Goodbye Sweet Raffles

July1988-April2009
When I took this photo on the 11th I was not to know it would be the final photo of my sweet boy. Raffles crossed the bridge today. I will miss him so much

Yes We had some Snow!

On Monday Morning we awoke to a beautiful white world. Lots of snow! The dogs had a wonderful time and we slithered along the roads admiring the snowy landscapes. Today the Snow has gone from the garden but there is still plenty in the Forest and a chance of yet more to come.
Raffles really enjoyed it and he still looks very healthy despite his dodgy blood work and the bladderstones. We are hoping that the special diet will soon start to work and dissolve them

Raffles

Raffles has not been very well recently and has had to have some tests. At one point he had a very low platelet count.....but xrays have shown that he has bladder stones and with the right diet he is doing well. We think hs immune system caused him to attack his own platelets and hopefully we have now got this under control.

A Sunny June Morning

Taivas Missy and Raffles pose on our early morning walk. it was very warm and sunny at 8am this morning.
On our way home we stopped off at Hatchetts moor Pond to see the lilies and watch the damsel and dragon flies. There was no sign of the little swan family and I think they must have relocated them somewhere away from the other swan family.
On the main pond the seven cygnets are all doing welland the attentive parents were close by

In the garden at home the Goldfinches were having a snack

First Evening Forest Walk of the Year.

John was home early tonight and we were able to take the dogs for a short evening walk in the forest
Raffles loves these evening walks as it is when all the bunnies are around. He loves to chase the bunnies.They re far to quick for him, but he enjoys it.
Neither of the dogs noticed the deer grazing quietly in the distance.
Missy would rather play with a ball and big puddles are more her style than chasing bunnies.
As we drove home we saw these two little foals with their mums.

fallow deer
Pony at Ashley walk

Little Waterfall
Missy and Raffles
Looking across the valley at Ashley walk

The Bridge at Kingshat

Missy and Raffles

Blue sky on Mogshade Hill


Raffles you are so Handsome

Silver birches at Shatterford
The swamp Monsters

Common Shelduck

greensandpiper and snipe

green sandpiper

Shatterford Bog

Taivas dances for say=usage

The last swim of 2007

Galloping ponies, Its hard to believe the stocky little foal below was born in 2007

A Cold and Frosty morning at Kings Hat.

The Beaulieu River at Kings Hat

It was very cold and frosty this morning, but the forest looks so pretty.

The dogs loved their walk and they were racing about. no chance of them getting cold. Fortunately there was no wind and with the sun it was pleasant walking.

The red stems of the dog wood were very pretty in the morning sun.

it was a very enjoyable winter walk.

A Cold Walk at Pigbush

It was a beautiful morning apart from the icy cold wind and we had a lovely walk at Pigbush The Beaulieu River was very high after all the recent rain which pleased Missy. She had a great time swimming whilst Raffles paddled and Miss Taivas tried not to get more than the tips of her paws in the water.