I’m pleased to announce that Frank is alive.  I have no idea who he is but he’s not as dead as first feared, merely hibernating, something he does apparently for 9 months of the year.  I have no idea what hibernation is either, time for some quick research and a skype to cousin Fluffy who lives in America.

About once a fortnight is chicken night for dogs, a widely anticipated event by the canine crew.  Sometimes it arrives as a ready cooked whole one, other times we have to wait whilst thighs are cooked.  Both options are deboned before we get our paws on it.  Someone asked if mum and aunty biscuit could make a comedy chicken hat, which they duly did.  I went on birdie alert when I peered in the bag it was in, only to be disappointed that it wasn’t real and wasn't edible either, but at least my response reassured them that it vaguely looked like one.  Apparently the legs are optional, but can't understand why as this is the best bit.

I’m lounging on a sofa supervising mum and aunty biscuit.  Harrier is on the other sofa removing the mud that he acquired on our walk from his various body parts.  Aunty biscuit is casting on an ear flap for a garden themed hat.  Various designs for this have been discussed but I’m not privy to which one they are going with.  Mum is writing up a pattern for a custom made hat they have done of the world.   

I was slightly alarmed when I looked out of the lounge window this morning as it looked as though there was a smattering of pink snow.  It turns out that the flowering cherry tree is losing its blossom.  The delicate pink does look very pretty against the green of the grass.  A check on the trees at the back of the garden revealed that all the fruit trees are flowering beautifully and it is still on the trees.  Hopefully there will be a bumper crop later in the year of crab apples for mum to make crab apple jelly with also ordinary apples for making apple sauce and consequently Sunday lunch, which we hope ends up in our bowls too.  She then makes decorative labels and jam jar covers for any jars that she gives away as presents.  It is the pears that interest us dogs.  They windfall and attract the local hedgehogs so we can stand at the patio doors and woof at them. 

One of the simple pleasures in life is a Saturday morning.  After a tummy tickle and a light breakfast you can perch on the sofa arm and watch the comings and goings on the bird table.  We have a collared dove that regularly sits in the mesh tray and eats out of the feeder, it is so fat it’s a wonder it doesn’t fall out....

Mortified! It’s recycling day today, our recycling bin was dragged to the end of the drive by a five and a half foot (including ears) cream rabbit.  Yep you’ve guessed it mum has a onesie.  This in itself is a good thing as it is lovely and warm when sitting on her lap, but I confess that I’m worried what the Labrador across the road will think if she goes out too far wearing it in public.

Mum bought a new dress which she is a little bit short for.  My suggestion that she walks about on stilts has been vetoed, so she has to stand still whilst aunty biscuit scrabbles about on the floor and avoids sticking pins in her and checks that the hem is straight. ( It is always advisable to keep well out of the way when humans are messing about with pins, as they can hurt you.  Also if you happen to be a human it is advisable to count the number of pins out and back into the box). I’m watching from a very safe distance.  Pinning has now been completed and the best means of hemming is being discussed.  Harrier’s ears pricked up when he heard herring bone mentioned as he’s rather fond of fish, until it was explained to him that it is a type of stitch, at which point he dozed back off.  Hand sewing has now been settled on, it is to be hoped that someone doesn’t prick herself in the process!

Mum has been writing up a dolls outfit which uses three different types of elastic.  Having discovered that she has referred to them as round, shirring and four strand elastic, I feel I should set the record straight and translate their true terms. 

I read with interest mums blog on rugmaking.  She may call it a rug, I’d call it a tummy warmer, although I’ll get Harrier to lie on it first and if he doesn’t get told off I’ll evict him.  If he does get told off I’ll just look smug and angelic.  What she may not know until she nearly finishes the rug is that of the 5000 individual bits of yarn required she will only have 49996 strands.  Three got attached to Harriers tail when he wagged it over a pile of trimmed lengths.  These are now scattered across the lawn, naturally they are green.

I realised I have had my blog posted for me yesterday which included reference to Harrier my brother without having introduced him properly.   This was most remiss of me, although I shall choose to blame the admin department as I can’t use a computer, my paws are the wrong shape to hit a single key.   We are litter mates so I have known him all my life.  He is known as Harrier because of his amazing ability to take off vertically and mum thought sea king was too much of a mouthful to shout across the park at him..  .