Saturday 26 May 2007

A Little Extra Fact

Post script to Mum's No.8. Last night someone brought her an orphaned baby rabbit. She has to feed it special milk from the vets from a little dropper. He/she hasn't got a name yet because Mum says names just come when you get to know their personality. The baby sparrows are now known as Jack (Sparrow) after my hero from the films, and Piglet because he needs feeding so often and eats loads!

I will let you know the rabbit's name when he/she gets one. Mum is beginning to wonder if it is a hare not a rabbit because of the way it moves. So watch this space!

Wednesday 23 May 2007

I've Been Tagged ...........

.............. by Karen to give 8 Random Facts about myself. She wanted Mum to do it to, so we have had to think very hard.

8 Random Facts about Billy



  1. My proper name is Badger but it gradually changed to Billy Badger. Mostly I get called Billy but also answer to Billy the B, Billster, William (I mostly get called this when I'm being naughty!) and Badgkin (which is highly embarrassing, but that's Mums for you!).

  2. I was born with an undershot jaw, which means that my top jaw is shorter than the bottom, when it should be the other way round. My vet calls me a little character and children have been heard to say to their parents 'Look at that dog mummy, he's smiling at me.' I am proud to be different and feel that it makes me unique - and even more handsome.

  3. One of my favourite treats is pineapple chunks and cream, I don't think it's very good for dogs so I don't get it very often. But pineapple is a fruit and fruit can't be that bad. Can it?

  4. I am not allowed to eat chocolate as it is very bad for dogs. It has an enzyme that dogs can't digest and it could make me VERY poorly.

  5. I have a bow tie collection. So far I have a black one for special occasions, a Simpson's one, a South Park one, a Taz one and a Tweetie Pie one. Of course I look handsome in all of them. You never know one day I may model them for you.

  6. I don't like the sun much. Little Mummy loves it and spends ages lying out in the garden, I prefer the shade and being inside on my sofa.

  7. I have a full time job in household security. I take my responsibilities very seriously and even though I am not a large dog I have a very intimidating bark.

  8. I have a bit of a thing about blonde Afghans (ladies of course), and hope to meet one someday. I have mentioned that any lady Afghans out there are welcome to send me pictures, but so far none have arrived. Delayed in the post no doubt.

Well that's me done, now over to Mum. Her's won't be so interesting of course.

  1. I love horses and have dreamed of owning one of my own since being young. I rode a lot when I was younger but then life sort of got in the way and I haven't ridden for ages. I'm still dreaming though! My dad was a big influence in this as he was a cavalry officer in his younger days and always loved horses.

  2. I studied dressmaking, design and pattern cutting at college. Some of it was very exact using Haute Couture methods and some was sling it together factory methods. I got so fed up of sewing that I've hardly done any since.

  3. I love all sorts of crafts and my claim to fame is that I demonstrated Cathedral Window Patchwork, Lacemaking (with bobbins), Macrame and Hairpin Crochet at our county show in the craft marquee! It was an extremely hot day so it was boiling hot in there and to add to the discomfort there was a blacksmith demonstrating not far away. Why they didn't put him outside I don't know!!! I also enjoy cardmaking and cross stitch but haven't done much of either for a while, especially the cross stitch, as knitting has taken over recently.

  4. I like to drool over Jon Bon Jovi, Patrick Swayze and Kurt Russell. In no particular order. I also have a soft spot for a certain pirate named Jack!!

  5. I work as a Year One Teaching Assistant at our local Primary School, with children age 6. It is very rewarding and the classteacher I work with is fantastic and we get on really well.

  6. I have a son of almost 25 who is a radiographer and my partner and I recently adopted two children, a girl and a boy. One of the reasons why my spare time has dwindled recently!

  7. Our house is about a five minute walk from the sea. I feel I am very lucky to live so close and apart from living out in the country I wouldn't want to move far. I was born in Nottingham but wouldn't want to go back there, or to any other town. I have a moan about the lack of decent shops sometimes (mostly LYS') but on the whole am happy where I am.

  8. Currently there are 11 animals in our house!!!!! I have always had pets from being very young and am a soft touch for waifs and strays. At the moment there are the three dogs, Billy, T.J and George. A rabbit named Lightening Jack. The children's mice, Angelina and Fifi. My parrot Jordy (I say mine because he doesn't like anyone else and only lets me handle him). Then there is Scooter the brain damaged starling who flew into a window when he was a baby, Fidget the sparrow who found his way into our house when he was a baby, and decided to stay. Last but not least are two teeny baby sparrows who have been found by other people and brought to me because they know a) I wouldn't turn them away and b) because I've raised baby birds before. One of them found it's way into school and got totally disorientated. The other was found stuck in a fence being attacked by other birds.
Well there you go, hope they're not too boring. Hopefully Mum will have some pictures to post soon. Next week she is on holiday so she will have some spare time.

I've tagged Knitbert, Rachel and Libbysmom so far.

Friday 11 May 2007

If You Want a Job Doing Well, Do It Yourself !

Seeing as I didn't post a picture of myself yesterday I thought I would just pop this one on to show you what I have been up to.
Only having to lend a paw to the fence building, that's all! Just holding the post up while the builder sees if it's level. Good job I've got more muscles than a Bulldog!
Obviously I work out and look after myself. My body is a temple! (If you believe that you believe anything).

Thursday 10 May 2007

Purple Iris and River

Just look at what the postman delivered this morning, Mum's Lorna's Laces Purple Iris wool for the Scotch Thistle (bottom) and some more Lorna's Laces (shade River) that must have jumped into the shopping cart! There was also a Get Knitted pen and some Parma Violets in the parcel, (Mum has now eaten those). Mum is buying the River, I'd better say that in case Dad thinks he's bought that too.




More close up pics for those of you who drool over yarn,



and another close up. Mum says thanks to Kazza for helping her decide on the colour.

Now the River, mmmm, wonder why Mum bought this, what has she got in mind?



More River!!



Hope that is enough for all you yarn junkies out there.

I hope you have noticed that I did not pose for these pics as I have been far too busy on patrol due to the builders. Today they have taken a wobbly wall down and are putting up a fence, therefore my garden is exposed and there is a danger that I may escape!

Who am I kidding! Do you really think I would want to escape? My life is very cushy and I am not about to hit the streets, it's a jungle out there!

Tuesday 8 May 2007

A Trying Day

Mum and Dad are having some work done on the house, which is fine, I don't have a problem with that. However, today two men arrived with a lorry load of scaffolding and they have been banging and tapping ALL day. They are putting scaffolding up over the garage, from the front of the house to the back.

IN MY GARDEN!!!

How is a boy supposed to get;


  1. Any privacy as he is going about his business and
  2. Any sleep, with all this banging and tapping going on!

Now I am normally not one to complain, but this is a bit much. What about my handsome sleep? I expect this will continue for the next week or so as the builder is coming tomorrow to knock off all the stuff that is coming away from the wall and put up new stuff. More interruptions to my schedule! Added to this is the increased security risk, meaning extra work for yours truly as I have to step up perimeter control, and surveillance! There had better be a bit extra in my dinner bowl this week to compensate for all of this.
Little Mummy and George have slept through all of this, typical! The burden of responsibility is squarely on my shoulders!


Below is a picture of me showing you the progress on Mum's Feather and Fan scarf, it's not looking too bad is it? Mum likes the way the colours are coming up in solid bands at the edges and more speckled in the centre. This will probably show up more when it is finished and blocked (so she says!).



I think I may have a new friend, I use the term friend loosely as I haven't met him. I guess he is more of an 'e' friend. Kazza Mum's blog friend has adopted him (or rather he has adopted her). Yes, he is a cat but I am fairly open minded, as long as he doesn't want to visit and stays at the end of an e-mail I think I can cope.
I'm not too good with cats up close. If they dare to come into my garden I give them what for, but they are such scaredy cats (ha-ha) they climb up on my fence and shout insults from there.

Sorry I have to go now because Dad wants to get on the computer. Back soon with more news.




Sunday 6 May 2007

If My Friends Could See Me Now -------

----- they'd find it more than slightly amusing! I tell you, the things a dog has to do.

As you can see this is me reluctantly modelling the completed Forest Canopy shawl. It has actually been finished for over a week but Mum has only just talked me into looking like a complete lemon! She had to bribe me with a pizza slice and a share of a Cappucino! Even then it was touch and go, as you can see by my face, I am not overly impressed.





Mum is a bit worried about the size that this has turned out, it looks very small. As you can see if I were the type of dog to wear a shawl (which I'm not) it would be just big enough for me.

She has got to block it yet, (whatever that might be) but has got to buy some pins to do this. If she was more organised she would have bought these in readiness and would have been able to show you a before and after pic. She is hoping that blocking will produce some sort of miracle but I don't see it myself.

Below there is a close up pic of the pattern, I am proud that Mum picked it up and carried on after the great disaster.



When Mum finished the FC shawl she had some wool left over so she has cast on this Feather and Fan scarf. This picture was taken a while ago too so the scarf is much bigger now. Mum is going to give it to someone for Christmas (she doesn't know who yet and I haven't put my paw up to claim it!!!). Mum says this is easy peasy and may do some more if time allows. She is taking a leaf out of Kazza's book and starting to knit for Christmas.


While Mum was looking around the forums at Angel Yarns she found this Scotch Thistle pattern available at The Woolly Works (third pattern down)and has bought it in readiness for her next lacy knit. Dad's family are from The Isle of Lewis so it is appropriate. Dad is going to buy the yarn for this now instead of for another Forest Canopy. What a kind daddy he is! Mum has sort of decided on Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Purple Iris from Get Knitted, what do you think? Comments please.


Apart from all of this knitting news things have been fairly quiet for me. Still no sign of my blonde Afghan but I'm not one to settle for less. It's been quite cold here so the only time we all went down to the beach I had to snuggle up with Mum under a blanket, to keep her warm you understand. This is the view from under my blanket. You may just be able to see one of the tiddlypeeps down by the sea.



When it is better weather I will get mum to take some more pictures, maybe some of me in the water! Won't that be a treat!