Catching Up

It has been such a busy Easter, we have not had time to blog. Imagine! Life getting in the way of blogging! The CHEEK!

Firstly, we went of a walk with Echo. He is pushing 40kg now but in this picture he was in the low 30s). That is about 4 stone for those on imperial and 56lb for our American friends :)

Then we went down to stay with TJam's parents, Brazil and - hmmm, need to think of a spy name for Boy Wonder. ah, that can be his spy name.

It had been raining so much round there that our usual path was a stream. I loved it but the Boy Wonder had to go through the brambles to stay dry.

Next we met up with TJam's old friend who we will call Astra. She brought her dog, Dylan, and we had a grand old time, walking in the woods. The humans chatted and chatted, catching up on 20 years, so us dogs could just get on with being dogs. Bliss.

Then we met up with Piglet and Puppy (who you may remember from last year when we went looking for Winnie the Poo). They have grown up a lot and are a lot of fun to play with. They are pretty good tree climbers too.

When all that walking and socialising was done, and a bit more walking and some other socialising, and the humans had eaten a Chinese takeaway and we had had some of the leftovers (yum yum yum), Fliptop washed our van for us, and we came home. Thank you Fliptop!

What a couple of weeks we have had!

Be Warned

TJam better put plenty of newspaper down tonight. That bag was full when TJam went ok. It was the biggest bag of nuts and raisins you can buy. I don't know what TJam will have for her snack tomorrow. That's not my problem.

Cheese Slices

TJam occasionally treats herself to some processed vegan cheese squares to make some vegan cheeseburgers (ok, vegan burger in bread with ketchup and onions). She knows some people think it is wrong, but there you go. Now I have revealed her guilty secret. Anyway, no more cheese burgers because she forgot to put her precious cheese slices back in the fridge before going out for the afternoon.

It would have been rude to just leave them on the side.

Work Life Balance

TJam is busy appreciating this double rainbow. Whilst working hard to earn a crust of kit-e-cat of course. Hooray for tea breaks.

Nature Advisors Needed

Right in the middle of this field (in the foreground of this picture if you look carefully)...

we saw a curious sight....

This little guy or gal was hugging his/her babies. Or eating them! Or something! I don't know what toads do. The eggs have been there for about a week and have frozen once in that time.

Look how far they are from any water source! And right on the path. Is this normal?
(They are in between Chips and TJam taking the photo. That is a long way for tadpoles to get. Nature experts please advise!)

Saving the World

Tomorrow we will be saving the world AND saving money. Ok, so we will not be saving the world then and there, but we will be doing our drop in the ocean. Join us if you like! (of course, not by computer because that will be switched off). Join us in spirit. I am suggesting we have a roaring open fire and snacks. Sounds like a very wholesome way to go....

Sunday Morning Lie In

This morning we all got a go at the duvet. I like a shoulder perch myself...

Beanz went for Cuddle in Lap position, and Chips mastered the Dive Under the Duvet move, so you can't see her.

Ahhh bliss.

Water

Aha, we have water again. Plus TJam was embarrassed to discover that the problem with her blurry photos was due to an enormous fingerprint on the lens, and she can't blame me or Chips for that.

Singing in the Rain

What was TJam saying about the weather yesterday?

Ok, so now we are making up for the "no rain" thing. TJam discovered that her waterproofs need reproofing. Urgently.
We nearly didn't make the walk because we had to wait in for our new washing machine. We didn't have to wait long though. They came to the house at 7am. TJam managed to wait til we got home til she tried the washer out. Seems to work fine. Whatever.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

The great thing about all this lack of rain is that AMAZING mud ruts that have been developing.

Have you ever seen muddier legs that this? I RULE!!

Skype

This evening I have mostly been talking to Bamgee on Skype.

Close Call

I just very nearly spent the night locked in the porch. I am like lightening. TJam thought I was a rat until I meowed. I notice the dogs didn't get involved in helping their friend in distress.

Famous Friend :)

You might wonder why Echo is sniffing so curiously at B2.
The answer is...

... that B2 CAME 2ND IN HIS CLASS AT CRUFTS!!
AND 5TH IN HIS NEXT CLASS!
Yes, our friend is a star. Well, we always knew that, but now a judge has said it too :)

Tada!

It hasn't changed him one bit!

You might also wonder why TJam has started taking blurry photos, but I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that.

We've Moved

TJam has been busy moving our blog about. Hope it is still in one piece.

Purrfect Afternoon

This afternoon we are mostly lazing in front of a black and white film. This is the life!

Hare Raising

About 2 seconds ago, an enormous hare came charging up the woodland path towards me and Chips. We couldn't believe our luck and ran right at it. Just as TJam put her hands to her head and shouted oh no, chips and I opened our mouths for the hare to run in - there was nowhere else for it to go - and it leapt up in the air, clean over our heads and along the path. By the time we had done a double take, scratched our heads in confusion and turned ourselves around, there was no way we were gonna catch it. We gave it a good go but we didn't really stand a chance. It was nearly as big as Chips I swear!
All TJam could do was stand and text on my behalf until I gave up the chase and returned to carry on our walk. Which is comparatively boring I must say. Wow. What am encounter. No time for fotos though ...

Alfie (and GG)

We have had a great walk this evening with our friend Gurns Girl and her dog Alfie. It was getting a bit dusk, but we still had a fab time and GG provided us with plenty of treats (plus I hogged the photo with my big black shape).

Missed

If you click on this picture and zoom in to the middle, you might see what I missed. Our local wildlife family that we must not chase.

Growing Like a Weed

Here is little Echo. He's 20 weeks now, and sizing up nicely against Nerospal. He won't be allowed on laps for much longer I shouldn't think.

In fact he's making Nero look like more like a heeler (I was going to say cherwowa but I don't know how to spell it)

He's cute though.

New Toy

We have a new toy! It is amazing. It tells us where we have walked, how far we went, how fast and all stuff like that. TJam carried it today while she got used to it, and one day us dogs might get to wear it, but as yet it is not waterproof so maybe TJam will have to keep hold of it after all.

This morning we went all this way:

Look how fast TJam thinks she went. She should let ME wear it. It would probably say 100mph then!

Freezing Fog

Fun walk this morning but can't see all that much. Is this freezing fog? It is making our eyebrows look greyer than they actually are.
That may be my 1st official reference to the fact we are not actually puppies any more, no matter how we may act.

Professional

Putting the bin in the cupboard under the sink means nothing to me!

NOTHING!

Dog Maths and Squirrels

The thrill of the chase is directly proportional to the length of the lolling tongue. Only in this picture I pulled my tongue in to disguise my delight but you can still see the glint in my eye.

I had a quick drink but was still on high squirrel alert...

If you click on this picture to make it big, you might just be able to make me out at the bottom of the middle tree and my nemesis squirrel spreadeagled about half way up the trunk.

What a GREAT walk!

Darn those pesky squirrels!

Cats and Mountain Goats

The great thing about cats is our stealth, agility and sure footedness.

We can get anywhere, navigating round obstacles and ornaments with our nifty footwork, like Ginger Rogers...

Ooops. How did that get there?

Nothing to do with me...

Difference a Week Makes

What a difference a week makes. Last Sunday we were out in the snow and visitig the cafe. Today, it was all clear (although I still had my coat on for the outward and homeward journeys). That reminds me, I haven't told you yet about TJam's Christmas present, the FURMINATOR.

Today it has been dry here and raining down South. We hope TJam's dad reads this. He is always gloating about the weather.

Places to Puke

Places it is ok for us to be sick:

Features

• flat, smooth surface, lino is ideal
• middle of room, easy to see, easy to avoid
• easy access
• washable and driable

Places it is not ok for us to be sick (although we prefer it):

Features of venue 1

• behind a curtain - hard to see
• behind a door - easily squashed. bottom of door hard to clean
• near an exit - only discovered as human running out of house late for appointment
• (however, extra point for using lino)

Features of venue 2

• behind clothes horse - delays discovery for several days
• behind clean washing - not hygenic
• on carpet tiles - very absorbent. hard to clean
• bit of paper to be recycled still on the floor - absorbent. now need to be thrown out and can't be recycled.
• under cheap dartboard. darts sometimes fall out - dangerous
• splinters where TJam has chopped wood - pain to clear up
• near fridge - where food is stored

We are fine by the way, and neither of us is owning up in case we don't get fed...

New Home

Seems we are all moving around at the moment. This is Steven Patrick. He was given to TJam for her 18th and he will turn 21 in May. He has featured on such radio programmes as the Zoe Ball breakfast show (most loyal listener 1998) and his photo appeared on the breakfast show website, along with THE Jump The Dog. Ah, happy days.

Anyway, Steven - P was not looking so happy recently and his leaves were getting smaller, so TJam has taken him for a long term spell at her place of work where there is warmth, light and sparkling conversation. This was his first day there.

TJam went to see him a week later and he is looking MUCH healthier, greener, shinier and generally a happier bunny.

So all is good.

Plus we have more space in the kitchen.

Spot The Cat

Don't ask how I got in here. I just did.

Destiny

TJam has been looking at some old photos this evening. She is wondering if she was destined to work for the NHS... Look at her talent, taking care of Clown (best patient in the world)

This is a rare photo that doesn't have a dog in it (thank goodness. That makes me nervous)

Carlsberg

New Neighbour

= by Beanz

We have got a new neighbour called Echo (pictured here with his owner). Echo is only 20 weeks old and already weighs nearly as much as me...

At the weekend, he came on a walk with us. Here he is off the lead for the first time, following behind Nero and Nerospal.

He even posed for a little photoshoot, overlooking the reservoir...

Amongst all this good behaviour, I accidentally disgraced myself by eating the bread off the fence posts that this woman had left out for the birds.

TJam says I look funny when I go on 2 legs.

Who cares what she thinks?

My back legs are not disporportionately short and anyway, who was full of lovely white bread? Not her that's for sure.

Spring Bulbs

Last weekend (yes I know, we've been slow bloggers...) we went for a walk with The Geordegian and Bready. They wanted to go and have a look at the bulbs. The bulbs are starting to make an appearance...

The Geordegian threw some stones into the river for Beanz (at the grandly named beach) but Bready stayed safely up on the bank. She needed to keep her brain dry to do her assignments.

We Made It

Is everyone here?

Moving

We are moving! Our blog that is. Apparently Blogger won't let us stay here and TJam is not technological enough to work anything complicated out. So we are keeping our jumpthedog.com email addresses and this place because all our photos are hosted here (that is like, 8 years worth) but we will be updating everything at our new place (which will be our old place, just at a new address). Hopefully everything will look pretty much the same.

So, as they say on posh websites "click here to enter"

(and if you are someone that has RSS feed, which we don't understand at all, I think that will need changing, but once this move is over, things should be a lot easier)

Graffiti

One young rebel could not resist that lovely clean pair of jeans. It was just BEGGING to be tagged.

Great job B2!