Gold dust dogs and a close shave

When they said we were going out in the car this morning, I thought it a bit strange.


It wasn't just see the catkins that was for sure, we saw them yesterday.


I went to the poodle parlour, the lady who trims my locks does have a poodle.
I'm now sleek and fluff free. No more fluffy slippers, no more long ears and no more feather's on my legs. GONE, I'm BALD !


They tried to bribe me with cookies. I call it a bribe after the deed has been done.
I ate the cookies anyway.


DO I look like a dog that can be bribed to you ?


They also had to buy me a new fluffy bed to go in front of the fire...


Why ?
BECAUSE I AM WORTH IT !

Love Ames x x x

Baby stuff and quilting goodies

I haven't been completely idle over the last few weeks.

This is for one of my friends who is having her first grandchild.
Although my knitting tends to be purl one knit one drop one. I also made a boy version, just incase, she could have one of each, TWINS... it has been known.


Strange day today, we have them sometimes at the cottage.
I'm not sure if Frank is waiting for the postman here or waiting for Ginger to appear from the other side of the bridge....


Sometimes when the postman comes, bless him he brings such good things from my friends.

I won a one day giveaway from CINDY about a week ago.

Cindy must have her own carrier pigeon because this arrived very quickly.
Ten fat quarters of heavenly quilting material. As well as so many other goodies, I was amazed how much was in the box. It seemed never ending.
When I post any thing, it is normally stuffed into a cat food box... Cindy has put me to shame, and I have seen the error of my ways.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU CINDY....
CINDY has a really beautiful dog, but then I would say that about her dog and not about her wonderful quilting blog..... you can visit HERE .



Other than the great gift from Cindy today,
Frank looks slightly worried here.


This is his fluffy play toy, I really need to get my own feather duster for the cottage cobwebs.


Done the normal supermarket shop.... hum.......


Would have lost the car in the car park if it hadn't have had monkey and the Devon sticker in the windows. I should love it when we change our car.
But it takes me ages to find it in the supermarket car park.
I am still looking for the old one... confused... ?

So pleased to see Monkey. He is swinging from the side window AH BLESS !


If we had a car like this, then I couldn't have made a mistake, this a Ford V8 Pilot.
Not sure, if it's 40's or 50's.
I have to say very classically here, they don't make them like they used too.


Thought you would like to see Tudor Cottage in the village, I wasn't driving, so I tend to snap away merrily in the passenger seat. It was a dull day here today.


There are Catkins out along the back roads from the cottage...
NO !
I'm really surprised. To me, they mean memories of school and the nature table. They don't have nature tables at school anymore, do they ?


Wild snowdrops.


Busy day, at least it was for us, not for Mew.
Have a good week, we are playing with water in the cottage tomorrow.
Well, lets say one of us is.
If we need a boat I will let you know.

Blue Amber and fossils

I promised Sue of Sooz jewels that I would send a her a photo of some blue Amber. Or at least blog about it.

To say that the blue amber in the photo is old is a bit of an understatement, so lets just say I have had it for a quite a few years.

There's a good test to see if Amber really is amber or if it is plastic.
Take a large glass and keep adding salt until the salt no longer dissolves. Add the amber.
If the amber floats, it's true amber, if it sinks then maybe it's not....

Or you could burn a slight part of the amber with something like a soldering iron. If it gives an acid smell then it's plastic, real amber should smell sweet.
The amber above had the salt test. Passed, before I forget to tell you.



We aren't avid fossil hunters, no puns here about the two old fossils living in Soggibottom Cottage.


Although on a warm day walking along the Jurassic Coast in East Devon or Dorset, fossil hunting can keep us amused for hours.
The best place to look for fossils is at the grey cliff base. Sometimes you have to have nifty feet as the cliff tends to fall.
Stay safe and stick closer to the waters edge.


We even have help.


Not always the right stones, but you never know. They could be !


Thanks Sandee. Sandee has passed on A stylish blogger Award to Soggibottom.
Wish I were Stylish Sandee, before I say anymore I'll accept the award quickly.

Thank you Sandee.

You can meet Sandee Here at Sandee's ramblings.
Most of my photo's of Stonehenge are for Sandee. Sandee also has a sketch book challenge going on over at her blog........I can't draw, but there are many of you out there who can.

As I have accepted this award I also have to say seven things about myself.... nearly every award has a catch.

I have never crossed the equator, although I have swam within 100 miles of it.

I would prefer to swim than sail and have been known to jump from a moving boat, just to get off quickly.

I have swam with Sharks and Barracuda's. Not from choice ( I never knew they were there).

Haven't eaten meat for over 25 years.

Have an undying love for anything that has four legs, furry, skinny, fat or thin, fluffy or smooth.

I never watch animal related films where the "animal" gets it next.

I once kept Angora rabbits.

That wasn't as bad as I thought.............

Now to pass on the award to 15 newly found bloggers and let them know about it....

This is a great chance for me to tell you of a few of the new blogs (new to me) that I have found... not always animal related. :-)

HOWEVER.... if you would like this award, take it. You only need to click and save.

In no particular order.........

Rouky

House Elf

Through the eye's of Tweedles

Bark and About

Sew Cindy

Remington

Loveing for a Living.

Silver Nik Nats

The Blessed Hearth

Slightly Shabby

Ten Lives and Second Chances

The Chronicle of the Woos

A stitch in time saves nine

Tales from the mouse house.

Mama Bugs Photos

There are many many more I would love to add here, but I'm sure the list will keep you busy for a while. I forgot to add about the amber mine in my list... there will be another time.

Fanks from Ames

A big thank you to everyone who sent Amie Soto Blossom Birthday Wishes.

If you follow Amie on Facebook, you have already seen some of her birthday photo's.

You will also know that if Amie really could talk, she would lisp slightly because of her missing teeth. If Amie hasn't got around to saying "fanks" to everyone, it's probably because she fell asleep at the keyboard. Forgive her.


Amie is off to the hairdressers in the week.
To make her look smarter than the average Cavalier ?
Some hope, as she still prefers mud puddles to clean water paddling. I think the saying is that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.


She had her birthday tea with Frank and Mew.


Fishies, what else, followed by a sneaky lick of the other empty dishes.


Even ice cream.


Around the cottage it has been a fairly quiet. For the first time in weeks we've been able to go and survey our garden. Lots of bulbs coming up, unbelievable to see after the hard Winter. For all those that still have snow, take heart. Spring isn't far away.


Tidying up the garden is going to take a few weeks. We could really do with an extra paw of two.


Frank was going to help, but decided not to get HIS paws dirty....

Birthday GIRL AMIE SOTO BLOSSOM

Doesn't time go by quickly when your having fun ?

Amie Soto Blossom at 12 weeks old.



Like most Cavaliers Amie likes to lady it above other's.
Amie in her sports car.....


Amie swimming with Grace.
Amie really can swim. Although now she sedately paddles in puddles.

Amie with Mew............


Amie and the pigeon......


Ames even has a cartoon drawn especially for her from Heather at Little Bearries


She loves fish and chips................ she only has fish though.


She has her own portrait by Michele Beesley. The beer wasn't intended for Amie.


Outgoing, loves to play ball. When she had her full set of teeth.


Addicted to ice cream.


Still has a passion for cars.


loves piggies.....


Hates babysitting toy kittens.


All in all, a good time had by all for 13 years.

When your teeth are few and your eye's can't see quite as far as they used to. No problem, your always remembered, not for what you have done, or brought to the world.
It's by how much love you give.

I've taken the photo's from past posts, we have so many other Photo's of Amie Soto Blossom, these are just a few from a large pile.

No matter how long your pet is with you, every day counts....it has for us and Amie for 13 years. HAVE A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMES... you can even have some ice cream, fishies for tea, no chips.....
She's weight watching.

January sky

When the chance comes along and it's a clear blue sky day in January.



It's good to head for the nearest beach. Have some fresh air and kick up some sand.



Some are left behind. Frank I have to admit, isn't a beach lover.



Especially when there are so many dogs around. Although I am sure Frank could hold his own. Or so he thinks !
Most enjoy the sun, don't be fooled it was -1 deg Centigrade.


There is always one that has to be in the photo. Head on the left......