that things aren't too bad for when I get home, and so that we can relax and enjoy our evening together.

And every night when I eventually get home, I take a look around and I say to Andy, "Right, let's get the cleaning done and then we can relax". And every night, Andy gets really annoyed with me! (To say the least).

This week Andy decided to take some photographs during the really messy part of the day in an attempt to demonstrate just how much effort goes in to cleaning before I arrive home.

OK it's messy

Nice to see the plasterers put protective covers on things.....

Apart from the floor........

..............?!!

Oh and the worktops.........

The ceiling looks nice though

And it's great coming home to a squat every night

This is the clean version.....builders clean version

Just look at that lovely clean, slate floor (good job it is all coming out)

Our extremely safe electrical wiring - the dogs won't touch it now it is cleverly hidden underneath this chair!

Well probably not, because despite all the devastation that is going on around them, they can still manage to sleep!

Zzzzzzzzzz

My lovely and very much missed friend, Nicola recently came to stay with her hubby Ivan and gorgeous baby son Samson. In fact, the timing could not have been much worse as it was actually the day we moved into the Barn and it was a mad day to say the least. But, Nicola was over from LA for two weeks and this was the first time I had seen her for two years, and the first time that I would get to meet Samson.

The move paled into insignificance, the boxes could be unpacked anyday, anytime. We threw them all into one room and cleaned up like maniacs in preparation for their visit. It was fantastic to see them!

Jess was so adorable whilst Samson was here, she became all maternal again and very loving towards Samson.

I love this picture so much! As you can see Samson adores Jess just as much as she adores him!

Samson also adored Nemo - although I have to say Nemo was sooo scared of Samson it was unbelievable. Nemo has never met a "small person" before and really didn't know what to make of Samson so decided to bark and run away......

Love you Nic, come back soon xx

Another week in paradise........?

I am pleased to say that Jess has decided that she loves being here at the Barn! She is now so laid back about the whole thing she spends most of her time horizontal and snoring. Bless her. Her mood has completely transformed now and she is suddenly very happy to indulge Nemo in play fighting and tug of war games again. It is great to see, but they don't half go for it sometimes.

I think that Jess is particularly sensitive and her mood must reflect mine and Andy's. So we must have finally relaxed and settled into our new home, after all the stress of moving.

It would actually be great to relax, but the renovation works continue at a pace and if you stay in one place for too long you either get covered in plaster dust or someone comes at you with a hammer! The dogs look like they have turned grey and you cannot leave food or drink on the work top, if you do something drops into it from our currently under construction - new ceiling.

This is what happened to the bathroom when it stayed in the same place for too long.....

Our newly insulated ceiling starts to take shape

The plaster board goes up

We are delighted with the new sky lights!

The temporary stair surround

Molly, Jess and me

Jess and Nemo - he is so big these days, plaster dust is clearly good for newfies!!

Andy took this next shot and said I had to save it until last for this blog post.........

But I thought that this photograph should be the last one for today. I cut my thumb whilst preparing dinner this evening and unable to find any plasters, Andy made me a builders plaster........

A little bit of gauze and insulation tape! Isn't he a darling!

A Wonderful Surprise!

Andy and I received this wonderful gift today from our friends Mischelle, Nige, Shaney and of course the gorgeous Bailey Boy. I was so delighted I just had to share it with everyone! Hope you like it just as much as I do.

(I can't bring myself to actually eat the cookies though as they just look too amazing)

 Thanks to the Akids for such a thoughtful and original gift and if any of you want to steal Mischelle's original idea (I know I will be - I already have plans for at least 4 boxes for weddings, 40th's and 50th's), then the web site you need is www.customcookieco.co.uk

Thanks so much Mischelle - can you tell how delighted I am with your gorgeous gift? I love, love , love it and I still have to eat them!! Yay!!!!!

Another fab photo of Elwood - no words required

A lovely, relaxed weekend

Despite the mess, we have all had a lovely relaxed weekend here at the Barn. I took a couple of days off work as today is our wedding anniversary, so, once the "after the builders have left" cleaning session was over, Andy and I have been able to enjoy some quality time at home with the dogs interspersed with some lovely walks in the woods.

Jess has finally relaxed and seems to be enjoying living at the Barn now. The lovely, long walks in the woods have helped, particularly as she gets to have a swim in the river. I think she is actually too exhausted to care where she lives! We all set off into the woods together - Andy, me, Molly, Jess and Nemo. Molly can't go too far these days and Nemo isn't yet up to full marching standards with Jess and myself, so, after about 20 minutes, Andy comes home with Molly and Nemo while Jess and I have some girlie time together. I love our walks together, just Jess and me, and I know it makes Jess feel really special. (I can just tell - it's a girl thing)

This is Jess and Nemo after a walk in the woods - well, that is Nemo's foot resting on his Mum's head

Andy having a cuddle with Moll

Until Jess decides to get in on the act - zoom in on this picture if you can, Andy's face is hilarious ha ha

Nemo enjoys lying at the top of the stairs

Mum gets in on the act

How alike are these two? I can't quite get over this photograph, they just look so similar. I love it!

Back to work tomorrow.......