Pushy cats on the edge of Dartmoor

Oscar is one of Amie's beau's.
He normally walks by the cottage after he has dragged him self through the muddiest puddles he can find in the park. Swam under the bridge a couple of times and rolled as many times as he can get away with in whatever looks sticky and gooey and not very nice. As long as it makes every leaf and twig stick to him then all the better.
Amie loves Oscar.
Oscar loves Amie.
To see Oscar walk past the cottage looking so prim and dandy, well, Amie wasn't sure it was him.
Even I could smell him as he came around the corner, a clean perfumed undoggy smell, that lingered in the air. We have bets to how long Oscar will stay looking so dapper.
Maybe a day?


Not one of the best weekends to go walking on Dartmoor.
Before anyone asks about the red field.
We have red soil in this part of Devon.
It's cold, it is May isn't it ?


Only one thing to do on a cold day, cuddle up and stay warm.

You all know Mew is a large very overweight tabby cat.
Everyone knows Frank is large, I thought the photo of them both together would show you just how large Frank really is.
They both want the same spot on the settee and are trying to push each other off.

Frank is seriously thinking about going into the next election..... DON'T THINK HE WILL HAVE TO WAIT LONG !
Pushy, argumentative, he also tries his luck with his cat food expenses, then makes out that he is so not a fat cat

Votes are in

Because of the U.K. Elections, the bear missed St George's day.

He's been campaigning in the cottage window with a vote for the Soggibottom Bear Party notice.
He's had many admiring looks and we thought at one time he had a good chance of wheedling his fat little paw inside the door of No 10.


Life would be boring !
He would much prefer to live at Soggibottom and have some fun.
Playing around in the bags that I made from Dolore's pattern that she sent me a few weeks ago.


He would also miss sitting in the window.
Even though it was raining in Devon today.
So for all that wished to vote for him, thank you everyone.
But he's staying where he is, I'm not sure I could get up early in the morning to get him dressed for his appointment with the Queen anyway.

Walking in blue

Love this time of year when the bluebells emerge and carpet a wood floor.



However, you know what it's like.
When you think you are all alone,


shuffling around on the path.


The same as waiting for a bus. Not one but three come along at the same time.

May Day Happy Thoughts

The first of May started with a knock on the door from the postman.

A large envolope from Michele (yes, lucky people, there are two of us who spell our name with one L). Inside, the fabulous watercolour painting you see above of Amie.



Michele told me ages ago, she was working on a painting for a friend.
I never for one moment realised that the painting Michele was working on was from the photo of Ames. We were out and about on a beautiful day last Summer when we found a watering hole beside the river Teign. A long time ago in a doggy lady's life.



Before you get the wrong idea, Amie might be an ice cream fiend but she never drinks anything except water..... she is partial to the odd sip of champagne.



When framed Amie's portrait will go in pride of place on the cottage wall.
Amie Soto Blossom here forever.

We can't find the words to thank Michele for her unexpected and treasured gift.
May Day Happy Thoughts.

I can't keep Michele's art to myself, click HERE or click on Amie's portrait to see more of Michele's fantastic painting skill.

Thank you for all your happy May Day thoughts, hope you all have a perfect day.

May Day

I have spent May Day's in some strange place's.................


Where ever you are...... have a great day on the first of May.

Mine will probably be spent in bluebell woods, well, Amie and I hope so !
You were expecting Morris Dancer's weren't you !

The River Frome. and Wool

It made me laugh as I have been after wool to felt.
I found myself in a village called Wool.
Living in Devon there are so many sheep around, I don't know any sheep farmers, only farmers that have herds of cows.

This is Wool in Dorset.


Thomas Hardy and Tess of the d'Urbervilles stuff.
I find Thomas Hardy slightly dower, I have to admit that I have however, read Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
I fib, I saw it on T.V.


This strange little bridge has a story.
There used to be a plaque on the stonework warning that anyone tampering with the bridge would be transported to Australia.

2010 and no plaque.
Camera in hand and ready to snap and show you.
The bridge is intact but someone has had it away with the plaque.........

Shall we move on ?

Not before I tell you that the 17th Century gabled Woolbridge Manor House that stands beside the River Frome is where Tess of the d'Vubervilles spent her honeymoon in Hardy's novel.



Back to the river Frome.
Shame on me for forgetting the name.
I didn't have to find a map to name the river guys, I googled it.
Can I just give you a link here to Melanie from Jellybean.
She will welcome all your good thoughts.
She also has a great blog and like Soggibottom loves to share the places that she visits and see's in her travels.


Thomas Hardy would have been horified.................. yes...... Amie did !
Ladies can only hold it for so long !

Amie Soto Blossom in Dorset

Amie never took this picture above, pure luck to have caught the sun behind the Devon flag.


Ames has been in Dorset today, the flag picture was taken on the way home to Devon.

Her she is in Lulworth Cove today. Not so sunny as the last time we went, but it was a great afternoon. Forgive her, she has been asleep in the car and it looks as if she has forgotten her tooth. (yes, tooth...... well tooth or two)


Dartmoor, or Lulworth Cove beach, Amie is adaptable.
I think her real love is the beach.... or is that mine ?


Not sure what Marg Simpson was doing.
Good thing about someone taking pictures is that you can see what the back of your hair looks like. You also know when it's time to go to the hairdressers again.



I'm sure the holes in the rock have got bigger since we came here last.


One day they will look like this beautiful cove.

Amie also went walking along the river..... except it's been a long day....



I can't remember what the river is called.

For anyone passing Lyme Regis over the weekend. There is a fossil exhibition on the beach. If you feel like the Soggibottom inhabitants lately, don't hang around in Lyme Regis too long or you might be included.