My favourite garden position.

Alternative use for the garden table.

Swallow looks at the flowers.

The nearby bar is always busy.

My little brother is an angel!

All is not what it may seem. The Ladybird hides a folded up pair of wings under its carapace and the slug actually has the vestige of a shell inside that splodgy body.--(believe me, I remember that much from my Zoology lectures 'way back in the early 60s!) Which brings me to the following anecdote.
My younger brother was a scrawny little under 10 year old and had been prancing about in front of the bedroom mirror without his shirt. He turned his head round to view the reflection of his back and dissolved into tears. On questioning him he announced to mother that he was growing wings; he was a freak! He would always have to wear a roomy shirt to allow for their growth.
What he had seen were his shoulder blades sticking out!

The Ladybird.

The common Black Slug-complete with little horns out!

The Cycle Track and its Accessories

It's been a long time since I took the dogs to the nearby forest. Spencer is not too keen on the twigs that become entangled in his "undercarriage".
We more or less stumbled on this cycle track and followed it back to the car. It was late afternoon and we only met one couple out walking and not one cyclist.
I was intrigued by all the man-made as well as natural objects along the route. Why anyone in their right mind wants to cycle over such rough terrain, up and down impossible gradients and ride along narrow planks over water beats me. ....each to his own, I suppose.

Looking back down the track to where we started.

Obviously we are in deer territory.

Spencer and Tass enjoying the forest scents. Tina usually walks behind me.

An extremely interesting tussock of grass for Spencer and Tass.

We arrive on a cycle route

The little log obstacles are fairly frequent along the way.

Take your pick...bailey bridge or log ford.

Tass chose the logs.

Aaah-ha, so they stop to play, do they?

Carefully(?) constructed route over a boggy part.

..followed closely by dipping down steeply into a hole!

..then through a narrow, dark avenue.

How did this hay bale get here? There's not a field for miles.

.....and this washing machine!!???

A "dead" front section of a child's tricycle!

Scottish Papillon Club Champ. Show -Best Veteran.

BVIS-Pyatshaw White Heat (Spencer)

born 20 November 1997.

(1CC, 2RCCs.)

Both photos by Mr Raper (photocallnortheast)

taken at the show on Sunday 17 May '09

Scottish Papillon Club Championship Show.

I have put off posting this as I was awaiting a professionally taken photograph of Pyatshaw White Heat (Spencer) who had won Best Veteran in Show. It still hasn't arrived so I'll post it when it does.
Spencer saved the day for Pyatshaw.After our fabulous results from the previous day the others, George, Swallow and Mo are still climbing out of the "bin"!
The judge was Mrs Julie Sparrow (Casarrow) of Pomeranian fame.
I took very few photographs at this show so have had to use some from recent others.
Full results can be seen on the Scottish Papillon (Butterfly Dog) site (http://papillonclubofscotland.blogspot.com/

Bitch Challenge Certificate & Best in Show--Ch. Spinillons Saffire JW (Mrs J. Davidson-Poston)

(Photo taken at Birmingham National)

Reserve Best in Show & Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate--Amicae Leading Lady to Rozamie (Messrs. Magri & Arrowsmith)

Dog Callenge Certificate and Best Puppy in Show--Gleniren Madi Sunkisses Sunshoo (Mrs I & Mr G Robb)

Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate-Adnamashan One in A Million (Mrs A & Mr R Skelton)

The winner of the DCC & BP award just wants to go home at the end of the show!

Pyatshaw Silver Quaich (my own George) who won nothing but behaved impeccably!

(Photo by Marian Macleod)

The Junior Handler Winners

(left) 1.(age 6-11 years)--Zoe Bradford.

(right) 1.(age12-16 years)--Samantha Crawford.

Hazel Barr congratulates the dog after Queenie Bruce (Tijuana) had won the "lucky dog catalogue no." prize draw.

Skywatch Friday

Clouds above the Law, Dundee, Scotland, as seen from the south end of the walkway over the Tay Road Bridge.

More skies from around the world can be seen at Skywatch Friday: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

The Blacksmith (Farrier)

Under the spreading chestnut tree.....well, not quite, but out in the field,..the (village) smithy(s) stand(s) etc....
Yesterday turned out to be, once more, a beautiful day, and we went over to the farm where this was taking place.
The two blacksmiths, as we call the farriers, were very young! Am I getting VERY old?? This puts them in the same category as policemen, teachers and doctors, who all seemed to very staid elderly people when I was a teenager. The smith who came to attend to my pony's hooves was a gnarled old man!
The two Clydesdale mares were accompanied from the top of the hill by Audrey, an ex trekking Highland pony, reputed to be in her mid 30s and still looking fit, and a horde of inquisitive suckler cows and calves.

Audrey(foreground) and the horses and cattle arrive.

The blacksmiths set to work.

One pares the hoof of the older mare.

...while the other sees to the young filly's feet.

Ross, my brother, does the double!

Some of the audience.

Do you like my new earrings?

I've lost one of mine!

SKC..and finally..

Best of Breed, the multi CC holder, Gleniren Starlight Kisses.(Mrs I. & Mr. G. Robb)

SKC--Two More Photographs.

These two photographs of Swallow and Ellie were taken and sent to me by Marian Macleod of Edinburgh.