Back to Soggibottom with De Ark and Michele

In case anyone has wondered, I haven't gone anywhere although it's been a long while since I posted here. 

I used to start off with a photo of a place I had been or a snap of a moment captured in time around the cottage. I hope old friends who are reading this will forgive me for a slight change to the usual old posts.  

The cottage is still here and no flooding lately which is a bonus. Nothing much has changed in the cottage, the garden still grows during the growing season, repairs are attended to and I always seem to have a paint brush ready for a spot of paint when it's needed.

One change is that Ark and I are now the cottage keepers. Just us. 

Freya, my red headed nutty little Cavalier unfortunately caught a virus back in the Summer. As far as I know, along with over twenty other dogs in the village who all visited the stream in the park at the back of the cottage in the hot weather.  It was a long hot Summer and we were all a little pushed as to where we could go and where we could walk with our dogs. 

Freya was violently ill and from the first signs of the virus died within twelve hours. From one day to being a very healthy, slim, quick, little Ruby Cavalier to a very ill little dog who couldn't be saved. She went to sleep and never woke again in the cottage beside me. She was always Tony's dog and I'm sure she really only put up with me because she had to, but it broke my heart to think I had kept her safe for all that time since Tony died and then such a stupid thing that I had no control over killed her. 

I changed my vet before anyone asks.... Nothing would have saved her, Freya died here at the cottage and not in a place that was strange to her. Freya lived life to the full. Never a dull moment with beloved Freya. Ark and I miss her, the cottage is slightly quieter and yet, it will always seem she is around.

It's taken me months to be able to relay about Freya, but I know many of Soggibottom friends already know. Thank you for all the cards and beloved wishes.

 

Ark and I have walks every day, in all weather's. Woods and beaches. Long walks and short ones. Ark never goes into the stream at the back of the cottage in the park. 

He is a happy little guy and never fails to bring a smile to my face every minute of his company is cherished. Even if he always wants to attach himself to my foot.

 

A turning point for me that I have made a post after all this time. It might have been the email I had about one of my bear patterns earlier today. I remembered how much fun blogging was and how many friends I made. 

See yer later guys, Ark and I will be back,

Love Ark and his mum. XXX

July 2018

Soggibottom is still here, although at times it seems a very long road, especially when your never sure where that road is going to lead to. Little Soggibottom dog De Ark walking along a broken road the day this photo was taken and would still have kept walking except the road had fallen into the sea.
I believe the road is being repaired. Takes time to repair, but it will get there :-)  XXX

Soggibottom, Spring 2018

Poor little garden.
Must admit, I don't do snow either, but even as I type, I know my little garden is now well under more snow and keeping warm under there. The wind blows and the cottage is warm.
It all goes away in the end.
Can it please not melt all at once and give the South West of Devon flooding :-) :-) :-)  XXX

Precious

Most things are precious to me. Time is most precious of all. I never seem to have enough time in my day to do all the things I want to do let alone all the things I LOVE TO DO.
Hello again Soggibottom blog.

Have missed you and all my friends greatly. But healing time was needed and my excuse is that,  I AM A WIDOW YER KNOW. :-)
After three years it must be time to come back.

Hopefully anyone reading this, will have a smile on their face and laugh with me during the next year or so, I hope :-)  because Soggibottom hasn't gone anywhere. She is still here and still feels the same as the first time I walked through the door.

Actually the first time I walked through the door I thought OH !
My face must have been a picture but it was never recorded on camera.

What a mess.

Anyone that has visited Soggibottom knows she has a warm feeling that creeps through and it's a calm that sinks right to your bones. You can do anything with such kind, calm thoughts that hit you when you walk through a door (to a mess of OH BOY... how can we buy this and fix it ?).
We did.
Tony and I became cottage keepers :-)
We fixed her. Not that she needed much fixing really.
Ten or so years :-)
We did things over time.
Little old cottage saved me years ago. Moving house and leaving all that you know is not all as it's cracked up to be.
I think it must be in the top twenty of things you shouldn't do if you really don't need to be stressed.  Don't move house, don't pack all that you have, do not follow a hired van with all your worldly goods plus beloved rabbit in the back and follow it so some unknown place you know nothing about just because your other half decide he needs a new job after seeing an advert. HE GOT THE JOB.
Selling most that you have and downsizing into a little house that you hate then go house hunting again...
Was it fun ?
NO.
After two years of looking, THERE SHE WAS..... perfectly awful little cottage. 

Being a widow isn't all it's cracked up to be either, but as my beautiful aunt once told me when I asked her, "how do I do this ? ".
She replied, you just do. She was right. I still have her voice on my answer phone and when I need to hear her voice I replay it. SAD... I KNOW.

Somewhere in I cloud where ever that is :-)
I have a perfect picture of my aunt and I.

My youngest lad tonight. Mum are you in ?.
Well..... will be.
Mutts bless em walked and they never ever get a quick walk around the park at the back of the cottage anymore. WE GO PLACES .

Mum for all her knowing about silly things, really messed up shiny laptop that had so much STUFF on it.

Things are still there. Just not at the moment....... Mum, has a new laptop. So forgive mistakes :-) 
Mark, fixed old one by putting it into a bin. NO !
AW....
Hey at least this one will let me in and I don't have to threaten it or give it awful passwords.
Little guy bless him brought me a new one. 

It's not been easy over the last few years. But life really does go on to all my beloved friends I have met here. What ever life gives you. Nothing that can't be over come.With a bit of thought and time.

You NOSE WHO YOU ARE :-)  which leads me to a meeting last month in the cold. I can't drive and take pics, so no pics.
Awfully cold day and windy. But mutts and I and Delores and our beloved daughter's too.
Aren't we the luck ones... yes we are. xxx

They will both hate me for this but as I love them both they will forgive me. What a cold day :-)

Cold day but YES my dear friend's I really do smile lots :-)
Give loving hugs and drove three hours... ha well... was WORTH IT........... XXX
Freya hasn't done a post on her blog yet, she snores, well, actually she doesn't she is asleep after a long day. But she will be over at her blog.  With the pest she loves and hates :-)
She is back too.

WE IS BACK !!!!!!!!
Too all my loved friends I have met on blogger. Am still here, no need to say I am back... :-) Luvs x
http://www.catflapcavalier.blogspot.co.uk/

Devon Teddy Bear Hospital restores the sight of Olivia's Teddy Bear.

This is Olivia's Teddy Bear WITH NEW SAFETY eye's. Unfortunately Olivia's little dog Pip had decided to taste Bear's eye's and Bear had come off worse. No photo's of Bear with no eye's but Bear was in a slightly distressed state.

Even safety eye's have plastic or metal parts behind them so never ever think they are full proof. The only full proof eye's on a bear or toy for a child under a certain age are the ones that are embroidered on the material of a toy (hopefully).

Luckily Olivia is old enough for her Bear with safety eye's. Olivia was also a day older yesterday .

It was a pleasure to meet you Olivia. Hope you had a happy birthday and enjoyed your holiday in Devon. Bear can now go home and enjoy the views of Ireland again.

The terrible two Freya Rose Blossom and De Ark are as usual over at Catflap Cavalier. 
Enjoying the hot balmy days of Summer. 
 

Last but not least, Happy Birthday Mark Vaile.
Mum won't tell anyone how old you are.
:-) xxx

Soggibottom repaired

The front of Soggibottom cottage was looking very sad. All the window boxes had seen better days. 

New boxes and new paint. Grey might not be everyone's ideal colour but I love it. 
Seems I have mastered the skills of a paint brush after all.  
Freya Rose Blossom and De ark can be found as always over on their Catflap Cavalier blog.  

:-) x x x

Emily's bear.

You might remember Emily's little bear. Or you might not realize this is the same little bear that came to stay at Soggibottom last week.

Emily bear before.

Emily's bear after her replaced paws, new nose and a very long bath. She has been well fed and has a little more stuffing. Also a new little squeaker. 

Seems Emily was pleased with the result. Really pleased I could help out with your beloved bear.

Freya Rose Blossom and De Ark are over on their own blog Catflap Cavalier enjoying the Summer.
Hope you are all enjoying Summer and keeping cool. 
:-) x x x

Emily's bear at Soggibottom's rest and recuperation

Emily's bear is quite small and fragile.

She is not made of mohair. She is a second hand bear.
But, and there is a but, she belongs to Emily.

Emily and her bear. Quite a while ago.

When I clicked on my mail, I don't often click any more. Photo's of the little bear.
My first thought was, no way can I restore Pepper bear to her good looks in this photo.

BESIDES, I am an ARTIST..... Then laughed out loud.

It seems as other bear hospital's around the South West haven't even replied to emails. AW.
Bear's no matter what they are made of are very special. Especially to little girls of seven.

I cannot give back the years of love. I don't want to. Instead, I asked Emily what she wanted.
Little bear has spent time in a bath then drying out in good weather. HUM.....
Poor little lady.
I kept her head above water don't worry and I think she has enjoyed bubbles.
She has also spent time sunning herself in my little back garden.

Along with other's.

Emily's little bear will keep you up dated.
:- ) xxx

Hello again Soggibottom.

Still here and still making every day count.

Just in case anyone gives up. NEVER GIVE UP.....

If you do, all is lost. Never give up when hard times hit or sadness comes. Sadness is always there, but you go on.

Many thanks to two of my beloved yesterday for doing the right thing and letting me do the right thing. Letting go is very hard.
Ah, before anyone reads this and thinks Freya is under the sand she is not. I also know my youngest is type reading this and saying AW MUM !

One part of the heart of Soggibottom now, I hope rests.
The other still walks. How lucky.
Soggibottom I AM BACK AND BEWARE :-)

This not me, it could be, but it's not.

It's not her !

Thank you so very much to everyone over the last two and a half years that have contacted me. Even if it's to do with some pattern that they struggle with. Aw, bless. Still here. Because I promised someone I would be. Always. XXX
For all those that sign anon oh mouse. I do not do anon oh mouse. Just email me and will answer EVENTUALLY,
So much belated mail. Will catch up. Janet, please email me again.

Or you can find me in South Devon, England. Taking in amazing views and thinking how lucky am.

It's has been so long I think I now forget how to sign off Soggibottom,'s blog. I think I always signed off with lots of love. XXX Lots of love. XXX.

Frankie de tabby.

I will leave this to your imagination as I know anyone with old paws, dog or cat knows exactly how it can be.
I am around guys, but so busy that other things take up my time.

Freya is over at her own blog The Cat Flap Cavalier. A few days ago she was picking out her very own boat.

 

Frankie de tabby, Freya Rose Blossom and I hope where ever you are this Summer you are having a brilliant time :-) x x x 

Chatsworth House July 2015

Thank you so much to my friend Julie and her husband Mike for inviting Freya Rose Blossom and me to gatecrash their short break from work this week.
From the South West, keep heading NORTH.. I did that and I got lost.
Never trust sat navs, always have a map book and read it properly.
I found amazing English scenery I had never viewed before as I drove along roads trying to find my way to Chatsworth.
Two hours later after having had a great time I found Chatsworth house.
I found the farm shop I have to be honest then Mike and Julie came to my rescue.

Chatsworth House.

THE HUNTING TOWER.

Freya Rose Blossom and I had the pleasure of meeting my DOG DAUGHTER at last.

Princess Leah in the Furrs and FUR REAL.

The hunting tower stands high above everything else. It's in the middle of the photo in the far distance.

How did that happen ?

Must have been Magic !
If I hadn't have driven so many miles today I would show you more.

Boy oh boy !!!!!
REAL ART.

Freya is over at her CATFLAP CAVALIER blog. Joined by Princess Leah.
More of Chatters a way house photo's to follow soon.

Freya Rose Blossom, Princes Leah, Julie and I, promise.
 :-) xxx

Soggibottom Rag Doll makes more smiles happen.

Your welcome Evie-May. Enjoy your doll, but as always you will have to tell me what you call her.
:-) x x x