Bill

Yesterday was a sad day for me as I had to have Bill, my beloved JRT, put to sleep. He became quite ill on Monday night and so did not suffer for long which was what I'd always hoped for. He was 15 and had a brilliant life, out walking every day and sharing all our adventures - a tough, brave little dog, full of character - he fitted in with our lives perfectly. My constant companion, I'm missing him so much.

April

The days are flying by - this is my favourite time of year when everything starts changing and there is an amazing amount of colour which seems to suddenly arrive from nowhere.

The bluebells this weekend were beautiful, no photo ever does them justice. The rapeseed is turning all the fields vivid yellow and the sky has been an intense blue - apart from the odd murky day of course when we could only just make out the shape of Bill. He has had adventures of his own - chewing up a toilet roll tube and getting his top and bottom teeth stuck together! We tried for ages to free them and had to take an emergency trip to the vets, where they tried everything but with no luck. He has a bad heart murmur and I thought this would be the end of him as he was becoming quite agitated and trying to pant. Suddenly it just came unstuck and he trotted out as right as rain - I on the other hand had to go and have a lie down to recover from the stress! My sister now calls him 'Billy the Eternal'.

We also all had a trip to Boxgrove Priory - the ruins of a 12th Century Monastery on the outskirts of Chichester. 

Spring

Spring has almost arrived and here are some pictures from the past few weeks.

A lovely new necklace from Wolf & Moon, my tree drawing process, a distant rainbow, pretty fungi, and the results of a great floristry evening with a friend. As you can see below - Bill is feeling a lot better!

15

My beloved JRT is 15 today. There were times last week when I didn't think he'd make it to his birthday but he seems to have made a good recovery. I know that as he's quite old anything can happen at any time but for now we are just taking one day at a time and enjoying the fact that Jack Russells are tough little dogs.

Olive update

So much for my vision of eating home grown olives at Christmas. As you can see, they are still on the tree and have never ripened enough to be worth picking. It's disappointing but on the up side it has saved me hours of rinsing, washing .. etc. etc.

More instagram pictures of a mini adventure with My Jack Russell. He's been very lively recently and has demanded some longer walks, so I decided to take him up to the windmill - it's only 20 minutes away but for some reason I have never been. We had a lovely walk and I was surprised how much Autumn colour was still around in December. Bill loved it too but disgraced himself infront of several people by barking nastily at a very sweet donkey. But that's a jack russell for you.

are the fireworks over yet?

October

Not bored with Instagram yet! Some pics from the past two weeks.

Autumny walks

 Great exhibition of Eduardo Paolozzi at the Pallant Gallery. 

I added My Jack Russell as he fitted in with the colours of the other photos. 

The sweetest public toilets I've seen, my favourite colours in hydrangea form, so much fruit and a different view of West Dean House.

The best eccles cakes ever from M&S - my latest addiction, lovely old wooded fruit box, nights drawing in and MJR again for the same reason as above.

Away

I've been away from my computer for a week - a good break, although the weather change was a bit of a shock. Definitely picked the wrong week there!

A lovely new restaurant found and a content Jack Russell - a holiday isn't the same without him.

Some stormy walks, a trip to Dorset, an inspiring painter and wilderness.

My favourite thing

This was a hard one but I decided upon the unglamourous picture of my walking boots as they have taken me on many great walks - which is my favourite thing to do - especially with Bill. Also I've posted so many pictures of him sleeping that I wanted to show he does still go for walks!

Hear

Day 24 of the August Break is hear. My Jack Russell's hearing suddenly went a year or so ago, the only consolation being he is no longer terrified on bonfire night or frightened by thunder and lightening. He used to cower under the bed - a pitiful sight. I really miss talking to him though and getting a reaction, it's also difficult to let him off the lead as I can't call him back, he just trots along, faster and faster until I have to run and catch him.

Sacred

Day 23 and the word for the August Break is sacred.  There are many places that feel sacred to me - they are always outside when I'm surrounded by nature and the elements. Even better if I'm with my JRT - Bill. The first pic is Pagham Harbour, the second is Start Point in Devon. 

touch

Love

Day 4 of August Break - LOVE -it has to be my JRT having a Sunday morning lie in!

And my love of walking - up on the South Downs in the sunshine - what could be better? Unfortunately we have to leave Bill behind now as he can't manage such long walks. 

Old age?

I've been worried about My Jack Russell aging for a while now, he's definitely slowing down. Bill's 14 (98 in human years) but yesterday I wondered why I worry so much. At 4am he wanted to go out and he chased a fox into a neighbouring garden. I could hear him tearing around but I couldn't get him. He eventually came back through a hole in the hedge. Then he was up again at 7am for a walk, at 11am he visited his friend Alfie to run up and down his garden - guarding against any intruders. Another walk at 3pm and a game at 6pm. All this interspersed with several light meals throughout the day. No wonder this is him today, I wish it was me!

Another adventure

Another adventure with Gra, who planned a walk in a neighbouring county and again forgot the map! So we parked up and set off in the direction we thought best, only to find ourselves high up on a bleak part of the downs just as the heavens opened. We got drenched. I was not in the best of moods but I don't like to give up on a walk once we've started and I'm glad I didn't as soon the sun came out and we quickly dried off. 
Coming down the hill we spotted a beautiful little church in the middle of fields so had to go and investigate. It was the 12th Century St. Hubert's Chapel at Idsworth and inside were 14th Century wall paintings. I'm so glad I didn't miss this as it hadn't been on our original route.
Walking back we got caught in the rain again but warmed up by a roaring fire with a pint and packet of crisps in The Red Lion at Chalton. 

Addiction

I have only just started using Instagram and I'm addicted. A bit late I know and I hope I don't bore you over the next few weeks - you never know it may be a short lived addiction, a little like drawing on my ipad! 
Spring was in the air yesterday when I walked around the cemetery with Bill.

Sunday night

Playing with my new phone ...

♥ 14 ♥

My beloved JRT is 14 today. ♥ Happy Birthday Bill ♥

Warm

My Jack Russell's got a new coat, bought just in time for the snow. As you can see he doesn't like it - he refused to look at me when this picture was being taken!

autumn leaves

A lovely weekend of walking, it was freezing but sunny and now My Jack Russell is an old man he has to wear his coat to keep him warm. He hates it!