The wrinkled face of the Pug.
Enjoying a snack, ringside...
Who gets the filled roll?
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Friday, 20 March 2009
Amaryllis papillio.(now aka Mary Alice Papillio)
My friend, Jean (Crelak Papillons), a former exhibitor and fellow companion on many bleary-eyed journeys to far flung dog shows, has been giving me an amaryllis as a Christmas present for a few years, but this year the plant has surpassed all others. It goes by the name of Amaryllis papillio and was chosen for obvious reasons.
I potted it up in the small provided pot, in early January, and nothing much appeared to be happening, but, just before my jaunt to Oz at the beginning of February, the tip of a shoot was beginning to emerge from the bulb. I did wonder if anything much would grow.
I can only liken it to a beanstalk. On my return, it was about 36 inches high and a second shoot was growing from the bulb followed a day or two later by a third stalk.
In another couple of days it had produced 4 large flower heads and was listing dangerously! It is now supported in a fragile manner by some metal stakes, a length of rubber- covered wire , and a lot of positive thoughts, but is by no means stable as the pot is so small. It looks somewhat like a drunken triffid.
The first head is now shrivelling. Will stalks 2 and 3 produce similar blooms?
I potted it up in the small provided pot, in early January, and nothing much appeared to be happening, but, just before my jaunt to Oz at the beginning of February, the tip of a shoot was beginning to emerge from the bulb. I did wonder if anything much would grow.
I can only liken it to a beanstalk. On my return, it was about 36 inches high and a second shoot was growing from the bulb followed a day or two later by a third stalk.
In another couple of days it had produced 4 large flower heads and was listing dangerously! It is now supported in a fragile manner by some metal stakes, a length of rubber- covered wire , and a lot of positive thoughts, but is by no means stable as the pot is so small. It looks somewhat like a drunken triffid.
The first head is now shrivelling. Will stalks 2 and 3 produce similar blooms?
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
The wee waterfall and the steps videos.
I've spent hours trying to post the waterfall video. After several abortive attempts, lasting a few hours I finally gave it one more go and left it to its own devices while I took the b/w/tri gang out for a walk on what has been the second of two "glad to be alive" days. Lo and behold, there it was waiting for me to publish it when I returned. I don't even pretend to know how all this works!
The first little video is where the burn rushes through a little ravine, up the glen, not far from the house.
The other is taken slightly farther up the same path.
The first little video is where the burn rushes through a little ravine, up the glen, not far from the house.
The other is taken slightly farther up the same path.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Crufts 2009...better late than never!
We saw nothing untoward at the show, despite all the dire warnings and rumours flying about this year. It was the usual big, bold, noisy and exciting show with many overseas exhibitors, many of whom gained top honours.
There were two coaches, for the Toy and Utility day, leaving from the Forth Road Bridge and picking up en route.
Carole and I had been assigned the long back seat and we were able to stretch out and have a fairly decent sleep overnight on the southward journey, arriving at the show about 7am., which gave us plenty time to change and see to the dogs. We had Mo, Swallow and Carole's Emma.
I was handling all three and was unplaced with Mo, in Limit Dog and Swallow in Limit Bitch but was awarded a very creditable 2nd place in Mid-Limit Bitch, with Emma.
The full results with a couple of videos can be seen on http://scotpapnews.blogspot.com/
We left the showground around 6pm and arrived back home just before 2am the following morning.
There were two coaches, for the Toy and Utility day, leaving from the Forth Road Bridge and picking up en route.
Carole and I had been assigned the long back seat and we were able to stretch out and have a fairly decent sleep overnight on the southward journey, arriving at the show about 7am., which gave us plenty time to change and see to the dogs. We had Mo, Swallow and Carole's Emma.
I was handling all three and was unplaced with Mo, in Limit Dog and Swallow in Limit Bitch but was awarded a very creditable 2nd place in Mid-Limit Bitch, with Emma.
The full results with a couple of videos can be seen on http://scotpapnews.blogspot.com/
We left the showground around 6pm and arrived back home just before 2am the following morning.
Alec changed out of his overnight gear into....
...his kilt outfit. Careful how you crouch down, Alec!
.now looking very smart and ready to go off and man the Papillon booth at Discover Dogs with his bitch, Tutyak Could Be Magic,(Hazel).
..
The coach on the homeward journey with some very tired exhibitors.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Spring at last?
It has definitely warmed up a bit at last, even reaching 9 degrees C. at the weekend. I'm a bit too long in the tooth to think that winter is really well and truly behind us yet (the Teuchit Storms--April snow showers, are all too often evident during the sowing season) and I won't be jumping into my summer gear for a while yet..."ne'er cast a clout 'ere The May be out" ...what my granny used to say and not that far wrong most years. We, as children, were never allowed to wear our sandals till June--that's not to say I didn't sneak them away to school, hidden in the depths of my leather schoolbag, so that I could be the same as my friends---you have to conform or be ostracised.
But the signs of Spring are evident. The snowdrops have been and gone, the crocuses are out and the daffodils are beginning to bud........GREAT!!!
But the signs of Spring are evident. The snowdrops have been and gone, the crocuses are out and the daffodils are beginning to bud........GREAT!!!
We headed off up the Law, the first time in what seems like months, as the frost has finally gone and I was hoping the ticks would still be in hiding! It was a bit wet in places but generally the going could be described as "sticky to drying"!
Definite signs of Spring here. The winter-sown crops are growing green and all fields are ploughed, waiting for the ground to dry sufficiently for the spring sowing. The River Earn meanders across the very flat valley floor.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Clydebank and District C.C. Open Show - The Toy Group.
In a howling gale yesterday I drove to Lanark with plenty time to spare before the Papillon classes but as usual I got chatting (blethering, some might call it!) and nearly missed the first class with George. I realised that I still hadn't pinned on my ring-clip, rushed back out of the ring to get it, tripping up George in the process but luckily he was not put off by this and came in second. Mo won the next class and Swallow came second in the Open class.
Loading the car in such a strong wind proved quite difficult as the cage covers were being blown off and the car doors were pulled out of my hands.
Such was the strength of the wind that the Forth Road Bridge was closed to all vehicles but cars and the speed was restricted. Thank goodness everything is much calmer today.
Loading the car in such a strong wind proved quite difficult as the cage covers were being blown off and the car doors were pulled out of my hands.
Such was the strength of the wind that the Forth Road Bridge was closed to all vehicles but cars and the speed was restricted. Thank goodness everything is much calmer today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)